Each charioteer had a knife in his girdle, to enable him to release himself, in case of accident, from a bond that might prove fatal.
Before long the bay team was leading alone.

Behind were two Christian drivers, followed by three red chariots; Marcus was last of all, but it was easy to see that it was by choice and not by necessity that he was hanging back.

He was holding in his fiery team with all his strength and weight--his body thrown back, his feet firmly set with his knees against the silver bar of the chariot, and his hands gripping the reins.

In a few minutes he came flying past Dada and his brother, but he did not see them.

He had not even caught sight of his own mother, while the professional charioteers had not failed to bow to Cynegius and nod to their friends.