THE HUNS OF ATTILA. 219 



But now not a sound stirred the air ; not a moving thing relieved 

 the monotony of ruin. Again the wayfarer looked ; and far on 

 the western horizon a low dark shadow seemed rolling up from 

 the space beyond. Could it be a cloud mounting so clear a sky, 

 and betokening a coming storm ? Again he looked ; and lo, as far 

 as the eye could see, there darkened against the setting sun the 

 living masses of innumerable cavalry. Startled from his rest, 

 the traveler sped frightened over the plain ; and soon where he 

 had stood beside that brook the war-horse of Attila pawed the 

 ground. Poising a javelin above his head, the chieftain sent it 

 whirling through the air, till far in the distance it quivered 

 in the sod. " Thus far," said he, " retreats the monarch of the 

 Huns. Pitch there my tent ; for here will we stay yon proud 

 Roman, or leave our bones to whiten on these plains." 



In a circle of many miles circumference, the cumbrous wagons 

 of the Huns were interlocked with each other in double lines, 

 forming a strong fortification, and having one only opening in 

 the front. Within this enclosure were soon collected a million 

 horses and a countless swarm of human beings. Close upon their 

 rear came the Roman general Aetius, with his Gothic ally The- 

 odoric, who had followed the Huns from the siege of Orleans, 

 and now encamped on the opposite side of the brook. There 

 within the compass of a few leagues were assembled the nations 

 of all Europe ; on the one side the barbarians of the east and 

 the north, arid all who hated Rome and Christianity alike with 

 an intolerant hatred ; on the other side the legions of the Roman 

 Empire with the vast armies of the Christianized Visigoths and 

 the tribes of Gaul. Heathenism and Christianity, barbarism and 

 civilization, had there met for deadly and exterminating conflict. 



Night came ; but with it came no quiet to that vast multitude 

 preparing for the coming battle. The sound of the sledge and 

 hammer, the clanking of arms and armor, the wild blast of the 

 trumpet, the loud and startling laugh, and the native war-songs 

 shouted in savage dissonance, the clatter of thousands hurrying 

 to and fro, the voices of sentinels and officers rung out in many 

 a discordant tongue, all raised on the air of night so hideous a 

 din, that naught was noted beyond the passing sight. An 

 accidental encounter of some divisions of either army occurred 



