And pressing his shield more firmly to his side, he went up to the right wing of the gate, in which yawned a broad fissure. And again the battering-ram struck the shattered planks near the crevice.
"Another such stroke and the gate will fall!" said Gregorius, the Byzantine.
"Quite right; therefore we must not let it be repeated. Here--to me--Gregorius and Lucius! Form, milites! Spears lowered! Torches and firebrands! Make ready to sally. When I raise my sword, open the gate, and cast ram and penthouse and all into the trench."
"You are very daring, my general!" cried Lucius Licinius, taking his stand close to Cethegus with delight.
"Yes, now there is cause to be daring, my friend."
The column was formed; the Prefect was just about to give the sign, when, from behind, there arose a noise still greater than that made by the storming Goths; screams of pain and the tramp of horses. Bessas came up in great agitation; he caught the Prefect's arm--his voice failed him.
"Why do you hinder me at this moment?" asked. Cethegus, pushing him aside.
"Belisarius's troops," at last panted the Thracian, "stand sorely wounded outside the Tiburtinian Gate they beg for admittance--furious Goths are at their heels--Belisarius has fallen into an ambush--he is dead."
"Belisarius is taken!" cried a gate-keeper, who hurried up breathless.
"The Goths--the Goths are upon us! at the Nomentanian and Tiburtinian Gates!" was shouted from the streets.