’"What do you do?” said Allo.  “I bring an order—­a message—­from the Winged Hats that you join them with your men, and march South to plunder Britain.”

’"It grieves me,” said Pertinax, “but we are stationed here to stop that thing.”

’"If I carry back such an answer they will kill me,” said Allo.  “I always promised the Winged Hats that you would rise when Maximus fell.  I—­I did not think he could fall.”

’"Alas! my poor barbarian,” said Pertinax, still laughing.  “Well, you have sold us too many good ponies to be thrown back to your friends.  We will make you a prisoner, although you are an ambassador.”

’"Yes, that will be best,” said Allo, holding out a halter.  We bound him lightly, for he was an old man.

’"Presently the Winged Hats may come to look for you, and that will give us more time.  See how the habit of playing for time sticks to a man!” said Pertinax, as he tied the rope.

’"No,” I said.  “Time may help.  If Maximus wrote us a letter while he was a prisoner, Theodosius must have sent the ship that brought it.  If he can send ships, he can send men.”

’"How will that profit us?” said Pertinax.  “We serve Maximus, not Theodosius.  Even if by some miracle of the Gods Theodosius down South sent and saved the Wall, we could not expect more than the death Maximus died.”

’"It concerns us to defend the Wall, no matter what Emperor dies, or makes die,” I said.

’"That is worthy of your brother the philosopher,” said Pertinax.  “Myself I am without hope, so I do not say solemn and stupid things!  Rouse the Wall!”

’We armed the Wall from end to end; we told the officers that there was a rumour of Maximus’s death which might bring down the Winged Hats, but we were sure, even if it were true, that Theodosius, for the sake of Britain, would send us help.  Therefore, we must stand fast. ...  My friends, it is above all things strange to see how men bear ill news!  Often the strongest till then become the weakest, while the weakest, as it were, reach up and steal strength from the Gods.  So it was with us.  Yet my Pertinax by his jests and his courtesy and his labours had put heart and training into our poor numbers during the past years—­more than I should have thought possible.  Even our Libyan Cohort—­the Third—­stood up in their padded cuirasses and did not whimper.

’In three days came seven chiefs and elders of the Winged Hats.  Among them was that tall young man, Amal, whom I had met on the beach, and he smiled when he saw my necklace.  We made them welcome, for they were ambassadors.  We showed them Allo, alive but bound.  They thought we had killed him, and I saw it would not have vexed them if we had.  Allo saw it too, and it vexed him.  Then in our quarters at Hunno we came to Council.

’They said that Rome was falling, and that we must join them.  They offered me all South Britain to govern after they had taken a tribute out of it.