“Yes, boy. Isn’t it grand! Take the lesson to heart. You will understand it better later on, for it’s too much for one so young as you to take in all at once. Look how our generals have placed their men, with never a bit of confusion from beginning to end, and all ready when the trumpets sound to advance and strike, while these Gauls, crowded up together into this great trap, don’t even know as yet that their numbers will be worse than nothing, only a big crowd in which every man will be in his neighbour’s way.”
“But suppose they stand fast,” said Marcus, “instead of giving way?”
“We shall march over them, boy, straight for the pass. Nothing can stop our advance. One of our lines may go down, but another will step into its place, and if that is broken there is another close behind, and another and another, each of which must weaken the resistance and pave the way for our army to pass on.”
“Don’t say pave the way, Serge. It sounds too horrible, and makes me think of what it means.”
“Don’t think, then, boy.”
“I must,” replied Marcus; “but it will be dreadful for the first cohort which leads.”
“Grand, you mean, boy,” cried the veteran, “and you ought to be proud, for it is ours.”
“I don’t see any signs of the captain’s coming to meet us.”
“In hiding perhaps,” said Serge. “He’s certain to be there. He will not let his men show themselves until we advance, and he has not stirred as yet.”
“How do you know?”