The two travellers did not attempt to alter their pace, seeing that they could not escape by flight. No shafts were aimed at them, and in a short time they found themselves surrounded by a party of armed men, with unkempt hair, long beards, and soil-stained garments, which showed the wild life they were accustomed to lead. "Who are you, and where are you going?" asked the leader of the robbers--for such it was very evident they were. He drew a dagger as he spoke, and held it ready to strike Jovinian. "We are simple travellers, carrying but few articles which you would deem of value--our necessary garments and some books," answered Jovinian. "And what about your money?" asked the robber, laughing; "that is of more consequence to us than the articles you mention; however, we will not stop here. You must spend a night with us. You cannot reach any human abode before dark, and we will take the opportunity of looking into these matters." Jovinian and Largus could only comply, and, attended by the robbers, they proceeded in the direction in which they were before going. They were soon out of the gorge, and entered a region even more wild and barren than the one they had left. Black rocks lay scattered about, amid which a rapid stream hissed and roared along through a narrow bed. Further off, on the other side of a broad valley, rose precipitous cliffs, rent by the convulsions of Nature, which had formed dark gorges between them. In some places the mouths of gloomy caverns could be distinguished in the sides of the cliffs--fit abodes for wild beasts, or lawless men such as those into whose power the travellers had fallen. Towards one of these caves the robbers were conducting their captives, when suddenly from behind a rock a person started forth, whom Jovinian, from his strange appearance, took to be a madman or some being possessed of an evil spirit, driven from the haunts of men. If is dress, of coarse texture, stained with dirt, hung in rags and tatters about him, exposing a hair garment, worn next his skin. His person was emaciated in the extreme, his hair cut close, his head and neck sprinkled with ashes. He waved about him a staff, which he carried in his hand. "What are ye about, ye men of violence?" he exclaimed, pointing his staff at the robbers. "Begone! fly! or be prepared for the vengeance of one who knows how to protect the innocent!" The robbers drew back, trembling with fear; and as the recluse--for such he was--continued waving his staff, they took fairly to flight, and left Jovinian and Largus to pursue their way with their mules and baggage.