"Listen," he said; "you can really stop us here for a time. But not for long. If you yield, you shall live. If not, I will first have you skinned alive, and then impaled!"
He lifted his torch, looking for a weak point.
"Back!" cried Valerius; "shoot, friend!"
"The twang of a bow-string was heard, and an arrow struck the helm of the horseman.
"The devil!" he exclaimed, and spurred his horse back.
"Dismount!" he ordered, "every man of you!"
But the Huns did not like to part with their horses.
"What, sir? Dismount?" asked one of the nearest.
Johannes struck him in the face. The man did not move.
"Dismount!" thundered Johannes again. "Would you go into that mouse-hole on horseback!" and he flung himself out of the saddle. "Six climb the trees and shoot from above. Six lie down and creep forward on each side of this road, shooting as they lie. Ten shoot standing; breast high. Ten guard the horses. You others follow me with the spear as soon as the strings twang. Forwards!"