which shoots a giant arrow, sometimes tipped with material on fire, from a groove or half-tube to a distance of a quarter of a mile.  The propelling force, in default of gunpowder or other explosive, is the recoil of strings of gut or hair which have been tightened by a windlass.  There is also the heavier “hurler,” which works in much the same manner, but which, instead of arrows, throws stones and beams of from 14 pounds to half a hundredweight, doing effective damage up to a distance of some 400 yards.

[Illustration:  FIG. 108.—­AUXILIARY CAVALRYMAN.]

Scius joins his legion as a private infantry soldier.  He is in the “hobnailed” service.  But if our young noble, Publius Silius Bassus, enters upon a military career, he will probably become one of the 120 Roman horsemen attached to the legion, and will be serving as a “knight” or “gentleman,” with servants to relieve him of his rougher work.  The cavalrymen among whom he serves do not ride upon a saddle with stirrups, but on a mere saddlecloth.  On their left arm is a round shield or buckler; they carry a spear of extreme reach, wear a longer sword than the infantrymen, and on their back is a quiver containing three broad-pointed javelins, very similar to assegais, which serve them as missiles.  If by good service they obtain medallions like the infantry, they will fasten them to the bridles and breast-straps of their horses, and altogether will make a fine and jingling show.  Through the influence of his family, Publius will most likely be taken under the personal supervision of the general in command, will frequently mess with him, and will perhaps act as a kind of honorary aide-de-camp.  After a sufficient initiation into military business, he will be appointed what may be called colonel of an infantry regiment of auxiliaries, then colonel of a regiment of the legion, and subsequently, if he is following the profession, colonel of a regiment of the auxiliary cavalry.  He does not at any time pass through the rank of centurion, any more than the British officer passes through that of sergeant-major.  The class distinction is at least as great in the case of the Romans.

When the young noble has completed this series of services—­although the whole of it is not absolutely necessary, and it will be sufficient if he has been six months titular colonel of a regiment of the legion—­he may perhaps return to Rome, and at the age of twenty-five may enter upon his first public position, and so become himself a senator.  His duties may be connected with the Treasury at Rome itself, or more probably he will accompany a proconsul who is on his way to govern a province for a year—­perhaps Andalusia, or Macedonia, or Bithynia.  To his chief he stands for that year in a kind of filial relation.  His main business will be to supervise the financial affairs, to act as paymaster, and to keep the accounts of the province, but he will also, when required, administer justice in place of the governor.  In this capacity