At their different police stations the vigiles when off duty scribble many things upon the walls,[160] which give a vivid idea that life “on the force” is much the same in every age. At night these “Bucketmen” go out in little groups bearing tallow lanterns and patrol the pitch-black streets, rounding up evil-doers and detecting incipient fires. At each station there is a good-sized lock-up which never wants its unhappy occupants, also, it must be added, a professional torturer (_quæstionarius_) to wring confessions out of slaves and other non-privileged prisoners without any tedious “third degree” process. Petty offenses are tried summarily before the Præfect of the Watch or his deputies in police court at these stations; and for great crimes the alleged offenders can be conveyed to a central jail, or admitted to bail, prior to a formal trial before the City Præfect. The Præfect of the Watch (_Præfectus Vigilum_), the head of this very important organization, is really the most important municipal official in Rome except the City Præfect. Since he has to do with much sordid detail, he is not a top-lofty senator, but only an eques; nevertheless, his honor and dignity are great. The subpræfect under him is also a highly respected officer. The entire force of the vigiles, although, of course, incessantly criticized and jeered at, is a very capable body of men, whose faithfulness and energy go far to make life and property better protected in Rome than in most great cities at any age. So with this glance at the municipal government of a metropolitan community of 1,500,000 we quit the Palatine. A new opportunity has presented itself: we can visit the Prætorian Camp. CHAPTER XVI THE PRÆTORIAN CAMP. THE IMPERIAL WAR MACHINE =262. The Army the Real Master of the Roman Empire.=--The Romans beyond all else have been a military people. Their great abilities as law givers, administrators, disseminators of civilization through Western Europe apparently would have been almost in vain if the legions had failed against Hannibal, against Mithridates, against Vercingetorix. Furthermore, the power of the Cæsars is primarily that of war chiefs. Let the army revolt, and Senate, plebeians, and provincials can protest their loyalty ever so frantically--the Princeps, the “First Citizen,” nevertheless is a lost man.