Drusus smote the man under the ear so that he fell without a groan; but Agias himself had been thrown from the parapet on to the bridge; the soldiers were thronging around.

Drusus saw the naked steel of their swords flashing before his eyes; he knew that the barge was slipping away in the current.

It was a time of seconds, but of seconds expanded for him into eternities.

With one arm he dashed back a lictor, with the other cast Agias--he never knew whence came that strength which enabled him to do the feat--over the stonework, and into the arms of Curio in the receding boat.

Then he himself leaped.