Then he turned on his side to sleep . ' `` He has it , '' said Maximus . `` We will get to what I need . '' ` He unrolled full copies of the number of men and supplies on the Wall -- down to the sick that very day in Hunno Hospital . Oh , but I groaned when his pen marked off detachment after detachment of our best -- of our least worthless men ! 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 XXXXX , laughing .
Belgians British Cæsar Dacians Hospital Maximus Numidian Pertinax Una left