`` I have hunted with them , '' I said . `` Maybe I have a few friends among the Heather . '' ' `` He is the only armoured man of you all who understands us , '' said Allo , and he began a long speech about our virtues , and how we had saved one of his grandchildren from a wolf the year before . ' ` Had you ? ' said Una . ` Yes ; but that was neither here nor there . The little green man orated like a -- like Cicero . He made us out to be magnificent fellows . Maximus never took his eyes off our faces . ' `` Enough , '' he said . `` I have heard Allo on you . I wish to hear you on the Picts . '' ' I told him as much as I knew , and Pertinax helped me out . There is never harm in a Pict if you but take the trouble to find out what he wants . Their real grievance against us came from our burning their heather . The whole garrison of the Wall moved out twice a year , and solemnly burned the heather for ten miles North . Rutilianus , our General , called it clearing the country . The Picts , of course , scampered away , and all we did was to destroy their bee-bloom in the summer , and ruin their sheep-food in the spring . ' `` True , quite true , '' said Allo . `` How can we make our holy heather-wine , if you burn our bee-pasture ? ''
` We talked long , Maximus asking keen questions that showed he knew much and had thought more about the XXXXX .
General Heather Maximus Pict Picts Una bee-pasture heather-wine sheep-food year