IV

One day, as Flamma stood upon the great
road, a stranger came running in deadly fear.

“Save thyself,” he cried, “for the foes
from the North are upon us. Hasten with
me to the camp, for even now they are not
two thousand paces away.”

“ Haste thou to the camp and warn them,”
cried Flamma ; and she plunged into the forest
in the other direction.

The man gazed for a moment; then turned,
and ran again toward the camp.

As Flamma went swiftly through the
underwood, she began to hear the sounds
of distant shouting and yells, as of furious
beasts. Then there passed her three men
running for life, wounded and bleeding ; but
Flamma pushed on away from the camp,

toward the hillside where the yew-trees crew,
93