Still not opposed by Antonina, whose faculties of observation were
petrified by her terror into perfect inaction, even here, within reach
of the doubtful aid of the enemies of her people, the Pagan crept
forward through the loneliest places of the encampment, and, guided by
the mysterious cunning of his miserable race, eluded successfully the
observation of the drowsy sentinels. Never bewildered by the darkness--
for the moon had gone down--always led by the animal instinct co-
existent with his disease, he passed over the waste ground between the
hostile encampment and the city, and arrived triumphant at the heap of
stones that marked his entrance to the rifted wall.
For one moment he stopped, and turning towards the girl, pointed proudly
to the dark, low breach he was about to penetrate. Then, drawing her
half-fainting form closer to his side, looking up attentively to the
ramparts, and stepping as noiselessly as though turf were beneath his
feet, he entered the dusky rift with his helpless charge.
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