Part 6 (2/2)
With quick steps the bearers carried their burden through the lane; they had almost passed unmolested when an old woman shuffled forward and clutched at Sanders' arm
”Lord, lord!” she quavered, ”ill you do with our God?”
”Take hi by Governn,” she croaked, and the people in her vicinity repeated, ”A sign,the woman in labour ”By the God's favour there shall be born to Ifabi, wife of Adako, a male child”
He heard the babble of talk; he heard his e repeated over the heads of the crowd; he saw a party of woave the order to s, and once he heard a deep-voiced in the war-chant, but nobody joined hiainst his wicker shi+eld, but his warlike exae street Around hi box with difficulty The river was in sight; the olden ball over the trees, laced the water with silver, and then there cae
”He lies! He lies! Ifabi, the wife of Adako, has a fe at bay; his lips upcurled in a snarl, his white, regular teeth showing
”Now,” said Sanders, speaking very quickly, ”let any ain they stood irresolute, and Sanders, over his shoulder, gave an order
For a ripped the poles of the God-box, with one fierce yell they sprang forward
A voice screaic, the tumult ceased, and the crowd darted backward and outward, falling over one another in their frantic desire to escape
Sanders, his pistol still loaded, stood in open-mouthed astonishment at the stampede
Save for histhe centre of the street twoThey were clad alike in short crireat brass helmets topped their heads, and brass cuirasses covered their breasts
Sanders watched them as they came nearer, then: ”If this is not fever, it is madness,” he muttered, for what he saere two Roirt about their waists
He stood still, and they passed hih-moulded letters:-
”AUGUSTUS CAE”
”Fever” said Sanders emphatically, and followed the box to the shi+p
When the steamer reached Lukati, Sanders was still in a condition of doubt, for his temperature was normal, and neither fever nor sun could be held accountable for the vision Added to which, his
He found the reinforceht, but they were unnecessary now
”It beats et out the stone; it ht furnish an explanation Centurions-bah!”
The stone, exposed in the light of day, was of greyish granite, such as Sanders did not re seen before
”Here are the 'devil marks,'” he said, as he turned it over ”Possibly-!”
No wonder he whistled, for closely set were a nu the dust, saw-
”MARIUS ET AUGUSTUS CENTNERO IMPERATIN DEUSDULCE”