Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/45

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ANCIENT BRITONS AND MODERN
27

from the chariot, rushed upon him with spear and axe. Dropping the axe, the enemy seized the standard with a cry of—

"Leggo, Thamuel!—or die!"

Samuel did neither. He rapped the knuckles of the presumptuous hand sharply, and the enemy drew back with a yelp of anguish.

"Hop it!" cried the Centurion, pressing his advantage and prodding the retreating foe with the butt-end of the standard. "Bung off! Barbarium," and the barbarian fled.

Leaping into the deserted chariot the Centurion said "Home" to a supposititious driver and poked out his tongue at the defeated enemy—and that was that.