His firm lips were set with an expression grave and hard.

He took no part in the annihilating frenzy of his men.
"This is terrible destruction!" cried Agias in his ear, for the roar of the flames was deafening, he himself beginning to turn sick at the sight of the ruin.
"It is frightful," replied Demetrius, gloomily; "why did the gods ever drive me to this?
My men are but children to exult as they do; as boys love to tear the thatch from the roof of a useless hovel, in sheer wantonness.

I cannot restrain them." At this instant a seaman rushed up in breathless haste.
"_Eleleu!_ Captain, the soldiers are on us.

There must have been a cohort in Cumae." Whereat the voice of Demetrius rang above the shouts of the plunderers and the crash and roar of the conflagration, like a trumpet:-- "Arms, men! Gather the spoil and back to the ships! Back for your lives!" Already the cohort of Pompeian troops, that had not yet evacuated Cumae, was coming up on the double-quick, easily guided by the burning buildings which made the vicinity bright as day.

The pirates ran like cats out of the blazing villas, bounded over terraces and walls, and gathered near the landing-place by the Lentulan villa.