A SURPRISE. 115 



enemy's sentinels,, who were posted at each of the avenues 

 leading down into the subterranean city. 



These watchful guards, who presently gave notice of the 

 approaching army, were, like their assailants, all Amazonian 

 soldiers, only of a much milder and more pacific disposition, 

 being used to combine gentle employments with their profes- 

 sion of arms, a prosession, moreover, never exercised except 

 defensively. 



Slavery, as inflicted on others, is a thing unknown among the 

 Tuscans ; and their working females, who constitute the chief 

 bulk of the population, are not only the sole defenders of the 

 state, but also perform all the useful offices, which among the 

 Rufians are made to devolve upon the slaves. 



When warned of the enemy's unwelcome appearance, the 

 inhabitants of Pusca, those at least of them who belonged 

 to the preponderating class just mentioned, were busied in their 

 usual avocations. Some were building, some clearing the 

 streets, some tending their domestic cattle, others waiting on 

 the great in other words, the idle of the community ; others 

 feeding the children of the royal nurseries, for with the Tuscans 

 all nurseries may be called royal, because amongst them, as well 

 as amongst the Rufians, the privilege of maternity belongs 

 to royalty alone, the queens being always the queen-mothers 

 of their people. 



Though thus taken by surprise amidst their multifarious 

 employments, the garrison of Fusca had one advantage 



