Volume Ii Part 14 (1/2)
Belisarius rode up to Martinus.
”Capital, man of the circle!” he cried. ”Capital! Who aimed the shot?”
”I,” said Jochem. ”Oh! you will be satisfied with me, general. Now, pay attention. Do you see that large house with the statues upon the flat roof, to the right of the fire? That is the house of the Valerians, the greatest enemies of the people of Edom. Attention! It shall burn.”
The fiery projectile flew hissing through the air, and immediately a second flame rose out of the city.
Just then Procopius galloped up and cried:
”Belisarius, your general, Johannes, greets you. The Castle of Tiberius burns, and the first wall is down!”
And such was the fact; and soon, in all parts of the city, four, six, ten houses were in flames.
”Water!” cried Totila, galloping through a burning street near the harbour. ”Come out, you citizens of Neapolis! Extinguish your houses! I can spare no Goths from the walls. Get barrels of water from the harbour into all the streets! The women into the houses!--What do you want, girl? leave me.--Is it you, Miriam? You here--among the flames and arrows? Away! whom do you seek?”
”You,” said the girl. ”Do not be alarmed. Her house burns, but she is saved.”
”Valeria! For G.o.d's sake, where is she?”
”With me. In our strong tower--there she is safe. I saw the flames. I hastened to the house. Your friend with the soft voice was carrying her out of the ruins; he wanted to take her into the church. I called to him, and persuaded him to bring her to the tower. She bleeds. A stone wounded her upon the shoulder, but there is no danger. She wishes to see you, and I came to seek you!”
”Thanks, child! But come, come away;” and he took hold of her arm, and swung her up to his saddle.
Trembling, she wound both arms about his neck. He held his broad s.h.i.+eld over her head with his left hand, and galloped off with her through the smoking streets to the Porta Capuana.
”Oh! would that I might die now,” murmured Miriam to herself; ”now, upon his breast, if not with him!”
In the tower Totila found Valeria, stretched upon Miriam's bed, under the care of Julius and her female slaves. She was pale and weak from loss of blood, but composed and quiet.
Totila flew to her side. Miriam stood at the window with a beating heart, and looked silently at the burning city.
Totila had scarcely convinced himself that the wound was very slight, than he again sprang up and cried:
”You must go! Immediately! This very moment! In another hour Belisarius may storm the city. I have once more filled my s.h.i.+ps with fugitives.
They will take you to Cajeta, and thence to Rome. Afterwards you must hasten to Taginae to your estate. Julius will accompany you.”
”Yes,” said Julius, ”for we go the same way.”
”The same way? Whither art thou bound?”
”To Gaul, to my home. I cannot bear to see this terrible struggle any longer. You know well that all Italy has risen against you. My fellow-countrymen fight under Belisarius. Shall I raise my hand against them, or against you? I will go.”
Totila turned silently to Valeria.
”My friend,” she said, ”it seems to me that our star has set for ever!
Scarcely has my father gone to lay your oath at the throne of G.o.d, than Neapolis, the third city of the realm, falls.”
”So you have no faith in our swords?”
”I have faith in your swords, but not in your good fortune! With the falling rafters of my father's house fall all my hopes. Farewell, for a long, long time! I obey you; I will go to Taginae.”