The Celtic Maiden: A Story of Ancient Britain

THE
CELTIC
MAIDEN. A
STORY
OF
ANCIENT
BRITAIN. BY
PROFESSOR
WILLARD DONE. CHAPTER V. We now return to Deems. As he escaped from the impera- tor's tent, and from the restraints of military service, all the wild recklessness of his nature asserted itself. He determined to satisfy his grudge against Claudius, and at the same time to har- rass and thwart the imperator's plans as much as possible. He had long been possessed with an unaccountable vindictiveness against the Celtic maiden, and, at the same time, a passion for her beauty. He determined to attack Claudius at his most vulnerable point, by jeopardizing the honor of the girl. He found plenty of congenial spirits among his new compan- ions. The day on which he joined them was spent in organizing them into a more efficient corps of fighters; the night, in boister- ous revelry. During the night, they were joined by a large number of soldiers, whose desertion from the Roman army was inspired by that of Decius. Thrown on their own resources entirely, the party, now increased many times in number, was forced to seek broader fields for foraging. Accordingly, on the following day, they set out in search of a winter rendezvous, to be used as a base for their marauding excursions. Avoiding the large British villages, they plundered the smaller ones, detailing the slaves who had fled with them to carry the booty.
They were traversing a dense wood, dark with hanging

THE CELTIC MAIDEN. 333 moss, when they suddenly encountered a group of Britons. The leader was a man of middle age, whose handsome face bore traces of deep and long-continued sorrow. Among his followers was a young man of striking personality. These two seemed drawn to each other by the bond of a common feeling and purpose, and to share the leadership of the band. They were determined men, one of the scattered armies of Britons pledged to resist to the death the Roman conquest of their island. At the sight of Decius and his men, the Britons, though much fewer in number, prepared to fight. In vain Decius tried to con- ciliate them, not desiring to risk a conflict so soon, even with an inferior force. The Britons made a violent attack, and the Romans defended themselves bravely. Decius came to a hand-to-hand con- flict with a young Briton. So evenly matched were they, that the outcome was long in doubt. Gradually, however, the Briton forced Decius back. At the same time, the other Celts were giv- ing way before the superior Roman force, and he was becoming separated from them. The older man saw his danger. "Kenneth," he called, "come here." But it was too late. Several of the Romans came to the rescue of Decius, and surrounded the Briton. He fought savagely against overwhelming members. All the others, except the leader, had retreated into the woods. This man hesitated a moment, and then rushed to Kenneth's assistance. Their struggle was vain. They were soon overpowered, and the Roman swords were at their throats. But Decius commanded his followers to make them prisoners, and spare their lives. After a brief rest, the Romans were again on the march, carrying their prisoners with them. In the early morning of the following day, they came to the plain which the Druids had reached the night before, and viewed the stone cairn from the edge of the wood. A certain solemnity and mystery, coupled with strange sounds within the stone circle, convinced Decius that mystic rites were being solemnized. He looked astonished at the two Britons, but they betrayed no knowl- edge of the mystery. Fiercer and fiercer became the shouts and tumult. Smoke arose from the center of the cairn. Soon a woman's shrieks mingled with the other sounds. The Romans rose as one man, and rushed toward the stone circle, shouting as they

334 IMPROVEMENT ERA. ran. The sounds within suddenly ceased, and all openings were instantly manned in resistance of the Roman attack. It was a formidable task that confronted the attacking party. Strong, de- termined men, well armed, swarmed to the defense of every open- ing. Only the spears and swords of the Romans were available, and the use of those weapons was seriously hampered. Decius seemed everywhere present, displaying the most reckless bravery. But he saw that the fighting would be useless unless a wider breach could be made in the walls. At his command, some trees were felled, and used as battering-rams. Carried on the shoulders of a score of men, these timbers were fiercely hurled against the upright stones. Again and again the rush was made. At length, two of the upright stones, with their caps, fell inward with a crash. Decius sprang over them, followed by his men. Fighting their way through the swarm of defenders, they reached the inner circle, and rushed inside. They were entranced with what they saw. The beautiful maiden, robed in pure white, her golden hair falling about her shoulders, stood near the altar stone. The gar- lands of mistletoe still lay near her feet, while the Druid priests stood about in reverential attitude. Fires burned beneath wicker- cages, prepared for the sacrifices. But Decius had no eyes for anything but the beauty of the girl. Vaguely he felt that her life had been endangered, and he was determined to avenge the attempted wrong. Detecting his purpose, she placed herself between him and the Druid priests, and stood there immovable. At that moment, the two British prison- ers, who had been allowed to escape in the melee, entered the inner circle. The older man looked for a moment at the girl, and then sprang forward, exclaiming, "Genevra, my child, my child!" wonderingly she looked at him for a moment, and then ran joy- ously into his arms. "Father," she murmured, "at last, at last!" Kenneth came timidly forward, and was greeted with a glad smile of welcome. Decius gave a quick order to his men and the two Britons were dragged away and bound. The girl turned to- ward him with flashing, angry eyes. "Why is this?" she asked. "They are my prisoners," he answered, — "as I am yours," he added in an insinuating tone.

THE CELTIC MAIDEN. 335 Contemptuously she turned away, and thereafter avoided him. She knew only too well the view he took of her worth and status as a slave. Having seen to the safety of the priests, who had made their escape by a private passage, she went to her father, and remained as close to him as possible. Decius realized that it would not be safe for him to remain there. It was clear to him that in a few hours a sufficient force of Britons could be gathered to overpower his little party. There- fore, he gave orders for an immediate departure. He carried the three with him. Under pain of immediate death, he ordered the two men to guide him and his party to a safe place, from which the surrounding country could be raided. That night they camped near the edge of a dense wood, on the bank of a swift stream. A strong guard was placed around the tent where the male prisoners were kept, while Decius himself guarded the tent occupied by the girl. He had a sinister motive in this, and she suspected it, and took precautions. She was not sur- prised at the beginning of the third watch, to see him stealthily enter her tent. She had not slept, and all her senses were keenly alert. He was somewhat disconcerted to see her standing in the farther corner of the tent. By the dim light of a taper, he could see her look of indignation at the intrusion. But mastering his sur- prise and temporary embarrassment, he assumed a tone of flattery. Its only effect was to increase her indignation. He realized that the wall of reserve could not be broken down in that way. There- upon he became stern and defiant, "You are in my power," he said, "and I shall make terms, not plead them. I am not used to thwarted wishes. My will is never vanquished. What I desire, I have, and that speedily. Cost what it will, no desire goes ungrati- fied. Know this, then, from the beginning, that the will of a bar- barian slave will be bent to the will of a Roman noble." She looked at him unflinchingly. "But," he sarcastically added, "y°u have doubtle=s bent to the will of the Roman Claudius often enough to read my meaning without further words." Her eyes flashed angrily, "I know your meaning, base Roman, but not by experience. You speak of Claudius. He is my master, I his slave. I have not been more than that to him, nor he to me.