! The Arch-Druid : [SEPT. 



grow up around me, and in their noble forms and manly senti- 

 ments have traced their father's nature. But all is over now. No 

 child of mine shall ever live to bless his mother's memory. The axe is 

 at the root the worm at the core and this blighted, shrivelled form 

 shall never more put forth bud or blossom. Caradoc my husband 



my " Before she could complete the sentence, her whole form 



became convulsed, and she sank sobbing and half inanimate at the foot 

 of the cromlech. 



The Arch-Druid now advanced. He had marked this impressive 

 scene which, though it takes up some room in the narration, passed 

 in a comparatively short space of time with visible impatience; but no 

 sooner did he see Cartismandua fall, than his strong emotion got the 

 better of him, and hastily advancing, he consigned her to the especial care 

 of the nearest Druid, and addressed himself to Sergius, who had listened 

 to the latter part of Cartismandua's details with a sullenness bordering 

 upon vacancy. 



But the deep, solemn tones of the Arch-Druid roused him to some- 

 thing like attention. "In me," said the pontiff, "you behold the hus- 

 band of that broken-hearted woman. I am Caradoc ! In that one word 

 lies your doom. The gods demand your life as a sacrifice ; and when 

 the prophetic owl of Hesus has whooped thrice, the debt shall be paid." 



As Caradoc thus definitely pronounced his doom, Sergius shook with 

 horror. Up to this period he had cherished some vague hopes of 

 life all were now blasted. In the paroxysm of the moment, he 

 turned towards the British prince, and even sued for pity. It was 

 sternly but silently refused. Cold drops stood upon the Dacian's fore- 

 head ; death in the high excitement of battle he could have braved, as 

 he had braved it a thousand times before ; but death in this terrific form, 

 stealing in the silence of midnight, in the depths of an unknown forest, 

 slowly, surely, like a spectre towards him, its every footstep falling 

 with fearful distinctness on his ear for this he was wholly unprepared. 



Meantime the Britons, intolerant of this protracted scene, began to 

 testify their impatience by savage outcries, by clashing their shields, 

 and thronging tumultuously close to the altar. 



Sergius marked their approach. By an extraordinary effort, col- 

 lecting all his courage for one final struggle, he exclaimed, " Barba- 

 rians, I am at your mercy. Do with me as you list, but bear witness 

 that I die as I have lived a Roman warrior." 



" Hark," said one of the Druids, cutting short his further appeal, <e I 

 hear the night- owl. 



" No," replied the Pontiff, "'tis but the wolf baying the moon." 



Just as he uttered these words, the owl, from a neighbouring tree, 

 whooped thrice. The sound sharp distinct electric pierced the 

 Dacian's ear like a knife, while at the same time it announced to the 

 Britons, that the Deity accepted the human sacrifice. 



In an instant numbers had surrounded the cromlech, the Druids, 

 too, gathered close round their victim; and the Pontiff, drawing 

 the sacrificial weapon from his breast, plunged it to the hilt in the 

 victim's heart, who fell without a groan ; and then drawing it out hot 

 and smoking with blood, turned triumphantly to his wife : " Cartis- 

 mandua," he said, " our wrongs are revenged the tyrant is no more !" 



Surprised at receiving no answer, he advanced, and raised her from 

 the arm of the Druid who supported her. It was 'too late. Her heart 

 was broken. She was dead ! 



