“Come,” said Caesar, turning; and the three joined in the flight.  To linger were madness.

It was only a trifling distance across the mole, but a frightful tragedy was enacted before their eyes as they ran.  The galley by the mole was none too large; as the frightened men piled into her, the shifting and increasing weight threw her on an uneven keel; and then came the horror.  A cry of mortal agony burst from hundreds of throats as the ship capsized.  Drusus, as he ran, saw, but for a twinkling, her deck black with writhing men, then her curving sides and keel, ere all vanished behind the embankment of the mole.  The three fugitives ran to the edge of the causeway:  below them, the water full of men battling for life; behind, the foe, now fully aware of their advantage and pressing on with exultant shouts.  Never had the Imperator been in greater peril.  Drusus glanced at his chief and saw that he was very pale, evidently hurt in the scuffle.  There was not a ship within hail, not a ship within two arrow-flights; and all seemed pulling back as if to escape from the danger.

“Leap, swim!” cried Caesar, casting off his breastplate.[185]

  [185] Lorica.

“There is no ship within reach, Imperator,” replied the young man, gravely.

“You are young and strong,” was his answer, “and will come away safe.”  Caesar was preparing to spring over the edge.

“And you?” cried Drusus, catching him by the wrist.  He knew that Caesar could never swim the distance to the nearest ship.

“In the hands of the Fates.”

But Agias, whose eyes had been straining out into the western harbour, cried, “Help!  A galley is coming!”

“Imperator,” said Drusus, “you must wait for this galley.”

The foe were almost on them.

“Are you mad?” was the exclamation of the general.

“I can hold them off until it is safe to swim,” and Drusus had covered himself behind a coping in the masonry.

Caesar measured the distance with his eye.

“We play at dice with Fortuna, whatever we do,” was his comment.  “Come, then.”  And the three steadied themselves on the narrow footing behind the parapet, one thrust being enough to send them headlong.  Fortunately weapons were ready—­thrown away by the luckless fugitives.  When the Alexandrians rushed up, three pila crashed in upon them, and, caught unawares by the little volley, they held back an instant.  The three desperate men were counting their hearts’ beats, while the distance from the friendly galley lessened.  Then the rush came, but it was met, and, narrow as was the ledge, the attempt to carry it failed.  The victors were stripping the dead, and, thus engaged, few joined in the attack.  Caesar had laid down his paludamentum, and the attackers thought they had to deal simply with three ordinary Romans, who meant to sell their lives dearly.  Another rush; the Imperator was forced hard, so that