Adalgoth stopped upon the threshold, and only stretched out his right hand towards her.
"I shall see thee again, my Gotho," he cried, and signed a farewell.
Presently he crossed the threshold of the simple alpine cottage.
The stars had scarcely begun to pale; fresh and exhilarating the night-wind blew from the mountains around his temples.
He looked up at the silent sky.
All at once a falling star shot in a bright semicircle over his head. It fell towards the south.
The youth raised his shepherd's staff, and cried:
"The stars beckon thither! Now beware, Cethegus the traitor!"
CHAPTER V.
On seeing the disastrous result of the battle at the bridge across the Padus, the Prefect had sent messengers back to his troops and the armed citizens of Ravenna, who were following him, to order them to return at once to the latter city. He left the defeated troops of Demetrius to their fate.