’"Yes, and allow them to come to our hospitals when they are sick,” I said.

’"Surely they would die first,” said Maximus.

’"Not if Parnesius brought them in,” said Allo.  “I could show you twenty wolf-bitten, bear-clawed Picts within twenty miles of here.  But Parnesius must stay with them in hospital, else they would go mad with fear.”

’"I see,” said Maximus.  “Like everything else in the world, it is one man’s work.  You, I think, are that one man.”

’"Pertinax and I are one,” I said.

’"As you please, so long as you work.  Now, Allo, you know that I mean your people no harm.  Leave us to talk together,” said Maximus.

’"No need!” said Allo.  “I am the corn between the upper and lower millstones.  I must know what the lower millstone means to do.  These boys have spoken the truth as far as they know it.  I, a Prince, will tell you the rest.  I am troubled about the Men of the North.”  He squatted like a hare in the heather, and looked over his shoulder.

’"I also,” said Maximus, “or I should not be here.”

’"Listen,” said Allo.  “Long and long ago the Winged Hats”—­he meant the Northmen—­“came to our beaches and said, ‘Rome falls!  Push her down!’ We fought you.  You sent men.  We were beaten.  After that we said to the Winged Hats, ’You are liars!  Make our men alive that Rome killed, and we will believe you.’  They went away ashamed.  Now they come back bold, and they tell the old tale, which we begin to believe—­that Rome falls!”

‘"Give me three years’ peace on the Wall,” cried Maximus, “and I will show you and all the ravens how they lie!”

’"Ah, I wish it too!  I wish to save what is left of the corn from the millstones.  But you shoot us Picts when we come to borrow a little iron from the Iron Ditch; you burn our heather, which is all our crop; you trouble us with your great catapults.  Then you hide behind the Wall, and scorch us with Greek fire.  How can I keep my young men from listening to the Winged Hats—­in winter especially, when we are hungry?  My young men will say, ’Rome can neither fight nor rule.  She is taking her men out of Britain.  The Winged Hats will help us to push down the Wall.  Let us show them the secret roads across the bogs.’  Do I want that?  No!” He spat like an adder.  “I would keep the secrets of my people though I were burned alive.  My two children here have spoken truth.  Leave us Picts alone.  Comfort us, and cherish us, and feed us from far off—­with the hand behind the back.  Parnesius understands us.  Let him have rule on the Wall, and I will hold my young men quiet for”—­he ticked it off on his fingers—­“one year easily:  the next year not so easily:  the third year, perhaps!  See, I give you three years.  If then you do not show us that Rome is strong in men and terrible in arms, the Winged Hats, I tell you, will sweep down the Wall from either sea till they meet in the middle, and you will go. I shall not grieve over that, but well I know tribe never helps tribe except for one price.  We Picts will go too.  The Winged Hats will grind us to this!” He tossed a handful of dust in the air.