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son. Thus does he redeem his father's rash oath!"
Verronax, whose Roman breeding had held his impulsive Keltic nature
in check as long as it was only himself that was in danger, now broke
into loud weeping--
"My Lucius! my brother beloved! and didst thou deem Arvernian
honour fallen so low that I could brook such a sacrifice? Let us hasten
on instantly, my father, while yet it is time!"
It would have been impossible to withhold him, and Marcus returned
with the strange tidings, while his father and Verronax set forth with a
few servants, mounted like themselves on mules, to reach the broad
Roman road that led from Gergovia to Bordigala. Three wild,
barefooted Gauls of Verronax's clan shook their heads at all his
attempts to send them home, and went running along after him with the
same fidelity as poor Celer, whom he had left tied up at the villa as his
parting gift to little Victorinus, but who had broken loose, and came
bounding to his master, caressing him with nose and tongue at their
first halt.

There had been, as in all Roman roads, regular posting stations at
intervals along the way, where horses and mules could be hired, but the
troubles of the Empire, invasion, and scarcity had greatly disturbed the
system. Many of the stations were deserted, and at others either the
whole of the animals, or all the fleeter ones, had been taken up by
Meinhard and his convoy. Indeed it almost seemed that not only Lucius
was anxious not to be overtaken, but that Meinhard was forwarding his
endeavours to consummate his sacrifice before the Arvernian could
prevent it.
Hotly did Verronax chafe at each hindrance. He would have dashed
onwards with feverish head-long speed, using his own fleet limbs when
he could not obtain a horse, but AEmilius feared to trust him alone, lest,
coming too late to rescue Lucius, he should bring on himself the fury of
the Goths, strike perhaps in revenge, and not only lose his own life and
render the sacrifice vain, but imperil many more.
So, while making all possible speed, he bound the young Arvernian, by
all the ties of paternal guardianship and authority, to give his word not
to use his lighter weight and youthful vigour to outstrip the rest of the
party.
The Senator himself hardly knew what was his own wish, for if his
fatherly affection yearned over his gentle, dutiful, studious Lucius, yet
Columba's desolation, and the importance of Verronax as a protector
for his family, so weighed down the other scale, that he could only take
refuge in 'committing his way unto the Lord.'
The last halting-place was at a villa belonging to a Roman, where they
heard that an assembly was being held in the fields near Bordigala for
judgment on the slaughter of a young Goth of high rank. On learning
how deeply they were concerned, their host lent them two horses, and
rode with them himself, as they hastened on in speechless anxiety.
These early Teutonic nations all had their solemn assemblies in the
open air, and the Goths had not yet abandoned the custom, so that as
the Senator and the chieftain turned the summit of the last low hill they
could see the plain beneath swarming like an ant-hill with people, and

as they pressed onward they could see a glittering tent, woven with
cloth of gold, a throne erected in front, and around it a space cleared
and guarded by a huge circle of warriors (LITES), whose shields joined
so as to form a wall.
Near the throne stood the men of higher degree, all alike to join the
King in his judgment, like the Homeric warriors of old, as indeed
Sidonius had often said that there was no better comment on the ILIAD
than the meetings of the barbarians.
By the time AEmilius and Verronax had reached the spot, and gained
an entrance in virtue of their rank and concern in the matter, Euric sat
enthroned in the midst of the assembly. He was far removed from being
a savage, though he had won his crown by the murder of his brother.
He and the counts (comrades) around him wore the Roman garb, and
used by preference the Latin speech, learning, arms, and habits, just as
European civilisation is adopted by the Egyptian or Japanese of the
present day. He understood Roman jurisprudence, and was the author
of a code for the Goths, but in a case like this he was obliged to
conform to national customs.
There he sat, a small, light-complexioned man, of slighter make than
those around him, holding in his hand a scroll. It was a letter from
Sidonius, sent beforehand by a swift-footed mountaineer, and
containing a guarantee for