It was a curious sound, that made by the snow which lay so thickly
beneath sandal, hoof and wheel. As it was pressed together it literally
squeaked as if it possessed feeling and remonstrated at being crushed
down from light feathery snow into solid ice.
The sounds it gave forth were at times quite loud, and were repeated
back from the towering rocks on either side. Farther on it would be a
soft crunch, crunch, mingled with the bumping of wheels and the plunging
of a horse as it struggled to drag its hoofs out of some depression into
which they had sunk, while, animated by the presence of their leader,
the horsemen cheered on the animals they led, and the charioteers helped
their pairs to drag the heavy cars over the snow-covered track.
The pass grew more and more like some huge rift in the mountain which
seemed to have been split open by lightning, whose form the deep way had
in some degree assumed.
For a few hundred yards the train would be going straight, till an acute
angle was reached, when for a distance the line would be forced to
almost double back to another point and double back again. It was a
savage kind of zig-zag which always led higher and higher, while as they
neared the top, the snow grew deeper and the walls on either side
closer, while these were not only perpendicular but in many cases
actually overhanging.
The horses' hoofs and the chariot wheels at last sank in so far, in
spite of their being unburdened, that the leader commanded a halt for
rest, and as this order was obeyed, Marcus, from where he stood panting,
with one hand that had been used to push forward the chariot resting now
upon its back, felt awe-stricken at the strange silence that for a
moment or two dwelt deep down in the jagged furrow, before it was broken
by the peculiar panting of exhausted men and steeds who were striving to
regain their wind, while a mist formed by the breath rendered everything
indistinct along the line, as it rose visibly on high.
For plainly now from the front came the sound of contending warriors,
apparently close at hand, though far enough away as yet, but increased
in power by being condensed into a narrow space, as it reverberated
along the pass from wall to wall.
But not alone from the front; fainter, but minute by minute gathering
strength, similar sounds came from the rear, telling plainly enough of
the fight that was going on where the foot-men were holding back the
advancing enemy during a steady retiring movement that could hardly be
called a retreat.
"I don't like this, boy," whispered Serge, who was resting against the
other side of the chariot.
"Are we being beaten, Serge?" asked Marcus.
"Oh, no, boy; they can't beat us. But they have got us in this narrow
gully where only a few men back and front can fight at once. Why, you
know for yourself here are all our mounted troops and us with the
chariots doing nothing but struggle through the snow, and never getting
a spear thrust at anyone. That's why I say I don't like it. I want to
be doing something, and when I say that it's just what everyone feels as
it makes his blood hot. I say, boy, you don't feel cold now?"
"Cold?" cried Marcus. "Oh, no; I only want to keep going on."
"Wait a bit, boy, and you shall have enough of that. Our captain isn't
letting us rest just to amuse ourselves. It will be forward directly,
and quite soon enough for the horses, for it's hard work for them; and I
say," continued the old soldier, jocosely, "this is a bit of a change
for you, my boy. You never thought there was a place like this so near
to Rome, where the people are lying grumbling now because it is so hot
that they cannot sleep, and panting just like old Lupe there."
For the dog was just between them, sitting up in the back of the car,
sometimes turning his head towards one, sometimes towards the other,
lolling out his vibrating tongue and sending out puffs of visible
vapour-like steam from Vesuvius.
"He's making believe that he's been working very hard," said Marcus,
laughing, "when he's been riding all the time. But all this does seem
very strange, Serge. I couldn't have believed this was possible at the
end of summer."
"Suppose not," growled the old soldier. "You see, you don't know
everything yet, my boy. There's a deal to learn, as I found out years
ago when I first went to the war with the master. But it's all doing
you good, and you will like it by-and-by when you look back and think of
it all, for there isn't much time to think just now. I say, have you
got your wind again?"
"Oh, yes, I am ready, and the horses are beginning to leave off panting.
I shall be glad when we make a fresh start. I want to get to the top."
"That's what we all want, boy--to get to the top of everything--but the
sooner we get to the end of this narrow crack and can expect that it
will begin to open out and give us room to swing our arms, the better we
shall all like it. The chief ought to be thinking of starting up
afresh, for there's a deal of fighting going on back and front."
The sounds that came floating to their ears, echoed from the snowy
walls, made this all plain enough, while the shouting from the rear grew
nearer and nearer; and then it seemed that the rear-guard was coming
more rapidly on, just as the order to move forward came from the front
and passed along the line.
With a couple of halts for rest the troops plodded on and the horses
struggled for another hour, and then, to the great delight of all, the
word came back from the front that the height of the pass had been
reached, that the head of the column was beginning to descend, and that
not far in front their comrades were holding the enemy in check.
This intelligence was like an invigorating breath of air to the little
force. The men stepped out and dragged and pushed, and the cries of the
drivers had a cheering sound, as they called upon their horses in a tone
of voice which made the struggling beasts exert themselves more than
ever.
It was still terribly hard work, but there was no upward drag; the great
strain was gone, for the descent was steep, and a great portion of the
weight the chariot horses had to draw seemed to have been taken off.
The pass was still walled in by towering heights, but it was rapidly
opening out, and at the end of another hour the advance force, which had
contented themselves with holding one of the narrowest portions of the
way, had been strengthened, and pressed back the enemy.
There was another halt of the chariots, to enable a portion of the
troops from the rear to close up and pass through to the front to join
the advance, a manoeuvre which the panting men, as they struggled over
the beaten snow, obeyed with alacrity, eager to get into action and
bring to an end the hours of suspense through which they had passed in
comparative inaction while listening to the echoes of the fighting going
on in front and rear.
"There, boy," said Serge, cheerfully, as they found time now to talk as
well as rest; "this don't look like being beaten, does it?"
"I don't know," said Marcus, dubiously. "We seem as much shut up as
ever."
"Nay, not us! Why, the walls are ever so much farther back, and we have
got more room to breathe."
"But it's horribly dark still," said Marcus, rather wearily, "and the
snow seems as deep."
"Not it," cried Serge. "And see how it's trampled down. Then it isn't
so cold."
"Not so cold!" cried Marcus. "Why, it's terrible!"
"Not it! Why, since we have been coming down a bit we have got more
into shelter, and that cutting wind that came up the pass isn't
whistling about one's ears."
"Well, no," said Marcus. "That is better."
"Better, yes; and so's everything else. It won't be long now before the
pass widens ever so much, and we shall begin to leave the snow behind;
and then as soon as we get on to level ground the captain will get his
horse to work to drive the barbarians back towards the plains below, and
then--you'll see that our turn will come."
"To fight, Serge?"
"Yes, boy. He'll be letting loose his chariots then, and when he does,
the fighting will be over for to-day."
"For to-day!" said Marcus, with a faint laugh.
"Well, yes, it must be getting towards morning, and before many hours we
shall be seeing the sun again, and if we are lucky have made a jump out
of winter into spring. But there, keep up your spirits, boy. I can see
a good breakfast ahead, and a long sleep in the sunshine waiting for us
down below when we have cleared these flies out of our path. They are a
worry now, but you'll see before long."
Marcus was destined to see more than his old companion anticipated
during the next few hours, and events began to crowd rapidly one upon
another's heels.
Their advance was no sooner strengthened by the foot-men who had been so
long inactive while crossing the pass, than changes began to occur,
foremost among which was the progress forward, the little force now
pressing steadily on downward.
It was wintry and dark and the fighting was still going on with the
enemy, who were slowly giving way, while to balance this the attack on
the rear was still kept up. But the pass was opening more and more, and
during the next few hours the progress of the little force had been slow
but steady, the first rays of the sun shining upon the jaded men and
horses halted in a sterile amphitheatre surrounded by rocks which
afforded a fair amount of protection, Nature having formed the hollow
with but one entrance and one exit, her instrument for carving out the
depression having probably been a huge river of ice descending from the
heights behind towards the plains below, of which glimpses now began to
appear.
Rest was imperative, and evidently feeling that his position was far
from safe, their leader had set a portion of his men to strengthen the
opening front and rear by means of the ample supply of scattered rocks,
many of which only needed a few well-directed thrusts to partly block up
the rugged track and form an adequate defence.
This done and his foot-men disposed to the best advantage for the
protection of the still crippled mounted force, it was expected by all
that a few hours' rest might be obtained.
The position was bad, and their leader had intended to have pressed on
downward to the plains; but the enemy in the rear had advanced so
swiftly, their allies given way so stubbornly, that he was forced to
seize upon the hollow which offered itself as being a natural
stronghold, here to breathe his men and recruit for a few hours before
making a final dash.