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326 DARKNESS AND DAWN
the spectators,
like the late " divine " Claudius, as they call
him, like to see us killed, because our dying expression is not
concealed by a helmet.'
'
But why should we not both escape?' asked the Briton.
'
Perhaps before this time to-morrow we may each be the happy
possessor of the ivory ticket with " Sp." 1 upon it, or even of
the palm and the Who foil. knows but what by our bravery
'
we may be rude donati?
'
Don't you know, then, that to-morrow's games will very
likely be sine missione ? We must either die or kill.'
The Briton had not been aware of it. He sank into gloomy
silence. Onesimus gently laid his hand on his friend's shoulder,
and said, Well, perhaps, like Priscus and Verrus, we may
'
both be victors and both vanquished. Pugnavere pares, succubuere
pares.'
Glanydon shook his head. He said, ' Let us talk no more,
or we shall both be unmanned. Life death to-morrow ;
the rudis or the stab ? Which shall it be ?
'
It is in God's hands,' said Onesimus, ' if what we have
been taught
is true.'
With that awful issue before them, overshadowed by misgivings
and almost with despair, finding life horrible, yet
shrinking from the death which neither of them dared to
regard with full Christian hope, the two youths lay down on
their Before pallets. they closed their eyes in sleep, each of
them had breathed some sort of unuttered cry into the dim
unknown.
1
For Spectatus a gladiator who had made his d&mi in the arena.
'