’He tossed me the polished stick he was leaning on, and went away.  You might have knocked me down with it!’

‘Who was he?’ said Dan.

’Maximus himself, our great General! The General of Britain who had been Theodosius’s right hand in the Pict War!  Not only had he given me my Centurion’s stick direct, but three steps in a good Legion as well!  A new man generally begins in the Tenth Cohort of his Legion, and works up.’

‘And were you pleased?’ said Una.

’Very.  I thought Maximus had chosen me for my good looks and fine style in marching, but, when I went home, the Pater told me he had served under Maximus in the great Pict War, and had asked him to befriend me.’

‘A child you were!’ said Puck, from above.

‘I was,’ said Parnesius.  ’Don’t begrudge it me, Faun.  Afterwards—­the Gods know I put aside the games!’ And Puck nodded, brown chin on brown hand, his big eyes still.

’The night before I left we sacrificed to our ancestors—­the usual little Home Sacrifice—­but I never prayed so earnestly to all the Good Shades, and then I went with my Father by boat to Regnum, and across the chalk eastwards to Anderida yonder.’

‘Regnum?  Anderida?’ The children turned their faces to Puck.

‘Regnum’s Chichester,’ he said, pointing towards Cherry Clack, ’and’—­he threw his arm South behind him—­’Anderida’s Pevensey.’

‘Pevensey again!’ said Dan.  ‘Where Weland landed?’

‘Weland and a few others,’ said Puck.  ’Pevensey isn’t young—­even compared to me!’

’The headquarters of the Thirtieth lay at Anderida in summer, but my own Cohort, the Seventh, was on the Wall up North.  Maximus was inspecting Auxiliaries—­the Abulci, I think—­at Anderida, and we stayed with him, for he and my Father were very old friends.  I was only there ten days when I was ordered to go up with thirty men to my Cohort.’  He laughed merrily.  ’A man never forgets his first march.  I was happier than any Emperor when I led my handful through the North Gate of the Camp, and we saluted the guard and the Altar of Victory there.’

‘How?  How?’ said Dan and Una.

Parnesius smiled, and stood up, flashing in his armour.

‘So!’ said he; and he moved slowly through the beautiful movements of the Roman Salute, that ends with a hollow clang of the shield coming into its place between the shoulders.

‘Hai!’ said Puck.  ‘That sets one thinking!’

‘We went out fully armed,’ said Parnesius, sitting down; ’but as soon as the road entered the Great Forest, my men expected the pack-horses to hang their shields on.  “No!” I said; “you can dress like women in Anderida, but while you’re with me you will carry your own weapons and armour.”

’"But it’s hot,” said one of them, “and we haven’t a doctor.  Suppose we get sunstroke, or a fever?”

’"Then die,” I said, “and a good riddance to Rome!  Up shield—­up spears, and tighten your foot-wear!”