by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER VI: FIRST SUCCESSES
Upon leaving his mother, Beric returned to the spot where the Sarciwere lying. Some of the chiefs were sitting round a fire made ofbeams and woodwork dragged from the ruins of the Roman houses.
"We must be up an hour before daybreak; I think that there willbe work for us tomorrow. If Unser and his tribe fail in capturingthe temple we are to try; and there will be preparations to make."And he explained the plan upon which he had determined.
Daylight was just breaking when the Sarci entered the forest fourmiles from Camalodunum. Here they scattered in search of dry wood.In two hours sufficient had been gathered for their purpose, and itwas made up into two hundred great faggots nearly four feet acrossand ten in length, in weight as much as a strong man could carryon his head. With these they returned to the city. It needed noquestions as to the result of the attack, which had just terminatedwith the same fortune that had befallen that on the day previous.Unser had been killed, and large numbers of his men had fallen intheir vain attempts to hew down the gates. The battering rams hadproved a complete failure. Many of the fifty men who carried thebeam had fallen as they advanced. The others had rushed at the gatedoor, but the recoil had thrown them down, and many had had theirlimbs broken from the tree falling on them. Attempts had been madeto repeat the assault; but the Romans having pierced the underpart of the roof in many places, let fall javelins and poured downboiling oil; and at last, having done all that was possible, butin vain, the tribesmen had fallen back.
Beric proceeded at once to the queen's. A council was being held,and it had just been determined to march away to meet Cerealis whenBeric entered. Aska left his place in the circle of chiefs as soonas he saw him enter the door.
"Are you ready to undertake it, Beric? Do not do so unless you havestrong hopes of success. The repulses of yesterday and today havelowered the spirits of our men, and another failure would stillfurther harm us."
"I will undertake it, Aska, and I think I can answer for success;but I shall need three hours before I begin."
"That could be spared," the chief said. "Cerealis will not havelearned the news until last night at the earliest--he may notknow it yet. There is no fear of his arriving here until tomorrow."Then he returned to his place.
"Before we finally decide, queen," he said, "I would tell you thatthe young chief Beric is ready to attack the place with the Sarci.He has learned much of the Roman methods, and may be more fortunatethan the others have been. I would suggest that he be allowed totry, for it will have a very ill effect upon the tribes if we failin taking the temple, which is regarded as the symbol of Romandominion. I will even go so far as to say that a retreat now wouldgo very far to mar our hopes of success in the war, for the newswould spread through the country and dispirit others now preparingto join us."
"Why should Beric succeed when Unser has failed?" one of the chiefssaid. "Can a lad achieve a success where one of our best and bravestchiefs has been repulsed?"
"I think that he might," Aska replied. "At any rate, as he is readyto risk his life and his tribe in doing so, I pray the queen togive her consent. He demands three hours to make his preparationsfor the attack."
"He shall try," Boadicea said decidedly. "You saw the other day,chiefs, how well he has learned the Roman methods of war. He shallhave an opportunity now of turning his knowledge to account. Parta,you are willing that your son should try?"
"Certainly I am willing," Parta said. "He can but die once; hecannot die in a nobler effort for his country."
"Then it is settled," the queen said. "The Sarci will attack inthree hours."
As soon as Beric heard the decision he hurried away and at onceordered the tribesmen to scatter through the country and to killtwo hundred of the cattle roaming at present masterless, to stripoff their hides, and bring them in. They returned before the threehours expired, bringing in the hides. In the meantime Beric hadprocured from a half consumed warehouse a quantity of oil, pitch,and other combustibles, and had smeared the faggots with them. Onthe arrival of the men with the hides, these were bound with theraw side upwards over the faggots.
Two hundred of the strongest men of the tribe were then chosen anddivided into two parties, and the rest being similarly divided,took their station at the ends of the square facing the gates.When Beric sounded his horn the faggot bearers raised their burdenson to their heads and formed in a close square, ten abreast, withthe faggots touching each other. Beric himself commanded the partyfacing the principal entrance, and holding a blazing torch in eachhand, took his place in the centre of the square, there being ampleroom for him between the lines of men. The rest of the tribe wereordered to stand firmly in order until he gave the signal for theadvance. Then he again sounded his horn, and the two parties advancedfrom the opposite ends of the square.
As soon as they came within reach the Romans showered down dartsand javelins; but these either slipped altogether from the surfaceof the wet hides, or, penetrating them, went but a short distanceinto the faggots; and the British tribesmen raised shouts ofexultation as the two solid bodies advanced unshaken to the stepsof the temple. Mounting these they advanced to the gates. In vainthe Romans dropped their javelins perpendicularly through theholes in the ceiling of the colonnade, in vain poured down streamsof boiling oil, which had proved so fatal to the last attack. Thejavelins failed to penetrate, the oil streamed harmless off thehides. The men had, before advancing, received minute instructions.The ten men in the front line piled their faggots against the door,and then keeping close to the wall of the temple itself, slippedround to the side colonnade.
The operation was repeated by the next line, and so on until buttwo lines remained. Then the two men at each end of these linesmounted the pile of faggots and placed their burdens there, leavingbut six standing. In their centre Beric had his place, and now,kneeling down under their shelter, applied his torches to the pile.He waited till he saw the flames beginning to mount up. Then hegave the word; the six men dropped their faggots to the ground,and with him ran swiftly to the side colonnade, where they were inshelter, as the Romans, knowing they could not be attacked here,had made no openings in the ceiling above. The Britons were franticwith delight when they saw columns of smoke followed by tongues offlames mounting from either end of the temple. Higher and higherthe flames mounted till they licked the ceiling above them.
For half an hour the fire continued, and by the end of that timethere was but a glowing mass of embers through which those withoutcould soon see right into the temple. The doors and the obstaclesbehind them had been destroyed. As soon as he was aware by theshouts of his countrymen that the faggots were well in a blaze,Beric had sounded his horn, and he and the tribesmen from bothcolonnades had run across the open unmolested by the darts of theRomans, who were too panic stricken at the danger that threatenedthem to pay any heed to their movements. Beric was received withloud acclamations by the Iceni, and was escorted by a shoutingmultitude to the queen, who had taken her place at a point whereshe could watch the operations. She held out her hand to him. "Youhave succeeded, Beric," she said; "and my thanks and those of allhere--nay, of all Britain--are due to you. In half an hour thetemple will be open to attack."
"Hardly in that time, queen," he replied. "The faggots will doubtlesshave done their work by then, but it will be hours before the embersand stonework will be sufficiently cool to enable men to pass overthem to the assault."
"We can wait," the queen said. "A messenger, who left the camp ofCerealis at daybreak, has just arrived, and at that hour nothingwas known to the Romans of our attack here. They will not now arriveuntil tomorrow."
Not until the afternoon was it considered that the entrances wouldbe cool enough to pass through. Then the Sarci prepared for theattack, binding pieces of raw hide under their feet to protect themfrom the heated stonework. They were formed ten abreast. Beric tookhis place before the front line of one of the columns, and withlevelled spears they advanced at a run towards the doors. A showerof missiles salu
ted them from the roof. Some fell, but the rest,pressing on in close order, dashed through the gateway and flungthemselves upon the Roman soldiers drawn up to oppose their passage.The resistance was feeble. The Romans had entirely lost heart andcould not for a moment sustain the weight of the charge. They wereswept away from the entrance, and the Britons poured in.
Standing in groups the Romans defended themselves in desperation;but their efforts were vain, and in five minutes the last defenderof the place was slain. As soon as the fight was over the wholeof the Iceni rushed tumultuously forward with exultant shouts andfilled the temple; then a horn sounded and a lane was made, asBoadicea, followed by her chiefs and chieftainesses, entered thetemple. The queen's face was radiant with triumph, and she wouldhave spoken but the shouting was so loud that those near her couldnot obtain silence. They understood, however, when advancing tothe statues of the gods that stood behind the altars, she wavedher spear. In an instant the tribesmen swarmed round the statues,ropes were attached to the massive figures, and Jupiter, Mars, andMinerva fell to the ground with a crash, as did the statue of theEmperor Claudius.
A mighty shout hailed its downfall. The gods of the Britons, insultedand outraged, were avenged upon those of Rome; the altars of Monahad streamed with the blood of the Druids, those of Camalodunumwere wet with the gore of Roman legionaries. The statues were brokento pieces, the altars torn down, and then the chiefs ordered thetribesmen to fetch in faggots. Thousands went to the forest, whileothers pulled down detached houses and sheds that had escapedthe flames, and dragged the beams and woodwork to the temple.By nightfall an enormous pile of faggots was raised round each ofthe eight interior columns that in two lines supported the roof.Torches were applied by Boadicea, her two daughters and some of theprincipal Druids, and in a short time the interior of the temple wasa glowing furnace. The beams of the ceiling and roof soon ignitedand the flames shot up high into the air.
All day the Trinobantes had been pouring in, and a perfect frenzyof delight reigned among the great crowd looking on at the destructionof the temple that had been raised to signify and celebrate thesubjugation of Britain. Women with flowing hair performed wilddances of triumph; some rushed about as if possessed with madness,uttering prophecies of the total destruction of the Romans; othersfoamed at the mouth and fell in convulsions, while the men werescarcely less excited over their success. Messengers had alreadybrought in news that at midday Cerealis had learned that Camalodunumhad been attacked, and that the legion was to start on the followingmorning to relieve the town.
The news had been taken to him by one of the Trinobantes, who hadreceived his instructions from Aska. He was to say that the town hadsuddenly been attacked and that many had fallen; but the greaterportion of the population had escaped to the temple, which hadbeen vainly attacked by the Iceni. The object of this news was toinduce Cerealis to move out from his fortified camp. The chiefsfelt the difficulty of assaulting such a position, and though theyhad dreaded the arrival of Cerealis before the temple was taken,they were anxious that he should set out as soon as they saw thatBeric's plan of attack had succeeded, and that the temple was nowopen to their assault.
At midnight the roof of the temple fell in, and nothing remainedbut the bare walls and the columns surrounding them. The chiefsordered their followers to make their way through the still burningtown and to gather by tribes outside the defensive works, and therelie down until morning, when they would march to meet the legionof Cerealis. At daybreak they were again afoot and on the marchsouthward, swollen by the accession of the Trinobantes and by thearrival during the last two days of tribes who had been too lateto join the rest at Cardun. The British force now numbered at leastfifty thousand.
"It is a great army, Beric," Boduoc said exultingly as they movedforward.
"It is a great host," Beric replied. "I would that it were anarmy. Had they all even as much training as our men I should feelconfident in the future."
"But surely you are confident now, Beric; we have begun well."
"We have scarcely begun at all," Beric said. "What have we done?Destroyed a sleeping town and captured by means of fire a templedefended by four hundred men. We shall win today, that I do notdoubt. The men are wrought up by their success, and the Romans arelittle prepared to meet such a force--I doubt not that we shallbeat them, but to crush a legion is not to defeat Rome. I hope,Boduoc, but I do not feel confident. Look back at the Sarci and thenlook round at this disordered host. Well, the Romans in disciplineand order exceed the Sarci as much as we exceed the rest of theIceni. They will be led by generals trained in war; we are led bychiefs whose only idea of war is to place themselves at the head oftheir tribe and rush against the enemy. Whether courage and greatnumbers can compensate for want of discipline remains to be seen.The history of Rome tells me that it has never done so yet."
After five hours' marching some fleet footed scouts sent on aheadbrought in the news that the Romans were approaching. A haltwas called, and the chiefs assembled round the queen's chariot incouncil. Beric was summoned by a messenger from the queen.
"You must always attend our councils," she said when he came up."You have proved that, young as you are, you possess a knowledgeof war that more than compensates for your lack of years. You havethe right, after capturing the temple for us, to take for the Sarcithe post of honour in today's battle. Choose it for yourself. Youknow the Romans; where do you think we had better fight them?"
"I think we could not do better than await them here," he said. "Westand on rising ground, and one of the Trinobantes to whom I havejust spoken says that there is a swamp away on the left of ourfront, so that the Roman horsemen cannot advance in that direction.I should attack them in face and on their left flank, closing inthickly so as to prevent their horsemen from breaking out on tothe plain at our right and then falling upon us in our rear. Sinceyou are good enough to say that I may choose my post for the Sarci,I will hold them where they stand; then, should the others fail tobreak the Roman front, we will move down upon them and check theiradvance while the rest attack their flanks."
This answer pleased some of the chiefs, who felt jealous of thehonour the small tribe had gained on the previous day. They wereafraid that Beric would have chosen to head the attack.
"Does that plan please you?" Boadicea asked.
"It is as well as another," one of the chiefs said. "Let the Sarcilook on this time while we destroy the enemy. I should have thoughtBeric would have chosen for his tribe the post of honour in theattack."
"The Romans always keep their best troops in reserve," Beric saidquietly; "in a hard fight it is the reserve that decides the fateof the battle."
"Then let it be so," Boadicea said. "Is the swamp that you speakof deep?"
"It is not too deep for our men to cross," one of the chiefs of theTrinobantes said; "but assuredly a horseman could not pass throughit."
"Very well, then, let the Trinobantes attack by falling upon theRomans on our right; the Iceni will attack them in front; and theSarci will remain where they stand until Beric sees need for themto advance."
In a few minutes the Roman legion was seen advancing, with aportion of the cavalry in front and the rest in the rear. The queen,whose chariot was placed in front of the line, raised her spear.A tremendous shout was raised by the Britons, and with wild criesthe tribes poured down to the attack, while the women, clustered onthe slopes they had left, added their shrill cries of encouragementto the din. The Romans, who, believing that the Britons were stillengaged in the attack on Camalodunum, had no expectation of meetingthem on the march, halted and stood uncertain as the masses ofBritons poured down to the attack. Then their trumpets sounded andthey again advanced, the cavalry in the rear moving forward to jointhose in the advance, but before they accomplished this the Britonswere upon them. Showers of darts were poured in, and the horsemen,unable to stand the onslaught, rode into the spaces between thecompanies of the infantry, who, moving outwards and forming a solidcolumn on either flank, protected them from the
assaults of theirfoes.
The Britons, after pouring in showers of javelins, flung themselves,sword in hand, upon the Roman infantry; but these with levelledspears showed so solid a front that they were unable to breakthrough, while from behind the spearmen, the light armed Romantroops poured volleys of missiles among them. Boadicea called Bericto her side.
"It is as you said, Beric; the order in which the Romans fight iswonderful. See how steadily they hold together, it is like a wildboar attacked by dogs; but they will be overwhelmed, see how thedarts fly and how bravely the Iceni are fighting."
The tribesmen, indeed, were attacking with desperate bravery.Seizing the heads of the spears they attempted to wrest them fromtheir holders, or to thrust them aside and push forward withinstriking distance. Sometimes they partially succeeded, and thoughthe first might fall others rushing in behind reached the Romansand pressed them backwards, but reserves were brought up and theline restored. Then slowly but steadily the Romans moved forward,and although partial success had at some points attended those whoattacked them in flank, the front of the column with serried spearsheld its way on in spite of the efforts of the Britons to arrestthe movement. Presently the supply of javelins of their assailantsbegan to fail, and the assaults upon the head of the column to growmore feeble, while the shouts of the Roman soldiers rose above thecries of their assailants.
"Now it is time for us to move down," Beric said; "if we can arrestthe advance their flanks will be broken in before long. Now, men,"he shouted as he returned to his place at the head of the Sarci,"now is the time to show that you can meet the Romans in theirown fashion. Move slowly down to the attack, let no man hasten hispace, but let each keep his place in the ranks. Four companies willattack the Romans in front, the others in column five deep willmarch down till they face the Roman flank, then they will march atit, spears down, and break it in."
Beric sounded his bugle, and ten deep the four hundred men movedsteadily down to the attack of the Romans. The five front ranksmarched with levelled spears, those behind prepared to hurl theirdarts over their heads. When within fifty yards of the enemythe Sarci raised their battle cry, and the Iceni engaged with theRomans in front, seeing the hedge of spears advancing behind them,hurriedly ran off at both flanks and the Sarci advanced to theattack.
The Romans halted involuntarily, astonished at the spectacle.Never before had they encountered barbarians advancing in formationsimilar to their own, and the sight of the tall figures advancingalmost naked to the assault--for the Britons always threw offtheir garments before fighting--filled them with something likeconsternation. At the shouts of their officers, however, they againgot into motion and met the Britons firmly. The additional lengthBeric had given to the spears of the Sarci now proved of vitaladvantage, and bearing steadily onward they brought the Romansto a standstill, while the javelins from the British rear ranksfell thick and fast among them. Gradually the Romans were pressedbackwards, quickly as the gaps were filled up by those behind,until the charging shout of the Sarci on their flank was heard.Beric blew his horn, and his men with an answering shout pressedforward faster, their cries of victory rising as the Romans gaveway.
Still the latter fought stubbornly, until triumphant yells and confusedshouts told them that the flank had given way under the attack ofthe Britons. Then Beric's horn sounded again, the slow advance wasconverted into a charge, the ranks behind closed up, and beforethe weight and impetus of the rush the Roman line was broken. Thenthe impetuosity of the Sarci could no longer be restrained, in vainBeric blew his horn. Flinging down their spears and drawing theirswords the Britons flung themselves on the broken mass, the othertribesmen pouring in tumultuously behind them.
For a few minutes a desperate conflict raged, each man fighting forhimself, but numbers prevailed, the Roman shouts became feebler,the war cries of the Britons louder and more triumphant. In tenminutes the fight was over, more than two thousand Roman soldierslay dead, while Cerealis and the cavalry, bursting their way throughtheir assailants, alone escaped, galloping off at full speed towardsthe refuge of their fortified camp. The exultation of the Britonsknew no bounds. They had for the first time since the Romans setfoot on their shore beaten them in a fair fight in the open. Therewas a rush to collect the arms, shields, and helmets of the fallenRomans, and two of the Sarci presently brought the standards ofthe legion to Beric.
"Follow me with them," he said, and, extricating himself from thethrong, ascended the slope to where Boadicea, surrounded with womenwho were dancing and joining in a triumphant chant of victory, wasstill standing in her chariot.
"Here are the Roman standards, the emblems of victory," Beric saidas he approached the chariot.
Boadicea sprang down, and advancing to him, embraced him warmly."The victory is yours, Beric," she said. "Keep these two eagles, andfix them in your hall, so that your children's children may pointto them with pride and say, 'It was Beric, chief of the Sarci, whofirst overthrew the Romans in the field.' But there is no time tobe lost;" and she turned to her charioteer, who carried a horn."Sound the summons for the chiefs to assemble."
There were several missing, for the Britons had suffered heavilyin their first attack.
"Chiefs," she said, "let us not lose an instant, but press on afterthe Romans. Let us strike before they recover from their confusionand surprise. Catus Decianus may be in their camp, and while I seekno other spoil, him I must have to wreak my vengeance on. See thata party remain to look to the wounded, and that such as need it aretaken to their homes in wagons." The horns were at once sounded,the tribesmen flocked back to the positions from which they hadcharged, and resumed their garments. Then the march was continued.
They presented a strange appearance now. Almost every man had takenpossession of some portion or other of the Romans' arms. Some hadhelmets, others shields, others breastplates, swords, or spears.The helmets, however, were speedily taken off and slung behindthem, the heads of the Iceni being vastly larger than those of theRomans, the tallest of whom they overtopped by fully six inches.The arms of the officer who commanded under Cerealis were offeredto Beric, but he refused them.
"I fight to drive the Romans from our land," he said, "and notfor spoil. Nothing of theirs will I touch, but will return to theforest when all is over just as I left it."
By evening they approached the Roman camp. A portion of the legionhad been left there when Cerealis set out, and in the light ofthe setting sun the helmets and spearheads could be seen above themassive palisades that rose on the top of the outworks. The Britonshalted half a mile away, fires were lighted, and the men sat down tofeast upon the meat that had been brought in wagons from Camalodunum.Then a council was held. As a rule, the British councils wereattended by all able bodied men. The power of the chiefs, exceptin actual war, was very small, for the Britons, like their Gaulishancestors, considered every man to be equal, and each had a voicein the management of affairs. Thus every chief had, before takingup arms, held a council of his tribesmen, and it was only afterthey had given their vote for war that he possessed any distinctpower and control.
When the council began, one of the chiefs of the Trinobantes wasasked first to give a minute description of the Roman camp. Theworks were formidable. Surrounding it was a broad and deep fosse,into which a stream was turned. Beyond this there was a double vallumor wall of earth so steep as to be climbed with great difficulty.In the hollow between the two walls sharp stakes were set thicklytogether. The second wall was higher than the first, and completelycommanded it. Along its top ran a solid palisade of massive beams,behind which the earth was banked up to within some three and ahalf feet from the top, affording a stand for the archers, slingers,and spearmen.
The council was animated, but the great majority of chiefs were infavour of leaving this formidable position untouched, and fallingupon places that offered a chance of an easier capture. The British intheir tribal wars fought largely for the sake of plunder. In theirfirst burst of fury at Camalodunum they had, contrary to theircustom,
sought only to destroy; but their thirst for blood wasnow appeased, they longed for the rich spoils of the Roman cities,both as trophies of victory and to adorn their women. The chiefsrepresented that already many of their bravest tribesmen had fallen,and it would be folly to risk a heavy loss in the attack upon sucha position.
What matter, they argued, if two or three hundred Romans were leftthere for the present? They could do no harm, and could be eithercaptured by force or obliged to surrender by hunger after Suetoniusand the Roman army had been destroyed. Not a day should be lost,they contended, in marching upon Verulamium, after which Londoncould be sacked, for, although far inferior in size and importanceto Camalodunum and Verulamium, it was a rising town, inhabited bylarge numbers of merchants and traders, who imported goods fromGaul and distributed them over the country.
Beric's opinion was in favour of an instant assault, and in thishe was supported by Aska and two or three of the older chiefs; butthe majority were the other way, and the policy of leaving altogetherthe fortified posts garrisoned by the Romans to be dealt with afterthe Roman army had been met and destroyed was decided upon. One ofthe arguments employed was that while the capture of these placeswould be attended with considerable loss, it would add littleto the effect that the news of the destruction of the chief Romantowns would have upon the tribes throughout the whole country, andwould take so long that Suetonius might return in time to succourthe most important places before the work was done. Aska walkedaway from the council with Beric.
"They have decided wrongly," he said.
"I do not think it much matters," Beric replied. "Everything hangsat present upon the result of our battle with Suetonius. If we win,all the detached forts must surrender; if we lose, what mattersit?"
"You think we shall lose, Beric?"
"I do not say that," Beric said; "but see how it was today. TheIceni made no more impression upon the Roman column than if theyhad been attacking a wall. They hindered themselves by their verynumbers, and by the time we meet the Romans our numbers will bemultiplied by five, perhaps by ten. But shall we be any strongerthereby? Will not rather the confusion be greater? Today the Romanhorse fled; but had they charged among us, small as was their number,what confusion would they have made in our ranks! A single Britonis a match for a single Roman, and more. Ten Romans fighting in ordermight repel the assault of a hundred, and as the numbers multiplyso does the advantage of discipline increase. I hope for victory,Aska, but I cannot say that I feel confident of it."
Marching next morning against Verulamium, they arrived there inthe afternoon and at once attacked it. The resistance was feeble,and bursting through in several places the Iceni and Trinobantesspread over the town, slaughtering all they found. Not only theRomans, but the Gauls settled in the city, and such Britons ashad adopted Roman customs were put to the sword. The city was thensacked and set on fire. It was now decided that instead of turningtowards London they should march west in order that they might bejoined by other tribes on their way and meet Suetonius returningfrom Wales.
There was no haste in their movements. They advanced by easy stages,their numbers swelling every day, tribe after tribe joining them,as the news spread of the capture and destruction of the two chiefRoman towns, and the defeat and annihilation of one of the legions.So they marched until, a fortnight after the capture of Verulamium,the news arrived that Suetonius, marching with all speed towardsthe east, had already passed them, gathering up on his way thegarrisons of all the fortified posts. Then the great host turnedand marched east again. Beric regretted deeply the course thathad been taken. Had the garrisons all been attacked and destroyedseparately, the army they would have to encounter would have beena little more than half the strength of that which Suetonius wouldbe able to put into the field when he collected all the garrisons.
But the Britons troubled themselves in no way. They regarded victoryas certain, and expressed exultation that they should crush allthe Romans at one blow in the open field, instead of being forcedto undertake a number of separate sieges. Still marching easily,they came down upon the valley of the Thames and followed it untilthey arrived at London. They had expected that Suetonius would givebattle before they arrived there. He had indeed passed through thetown a few days previously, but had disregarded the prayers of theinhabitants to remain for their protection. He allowed all maleswho chose to do so to enlist in the ranks and permitted othersto accompany the army, but he wished before fighting to be joinedby Cerealis and the survivors of his legion, and by the garrisonsof other fortified posts. The Britons therefore fell upon London,slaughtered all the inhabitants, and sacked and burned the town. Itwas calculated that here and in the two Roman cities no less than80,000 persons had been slain. This accomplished, the great hostagain set out in search of Suetonius. They were accompanied now bya vast train of wagons and chariots carrying the women and spoil.
Beric was not present at the sack of London. As they approachedthe town and it became known that Suetonius had marched away, andthat there would be no resistance, he struck off north. Since theyhad left Verulamium the tribesmen had given up marching in militaryorder. They were very proud of the credit they had gained in thebattle with the Romans, but said that they did not see any usein marching tediously abreast when there was no enemy near. Berichaving no power whatever to compel them, told them that of coursethey could do as they liked, but that they would speedily forgetall they had learned. But the impatience of restraint of any kind,or of doing anything unless perfectly disposed to do it, which wasa British characteristic, was too strong, and many were influencedby the scoffs of the newcomers, who, not having seen them in theday of battle, asked them scornfully if the Sarci were slaves thatthey should obey orders like Roman soldiers.
Boduoc, although he had objected to the drill at first, and hadscoffed at the idea of men fighting any better because they allkept an even distance from each other, and marched with the samefoot forward, had now become an enthusiast in its favour and ragedat this falling away. But Beric said, "It is no use being angry,Boduoc. I was surprised that they consented at first, and I am notsurprised that they have grown tired of it. It is the fault of ourpeople to be fickle and inconstant, soon wearying of anything theyundertake; but I do not think that it matters much now. We alonewere able to decide the fight when there were but two thousand Romanspearmen; but when we meet Suetonius, he will have ten thousandsoldiers under him, and our multitude is so great that the Sarciwould be lost in the crowd. If the Britons cannot beat them withoutus, we should not suffice to change the fortunes of the day."
It was partly to escape the sight of the sack of London, partlybecause he was anxious to know how Berenice and Cneius Nepo werefaring that Beric left the army, and drove north in a chariot. Aftertwo days' journey he arrived at the cottage of Boduoc's mother.The door stood open as was the universal custom in Britain, fornowhere was hospitality so lavishly practised, and it was thoughtthat a closed door might deter a passerby from entering. Hisfootsteps had been heard, for two dogs had growled angrily at hisapproach. The old woman was sitting at the fire, and at first hesaw no one else in the hut.
"Good will to all here!" he said.
"It is the young chief!" the old woman exclaimed, and at once twofigures rose from a pile of straw in a dark corner of the room.
"Beric?"
"Yes, it is I," he said. "How fares it with you, Berenice? You arewell, Cneius, I hope? You have run no risks, I trust, since youhave been here?"
"We are well, Beric," the girl said; "but oh the time has seemedso long! It is not yet a month since you sent us here, but it seemsa year. She has been very kind to us, and done all that she could,and the girls, her daughters, have gone with me sometimes for ramblesin the wood; but they cannot speak our language. Not another personhas been here since we came."
"What is the news, Beric?" Cneius asked. "No word has reached us.The old woman and her daughters have learned something, for theeldest girl goes away sometimes for hours, and I can see that shetells her mother new
s when she returns."
Beric briefly told them what had happened, at which Bereniceexclaimed passionately that the Britons were a wicked people.
"Then there will be a great battle when you meet Suetonius, Beric,"Cneius said. "How think you will it go?"
"It is hard to say," Beric replied; "we are more than one hundredand fifty thousand men against ten thousand, but the ten thousandare soldiers, while the hundred and fifty thousand are a mob.Brave and devoted, and fearless of death I admit, but still a mob.I cannot say how it will go."
"How long shall we stay here, Beric?" Berenice asked. "When willyou take me to my father?"
"If we are beaten, Berenice, you will rejoin him speedily; if wewin--"
"He will not be alive," she broke in.
Beric did not contradict her, but went on, "I will see that youare placed on board a ship and sent to Gaul; it is for this I comehere today. Cneius, in two or three days we shall meet Suetonius;if we win, I will return to you myself, or if I am killed, Boduocor his brother, both of whom I shall charge with the mission, willcome in my place and will escort you to the coast and see that youare placed on board ship. If we lose, it is likely that none of uswill return. I shall give the old woman instructions that in thatcase her daughter is to guide you through the forest and take youon until you meet some Roman soldiers, or are within sight of theircamp, then you will only have to advance and declare yourself."
Then he turned and spoke for some time to Boduoc's mother in herown language, thanking her for the shelter that she had given thefugitives, and giving instructions as to the future. He took ahasty meal, and started at once on his return journey in order torejoin the Sarci as the army advanced from London. Berenice weptbitterly when he said goodbye, and Cneius himself was much affected.
"I view you almost as a son," he said; "and it is terrible to knowthat if you win in the battle, my patron Caius and my countrymenwill be destroyed, while if they win, you may fall."
"It is the fortune of war, Cneius. You know that we Britons lookforward to death with joy; that, unlike you, we mourn at a birthand feast at a burial, knowing that after death we go to the HappyIsland where there is no more trouble or sorrow, but where all ispeace and happiness and content; so do not grieve for me. You willknow that if I fall I shall be happy, and shall be free from allthe troubles that await this unfortunate land."