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or tribute； to meet the necessary expenses of the new Emperor
Diocletian。
Something else had happened to increase his ill temper。 His
〃jolly old soul；〃 vexed by the numerous crosses of the day； was
thrown into still greater perplexity by the arrival； just as he
stood fretful and chafing on the shore at Wivanloe； of one who
even now was with him on the trireme； bearing him company back to
his palace at CamolodunumCarausius the admiral。
This Carausius； the admiral； was an especially vigorous；
valorous； and fiery young fellow of twenty…one。 He was cousin to
the Princess Helena and a prince of the blood royal of ancient
Britain。 Educated under the strict military system of Rome； he
had risen to distinction in the naval force of the Empire； and
was now the commanding officer in the northern fleet that had its
central station at Gessoriacum； now Boulogne； on the northern
coast of France。 He had chased and scattered the German pirates
who had so long ravaged the northern seas； had been named by the
Emperor admiral of the north； and was the especial pride； as he
was the dashing young leader； of the Roman sailors along the
English Channel and the German shores。
The light barge of the princess approached the heavier boat of
the king； her father。 At her signal the oarsmen drew up
alongside； and； scarce waiting for either boat to more than
slacken speed； the nimble…footed girl sprang lightly to the deck
of her father's galley。 Then bidding the obedient Cleon take her
own barge back to the palace； she hurried at once； and without
question； like the petted only child she was； into the
high…raised cabin at the stern； where beneath the Roman standards
sat her father the king。
Helena entered the apartment at a most exciting moment。 For
there； facing her portly old father； whose clouded face bespoke
his troubled mind； stood her trimly…built young cousin Carausius
the admiral； bronzed with his long exposure to the sea…blasts； a
handsome young viking； and； in the eyes of the hero…loving Helen；
very much of a hero because of his acknowledged daring and his
valorous deeds。
Neither man seemed to have noticed the sudden entrance of the
girl； so deep were they in talk。
〃I tell thee； uncle；〃 the hot…headed admiral was saying； 〃it is
beyond longer bearing。 This new emperorthis Diocletianwho is
he to dare to dictate to a prince of Britain？ A foot…soldier of
Illyria； the son of slaves； and the client of three coward
emperors； an assassin； so it hath been said； who from chief of
the domestics； hath become by his own cunning Emperor of Rome；
And now hath he dared to accuse meme； a free Briton and a Roman
citizen as well； a prince and the son of princes； with having
taken bribes from these German pirates whom I have vanquished。 He
hath openly said that I； Carausius the admiral； have filled mine
own coffers while neglecting the revenues of the state。 I will
not bear it。 I am a better king than he； did I but have my own
just rights； and even though he be Diocletian the Emperor； he
needeth to think twice before he dare accuse a prince of Britain
with bribe…taking and perjury。〃
〃True enough； good nephew；〃 said King Coel； as the admiral strode
up and down before him； angrily playing with the hilt of his
short Roman sword； 〃true enough； and I too have little cause to
love this low…born emperor。 He hath taken from me both my players
and my gold； when I can illy spare either from my comfort or my
necessities。 'T is a sad pass for Britain。 But Rome is mistress
now。 What may we hope to do？〃
The Princess Helena sprang to her father's side； her young face
flushed； her small hand raised in emphasis。 〃Do！〃 cried she； and
the look of defiance flamed on her fair young face。 〃Do！ Is it
thou； my father； thou； my cousin； princes of Britain both； that
ask so weak a question？ O that I were a man！ What did that brave
enemy of our house； Cassivellaunus； do？ what Caractacus？ what the
brave queen Boadicea？ When the Roman drove them to despair they
raised the standard of revolt； sounded their battle cries； and
showed the Roman that British freemen could fight to the death
for their country and their home。 And thus should we do； without
fear or question； and see here again in Britain a victorious
kingdom ruled once more by British kings。〃
〃Nay； nay； my daughter；〃 said cautious King Coel； 〃your words are
those of an unthinking girl。 The power of Rome〃
But the Prince Carausius； as the girl's brave words rang out；
gave her an admiring glance； and； crossing to where she stood；
laid his hand approvingly upon her shoulder。
〃The girl is right； uncle；〃 he said； breaking in upon the king's
cautious speech。 〃Too long have we bowed the neck to Roman
tyranny。 We； free princes of Britain that we are； have it even
now in our power to stand once again as altogether free。 The
fleet is mine； the people are yours； if you will but amuse them。
Our brothers are groaning under the load of Roman tribute； and
are ripe to strike。 Raise the cry at Camalodunum； my uncle； cry：
'Havoc and death to Rome！' My fleet shall pour its victorious
sailors upon the coast； the legions； even now full of British
fighters； shall flock to out united standards； and we shall
ruleEmperors in the North； even as do the Roman conquerors rule
Emperors in the South。〃
Young blood often sways and leads in council and in action；
especially when older minds are over…cautious or sluggish in
decision。 The words of Carausius and Helena carried the day with
Coel the king； already smarting under a sense of ill…treatment by
his Roman over…lords。
The standard of revolt was raised in Camalodunum。 The young
admiral hurried back to France to make ready his fleet； while
Coel the king； spurred on to action by the patriotic Helena； who
saw herself another Boadiceathough； in truth； a younger and
much fairer onegathered a hasty following； won over to his
cause the British…filled legion in his palace…town； and；
descending upon the nearest Roman camps and stations； surprised；
captured； scattered； or brought over their soldiers； and
proclaimed himself free from the yoke of Rome and supreme prince
of Britain。
Ambition is always selfish。 Even when striving for the general
good there lies； too often； beneath this noble motive the still
deeper one of selfishness。 Carausius the admiral； though
determined upon kingly power； had no desire for a divided
supremacy。 He was determined to be sole emperor； or none。 Crafty
and unscrupulous； although brave and high…spirited； he deemed it
wisest to delay his part of the compact until he should see how
it fared with his uncle； the king； and then； upon his defeat； to
climb to certain victory。
He therefore sent to his uncle promises instead of men； and when
summoned by the Roman governor to assist in putting down the
revolt； he returned loyal answers； but sent his aid to neither
party。
King Coel after his first successes knew that； unaided； he could
not hope to withstand the Roman force that must finally be
brought against him。 Though urged to constant action by his wise
young daughter； he preferred to do nothing； and； satisfied with
the acknowledgment of his power in and about his little kingdom
on the Colne； he spent his time in his palace with the musicians
that he loved so well； and the big bowl of liquor that he loved；
it is to be feared； quite as dearly。
The musiciansthe pipers and the harperssang his praises； and
told of his mighty deeds； and； no doubt； their refrain was very
much the same as the one that has been preserved for us in the
jingle of Mother Goose：
〃O； none so rare as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three。〃
But if the pleasure…loving old king was listless； young Helena
was not。 The misty records speak of her determined efforts； and
though it is hard to understand how a girl of fifteen can do any
thing toward successful generalship； much can be granted to a
young lady who； if the records speak truth； was； even while a
girl； 〃a Minerva in wisdom； and not deficient in statecraft。〃
So； while she advised with her father's boldest captains and
strengthened so wisely the walls of ancient Colchester； or
Camalodunum； that traces of her work still remain as proof of her
untiring zeal； she still cherished the hope of British freedom
and release from Rome。 And the loving old king； deep in his
pleasures； still recognized the will and wisdom of his valiant
daughter； and bade his artists make in her honor a memorial that
should ever speak of her valor。 And this memorial； lately
unearthed； and known as the Colchester Sphinx； perpetuates the
lion…like qualities of a girl in her teens； who dared withstand
the power of Imperial Rome。
And still no help came from her cousin； the admiral。 But one day
a galley speeding up the Colne brought this unsigned message to
King Coel：
〃To Co