The other brands rebounded from the shields and fell hissing into the river.
And now the prow of the galley was only eight feet from the chain.
The Romans trembled in expectation of the shock.
Cethegus stepped to the bow of his boat, balancing and aiming his heavy spear.
"Mark!" he said; "as soon as the King falls, be quick with more firebrands."
Never had the practised soldier aimed better. Drawing back his spear once more, he launched it at the King with all the force lent to his arm by hatred.
His followers waited breathlessly. But the King did not fall. He had caught sight of Cethegus while aiming; at the same moment he threw down his long and narrow shield and awaited the flying shaft with his left arm drawn back.
Whistling came the spear straight at the spot where the King's bare neck showed above his breastplate.
When within a few inches of his throat, the King caught the shaft with his left hand and immediately hurled it back at the Prefect, wounding him on the left arm just above his shield.
Cethegus fell on his knee.