We angle for bigger fish. We bide our time. We are here to
make three big strokes and then a quick disappearance. Once we have our
hands on our chosen prisoners to be held for ransom we shall be off for
the mountain heights and the thickest forests; once we have the booty we
hope for, those in charge of it will ride fast and far and get clear out
of this part of Italy. Is that intelligible?"
"Entirely," said I, and was mute.
Bulla gazed at me almost genially.
"I don't in the least mind telling you," he said, "just what we are
waiting for. Half the countryside knows and are alert to help us all they
know how.
"In the first place we have word of a big consignment of gold on the way
to Rome; ingots from the mines in the mountains of Noricum, nuggets and
dust washed from the rivers of Dacia and Pannonia and Moesia. Of course it
is in charge of a wary official and has a strong guard, but we have good
hopes of getting it. If we do, it will be the biggest haul that any of our
bands ever made, and that he has put me here to try for it is proof of my
King's esteem for me.
"In the second place a wealthy senator, just the right man to capture and
hold for ransom, is coming up from Rome in charge of a big chest of gold
coin to be paid out by the administrators of Asia and Macedonia and
Achaia.
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