"That means a naval combat, nothing more," said Valerius. "But to-day----" "To-day?" cried Julius. "To-day none of the country people who usually pass on their way from Regium to Colum, made their appearance, and a trooper, whom I sent to Regium for news, has never returned. "That still proves nothing," said Valerius obstinately. His heart rebelled against the thought of a landing of his hated enemies. "The waves have often before rendered the way impassable." "But just now I have been some distance on the road to Regium, and when I laid my ear to the ground, I felt it tremble under the tramp of many horses approaching in mad haste. You must fly!" Valerius and Julius now took down their weapons, which hung upon the pillars of the room. Valeria sighed deeply, and pressed her hand to her heart. "What is to be done?" she asked. "Man the Pass of Jugum," cried Valerius, "through which the coast-road runs. It is very narrow, and can be held for some time." "Eight of my men are already there; I will join them as soon as you are mounted. The other half of my troop shall escort you on your journey. Haste!" But ere they could leave the room, a Gothic soldier, covered with blood and mire, rushed in. "Fly!" he cried, "they are there!" "Who is there, Gelaris!" asked Thorismuth. "The Greeks! Belisarius! the devil!" "Speak," ordered Thorismuth. "I got to the pine-wood before Regium without seeing anything suspicious, but also without meeting with a soul upon the way. As, looking eagerly forward, I rode past a thick tree, I felt a pull at my neck as if my head would be torn from my shoulders, and the next minute I lay on the road under my horse." "Badly sat, Gelaris," scolded Thorismuth. "Oh yes, of course! A noose of horse-hair round his neck, and an arrow whistling past his head, and a better rider would fall than Gelaris, son of Genzo! Two demons--wood-devils or goblins they seemed to me--rushed out of the bushes and over the ditch, tied me upon my horse, took me between their little shaggy ponies, and ho!----" "Those are Belisarius's Huns!" cried Valerius. "Away they went with me. When I came to myself again, I was in Regium in the midst of the enemy, and there I learned everything. The Queen-regent is murdered, war is declared, the enemy has taken Sicily by surprise, the whole island has gone over to the Emperor----" "And the fortress, Panormus?" "Was taken by the fleet, which made its way into the harbour. The mast-heads were higher than the walls of the town. From thence they shot their arrows, and jumped on to the walls." "And Syracusæ?" asked Valerius. "Fell through the treachery of the Sicilians; the Gothic garrison is murdered. Belisarius rode into Syracusæ amidst a shower of flowers, and--for it was the last days of his consulate--threw gold coins about him, amidst the applause of the population." "And where is the commodore: where is Totila?"