Volume Ii Part 57 (2/2)

For this reason they had, at Teja's advice, taken an oath to keep their plan a profound secret, and thus Mataswintha had learned nothing from the King.

Even the keen senses of the Moor had been unable to scent out that anything of importance was in preparation for that day--the Gothic troops themselves knew not what.

Totila, Hildebad, and Teja had started with their hors.e.m.e.n during the night, and had placed themselves in ambush on the south of the Valerian Way, in a hollow near the tomb of the Fulvias, through which Belisarius would necessarily pa.s.s. They hoped to have finished their task soon enough to be able to take an important part in the events which were impending against the city.

While the King, with Hildebrand, Guntharis, and Markja, was mustering the troops within the camp, Belisarius marched at daybreak out of the Tiburtinian Gate, surrounded by part of his body-guard.

Procopius and Severinus rode on his right and left; Aigan, the Ma.s.sagetian, bore his banner, which accompanied the magister militum on all occasions.

Constantinus, to whom he had entrusted the care of the ”Belisarian”

part of Rome during his absence, doubled all the posts along the walls, and placed his troops under arms close to the ramparts. He sent word to the Prefect to do the same with the Byzantines under his command.

His messenger met Cethegus upon the walls between the Appian Gate and the Gate of St. Paul.

”So Belisarius thinks,” said Cethegus sarcastically, as he obeyed the order, ”that Rome cannot be safe unless he guard it! But I think that Belisarius would be in evil plight, had I not protected my Rome. Come, Lucius Licinius,” he whispered to the latter, ”we must decide upon what we must do should Belisarius fail to return from his ride. In that case, a firm hand must be laid upon the Byzantine army.”

”I know whose hand will do it.”

”It may perhaps lead to a short struggle with those of the body-guard still in Rome; either in the Baths of Diocletian or at the Tiburtinian Gate. They must be crushed before they have time to reflect. Take three thousand of my Isaurians, and divide them, without attracting attention, round about the Baths, and, above all things, occupy the Tiburtinian Gate.”

”But whence shall I withdraw the men?”

”From the Mausoleum of Hadrian,” said Cethegus after a moment's reflection.

”And the Goths?”

”Bah! the Mausoleum is strong; it will protect itself, for the a.s.saulters must first get over the river to the south, and then climb those smooth walls of Parian marble, in which the Greek and I take such pride. And besides,” he added with a smile, ”look up! There stands a host of marble G.o.ds and heroes; they may themselves protect their temple against the barbarians. Do you see? I told you it would be so.

The Goths only think of attacking the Gate of St. Paul,” he concluded, pointing towards the Gothic camp, whence, just at that moment, a strong division marched out in the direction he mentioned.

Licinius obeyed his orders, and soon led three thousand Isaurians--perhaps the half of the garrison of the Mausoleum--over the river and the Viminalian Hill in the direction of the Baths of Diocletian. He then replaced Belisarius's Armenians at the Tiburtinian Gate by three hundred Isaurians and legionaries.

But Cethegus turned to the Salarian Gate, where Constantinus now remained as the representative of Belisarius.

”I must have him out of the way,” said Cethegus to himself, ”when the news arrives.--When you have repulsed the barbarians,” he said aloud to Constantinus, ”no doubt you will make a sally. What an opportunity to gather laurels while your commander is yet at a distance!”

”Yes,” said Constantinus, ”they shall see that we can fight, even without Belisarius.”

”But you must aim with more composure,” said Cethegus, turning to a Persian archer and taking his bow. ”Do you see that Goth, the leader on horseback? He shall fall.”

Cethegus drew the bow. The Goth fell from his horse, pierced through the neck by the arrow.

”And you use my shooting-machines clumsily too! Do you see that oak-tree?

A leader of one of the Gothic thousands is standing beneath it, clad in a coat of mail. Pay attention!”

He directed the machine; aimed and shot. The mailed Goth was pierced through and through, and nailed to the tree.

Just then a Saracen horseman rode quickly up below the wall.

<script>