There was another rush down the passage; but at the narrow doorway the press stopped. Mamercus fought as ten. His shield and sword were everywhere. The Roman was as one inspired; his eyes shone bright and clear; his lips were parted in a grim, fierce smile; he belched forth rude soldier oaths that had been current in the army of fifty years before. Thrusting and parrying, he yielded no step, he sustained no wound. And once, twice, thrice his terrible short-sword found its sheath in the breast of a victim. In impotent rage the gladiators recoiled a second time. "Storm the other door!" commanded Dumnorix. The two defenders there had undertaken to pile up furniture against it; but a few blows beat down the entire barrier. Falto and Pausanias stood to their posts stoutly enough; but there was no master-swordsman to guard this entrance. The first gladiator indeed went down with a pierced neck, but the next instant Falto was beside him, atoning for his stupid folly, the whole side of his head cleft away by a stroke from a Gallic long-sword. "One rush and we have the old man surrounded," exhorted Dumnorix, when only Pausanias barred the way. There was a growl and a bound, and straight at the foremost attacker flew Argos, Mamercus's great British mastiff, who had silently slipped on to the scene. The assailant fell with the dog's fangs in his throat. Again the gladiators recoiled, and before they could return to the charge, back into the peristylium rushed Drusus, escaped from Cappadox, with that worthy and Mago and Agias, just released, at his heels. "Here's your man!" cried Gabinius, who still kept discreetly in the rear. "Freedom and ten _sestertia_[117] to the one who strikes Drusus down," called Dumnorix, feeling that at last the game was in his hands. [117] About $400. But Mamercus had made of his young patron an apt pupil. All the fighting blood of the great Livian house, of the consulars and triumphators, was mantling in Drusus's veins, and he threw himself into the struggle with the deliberate courage of an experienced warrior. His short-sword, too, found its victims; and across Falto's body soon were piled more. And now Drusus was not alone. For in from the barns and fields came running first the servants from the stables, armed with mattocks and muck-forks, and then the farm-hands with their scythes and reaping hooks. "We shall never force these doors," exclaimed Gabinius, in despair, as he saw the defenders augmenting. Dumnorix turned to his men. "Go, some of you. Enter from behind! Take this rabble from the rear. In fair fight we can soon master it." A part of the gladiators started to leave the atrium, Gabinius with them. An instant later he had rushed back in blank dismay. "Horsemen! They are dismounting before the house. There are more than a score of them. We shall be cut to pieces."