Beric the Briton

e work; it consisted only of a large collection of wooden structures, inhabited by merchants and traders. It lay upon a knoll rising above the low swampy ground cove

each. London, in fact, occupied what was at high water a peninsula, connected with the mainland only by a should

wever, they recognized the importance of the position, and made it one of the chief seats of their power. Even in the three days that he had been absent Beric found that the

ws reached them of the spot where Suetonius had taken up his position and was awaiting their attack, and the army at once pressed forward in that direction. At nightfall they bivouacked two miles away from it, and Beric, ta

u of it, Beric

ethought. Were I commander tomorrow I should, before advancing to the attack, send a great number round on either side to make their way through the woods, and so to attack on both flanks, and to pour down the valley in their rear, at the same

uoc said. "What can ten thousand

will their vengeance fall upon the Iceni. When we return to the camp, go among the men and ask them whether they mean to fight tomorrow as they fought Cerealis, or whether they will fight in the fashion of the rest. I fear that, wild as all are with enthusiasm and the assurance of victory, they will not consent to be kept in reserve, but will be eager to be in the front of the attack. I will go with you, and will do my best to persuade them; but if they insist on fighting in their own way, then we will go to them one by one, and will f

at were certain," Bod

on one side only. I hope for victory, but I prepare for defeat; those who like to return to their

eared to take their share in the combat. When the meeting had dispersed Beric and Boduoc went among them; they said nothing about the advantage that holding together would be in case of defeat, but pointed out the honour they had gained by deciding the issue of the last battle, and begged them to remain in a solid body, so that possibly they might again

y a race, that even when twenty to one they canno

o be prepared for whatever may happen." He t

l not survive defeat, nor shall I. I will not live to see my country bound in Roman chains. A free woman I have

begins all will be confusion, and there would be no finding each other in this vast crowd. If victory is ours, we shall meet afterwards; if defeat, I shall make for Cardun, where, if you change your mind, I shall hope to meet yo

d that night. There were the enemy, they had only to rush u

eneral assurance of an easy victory. Nor do I, after what I saw the other day--how we dashed vainly against the Roman line. He tel

even if we could make our way to the front, and fall upon the Romans in a solid body, our numbers are too

I will leave it to the younger men tomorrow to win this battle. My authority may aid yours, and methinks that if

oppression and tyranny of the Romans, and the indignity that they had inflicted upon her and her daughters; and her addresses were answered by loud shouts from the tribesmen. In the meantime the wagons had moved out and drew up in a vast semicircle behind the troops, so as to enable the women who crowded them to get a view of the victory. So great was the following

ess has seized our people. One would think that this was a strife of gladiators at Rome rather than a battle between two nations. There will be no ret

see! the queen has reached the end of th

rtations of Beric, Aska, and Boduoc steadied them again, and in regular order they marched after the host. In five minutes the uproar of battle swelled high in front. Beric marched up the valley until he arrived at the rear of the great mass of men who were swarming in front of the Roman line, each man striving to get to the front to hurl his dart and join in the struggle. The Romans ha

y together and to make a rush; the din was too great for their voices to be heard, and the tribesmen were half mad with fury at the failure of their own efforts to break the Roman line. Beric strove many times to bring up his company in a mass through the cr

an to dwindle, a mighty shout rose from the Romans, and shoulder to shoulder with levelled spears they advanced, while the flanks giving way, the cavalry burst out on both sides and fell upon the Britons. For those in front, pressed by the mass behind them, t

warriors became a mob of fugitives, the Romans pressing hotly with cries of victory and vengeance upon their rear. Beric's little band was swept away like foam before the wave of fugitives. For a time it attempted to stem the current; but when Beri

surveyed the scene. There was no longer any resistance among the Britons. The great semicircle within the line of wagons was crowded by a throng of fugitives behind whom, at a run now, the Roman legions were advancing, maintaining their order even at th

uld be to throw away our lives uselessly, we shall do more good by preserving them to fight upon another day. Keep closely

e cries of the Britons and the loud shrieks of women. The plain was already thick with fugitives, consisting either of women from the outside wagons or men who had made their way through the mass of struggling animals. Here and there chariots w

the army would have scattered all over the country, and though the Roman horse might have cut down many, the greater number would have gain

ecked the first fugitives; then came the others crowding in upon them, and then before a ga

ome threw themselves down and lay motionless; others walked up and down with wild gestures; some broke into imprecations against the gods who had deserted them. Some called despairingly the names of wives and daughte

e queen has fallen

ld be carried back by the first fugitives, and it may be that they managed to clear a way throu

ans. I am sure that she will not survive this day. There is nothing else left for her, her tribe is destroy

and for a time doubtless all will be slaughtered who fall into the Roman hands; but after a time the sword will be stayed, for the land will be useless to them without men

obeyed the summons, but as he proceeded they roused themselves and gathered round him, for his

ravest in the land. Had all of your tribe obeyed their young chief and fought together today as they have fought before, it may be that the defeat would have been averted; but you stood firmly by him when the others fell away, and you stand here without the loss of a man, safe in the forest and ready to meet the Roman a

, slaughtered by the Roman footmen in their rear and cut down by their horse if they broke through the line of wagons. You may ask what is there to live for; you may say that the cause of Britain is lost, that your tribe is well nigh destroyed, that many of you have lost your wives and families as well

ile all others were dreaming only of an easy victory over the Romans he and I have been preparing for what had best be done in case of defeat. To return to your homes would be but to court death, and if we are to die at the hands of the Romans it is best that we should die fighting them to the end. We have therefore arranged that we will seek a refuge in the Fen country t

proval broke

n construct huts. Three days since, when he foresaw that it might be that a refuge would be needed, Beric despatched a messenger home with orders that a herd of thr

a great chief. We will follow him wherever he will take us, and will swear to be faithful and obedient to

hen obedience is necessary for the sake of all. As one body led by one mind you may do much; as two hundred men swayed by two hundred minds you will do nothing. I shall be with Beric, and my experience may be o

e an opinion; but in one respect I know that I am more fitted than others to lead you. I have studied the records of the Romans, of their wars with the Gauls and other peoples, and I know that their greatest trouble was not in defeating armies in the field but of overcoming the resistance of those who took refuge in fastnes

f the Baci, and but a mile or two from the edge of the great swamp country. It is there that the herds have been driven, and there they will find a party ready to escort them. Let all the other women and children be advised to quit their homes also, and to travel north together with the old men and boys. Bid the latter drive the herds before them. It m

ay. Let the boys and old men start within five minutes from the time that you deliver my message, to gather the herds and drive them north. Let the women call their children round them, take up their babes, make a bundle of their garments, and pile upon a wagon cooking pots and such things as are most needed, and then set fire to their houses and stacks and granaries and go. Warn them that even the delay of an hour may be fatal, for

he band gave the messengers their tokens to their families, and then the runners started at a trot which they could maintain for many hours. The rest of the band then struck off in the direction in which they w

d the cattle before you, take to the forests, journey far north, and seek refuge among the Brigantes. A rallying place for fighting men wil

rted that scarce a man had escaped; but the very number of fugitives who had preceded the band showed that this was an exaggeration. But it was not until long afterwards that the truth was known. Of the great multitude, estimated at two hundred and thirty thousand, fully a third

f the northern subtribes of the Iceni had driven through on his chariot and had told the head

accompanied her. Three or four chiefs also passed through in their chariots, and then the breach was filled by the struggling multitude, that poured out like a torrent. The chariots were well away before the Roman horse swept round the wagons, and travelled without pursuit to a forest twenty miles away. As soon

last. We need but two men to lay us in our graves and spread the sods over us; so that a

were all dead, lying in a circle round Boadicea. They were buried in the shallow holes that had been dug, the turf replaced, a

e has gone to the Green Island, where she will dwell in happiness, and where your father has been long expecting her. It is not at a death that we Britons weep, knowing as we do that those that have gone are to be envied. Arouse yourself! there is much to be done.

and questioned as to the country. None, however, could give much useful information. There was a large river that ran through it, with innumerable smaller streams that

ni had driven out of their country, and who, instead of going west, had taken refuge i

the Romans. Still, as they have maintained themselves there, so may we. But it will be necessary that we s

hile they are not strong enough to molest us. There is trade between all the hamlets near the swamps and their people; they bring fish and wildfowl, and basket

ly as a warning that we must go no farther. Sometimes some foolhardy men have declared that they will go where they like in spite of the Fenmen, and they have gone, but they have never returned. When we have asked the men who come in to trade wh

en speak our tongue,

ken a fancy to these Fenmen, and in spite of all their friends could do have gone off. None of these have ever returned, though messages have

se men that we must open commu

of trade with them. The women of the hamlets round bring here the cloth they have woven to exchange it for their goods, others from beyond the