278 MANNER OF FIGHTING. 



with his weapon, his spearless opponent, who, 

 bounding from side to side, in a stooping posture, 

 endeavours to cover with his shield his whole 

 body, save the head, and thus gives no steady object 

 for the aim of the coming missile. At length, 

 the spear being thrown, probably with the same 

 harmless effect, both snatch their knives from 

 their girdle, and rush with great impetuosity upon 

 each other, throwing their shields to the ground 

 to admit of their grappling with their left hands, 

 whilst with the right they strike swift and heavy 

 blows at the neck and into the left side. A few 

 moments decide the murderous conflict, and the 

 loud shout of the victor, as he pushes from his 

 front the heavy corpse of the slain, proclaims his 

 success in the gladiatorial combat. 



During the fight, continual shouts of encourage- 

 ment, or of derision, are raised by the non- 

 combatants, who are waiting only the stimulus of 

 revenge, on seeing a friend or leader killed, or to 

 be prompted by the desire to assist some wounded 

 companion, when they then rush into the conflict, 

 from their previous couchant position, in the rear. 

 No sooner, however, does any one spring forward for 

 this purpose, than he is met by some brave of the 

 opposite side, who runs to encounter him. Some- 

 times two or three, or even more, hasten for the 

 same purpose ; but corresponding opponents leap 

 forward to engage hand to hand in a suc- 

 cession of duels, with those who shew this 



