The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-03

closely watched.
These were the devices of ready and well
exercised, but ordinary soldiers. Paulus shook
his head, smiling, and then gave his orders,
which his comrades soon felt were fraught
pmnico astu.
AFTER an hour or two of Sleep said he, we
will roll and carry this wheel.chest straight
down to our stables. There We must lock
ourselves in with old Philip. We will then
and there unpack and empty the chest: the
gold we must next repack, as best we can. in
| some corn bags, to be placed under several of
the many bundles and trusses of hay which
We must carry for the use of our horses on the
road, cording the bags roughly but strongly
and securely. We must, when this is done,
unpdre a portion Of the stable, and mixing the
stones with rubbish to prevent them from
rafting when shaken, we must repack the
chest with that sort of treasure To get stones
from anywhere else outside tho stable, and
convey them thither, would excite first atten-
ton, then Curiosity, and fualy o suspicion if
not q sure inference, of our whole design.
After these measures will set ont, leaving
Philip to keep possession of tho stable, and
to prevent any person whatever (who mi ht
notice the displacement of the paving stones)
from entering il for couple of days; which
time past, he can follow Us. The chest is one,
you perceive, which, without the key, would
take iron crowbars many hours to break open,
and steel SAWS as many to bite tbrough-the
lock being both cunning as a lock and the
strongest part of the whole fabric Our pur-
suers will not think of crowbars or of steel
saws; and the key 1 will fling into the first
water or wood we meet after starting. When
we are overtaken-or if we be-you must at
first make show of fighting, and leave the
rest to me-"
His three companions highly applauded this
plan, and they and he lay down on cushions
round the chest, one each of its four sides
to take short and very necessary slumber
They soon awoke, and began to execute, point
by point, the scheme of young Paulus Lepidus
Emlius.
CHAPTER Ill.,
ave have made more than fifty miles and
the pursuers do not appear" said Paulus.
Longinus was holding for his superior the
bride of the famous horse of which Tiberius
Cesar had made present to the breaker of
him. Ch@rias and Thellus were standing on
each side of our youth, who had dismounted ;
and all three, shading their eyes with their
hands from dazzling Italian moon at full, were
looking along the straight backward road.
Two wagons were in 'front.' behind them, as
they now stood watching; the soldiers had
| Embarrassed the six horses of one of them
that in the rear-upon which the heavy iron
chest was borne, and were letting them drink
from roadside spring; the other wagon
drawn also by six horses, and laden with corn
eGgs, and hay at the bottom, and various
packages and soldiers cumber above, was
moving forward at n walk, conducted by two
soldiers, who rode the two horses in the middle
High banks on each hand lined at that point
tho Roman road, which led to the northeast of
Italy, and these banks were denscly clothed
with copse- wood, which in certain places
thickened into an impenetrablo Jungle.
Do any of you see anythingw inquired
Paulus, when he found no one disposed to
answer his remark.
few moments of silent watching followed
when Longinus, the decurion, said al see
nothing, centurion but hear something-the
distant beat of hoofs upon this hard and
echoing road"
Paulus at once cried to the men CONDUCTING
| the hay wagon in front Chat is, behind them,
as they then were facing round) to drive for
the horses until followed by the rearwart
wagon, when they were to rush forward at tn,
top Of their speed and to continue at thai
pace. He next ordered the two soldiers who
were giving water to the horses of the Other
wagon in tho rear, in which was the chest, t.
rehRrness them quickly, and as soon as bod,
of mounted men should appear on the roat
behind, and should have them plainly in sigh
but not sConer-to push their horses into
gallop, yet to make sure of not gaining upo1
the wagon in front, but, beginning as late a
possible, to continue their galop only about
thousand PAGES, and then to walk Lastly, h,
turned to the six remaining soldier, and bad,
them draw their short swords loosen thei
shields and prepare for action. Upon which
he clapped his hand upon the emerald hilt O
his own very differently shaped weapon, whip
ped it out of the scabbard, and, sprin ging int,
the ephippia upon the back of Seianus Cor