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           He’llbeforgotteninamonth,"shereplied.

           "No,"saidCommodus,smiling."Muchsoonerthanthat.It’sbeenarranged."

           Downonthearenasand,MaximuslookedatTigris."Onlyonemanwithaswordandspear?"hethought."Something’swrong.Whatdon’tIknow?"

           MaximusstoppedashortdistancefromTigris.Theysalutedeachother,andthenTigristurnedtotheEmperorandraisedhissword."Beforewedie,wesaluteyou,"hesaid.

           MaximusdidnotturntotheEmperor,orsalutehim.Instead,hebentdownandpickedupsomesand,thenletitrunthroughhisfingers.

           Tigrispulleddownthefaceguardonhishelmet.ThenheimmediatelyattackedMaximus.Maximusstruckbackathim.

           Thetwomenwereequalcontestants-bothstrongandfast.Maximuswastheyoungermanandhewasveryconfident.Hebelievedthathewouldnotbekilledthatday.

           Astheyfought,Maximussuddenlyheardastrangenoise.Hecouldnotunderstandwhereitwascomingfrom.Thenhefeltthegroundmove.

           Suddenly,adooropenedinthesandbehindhimandanenormoustigercameout.Itjumpedathim.Hefeltthetiger’sbreathonhisbackashemovedquicklytooneside,andheexpectedtheanimaltolandontopofhim.Butwhenhelooked,hesawthatitwasontheendofalongchain.Thiswasheldtightlybythreemennearthewall.

           Tigrisattackedagainwithgreatstrength,forcingMaximusbacktowardthetiger.Maximusalsoattacked,anddroveTigrisinanewdirection.Thenaseconddooropenedinthesand,andanothertigerjumpedintothearena.