What had happened? He had known, as had everyone in Castrum Mare, that the forces of Sublatus were camped before the fort, but he knew that there had been no battle and so this could not be the army of Sublatus entering Castrum Mare, but it was equally strange if the defenders of Castrum Mare should be marching away from the fort while it was menaced by an enemy army. He could not understand these things, nor could he understand why the people were cheering. As he stood there watching the approach of the marching column, the shouts of the people took on form and he heard the name of Cassius Hasta distinctly. "What has happened?" he demanded, shouting to the men in the street. "Cassius Hasta has returned at the head of a big army, and Fulvus Fupus has already fled and is in hiding." The shouted question and the equally loud reply were heard by all within the room. "We are saved," cried Mallius Lepus, "for Cassius Hasta will harm no friend of Septimus Favonius. Aside now, you fools, if you know when you are well off," and he advanced toward the doorway. "Back, men," cried the officer. "Back to the avenue. Let no hand be raised against Mallius Lepus or these other friends of Cassius Hasta, Emperor of the East." "I guess this fellow knows which side his bread is buttered on," commented von Harben, with a grin. Together Favonia, von Harben, Lepus, and Gabula stepped from the deserted building into the avenue. Approaching them they saw the head of a column of marching men; flaming torches lighted the scene until it was almost as bright as day. "There is Cassius Hasta," exclaimed Mallius Lepus. "It is indeed he, but who are those with him?" "They must be Sanguinarians," said Favonia. "But look, one of them is garbed like a barbarian, and see the strange, black warriors with their white plumes that are marching behind them." "I have never seen the like in all my life," exclaimed Mallius Lepus. "Neither have I," said von Harben, "but I am sure that I recognize them, for their fame is great and they answer the description that I have heard a thousand times." "Who are they?" asked Favonia. "The white giant is Tarzan of the Apes, and the black warriors are his Waziri fighting men." At sight of the legionaries standing before the house, Cassius Hasta halted the column. "Where is the centurion in command of these troops?" he demanded. "It is I, glorious Caesar," replied the officer, who had come to arrest the abductors of Favonia. "Does it happen that you are one of the detachments sent out by Fulvus Fupus to search for Mallius Lepus and the barbarian, von Harben?" "We are here, Caesar," cried Mallius Lepus, while Favonia, von Harben, and Gabula followed behind him. "May the gods be praised!" exclaimed Cassius Hasta, as he embraced his old friend. "But where is the barbarian chieftain from Germania, whose fame has reached even to Castra Sanguinarius?" "This is he," said Mallius Lepus, "This is Erich von Harben."