He told me what troops Maximus was taking out of Britain every month to help him to conquer Gaul ; and I always found the numbers were as he said . Wonderful ! And I tell another strange thing ! ' He joined his hands across his knees , and leaned his head on the curve of the shield behind him . ` Late in the summer , when the first frosts begin and the Picts kill their bees , we three rode out after wolf with some new hounds . Rutilianus , our General , had given us ten days ' leave , and we had pushed beyond the Second Wall -- beyond the Province of Valentia -- into the higher hills , where there are not even any of old Rome 's ruins . We killed a she-wolf before noon , and while Allo was skinning her he looked up and said to me , `` When you are Captain of the Wall , my child , you wo n't be able to do this any more ! '' ' I might as well have been made Prefect of Lower Gaul , so I laughed and said , `` Wait till I am Captain . '' ' `` No , do n't wait , '' said Allo . `` Take my advice and go home -- both of you . '' ' `` We have no homes , '' said Pertinax . `` You know that as well as we do . We 're finished men -- thumbs down against both of us . Only men without hope would risk their necks on your ponies . '' The old man laughed one of those short Pict laughs -- like a fox barking on a frosty night . `` I 'm fond of you two , '' he said . `` Besides , I 've taught you what little you know about hunting . Take my advice and go home . '' ' `` We ca n't , '' I said . `` I 'm out of favour with my General , for one thing ; and for another , Pertinax has an uncle . '' '
`` I do n't know about his uncle , '' said Allo , `` but the trouble with you , Parnesius , is that your XXXXX thinks well of you . '' '
Captain Gaul General Pertinax Picts Rome Rutilianus Wall days month