She
took them, and being still weak, burst into tears.
"Why should you treat me thus," she asked, "who am, as I understand, but
a poor captive?"
"Nay, nay," answered a sergeant, with an uncouth oath. "It is we who are
your captives, Pearl-Maiden, and we are glad, because your mind has come
to you, though, seeing how sweet you were without it, we do not know
that it can better you very much."
"Oh! friends, friends," began Miriam, then once more broke down.
Meanwhile, hearing the disturbance Gallus had come from his tent and was
hobbling towards them, when suddenly he caught sight of the tears upon
Miriam's face and broke out into such language as could only be used by
a Roman officer of experience.
"What have you been doing to her, you cowardly hounds?" he shouted. "By
Caesar and the Standards, if one of you has even said a word that she
should not hear, he shall be flogged until the bones break through his
skin," and his very beard bristling with wrath, Gallus uttered a
series of the most fearful maledictions upon the head of that supposed
offender, his female ancestry, and his descendants.
"Your pardon, captain," said the sergeant, "but _you_ are uttering many
words that no maiden should hear.
Pages:
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357