the Roman army cross, and three times was it compelled to recross it, fighting up to their waists in the blood-reddened waters. The Roman is overthrown, the oldest legions are shattered. Caesar alights from his horse, swings his sword, rallies his last cohorts of veterans, that already were yielding ground, and at their head charges upon our army. Despite Caesar's courage the battle was lost to him, when we saw a fresh body arrive to his aid." "You say 'We saw'?" asked Joel. "Were you at that terrible battle?" But the unknown visitor proceeded without answering: "Exhausted, decimated by a seven hours' fight, we still held out against the fresh troops ... we fought to the bitter end ... we fought unto death.... And do you know," added the stranger with an expression of profound grief, "do you know, you who remained peacefully at home, while your brothers were dying for the liberty of Gaul, which is also yours,--do you know how many survived of the sixty thousand men in the Gallic army--in that battle of the Sambre?... _Not five hundred!_" "Not five hundred!" cried Joel as if questioning the figures. "I say so because I am one of the survivors," answered the stranger proudly. "Then the two fresh scars on your face--" "I received them at the battle of the Sambre--" CHAPTER VII. "WAR! WAR! WAR!" A furious barking of dogs in the yard and a distinct noise of hard rapping at the gate of the palisade interrupted the stranger's narrative. Still laboring under the painful impression of the traveler's words, the family of the brenn for a moment imagined their homestead was being attacked. The women rose precipitately, the little ones rushed to their mothers' arms, the men ran for their arms that hung from the walls. But the dogs soon ceased barking, although the rapping at the gate continued unabated. Joel said to his family: "Although they are still rapping, the dogs do not bark. They must know who is at the gate." Saying this, the brenn stepped out. Several of his kinsmen, the stranger included, followed him out of prudence. The yard gate was opened and two voices were heard outside the palisades crying: "It is we, friends, ... Albinik and Mikael." Indeed the two sons of the brenn were distinguished by the light of the torches, and behind them their horses, panting for breath and white with foam. After tenderly embracing his sons, especially the mariner, who was absent over a year on his sea journeys, Joel entered the house with them, where they were received with joy and not a little surprise by their mother and other relatives.