Volume Ii Part 44 (2/2)

He was already in their midst, and, bending down, disappeared for a moment.

But he quickly rose to his feet, and one and then another of the Italians fell p.r.o.ne under his blows.

In a moment Aspa stood at the Queen's side, who had quietly withdrawn from the turmoil, but, to her surprise, stopped short at a little distance, pointing at the group with her finger.

And indeed the sight was a strange one.

With incredible strength and still greater agility the conjurer held his a.s.sailants off. Springing at his adversaries, turning and bending, retreating and then suddenly darting forward to pull the nearest down by his foot, or to overthrow him with a powerful blow, he defended himself bravely, and that without any weapon, with his right hand alone; for in the left he held something close to his breast, as if hiding and protecting it.

This unequal combat lasted several minutes.

The conjurer was pushed nearer and nearer to the water by the angry and noisy crowd. Suddenly a naked blade glittered. One of the livery servants, enraged at receiving a severe blow, drew his knife and sprang at the conjurer from behind. With a cry the latter fell; his enemies rushed upon him.

”Help! drag them away! help the poor man!” cried Mataswintha to the soldiers, who now approached from the forsaken platform; ”I, your Queen, command you!”

The Goths hurried to the knot of struggling men; but before they could reach them, the conjurer, who had broken from his adversaries, sprang out of the tumbling group, and, with a last effort, darted straight off in the direction of the two women--followed by the Italians.

What a sight!

The Gallic tunic of the poor conjurer hung in rags from his body; his false yellow hair was torn off his head, and beneath appeared locks of glossy black; the white hue of his neck ended in a chest the colour of bronze.

With a last exertion of strength he reached the women, and recognised Mataswintha.

”Protect me, save me, white G.o.ddess!” he cried, and fell at her feet.

The Italians had already reached him, and the nearest raised his knife.

But Mataswintha spread her blue mantle over the fallen man.

”Back!” she cried with majesty. ”Leave him. He is under the protection of the Queen of the Goths!”

The livery-servants fell back abashed.

”Indeed!” at last said the one with the dagger, ”is this dog and son of a dog to go unpunished? and five of us lie half dead on the ground, and I have three teeth too few? Is there to be no punishment?”

”He is punished enough,” said Mataswintha, pointing to the deep gash on the neck of the conjurer.

”And all this fuss about a worm!” cried another. ”About a snake that escaped from his knapsack, which we tried to kill with stones.”

”See, he has hidden the viper in his bosom. Take it from him!”

”Kill him!” screamed the others.

But now a number of soldiers came up, and procured respect for their Queen, pus.h.i.+ng back the Italians, and forming a circle round the wounded man.

Aspa looked at the latter attentively, and suddenly cast herself down beside him, crossing her arms on her bosom.

”What is the matter, Aspa? Rise!” said her mistress, much astonished.

”Oh, mistress!” stammered Aspa, ”the man is no Gaul! He is one of my people. He prays to the Snake-G.o.d. Look at his brown skin--as brown as Aspa's! And here--here is writing; letters are tattooed upon his breast; the sacred hieroglyphics of my country!” she cried with delight.

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