asked the fossor to lead him out again, as he wished to do something in the city, which he had to attend to. Julius took Marcus from him, and Galdus departed. Labeo scarce thought of his departure just then, in his eagerness to get a place of rest for his wife. He thought of it afterward, however.

Julius took them to a place where Lydia was, and then the young girl was awakened, and in her joy at Helena's safety could scarce find words. For she had heard from Julius the great danger that impended.

Soon a place was found where Helena could rest. Weary and worn out, she soon sank into sleep, and Marcus slept with her.

Then Labeo told Julius all.

"And have you, indeed, gone through all this since I saw you last?" said he. "But how did you and Galdus happen to meet at that same place?"

"I," said Labeo, "had gone to find the emperor, and ask safety for my wife and son. If he had refused, I would have stabbed him, and then myself. It was the thought of vengeance that sustained me. Galdus had his own plans, and could have delivered them without me, and would have done so; but I don't know where he could have concealed them; perhaps in the vaults. Yes; that must have been his intention." "And where is Galdus now?"

Labeo started.

"He is gone! Ah, Hegio! I see your fate in this! Yes, the Briton will not be cheated of his vengeance."

"What do you mean?"

"Galdus left at once when we first arrived.

have one purpose, to have his revenge on Hegio."

He can only

Julius said nothing. What that revenge was to be, they could not form an idea. The barbarian had his own ways.

Labeo could not sleep; but it was not sorrow that made him wakeful. The revulsion from despair to hope was great.

the thought of present safety he lost sight of the future. The gloom, the damp, and the rough rocks that surrounded him were all forgotten. One great joy filled his soul, and that was that he had rescued his wife and boy.

When Galdus left the catacombs, he walked rapidly back toward the city. It was now not more than three hours past midnight, and the moon shone brightly.

In his pursuit during the previous part of the night he had meditated many things.

He knew that to which Hegio had doomed the boy and his mother, death, a death by fire.

spicuous part in the acts of Hegio.

of flames kindled by him.

Fire had formed a con

Galdus yet bore the scars

This was the second time that he

had saved Marcus from that fate.

He had thought over all this in his pursuit. He had fed his fierce barbaric soul with this one hope. He had planned all his course, and knew how it should be decided.

He entered the city and reached the Esquiline, and the ruins of Labeo's house at last rose before him,—a reminder of what he had suffered, a goad to his vengeful passion.

The vaults were dark and silent. He feared that he might be robbed of his prey. If that iron hand of his could have trembled, then it would have done so as in his impatience he felt the fastenings of the door of the dungeon.

They had been untouched.

He tore open the door-he sprang in. There lay his victim yet. He dragged him out into the outer vault.

Hegio could say nothing and do nothing. It was as well. The nature of Galdus was inexorable.

He unbound the arms of Hegio, and drew off his outer robe and his costume. These had the decorations which indicated a servant of the imperial household. These Galdus laid aside. Then, taking off his own tunic, he put it on Hegio. After this, he dressed himself in Hegio's clothes.

Hegio, while his arms were free, made a desperate attempt to unfasten the gag, but Galdus sternly ordered him to desist, and displayed his dagger.

Then he raised his hands imploringly, but to no purpose. For, after Galdus had completed his dress, he pinioned the arms of Hegio once more.

Then he unbound his feet.

Holding him then by the end of the fastening that bound his arms, Galdus led him out of the vaults and down the hill, and over the waste place, toward the Campus Martius.

Hegio made no resistance. He thought he was being led to the prison in which he had confined the mother and child, so as to assist in some plan of delivery.

To his surprise, when they reached the Campus Martius, his captor kept straight on toward the Tiber, where the bridge crossed that led to the Vatican.

Crossing the bridge, they reached the entrance to the gardens. Here they were stopped by guards.

"I have brought a Christian arrested to-night, and he is ordered for instant execution."

At these words Hegio gave a wild bound backward. But Galdus held him firmly. The soldiers stepped forward and seized the prisoner.

"He is to be clothed in the tunica molesta and burned." "When ?"

"Now."

"Who are you, and what is your authority?"

66

Here," said Galdus, showing a ring which he had taken from his prisoner's finger. The soldiers looked at it, but did not seem to see anything in it. But Galdus's dress showed that he must be some one in authority.

"Who are you?"

"Hegio," said Galdus, "of the imperial household. This

man is ordered for immediate execution, and I am to stay to see that it is performed."

The soldiers thought it was all right. So many Christians had been brought there to be burned, that it was a very common thing to them. So, without further questioning, they led Hegio away, and Galdus followed.

The soldiers took down the name which Galdus gave as that of the prisoner. It was, "Galdus, a Briton."

The true Galdus watched the false Galdus suffer.

There was no horror in his mind at the scene. He had watched such sights before. He had seen the hideous spectacles which the Druids exhibited, when scores of hapless wretches were burned in wicker cages. He had seen his own relatives suffer thus. He found no difficulty in looking on an enemy.

The wretched Hegio could say nothing, and do nothing. His eyes and face expressed his agony. Too well he knew what was before him. But that agony only filled Galdus with exultation.

The victim was covered with the usual coat of tar and flax, and bound to the stake.

Then the torch was applied.

D

XXVIII.

Freedom.

URING this time, Cineas had been ignorant of everything. Plunged in grief, and afflicted with the worst apprehensions, he dreaded the impending calamities, yet knew not how to avoid them. After Labeo had left he remained, and gave way to the most gloomy fears. With folded arms he paced up and down restlessly for many hours, trying in vain to think of some way by which he might rescue the captives.

At last, unable to think of anything, and unable also to endure his misery, he mounted his horse and rode toward Rome. In his despair, he resolved upon one step which he would not take to save his own life, but brought himself to for the sake of these dear ones. That was to appeal to Tigellinus.

It was early morning when he reached Rome, and he went at once to the house of Nero's favourite. A great crowd of clients already beset the doors, waiting to pay their respects to their patron. Cineas made his way through these, and by liberal bribery induced the servants to awaken Tigellinus, and convey to him a request for an interview.

Perhaps nothing could have given greater joy to this man. To have Cineas, the favourite of Nero, the intellectual, the virtuous, the proud Cineas, the man who stood in a position in which he could never be, to have such a man coming to him as a suppliant was sweet indeed. Tigellinus saw how heavily the