Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 26, 2025
"But you knew my father well?" said Marcus, hastily, to change the conversation. "I never heard him mention you." "No, I suppose not," said the visitor, thoughtfully, but with a mocking smile upon his lip growing more marked as he went on. "I don't suppose he would ever mention me. A very good, true fellow, Cracis, and, as I said, we were once great friends.
Yes, you are quite a boy a brave one, no doubt, and well-trained; but you are too young and slight to stand the hardships of a rough campaign. I should like to take you, but I want men strong men like your companion here and I should be wronging your parents if I took you. Whose son are you, boy?" "My father is Cracis, sir, a friend of Caius Julius, and he is at the front."
"Yes, give me your hand," said the visitor. "I am rested and refreshed, but I am not yet going away. I am going to stay and see Cracis, who was once my dear old friend." "You knew my master?" cried Serge, with the puzzled look deepening in his eyes. "Thoroughly," was the reply, "and we have fought together in the past.
Young Marcus isn't a suckling; he's big and strong enough to fend himself. I've been waiting all these years for you to take your place as a soldier and a general once again! Don't pray don't leave me behind!" "Serge," said Cracis, sternly, "you have led these years of peace, but recollect that you are a soldier still. Man, your officer has given you your orders Obey!"
At that moment there was a low, deep bay, and the great wolf-dog, which had caught sight of his master, bounded from the shadow where he had crouched to avoid the flies, and, seeing the two strangers, as they seemed to him, he leaped forward, but crouched at his master's feet as he recognised his face and voice. "Good dog!" cried Cracis. "No, go back and guard all here till I return."
I leave you a greater charge than that of following and trying to shield me." "No, no, master, no!" cried the old soldier, passionately. "I was with you always. I followed you through the wars, and I've stood by you like a man in peace. Once my master always my master while you could trust me, and it must be so still." "No, Serge," cried Cracis, sternly.
If it prove necessary I will kneel for you to my oldest friend and ask his forgiveness for you and my brave young soldier here. Boy," he continued, "you have confessed your fault as your father's son, but since he left you, a simple scholar, you have become a soldier and bravely done your duty in your country's cause. Cracis, my brother general, I grant your son's appeal.
"No, father, I have left him packing it all now, and I have told him that all that is over, and that when we have time we must amuse ourselves in some other way than playing at soldiers and talking of war." Cracis laid his hand upon his son's shoulder and, with his face growing sterner, looked proudly in the young, frank face. "Thank you, my boy," he said. "That is very brave and right of you.
A minute later Cracis drew back and motioned to his son, who, earnest and alert, stepped forward, to find himself clasped to their visitor's breast, before he was released, to draw back wondering whether he liked or hated this man of whose prowess he had heard so much, and stood gazing at him wonderingly, as Julius, the Caesar yet to be, sank back, quivering with emotion, in the nearest seat.
Endorse it, man, for a fault so frankly acknowledged is half atoned." "I must have obedience," said Cracis, coldly, "not defiance, at a time like this." "I feel with you, old friend," said Caius Julius, slowly, "but your wounds have fevered you, and it has not been cool, calculating Cracis who has spoken, but the angry, offended general.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking