How Pompeius Stamped with His Feet I A messenger to the consuls! He had ridden fast and furious, his horse was flecked with foam and straining on his last burst of speed.

On over the Mulvian Bridge he thundered; on across the Campus Martius; on to the Porta Ratumena--with all the hucksters and street rabble howling and chasing at his heels.
"News! News for the consuls!" "What news ?" howled old Laeca, who was never backward in a street press.
"Terrible!" shouted the messenger, drawing rein, "Caesar is sweeping all before him! All Thermus's troops have deserted him at Iguvium.
Attius Varus has evacuated Auximum, and his troops too have dispersed, or joined Caesar.

All the towns are declaring for the enemy.

_Vah!_ He will be here in a few days at most! I am the last of the relay with the news.

I have hardly breathed from Eretum!" And the courier plunged the spur into his hard-driven mount, and forced his way into the city, through the mob.