"Shut up or you will be lucky if you get anything," growled the leader.
"A knife between his ribs would do him good," muttered another.
"You will not give me what I asked?" demanded the youth.
"Shut up," said the leader. "Come along now, men," and carrying Favonia, whom they wrapped in a soiled and ragged cloak, they left the home of Septimus Favonius unobserved; and as two men carried a heavy bundle through the dark shadows beneath the shadowy trees the son of Tabernarius started away in the opposite direction.
A youth in soiled and ragged tunic and rough sandals approached the gates of Caesar's palace. A legionary challenged him, holding him at a distance with the point of his pike.
"What do you loitering by the palace of Caesar by night?" demanded the legionary.
"I have a message for Caesar," replied the youth.
The legionary guffawed. "Will you come in or shall I send Caesar out to you?" he demanded, ironically.
"You may take the message to him yourself, soldier," replied the other, "and if you know what is good for you, you will not delay."
The seriousness of the youth's voice finally compelled the attention of the legionary. "Well," he demanded, "out with it. What message have you for Caesar?"
"Hasten to him and tell him that the daughter of Septimus Favonius has been abducted and that if he hastens he will find her in the deserted house that stands upon the corner opposite the chariot entrance to the Colosseum."
"Who are you?" demanded the legionary.
"Never mind," said the youth. "Tomorrow I shall come for my reward," and he turned and sped away before the legionary could detain him.
"At this rate midnight will never come," said von Harben.
Mallius Lepus laid a hand upon the shoulder of his friend. "You are impatient, but remember that it will be safer for Favonia, as well as for us, if we wait until after midnight, for the streets now must be full of searchers. All afternoon we have heard soldiers passing. It is a miracle that they have not searched this place."
"Ps-st!" cautioned von Harben. "What was that?"
"It sounded like the creaking of the gate in front of the house," said Mallius Lepus.
"They are coming," said von Harben.
The three men seized the swords with which they had armed themselves, after they had rushed the Colosseum guard, and following a plan they had already decided upon in the event that searchers approached their hiding-place, they scaled the ladder and crept out upon the roof. Leaving the trap-door pushed slightly to one side, they listened to the sounds that were now coming from below, ready to take instant' action should there be any indication that the searchers might mount the ladder to the roof.
Von Harben heard voices coming from below. "Well, we made it," said one, "and no one saw us. Here come the others now," and von Harben heard the gate creak again on its rusty hinges; then the door of the house opened and he heard several people enter.
"This is a good night's work," said one.
"Is she alive? I cannot hear her breathe."
"Take the gag from her mouth."
"And let her scream for help?"
"We can keep her quiet. She is worth nothing to us dead."
"All right, take it out."
"Listen, you, we will take the gag out of your mouth, but if you scream it will be the worse for you."
"I shall not scream," said a woman's voice in familiar tones that set von Harben's heart to palpitating, though he knew that it was nothing more than his imagination that suggested the seeming familiarity.
"We shall not hurt you," said a man's voice, "if you keep quiet and Caesar sends the ransom."
"And if he does not send it?" asked the girl.
"Then, perhaps, your father, Septimus Favonius, will pay the price we ask."
"Heavens!" muttered von Harben. "Did you hear that, Lepus?"
"I heard," replied the Roman.
"Then come," whispered von Harben. "Come, Gabula, Favonia is below."
Casting discretion to the wind, von Harben tore the trap from the opening in the roof and dropped into the darkness below, followed by Mallius Lepus and Gabula.
"Favonia!" he cried. "It is I. Where are you?"
"Here," cried the girl.
Rushing blindly in the direction of her voice, von Harben encountered one of the abductors. The fellow grappled with him, while, terrified by fear that the legionaries were upon them, the others bolted from the building. As they went they left the door open and the light of a full moon dissipated the darkness of the interior, revealing von Harben struggling with a burly fellow who had seized the other's throat and was now trying to draw his dagger from its sheath.
Instantly Mallius Lepus and Gabula were upon him, and a quick thrust of the former's sword put a definite period to the earthly rascality of the criminal. Free from his antagonist, von Harben leaped to his feet and ran to Favonia, where she lay upon a pile of dirty rags against the wall. Quickly he cut her bonds and soon they had her story.
"If you are no worse for the fright," said Mallius Lepus, "we may thank these scoundrels for simplifying our task, for here we are ready to try for our escape a full three hours earlier than we had hoped."
"Let us lose no time, then," said von Harben. "I shall not breathe freely until I am across the wall."
"I believe we have little to fear now," said Mallius Lepus. "The wall is poorly guarded. There are many places where we can scale it, and I know a dozen places where we can find boats that are used by the fishermen of the city. What lies beyond is upon the knees of the gods."
Gabula, who had been standing in the doorway, closed the door quickly and crossed to von Harben. "Lights are coming down the avenue, Bwana," he said. "I think many men are coming. Perhaps they are soldiers."
The four listened intently until they made out distinctly the measured tread of marching men.
"Some more searchers," said Mallius Lepus. "When they have passed on their way, it will be safe to depart."
The light from the torches of the legionaries approached until it shone through the cracks in the wooden blinds, but it did not pass on as they had expected. Mallius Lepus put an eye to an opening in one of the blinds.
"They have halted in front of the house," he said. "A part of them are turning the corner, but the rest are remaining."
They stood in silence for what seemed a long time, though it was only a few minutes, and then they heard sounds coming from the garden behind the house and the light of torches was visible through the open kitchen door.
"We are surrounded," said Lepus. "They are coming in the front way. They are going to search the house."
"What shall we do?" cried Favonia.
"The roof is our only hope," whispered von Harben, but even as he spoke the sound of sandaled feet was heard upon the roof and the light of torches shone through the open trap.
"We are lost," said Mallius Lepus. "We cannot defeat an entire century of legionaries."
"We can fight them, though," said von Harben.
"And risk Favonia's life uselessly?" said Lepus.
"You are right," said von Harben, sadly, and then, "Wait, I have a plan. Come, Favonia, quickly. Lie down here upon the floor and I will cover you with these rags. There is no reason why we should all be taken. Mallius Lepus, Gabula, and I may not escape, but they will never guess that you are here, and when they are gone you can easily make your way to the guard-house in the Colosseum, where the officer in charge will see that you are given protection and an escort to your home."
"Let them take me," said the girl. "If you are to be captured, let me be captured also."
"It will do no good," said von Harben. "They will only separate us, and if you are found here with us it may bring suspicion upon Septimus Favonius."