Marcus: the Young Centurion

"Course you were. That's reading and writing, that is. Now, if you had been taught to be a soldier instead of a volumer, you'd have known that when the enemy's many more than you, you ought to attack him in bits, not take him all at once and get yourself surrounded. Yes, it's lucky for you I came."

"Yes, and I hope you gave them something to remember it," said the boy, with his eyes fixed upon the stout crook upon which the new-comer leaned.

"Oh yes, I made them feel this," said the man, with a chuckle; "and old Lupus tickled them up a bit and made them squeak."

"That's right," cried Marcus; "but where is he?"

"On guard," said the man.

"On guard?"

"Yes," said the man, with a chuckle. "We took the whole six of them prisoners."

"Ah! Where are they then?"

"Shut up fast alone with the wine-press. They won't get out of there with Lupus looking on."

"Capital!" cried Marcus, forgetting all his sufferings in the triumphant news. "H