My eyes at that moment caught sight of the group of black warriors. I saw that their captain Riowag could hardly be restrained by his men from drawing his sword, and revenging the insult offered to Elwig by Neroweg. But so far from obeying her brother, and no doubt fearing that in her absence I might reveal to the Terrible Eagle both her own fratricidal projects and the secret of Victoria's presents which she coveted, Elwig cried: "No! No! I remain here! The prisoner belongs to me for my auguries. I shall not go away. I shall keep him--" The only answer that Neroweg vouchsafed his sister were several blows with the handle of his pike, delivered over her back. He thereupon made a sign, and several of the warriors who accompanied him violently drove the priestess, together with the haggish old assistant, back into the cavern at the mouth of which they posted themselves on guard, sword in hand. The black warriors who surrounded Riowag were put to their mettle in order to prevent their captain from precipitating himself with drawn sword upon the Terrible Eagle. The latter, thinking only of me, failed to notice the fury of his rival, and addressed me in a voice trembling with rage, while he kicked me with his feet: "Do you recognize me, dog?" "I recognize you, rapacious wolf." "This wound," resumed Neroweg carrying his finger to the deep scar that furrowed his cheek, "do you know who made this wound?" "Yes, it is my handiwork. I fought you as a soldier." "You lie! You fought me like a coward! You were two against one!" "You were making a furious onset on the son of Victoria the Great. He was wounded--his hand could hardly hold his sword--I dashed to his help--and struck in Gallic fashion." "You marked my face with your Gallic sword--dog!" Saying this Neroweg struck me repeatedly with the handle of his pike, to the great amusement of the other kings. I remembered my ancestor Guilhern, chained like a slave and supporting with dignity the cruel treatment of the Romans after the battle of Vannes. I emulated his example. I merely said to Neroweg: "You are striking an unarmed soldier who is bound fast and who, relying upon the truce, came to you on an errand of peace--that is a coward's act. You would not dare to raise your stick at me if I stood on my feet and sword in hand." The Frankish chief laughed, struck me again and said: "He is a fool who, able to kill his enemy disarmed, does not exterminate him. I would like to kill you twice over. You are doubly my enemy. I hate you because you are a Gaul, I hate you because your race holds Gaul, the country of sunshine, of good wine and beautiful women; then also I hate you because you marked my face with a wound that is my eternal shame. I shall therefore make you suffer so much that your pain will be equal to two deaths, a thousand deaths, if I only could--you Gallic dog!"