Volume Iii Part 22 (2/2)

He saw the statue at the feet of which he lay, grow and grow. The majestic head rose higher and higher, and pa.s.sed through the roof of the house. With its crown of laurel it at last penetrated the clouds, and towered into the starry heavens.

”Take me with thee!” sighed Cethegus.

But the demiG.o.d replied:

”I can scarcely see thee from this height. Thou art too small! Thou canst not follow me.”

And it seemed to Cethegus that a thunderbolt fell and shattered the roof of his house. With a crash the beams fell upon him, burying him under the ruins. The statue of Caesar also broke and fell.

And crash after crash echoed through the place.

Cethegus woke, sprang up, and looked around in bewilderment.

CHAPTER XI.

The sound continued.

It was real--no dream! Blow after blow fell thundering against the door of his house.

Cethegus caught up his helm and sword.

At that moment Syphax and Lucius rushed into the room.

”Up, general!”

”Up, Cethegus!”

”Two hours cannot yet have pa.s.sed. Why have you awakened me?”

”The Goths! They have been beforehand with us! They storm the bulwarks!”

”d.a.m.n them! Where do they storm?”

Cethegus had already reached the door of the room.

”Where does the King attack?”

”At the bolts on the river. He has sent fire-s.h.i.+ps up the stream.

Floats with heavy towers on deck, full of resin, pitch, and sulphur.

The first bolt of masts and all the boats between are in flames!

Salvius Julia.n.u.s is wounded and taken prisoner. There! you can see the reflection of the flames in the south-east!”

”The bolt of chains--does it hold?”

<script>