"This road," he thought, "is open and undefended, while the road which the King will take to the Spes Bonorum leads through wood and vineyard. Perhaps I shall succeed in attracting the pursuers away from him." And, in fact, he had no sooner issued from beneath the trees, and begun to ride up the hill, than he saw that the horsemen who had come from beyond Taginæ were eagerly following him. In order to keep the pursuers away from the King, and from discovering their error, he urged his horse to its full speed. But the animal was wounded, and the way was very steep. Nearer and nearer came the pursuers. "Is it he?" "Yes, it is he." "No, it is not. He is too short," said the leader of the troop, who rode foremost. "Would he fly alone?" "That would be the best way to escape," observed the leader. "It is he most surely; I see the silver swan on his helmet!" "And the white mantle!" "But he rode a white horse," said the leader. "Yes, at first," said one of the horsemen; "but when it fell, struck by my spear, they lifted him--I was close by--upon that charger." "Enough," said the leader, "you are right. I recognise the horse." "A noble animal! How it keeps on, and up hill, too, although wounded." "Yes, he is a noble animal! And I will make him stop. Pay attention! Halt, Pluto!" he shouted. "On your knees!" Snorting and trembling, the clever, obedient animal, in spite of spur and blows, stood stockstill, and slowly bent its fore-legs in the sand. "It is ruin, barbarian, to ride the Prefect's horse! There, take that for the Forum! and that for the Capitol! and that for Julius!" And the Prefect--for he it was--furiously hurled three spears one after the other, his own and two carried by Syphax, at the back of his victim, and with such force that they passed completely through the fugitive's body. Then Cethegus sprang from his horse, drew his sword, and taking the fallen man by the back of his helmet, dragged up his head from the earth. "Julius!" he screamed in horror. "You, O Cethegus!" Julius could just murmur. "Julius! you must not, must not die!" And Cethegus passionately tried to stanch the blood that issued from the three wounds. "If you love me," said the dying man, "save him--save Totila!" And his gentle eyes closed for ever. Cethegus put his hand upon the heart of the dead man; he laid his ear upon the bared breast.