Beric the Briton

e all employed in making and baking oaten cakes upon the hearth. For some days many of them had been employed in making a great store of fermented honey and water. Men began to flock in fro

ots sometimes on horseback, riding at their head. Parta welcomed them, and food was served out to the men while the chiefs were entertained in the hall. Beric, looking at the wild fi

he legion to which he belonged was invincible. Their regular arms, their broad shields and helmets, all added to their appearance, while their massive formation, as they stood shoulder to shoulder, shield touching shield, seemed as if it could defy the utmost efforts of undisciplined valour. However, Beric thought with pride that his own tribe, the sixteen hundred men he had for six weeks been training incessantly, would be a match eve

but as a solid whole. You will do well to bear this in mind, for to those who disobey orders and break the line when engaged with the foe I will show no mercy. My orders will be given to each sergeant of ten men to run a spear through any man who stirs from his post, whether in advance

ion with loud shouts and cries, while the smaller section maintained their solid formation, and with levelled spears, five deep, waited the attack. Even those who were least impressed with the advantages of t

passing through the village and taking up its post on the slopes

nd chief councillors, drove into the village. Her mien was proud and lofty. She carried a spear in her hand and a sword in her girdle. She had resumed her royal ornaments, and a fillet of gold surrounded her head. Her garments were belted in

, but many had been attracted from the country lying near their borders. At every fire, therefore, songs were sung and tales told of the valour and glory of the heroes of old. M

ts were supplied, while Parta herself looked after those who were gathered on the dais. Beric learned from the old chief Aska, who had first spoken to him on the day of their arrival at the sacred oak, that all Britain was ripe fo

can return. By that time we shall have been joined by most of the tribes, and shall have a force that will be sufficient to destroy utterly the army he is lea

field we ought surely to be able to do so. It is not of the present I think so much as of the future. Rome never submits to defeat, and will send an army here to which that of Suet

the Romans will try

. This is one of the main reasons of their success. I am certain that, at whatever sacrifices,

after their first invasi

in the second they had success enough to be able to claim a victory and so to retire with honour. Besides, Rome is vastly stronger and

over, and Boadicea will stand in the place that Cunobeline held, of chief king of the island. Then, as you say, much will depend on the steps we take to pre

h to raise my voice in the council of chiefs; but what I have learned of Roman history and Roman laws I would

of the manner in which Beric had been teaching the Sarci to figh

illage. The queen and Parta drove out in their chariots. When they reached the spot the chiefs of the other tribes, at Beric's request, called upon their men to draw off and

ecting danger. I shall now warn them that they are about to be at

e lookers on, a scene of wild confusion for a minute, and then they were drawn up in companies, each a hundred strong, in regular order. A short blast and

tribesmen looking on. To them this perfect or

the heads of the ranks in front, against the enemy supposed to be advancing to attack them. Then seizing their spears they fell into line again, and at another order the whole advanced at a quick pac

hought that men could be taught so to move toge

exactly the same as those given in the legions--only, of course, they are performed by trained soldiers more perfectly than we can as yet do them. It

more time, and that all the Iceni, and not the Sarci only could h

better for resistance, but not so good for attack. Still it has great merits; but I think it more suited for men who fight del

, Beric?" the

both, but they were unavailing against the solid Roman line. We have never yet won a great victory over the Romans, and yet we have fought against them valiantly. None can say that a Briton is not

of assent from se

t all the Iceni had learnt to fight in this fashion. However, we shall have opportunities of s

rta and other women of rank, went first in their chariots; and the Sarci, who, as lying next to the enemy's country, were allowed the post of honour, followed in column behind her, while the rest of the tribesmen made

there was no suspicion at Camalodunum of the impending danger; and that, although there was great uneasiness among the inhabitant

g themselves in their mantles and lying down under the trees. Beric had

nd myself. As soon as we enter the house to which I shall lead you, you will surround the two persons I shall place in your charge, and will conduct them to the spot where the chariot will be waiting. You will defend them, if necessary, with your lives, should any disobey my order

come. As soon as he has taken them up he will drive off and give them into the charge of our mother, who has promised you to have everything in readiness for them; the skins for beds, drinking vessels, food, and everything else necessary was taken there two days ago. My sist

m to effect an entrance without the delay that would be incurred in breaking down the massive gates. They passed quietly through the cultivated fields, and past the houses scattered about outside the walls, whose inhabitants had withdrawn into the city since the alarm spread. They halted at a short distance from the gate, for sentries would be on guard there, and remaine

e Sarci poured in. A confused clamour of shouts and cries rose from the town, above which sounded the yells of the exulting Iceni. Beric gave the signal for the Sarci to scatter, and the tribesmen at once began to attack the houses. Placing himself at the head of Boduoc's chosen party, Beric ran forward. Already from some of the houses armed men were pouring out, but di

he shouted, "i

was filled with frightened slaves, who burst into cries of terror as, f

ule, "I will be with you in a moment; it is bu

aid, "there is not

to a slave, "and tell your mistress to hur

airs in her disguise as a British boy, and a

to be lost; the town is in our hands, and if others

up at a dozen points. To his great satisfaction Beric reached the point where the Sarci were at work, breaking into the houses, before he encountered any of the other Iceni. The men were too busy to pay any attention

ric said to his followers,

unds she had heard, though happily she had seen nothing

chariot, who is one of my tribesmen. He will take you to a retreat where you will, I trust, be in perfect safety until the troubles are over. His

with us, Beric?

st be with my tribe. And now I must away. Farewell, Berenice! ma

this, Runoc, to any you meet, for it may be that you will find parties of late comers on the road. This will be a proof that you are journeying on my business and under my orders.

"Then as you journey rapidly along it will be supposed that

sale. Woe to the vanquished! was almost a maxim with them. But Beric shrank from witnessing the scene, now that the tables were turned upon the oppressors. Nationally he hated the Romans, but individually he had no feeling against them, and had he had the power he would at once have arrested the effusion of blood. He wished to drive them from

anic stricken with the sudden danger to attempt the slightest resistance. Some of the inhabitants whose houses were near the temple had fled thither for refuge before the assailants reached them, but in half an hour from the striking of the first blow th

ts for the women at home, nothing was saved. As the defenders of each house were slain, fire was applied to hangings and curtains, and then the assailants hurried away in search of fresh victims. Thus the work of destruction proceeded concurrently with that of massacre, and as the sun rose vast columns of smoke mounting upwards conveyed the new

e of the Roman governor, had not affected him; but he mourned over the loss of the precious manuscripts which had contained such a wealth of stored up learning. Alrea

eing made for the attack on the temple, but at present all were too excited with their success for any to assume the lead or give orders. At the first rush parties of the Britons had made for the temple, but had been received with showers of darts and stones, and had b

den. It is a strong place, with its massive walls unpierced save by the doorway at each

g as that would take, queen," Beric

a," he said, "we crave that we may be allowed to storm the temple. It is built o

replied. "Do you under

rom the roof darts and stones were showered down upon them; but though many were killed they swarmed up the broad steps that surrounded it on all sides

d return quickly at the sound of my horn. We may be wanted presently. I

Britons could bring against them. In vain these chopped with their swords upon the woodwork. The gates were constructed of oak, and the weapons scarce marked them. In vain they threw themselves twenty abreast against them. The doo

flames, and there presently the chiefs assembled. Various suggestions were made, but at last it was decided to batter in the doors with a heavy tree, and a strong party of men were at once despatched to fell and prepare two of suitable size. The

evening the chariot returned, and Beric was greatly relieved to hear that the fugitives had been placed in safety and that the journey had been made without interference. He was glad to recover his torque, for its absence would have excited surprise when men's minds were less occupied and excited. Not until he recovered it could he

u long before this, and should have thought that some accident had befallen you

not wish to intrude among the chiefs in council with the queen. You represented the Sarci he

he and his tribe might have the honour, an

can do the work as well as we could, and I want to keep our men for the shock of battle with t

st left the group of chiefs gathered round the queen at the other

aid. "To no one else should I have ventured to express an opinion o

he presence of their elders; nevertheless I should lik

med to besiege places with high walls and strong gates, proceed. They have made these matters a study, while to us an

they proc

n a gate or a wall they use heavy beams, such as those that have been prepared for tomorrow, but they affix to the head a shoe of iron or brass. They do not swing i

by fifty men, and for all to rush forward

own the tree and the men bearing it. Many will be grievously hurt. Moreover, if, as will surely be the case, many of the bearers fall

how the Romans act i

st them. Under cover of the shelter men push up the towers to the door or wall to be battered; the beam is then slung on ropes hanging from the inside of the tower. Other ropes are attached; numbers of men take hold of these, and working together swing the beam backward

be difficult indeed for us to construct such a machine, though mayhap it could be done had we with us many men skilled in the

all remain immovable save those in the front line, who labour with iron bars to loosen the stones at the foot of the wall, protected from missiles from above by the shields of their comrades. From time to time they are relieved by fresh workers until the foundations of the

ve many Roman strongholds to capture, and when we do I will see that the council order that your advice be taken as to how they shall be attacked; but in this matter tomorrow things must remain as they are.

d our shields are too small for the second. The place should be taken by tomorrow night, for Cerea

aught your tribe I should be sorry to have their ranks thinned in a hopeless attack upon the temple. I would rather that we should leave i

ring, and then said, "I will undertake it, si