He took two towers of our Scythians , two of our North British auxiliaries , two Numidian cohorts , the Dacians all , and half the Belgians . It was like an eagle pecking a carcass . ' `` And now , how many catapults have you ? '' He turned up a new list , but Pertinax laid his open hand there . ' `` No , Cæsar , '' said he . `` Do not tempt the Gods too far . Take men , or engines , but not both ; else we refuse . '' ' ` Engines ? ' said Una . ` The catapults of the Wall -- huge things forty feet high to the head -- firing nets of raw stone or forged bolts . Nothing can stand against them . He left us our catapults at last , but he took a Cæsar 's half of our men without pity . We were a shell when he rolled up the lists ! ' `` Hail , Cæsar ! We , about to die , salute you ! '' said Pertinax , laughing . `` If any enemy even leans against the Wall now , it will tumble . '' ' `` Give me the three years Allo spoke of , '' he answered , `` and you shall have twenty thousand men of your own choosing up here . But now it is a gamble -- a game played against the Gods , and the stakes are Britain , Gaul , and perhaps Rome . You play on my side ? '' '
`` We will play , XXXXX , '' I said , for I had never met a man like this man . '
Allo Belgians British Cæsar Dacians Gaul Numidian Pertinax Scythians left