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--f L Jf

. 1 • .

THE YOUNG CARTHAGINIAN,

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— ""r^^trfe^fe

88»

MALCHUS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ROMAN GENERAL.

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T[TK YOUNG CAKTllAlilMAN

A st()i;y of

THK TIMKS OF HANNIBAL.

(J. A. IIKNTV,

Author i*f ■' With « liN'- in Imlhi . ' T!,c l.i<>ii i>f ilii> Ni.rtli ;" " In FrvL'dmu'a CauM/

"l;v Sliicr I'lmk ■■ K;ii ili« h.iitli; if.

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GLASGOW:

BLACKIE it SOX, Limited.

TOIIOXTO:

WILLIAM URIfJOS, 29.33 Kin,M,>M, 8t Wfst

The COPP. CLARK COMPAXV. L,.m,t.,>. 9 Fk..nt St. West.

///-// Ty^ O /y

ENTKinjtJ ;i;ci)r li i: I • tSe Act of tii.- P.irli.iiiiem of C'aiiaila, in the year on«
thouMkiul tinlii liniiilifil ami iiiiiftysix, l,y ISlackik ^ Son, I.iniited, in the
OfTice of the .Miiii-.icr of Aijrii.ulture.

PREFACE.

My dear Lads,—

When I wjis a l»oy at sdiool, if I loiiicniher rightly, our
8yin|>atiiies wtMv gciu'ialiy witli tlu; Caitliaj^iiiians as a;^^aiii8t
tiiu liomaiH. Wiiy tlicy w.-re so, except tiiat one <,'enerally
RVinpatliizes witli tlie unfortunate, I <lo n<>t <iuite know;
certainly we had luit a iiazv i<lea as to tlie merits of the
stru-'ulo an«l knew hut little of its events, for the Latin and
(Jreek autiiors, which serve as the onlinary text-hooks in
schools, do not treat of the Punic wars. That it was a
8trui'<'le for empire at first, and lattt-rlv one for existence on
the part of Cartluigf, tliut llannihal was a urcat iind skilful
gt'iicral, that he tlefc;\t«'d the IJomans at Trehia, Lake
Trasimenus, and Canme, and idl hut took Konie, and that the
Ivonians behaved with had faith and ureat cruelty at the
capture of Cartha.i^e, represents, I think, pretty nearly the
sum total of our knowled^^e.

I am sure I should have liked to know a j^reat deal more
ahout this stru»;gle for the empire of the world, and as I
think that most of you would also like to do so, I have
chosen this subject for my story. Fortunately there is no
lack of authentic material from which to glean the inci-
dents of the struggle. Tolyhius visited all the passes of the
Alps some forty years after the ev<!nt, and conversed with
tribesmen who had witnessed the passage of Hannibal, and
there can be no doubt that his descriptions are far more
accurate than those of Livy, who wrote somewhat later and
had no personal knowledge of the afrair. Nundjers of books
have been written as to the identity of the passes traversed
by Hannibal. The whole of these have been discussed and
summarized by Mr. W. J. Law, and as it appears to me that

PREFACE.

I I

his arguments are quite conclusive I have adopted the line
which he lays down as that followed by Hannibal.

In regard to the general history of tiic expedition, and
of the manners, customs, religion, and politics of Carthage, I
have followed M. llennebert in his most exhaustive and
important work on the subject. I think that when you have
read to the end you will perceive that although our sym-
pathies may remain with Hannil)al and the Carthaginians,
it was nevertheless for the good of the world that Rome
was the conqueror in the great struggle for empire. At the
time the war began Carthage was already corrupt to the
core, and although she might have enslaved many nations she
would never have civilized them. Rome gave free institu-
tions to the peo})le she conquered, she subdued but she
never enslaved them, but rather strove to plant her civiliza-
tion among them and to raise them to her own level. Car-
thage, on the cojitrary, was from the first a cruel mistress to
the people she conquered. Consequently while all the peoples
of Italy rallied round Rome in the days of her distress, the
tribes subject to Cai thage rose in insurrection against her as
soon as the presence of a Roman army gave them a hope of
escape from their bondage.

Had Carthage conquered Rome in the struggle she could
never have extended her power over the known world as
Rome afterwards did, but would have fallen to pieces again
from the weakness of her institutions and the corruption of
her people. Thus then, although we may feel sympathy
for the failure and fate of the noble and chivalrous Han-
nibal himself, we camiot regret that Rome came out con-
queror in the strife, and was left free to carry out her great
work of civilization.

Yours sincerely,

G. A. HENTY.

■f

CONTENTS.

Chap. J'ag*

I. The Camp in the Desert, 9

II. A Night Attack, 23

III. Cautha(;k, 39

IV. A Pi (PILAU IJlSINO, 55

V. The t'oNsriKAcY, 70

VI. A C'AMrAi»;N in Spain, 88

VII. A Wolf Hunt 106

VIII. A Plot FuusTUATKn, ]22

IX. Thk Hikoe of Saguntum, 142

X. Beset, . 154

XI. The Passage of the Rhone, 174

XII. Among the Passes 191

XIII. The Battle of the Trebia, 208

XIV. The Battle of Lake Trasimene, 226

XV. A Mountain Tribe, 245

XVI. In the Dungeons of Carthage 258

XVII. The Escape, 276

XVIII. Cann.e, 293

XIX. In the Mines 309

XX. The Sardinian Forests, 326

XXI. The Gaulish Slave, 347

XXII. The Lion, 365

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
^Falciiu.s niiOLGHT BKKORE THU KoMAX (Jknekal, . Ft'OntlS. 189

Malchus at thk Lion Hint, 26

•tl

The I)AN'tJKU!s o;" a Woi.k IIint, 114

MaLCHL'S and NkssI S auk .SIDDKNLV STOIM'EI), .... 159

TiiK Ix.siBitiAN Ciiikk's Daightkus nl-rsk Malchis, . . 210

TlIK HlUINC-l'I.ACE IN THK IkKsKltVOlltS UXKEU CaKTHAGR, . 281

Flavia ixteuiu)(;ates hek Si-avk Mau'Hu.s, ..... 360

MaLCHUS and ClOTILDE escape fiiOM 1{0ME, 37'

THE YOUNG CARTHAGINIAN.

CHAPTER I.

THE CAMP IN THE DESERT.

T is afternoon, but the sun's rays still pour down
with gieat })o\ver upon rock and sand. How
groat the heat has been at mid-day may be
seen by the quivering of the air as it rises from
the ground and blurs all distant objects. It is seen, too, in
the attitudes and appearance of a large body of soldiers
encami)ed in a grove. Their arms are thrown aside, the
greater i)ortion of their clothing has been dispensed with.
Some lie stretched on the ground in slumber, their faces
protected from any chance rays wiiich may find their way
through the foliage above, by little shelters composed of
their clothing hung on two bows or javelins. Some, lately
awakened, are siMing up or leaning against the trunks of
the trees, but scarce one has energj to move.

The day has indeed been a hot one even for the southern
edge of the Libyan desert. The cream-coloured oxen stand
with their heads down, lazily whisking away with their
tails the flies that torment them. The horses standing near
suffer more; the lather stands on their sides, their flanks

A MIXED FORCE.

heave, and from time to time they stretch out their extended
nostrils in the direction from which, when the sun sinks b
little lower, the breeze will begin to blow.

The occui)ants of the grove are men of varied races, and,
although there is no attenij)t at military order, it is clear at
once that they are divided into three parties. One is com-
l)osed of men more swarthy than the others. They are lithe
and active in figure, inured to hardship, accustomed to the
burning sun. Light shiehls hang against the trees with
bows and gaily-puinted quivers full of arrows, and near each
man are three or four light short javelins. They wear
round ca})s of metal, with a band of the skin of the lion or
other wild animal, in which are stuck feathers dyed with
some bright colour. They are naked to the waist, save for
a light breastplate of brass. A cloth of bright colours is
wound round their waist and drops to the knees, and they
wear belts of leather embossed with brass plates; on their
feet are sandals. They are the light armed Numidian horse.

Near them are a party of men lighter in hue, taller and
stouter in stature. Their garb is more irregular, their arms
are bare, but they wear a sort of shirt, open at the neck and
reaching to the knees, and confined at the waist by a leather
strap, from which hangs a pouch of the same material.
Their shirts, which are of roughly made flannel, .are dyed a
colour which was originally a deep purple, but which has
faded, under the htat of the sun, to lilac. They are a
company of Iberian slingers, enlisted among the tribes con-
quered in Spain by the Carthaginians. By them lie the
heavy swords Miiich they use in close quarters.

The third body of men are more heavily armed. On the
ground near the slee^iers lie helmets and massive shields.
They have tightly fitting jerkins of well-tanned leather,
their arms are spears and battle-axes. They are the heavy

THE general's TENT.

ided
iks h

and,
ar at
com-

lithe
;o the

with
r each

wear
ion or
I with
IV e for
ours is
d they
,n their

horse.

er and
ir arms

;ck and
eather

laterial.

dyed a

ich has

y are a

bes con-
lie the

On the
shields,
leather,
,e heavy

infantry of Carthage. Very various is their nationality;
fair-skinned Greeks lie side ]>y side with swarthy negroes
from Nubia. Sardinia, the islands of the i^gean, Crete
and Egypt, Libya and Plia'nicia are all represented there.

They are recruited alike from the lower orders of the
great city and from the tribes and people who own her sway.

Near the large grove in which the troops are encamped is
a smaller one. A space in the centre has been* cleared of
trees, and in this a large tent has been erected. Around
this numerous slaves are moving to and fro.

A Roman cook, captured in a sea fight in which his master,
a wealthy tribune, was killed, is watching three Cireeks, who
are under his suj)erintendence, preparing a repast. Some
Lil)van •grooms are rubbing down the coats of four horses
of the purest breed of the desert, while two Nuljians are
feeding, with large flat cakes, three elephants, who, chained
by the leg to trees, stand rocking themselves from side to
side.

The exterior of the tent is made of coarse white canvas;
this is thickly lined by fold after fold of a thin material,
dyed a dark blue, to keep out the heiit of the sun, while the
interior is hung with silk, purple and white. The curtains
at each end are looped back with gold cord to allow a free
passage of the air.

A carpet from the looms of Syria covers the ground, and
on it are spread four couches, on which, in a position half-
sitting half-reclining, repose the principal personages of the
party. The elder of these is a man some fifty years of
age, of commanding figure, and features which express
energy and resolution. His body is bare to the waist,
save for a light short-sleeved tunic of the finest muslin
embroidered round the neck and sleeves with gold.

A gold belt encircles his waist, below it hangs a garment

' ;

> -. . -> fc-*.. »j „^_,_::^.^

NOBLES OF CARTHAGE.

resembling the modern kilt, but reaching half-way between
the knee and the ankle. It is dyed a rich purple, and
three bands of gold embroidery run round the lower edge.
On his feet he wears sandals with broad leather lacinj^s
covered with gold. His toga, also of purple heavily embroi-
dered with gold, lies on the couch beside him; from one of
the poles of the tent hang his arms, a short heavy swoid,
with a hamlle of solid gold in a scabbard incrusted with the
same metal, and a baldrick, covered with plates of gold
beautifully worked and lined with the softest leather, by
which it is suspended over his shoulder.

Two of his companions are young men of three or four
and twenty, both fair like himself, with features of almost
Greek regularity of outline. Their dross is similar to his
in fashion, but the colours are gayer. The fourth member
of the party is a lad of some fifteen years old. His figure,
which is naked to the waist, is of a pure Grecian model,
the muscles, showing up clearly beneath the skin, testify
to hard exercise and a life of activity.

Powerful as Carthage was, the events of the last few
years had shown that a life-and-death struggle with her
great rival in Italy was approaching. For many years she
had been a conquering nation. Her aristocracy were soldiers
as well as traders, ready at once to embark on the most
distant and adventurous voyages, to lead the troops of
Carthage on toilsome expeditions against insurgent tribes
of Numidia and Libya, or to launch their triremes to engage
the fleets of Rome.

The severe checks which they had lately suffered at the
hands of the newly formed Roman navy, and the certainty
that ere long a tremendous struggle between the two powers
must take place, had redoubled the military ardour of the
nobles. Their training to arms began from their very

UAMlLCAtl.

sen

ind
,ge.
ngs
roi-
e of
Old,
the
gold
r, by

four
Imost

,0 his
jmbcr
figure,
iiodel,
estify

it few
\\\ her
irs she
)ldiers
most

[ops of
tribes
jngage

at the

rtainty

[powers

of the
ir very

childhood, and the sons of the noblest houses were taught,
at the earliest age, the use of arms and the endurance of
fatigue and hardship.

Malchus, the son of Hamilcar, the leader of the expedition
in the desert, had been, from his early childhood, trained by
his father in the use of arms. When he was ten years old
Hamilcar had taken him with him on a campaign in Spain;
there, by a rigorous training, he had learned to endure cold
and hardships.

In the depth of winter his father had made him pass the
nights uncovered and almost without clothing in the cold.
He had bathed in the icy water of the torrents from the
snow-clad hills, and had been forced to keep up with the rapid
march of the light-armed troops in pursuit of the Iberians.
He was taught to endure long abstinence from food and to
bear pain without flinching, to be cheerful under the greatest
hardships, to wear a smiling face when even veteran soldiers
were worn out and disheartened.

" It is incumbent upon us, the rulers and aristocracy of
this g eat city, my son, to show ourselves superior to the
common herd. They must recognize that we are not only
richer and of better blood, but that we are stronger,
wiser, and more courageous than they. So, only, can we
expect them to obey is, and to make the sacrifices which
war entails upon them. It is not enough that we are
of pure Phoenician blood, that we come of the most enter-
prising race the world has ever seen, while they are but a
mixed breed of many people who have either submitted to
our rule or have been enslaved by us.

"This was Avell enough in the early days of the colony
when it was Phanician arms alone that won our battles and
subdued our rivals. In our days we are few and the popu-
lace are many. Our armies are composed not of Phoenicians,

A FATHEIl'S COUNSELS.

but of the races conquercl by us. Libya and Numidia,
Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain, all in turn conquered by us, now
furnish us with troops.

" Carthage is a mighty city, but it is no longer a city of
Phoenicians. We form but a small proportion of the popu-
lation. It is true that all power rests in our hands, that
from our ranks the senate is chosen, the army officered, and
the laws administered, but the expenses of the state are
vast. The conquered people fret under the heavy tributes
which they have to pay, and the vile populace murmur at
the taxes.

" In Italy, Rome looms greater and more powerful year
by year. Her people are hardy and trained to arms, and
some day the struggle between us and her will have to bo
fought out to the death. Theri'fore, my son, it behoves us
to use every eflbrt to make ourselves worthy of our position.
Set before yourself the example of your cousin Hannibal,
who, young as he is, is already viewed as the greatest man
in Carthage. CJrudge no liardshi}) or sulTering to harden
your frame and strengthen your arms.

" Some day you too may lead armies in the field, and,
believe me, tiioy will follow you all the better and more
cheerfully if they know that in strength and endurance, as
well as in position, their commander is the foremost man in
his army."

Malchus had been an apt pu}iil, and had done justice to
the pains which his father had bestowed upon him and to
the training he had undergone. He could wit^ld the arms
of a man, could swim tlie coldest river, endure hardship
and want of food, traverse long distances at the top of
his speed, could throw a jav( !;n with unci-ring aim, and
send an arrow to the mark as tiul y as the best of the Libyan
archers.

tnisi

IMrATIENCE.

il year
IS, and
) to bo
oves us
osition.
innibal,
l^st man
harden

Id, and,
d more
ance, as
man in

liistice to

and to

the arms

Hardship

top of
11 111, and

Libyan

" Tho sun i*^ goin;^' down fast, father," the lad said, " the
riliadows arc lengtlieiiiiig and tlie heat is dedining."

" Wo liavo only your word for the decHne of tho heat,
iMalchus," one of the youj;ger men hiughed; "I feel hotter
than ever. This is the tifteeiith time that you have been to
the door of the tent duiing the last half-hour. Your rest-
lessness is enough to give one the fever."

"I believe that you are just as eager as I am, Adherbal,"
the boy replied laughi" g. "It's your first lion hunt as well
as mine, and I am sure you are longing to see whether tho
assault of the king of beasts is more trying to the nerves
than that of the l])erian tribesmen."

"I am looking forward to it, Malchus, certainly," the
young man replied; "hut as I know tiiat the lions will not
quit their coverts until after nightfall, and as no eiForts on
my part will hasten the approach of that hour, I am well
content to lie quiet and to keep myself as cool as may be."

" Your cousin is right," the general said, " and inq>aticnce
is a fault, Malchus. We must make allowances for your
impatience on the present occasion, for the lion is a foe not
to be despised, and he is truly as formidable an antagonist
when brought to bay as the Iberians on the banks of the
Ebro — far more so than the revolted tribesmen we have
been hunting for 'iie i)ast three weeks."

"Giscon says nothing," Adherbal remarked; "he has a
soul above even the huntinijr of lions. I warrant that durinir
the five hours we have been reclining here his thoughts have
never once turned towards the hunt we are going to have
to night."

"That is true enough," Giscon said, speaking for the first
time. "I own that my thoughts have been of Carthage, and
of the troubles that threaten her owing to the corruption and
misgovernment which are sapping her strength."

..4

•S

TREASONABLE WORDS.

"It wore best not to think too much on the subject, Giscon,"
the general said; "still better not to speak of it. You know
that I lament, as you do, the misgovernment of Carthage,
and mourn for the disasters which have been brought upon
her by it. But the subject is a dangerous one; the council
have spies everywhere, and to be denounced as one hostile
to the established state of things is to be lost"

" I know the danger," the young man said passionately.
" I know that hitherto all who have ventured to raise their
voices against the authority of those tyrants have died by
torture — that murmuring has been stami)ed out in blood. Yet
were the danger ten times as great," and the speaker had risen
now from his couch and was walking up and down the tent,
" I could not keep silent. AVhat have our tyrants brought us
to? Their extravagance, their corruption, have wasted the
public funds and have paralysed our arms. Sicily and Sar-
dinia ha ve been lost ; our allies in Africa have been goaded by
their exactions again and again into rebellion, and Carthage
has more than once lately been obliged to fight hard for her
very existence. The lower classes in the city are utterly
disaffected; their earnings are wrung from them by the tax-
gatherers. Justice is denied them by the judges, who are the
mere creatures of the committee of five. The suffetes are
mere puppets in their hands. Our vessels lie unmanned in
our harbours, because the funds which should pay the sailors
are appropriated by our tyiants to their own purposes. How
can a Carthaginian who loves his country remain silent?"

"All you say is true, Giscon," the general said gravely,
" though I should be pressed to death were it whispered in
Carthage that I said so; but at present we can do nothing.
Had the great Hamilcar Barca lived I believe that he would
have set himself to work to clear out this Augean stable, a
task greater than that accomplished by our great hero, the

(339)

■i

PRUDENT ADVICtt

)U know
arthage,
ht upon
5 council

hostile

ionatcly.
use their

1 died by
lood. Yet
had risen

the tent,
iiought us
asted the
J and Sar-
goaded by
Carthage
,rd for her
re utterly
y the tax-
10 are the
iffetes are
nanned in
the sailors
jses. How
silent]"

gravely,
lispered in
o nothing,
he would
|n stable, a
hero, the

1(839)

demigod Hercules; hut no less a hand can acromplish it.
You know how every attempt at revolt has failed; how
terrible a veiigeauco fell on Matho and the nK-rcenaries;
how tlie down-trodden tribes have again and again, when
victory seemed in their hands, been crushe«l into the dust.

"No, (Jiseon, we must sutler the terrible ills which you
speak of until some hero arises— some hero whose victories
will ])ind not oidy the army to him, but will cause all the
common people of Carthage — all her allies and tributaries —
to look upon him as their leader and deliverer.

"I have hopes, great hopes, that such a hero may be
found in my nephew, Haimibal, who seems to possess all the
genius, the wisdom, and the talent of his father. Should
the dream which he cherished, and of which I was but now
speaking to you, that of leading a Carthaginian army across
the Ebro, over the Apennines, through the plains of lower
Caul, and over the Alps into Italy, there to give battle to
the cohorts of Rome on their own ground, — should this
dream be verified I say, should success attend him, and
Komo be humbled to the dust, then Hannibal would be in
a i)osition to become the dictator of Carthage, to overthrow
the corrujjt council, to destroy this tyranny — misnamed a
rejmblic — and to establish a monarchy, of which he should
be the first sovereign, and under which Carthage, again the
queen of the world, should be worthy of herself and her
people. And now let us speak of it no more. The very
walls have cars, and I doubt not but even among my at-
tendants there are men who are spies in the pay of the
council. 1 see and lament as much as any man the ruin of
my country; but, until I see a fair hope of deliverance, I am
content to do the best I can against her enemies, to fight her
battles as a simple soldier."

There was silence in the tent. Malchus had thrown him-

(339) B

THE (JOVERNMENT Of CAUTHAGE.

self down on liis couch, anil for a time forgot even the ap-
proaching lion hunt in th<! conversation to wliicli ho had
listened.

The government of Carthage was indeed detestable, and
was the chief cause hoth of the misfortunes which had
iKjfalicn her in the past, and of the disasters which were in
tlie future to be hers. The scheiu«; of government was not
in itself bad, and in earlier and simpler times had acte<l
M'ell. Originally it liad consisted of three estates, which
answered to the king, lords, and comm(»ns. At the head of
aflairs were two sulletes chosen for life. IJelow them v.as
the senate, a very munerous bod}-, comprising all the aris-
tocracy of Carthage. I>elow this was the democracy, the
great mass of the people, whose vote was necessary to ratify
any law passe«l by the senate.

In time, however, ail authority passed from the suH'etes,
the general body of the senate and the democracy, into the
hands of a committee of the senate, one luuMlred in number,
who were called the; council, the real power being invested
in the hands of an iinier council, consisting of from twenty
to thirty of the members. The deliberations of this body
were secret, their power absolute. They were masters of the
life and property of every man in Carthage, as afterwards
were the council of ten in the republic of Venice. For a man
to be denounced by his secret enemy to them as being hos-
tile to their autliority was to ensure his destruction and the
confiscation of his propv^rty.

The council of a hundred was divided into twenty sub-
committees, each containing five members. Each of these
committees was charged with the control of a department —
the army, the navy, the finances, the roads and communica-
tions, agriculture, leligion, and the relations with the various
subject tribes, the more important departments being en-

:.#

OENEHAL CORRLTTION.

the ap-
ho had

blc, and
lich had

were in

^va8 not
ad acted
IS, which
e head of
Lhcni v.as

the aris-
L-racy, the
y to ratify

10 suffetcs,
y, into the
in number,
r invested
oni twenty
this body
tors of the
afterwards
For a man
being bos-
on and the

,wcnty sub-
•h of these
Dartment—
:ommunica-
I the various
being en-

tirely in the hands of the members of tlio inner council of

thirty.

The judges were a luindred in numl)er. Tliese were ajv
IK.intod by tlic co'uicil, and were ever ready to carry out
tlieir behest, consrcjurntly justice in Cartilage was a mockery.
Interest ami intrigue woie paramount in the law coiuts, as in
every department of state. Kvery prominent citizen, every
suecessful general, evt.y num who seemed likely, l)y his
ability or liis wealth, to become a i)opuIar personage with
the masses, fell under the ban of the council, and sooner
or later was certain to be disgrace«l. 'i'he rtisources of the
state were devt)ted not to the needs of the countiy but to
a"L'rum I i. -cement and enriching of the members of the com-
mittee.

Heavy as were the imposts which were laid up(m the tri-
butary pe(>[)les of Africa for the purposes of the state, enor-
mous burdens were addetl by the tax gatherers to satisfy the
cupidity of their patrons in the council. Under such cir-
cumstances it was not to be wondered at that Carthage, de-
caying, corrupt, ill-governed, had sufl'ered terrible reverses
at the hands of her young and energetic rival Rome, who
was herself f^ome day, when she attaine«l the apex of her
j)ower, to suller from abuses no less llagrant and general
than tho§e which had sapped the strength of Carthage.

With the impetuosity of youth Malchus naturally inclined
rather to the aspirations of his kinsman Ciscon than to the
more sober counsels of his father. He had burned with
shame and anger as he heard the tale of the disasters which
had befallen his country, because she had made money her
*god, had suftered her army and her navy to be regarded as

ted the command of the

ary obj(

pen

sea to be wrested from her by her wiser and more far-
seeinj' rival.

;: I

>: j

l^ii

THE EXPiEDITION.

1^ ^

As evening closed in the stir in the neighbouring camp
aroused Malchus from his thouglits, and the anticipation of
the lion hunt, in which he was about to take part, again
became foremost.

The camp was situated twenty days' march from Car-
thage at the foot of some hills in which lions and other beasts
of prey were known to abound, and there was no doubt
that they would be found that evening.

The expedition had ' 'ccn despatched under the command
of Hamilcar to chastise a small tribe which had attacked and
plundered some of the Carthaginian caravans on their way
to Ethiopia, then a rich and prosperous country, wherein
were many flourishing colonies, which had been sent out
by Carthage.

The object of the expedition had been but partly success-
ful. The Hghtly clad tribesmen had taken refuge far among
the hills, and, although by dint of long and fatiguing marches
several parties had been suri)riscd and slain, the main body
had evaded all the efforts of the Carthaginian general.

The expedition had arrived ' its present camping place
on the previous evening. During the night the deep roar-
ing of lions had been heard continuously among the hills,
and so bold and numerous were they that they had come
down in such proximity to the camp that the troops had
been obliged to liso and light great fires to scare them from
making an attack upon the horses.

The general had therefore consented, upon the entreaties
of his nephew Adlierl)al, and his son, to organize a hunt
upon the following night. As soon as the sun set the troops,
who had already received their orders, fell into their ranks.
The full moon rose us soon as the sun dipped below the
horizon, and her light was ample for the object they had
in view.

m til

((

irrovi

PREPARATIONS FOR THE HUNT.

camp
tion of
, again

m Car-
r beasts
> doubt

mimand
ked and
leir way
wherein
sent out

f success-
ar among
r marches
tiain body

ral.

g place
cep roar-
the hills,
had come
roops had
hem from

entreaties
ze a hunt
the troops,
leir ranks.
1 below the
they had

The Numidian horse were to take their station on the
plain; the infantry in two columns, a mile apart, were to
enter the mountains, and having marched some distance,
leaving detachments behind tiiem, they were to move along
the crest of the hills until they met; then, forming a great
semicircle, they were to light torches, which they had pre-
pared during the day, and to advance towards the plain
shouting and clashing their arms, so as to drive all the wild
animals inclosed in the arc down into the plain.

The general with the two young officers and his son, and
a party of fifty spearmen, were to be divided between the
two groves in which the camps were pitched, which were
opposite the centre of the space facing the line inclosed by
the beaters. Behind the groves the Numidian horse were
stationed, to give chase to such animals as might try to make
their escape across the open plain. The general inspected
the two bodies of infantry before they started, and repeated
his instructions to the officers who commanded them, and
enjoined them to march as noiselessly as possible until the
semicircle was completed and the beat began in earnest.

The troops were to be divided into groups of eight, in
order to be able to repel the attacks of any beasts which
might try to break through the line. When the two columns
had marched away right and left towards the hills, the at-
tendants of the elephants and baggage animals were ordered
to remove them into the centre of the groves. The footmen
who remahied were divided into two parties of equal
strength. The general with Malchus remained in the grove
in which his tent was fixed with one of these parties, while
Adherbal and Giscon with the others took up their station
in the larger grove.

"Do you think the lions are sure to make for these
groves?" Malchus asked iiis father as, with a bundle of

FORMIDABLE FOES.

'ii

|';!i

javelins lying by his side, his bow in his hand, and a quiver
of arrows hung from his belt in readiness, he took his place
at the edge of the trees.

"There can be no certainty of it, Malchus; but it seems
likely that the lions, when driven out of their refuges among
the hills, will make for these groves, which will seem to offer
them a shelter from their pursuers. The fires here will
have informed them of our presence last night; but as all
is still and dark no^v they may suppose that the groves are
deserted. In any case our horses are in readiness among
the trees close at hand, and if the lions take to the plains we
must mount and join the Numidians in the chase."
"I would rather meet them here on foot, father."
"Yes, there is more excitement, because there is more
danger in it, Malchus; but I can tell you the attack of a
wounded lion is no joke, even for a party of twenty-five
well-armed men. Their force and fury are prodigious, and
they will throw themselves fearlessly upon a clump of spears
in order to reach their enemies. One blow from their paws
is certain death. Be careful, therefore, Malchus. Stir not
from my side, and remember that there is a vast difference
between rashness and bravery."

i ■ 'I
f ^1

it,

a quiver
his place

it seems
es among
[n to offer
here will
but as all
groves are
3SS among
5 plains we

r."

re is more
attack of a
twenty-five
ligious, and
ap of spears
I their paws
}. Stir not
it difference

CHAPTER II.

A NIGHT ATTACK.

HE time seemed to Malclius to pass slowly indeed
as he sat waiting the commencement of the
Iiunt. Deep roars, sounding like distant thun-
der, were heard from time to time among the
hills. Once or twice Malchus fancied that he could hear
otlier sounds such as would be made by a heavy stone dis-
lodged from its site leaping down the mountain side; but
lie was not sure that this was not fancy, or that the sound
might not be caused by the rearing of lions far away among
the hills.

His father had said that three hours would probably
elapse before the circuit would be completed. The distance
iwas not great; but the troops would have to make their
^way with the greatest care along the rocky hills through
[brushwood and forest, and their advance would be all the
[more slow that they had to take such pains to move noise-
lessly.

It was indeed more than three hours after the column
[had left the camp when the sound of a distant horn was
heard far up the hillside. Almost instantaneously lights
burst out in a great semicircle along the hillside, and a
faint confused sound, as of the shouting of a large body of
men, was heard on the still night air.

"THERE THEY ARE I"

|il|

" That is very well done," the general said in a tone of
satisfaction. "I had hardly expected it to be so well managed;
for the operation on such broken and difficult ground was
not easy to carry out, even with the moon to help them."

"But see, father!" Malchus said, "there are many patches
of darkness in the line, and the lions might surely escape
through these."

" It would not be possible, Malchus, to place the parties
at equal distances over such broken ground. Nor are the
lions likely to discover the gaps in the line; they will be far
too much terrified by the uproar and sudden blaze of light
to approach the troops. Hark how they are roaring ! Truly
it is a majestic and terrible sound, and I do not wonder
that the wild natives of these mountains regard the ani-
mals with something of the respect which we pay to the
gods. And now do you keep a sharp eye along the foot of
the hills. There is no saying how soon the beasts may
break cover."

Slowly the semicircle of light was seen to contract as the
soldiers who formed it moved forward towards the foot of
the hill; but although Malchus kept his eyes strained upon
the fringe of trees at its foot, he could see no signs of
movement.

The roaring still continued at intervals, and it was evident
that the beasts inclosed in the arc had descended to the
lower slopes of the hill.

"They may be upon us sooner than }ou expect, Malchus.
Their colour well-nigh matches with that of the sand, and
you may not see them until they are close upon us."

Presently a Nubian soldier standing behind Malchus
touched him on the shoulder and said in a whisper :

"There they are!" pointing at the same time across the
plain.

THE UONS.

sm.

latches

escape

parties
ire the
I be far
)f light

Truly
wonder
he ani-

to the
) foot of
sts may

;t as the

foot of

|ed upon

iigns of

evident
to the

[alchus.
^nd, and

[alchus

Iross the

I
.4

Malchus could for a time see nothing; then he made out
some indistinct forms.

"There are six of them," the general said, " and they are
making for tliis grove. Get your bows ready."

Malchus could now cicaily see the lions approaching.
They were advancing slowly, turning occasionally to look
back as if reluctant to quit tlie shelter of the hills; and
Malchus could hardly resist a start of uneasiness as one
of them suddenly gave vent to a deep, threatening roar, so
menacing and terrible that the very leaves of the trees
seemed to quiver in the light of the moon under its vibra-
tions. The lions seemed of huL;e dimensions, especially the
leader of the troop, who stalkcid with a steady and majestic
step at theii head. When Avithin fifty yards of the grove
the lions suddenly paused; their leader apparently scented
danger. Again the deep terrible roar rose in the air, an-
swered by an angry snarling noise on the part of the
females.

"Aim at the leader," the general whispered, "and have
your brands in readiness."

Immediately behind the party a fire was burning; it had
been suffered to die down until it was a mere pile of glow-
ing embers, and in this the ends of a dozen stakes of dried
ivood were laid. The glow of the fire was carefully hidden
by a circle of sticks on which thick cloths had been hung.
The fire had been prepared in readiness in case the lions
should appear in numbers too formidable to be coped with.
The leading lion was within twenty-five paces of the spot
where the party was standing when Ilamilcar gave the
% word, and a volley of arrows shot fortli from their hidinjr-
^ place.

The lion gave a roar of rage and pain, then, crouching
for a moment, with a few tremendous bounds he reached the

.'S?

A LION SLAIN.

; , I

111!'

Mill I
:i! i

edge of the wood. He could see liis enemios now, and with
a fierce spring tltrew liiinself iii»on tlicni. lUit as soon as
they had discharged tlicir arrows the soldiers had caught
up their weapons and formed in a close body, and the
lion was received upon the points of a dozen spears.

There was a crushing of wood and a snarling growl as one
of the soldiers was struck dead with a blow of the mighty
paw of the lion, who, ere he could recover himself, received
half a dozen javelins thrust deep into his Hanks, and fell dead.
The rest of the troop had followed him as he sprang forward,
but some of the soldiiirs, who had been told off for the pur-
pose, seized the lighted brands and threw them over the
head of tlie leader among his followers. As the glowing
brands, after describing fiery circles in the air, fell and
scattered at their feet, the lions jiaui^ed, and turning abruptly
off dashed away with long bounds across the front of the
grove.

"Now, Malchus, to horse!" Hamilcar exclaimed. And the
general and his son, leaping upon their steeds, dashed out
from the grove in i)ursuit of the troop of lions. These, pass-
ing between the two clumps of trees, were making for the
plain beyond, when fi'om behind the other grove a dark
band of horsemen rode out.

"Let them i)ass," Hamilcar shouted; "do not head them
back."

The cavalry reined up until the troop of lions had passed.
Hamilcar rode up to tlie officer in command.

"Bring twenty of your men," ho said; "let the rest re-
main here. There will doubtless be more of them yet."

Then with the twenty horsemen he rode on in pursuit of
the lions.

The chase was an exciting one. For a time the lions,
with their long bounds, kept ahead of the horsemen; but

■Ml

3tf

(1 with
loon as
caught
ad the

1 as one

mighty
received
ell dead,
forward,
the pur-
over the

glowing

fell and

abruptly
,nt of the

And the
shed out
lesc, pass-
i(r for the
TQ a dark

Head them

id passed.

16 rest te-
yet."^
pursuit of

the lions,
jmen; but

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3»

MALCHUS AT THE LION HUNT.

AT BAY.

the latter, splendidly mounted on tlieir well-bred steeds, soon
Irx'jiii to jrain. Wlien they were within a hundred yards of
tin in one of the lions suddenly faced round. The Nuini-
dians, well accustomed to the sport, needed no orders from
their chief. They scattered at once and brok ; off on eadi
Hank so as to encircle tne lion, who had taken his post on
a hummock of sand and lay couched on his haunches, with
liis tail lashini^' his sides angrily, like a great cat about to
make his spring.

The horsemen circled round him, dashing up to within
five-and-twenty yards, discharging their arrows, and then
wheeling away. Each time the lion was t?tiuck he uttered
a shar}) angry growl, and made a spring m the direction
of the horseman, and then fell back to his post.

One of the soldiers, thinking that the lion was now nearly
crippled, ventured to ritle somewhat closer; he discharged
his arrow, but before he could wheel his horse the lion with
two tremendous springs was upon him.

A single blow of his paw brought the horse to the ground.
Then the lion seized the soldier by the shoulder, shook him
as a cat would a mouse, and throwing him on the sand
lay with his paw across him. At this moment Malchus
galloped past at full speed, his bow drawn to the arrow-
head and tixed. The arrow struck the lion just behind its
shoulder. The fierce beast, which was in the act of rising,
sank down quietly again ; its majestic head drooped between
its fore-paws on to the body of the Nubian, and there it lay
as if overtaken with a sudden sleep. Two more arrows were
fired into it, but there was no movement.

" The brave beast is dead," Malchus said. " Here is the
arrow with which I slew it."

" It was well done, Malchus, and the hide is yours. Let
us set off after the others."

THE SPOILS OF THE CHASE.

But tlio stand which the lion had made had been siif-
fiticntly long to enable the rest of the troop to escape.
Leaving two or three of their comrades to remove the body
of the soldier, the horsemen scattered in various directions;
but although they rode far over the plain, they could see no
signs of the troop ihoy ha<l pursued.

After a time they gave up the pursuit and rode back towards
the camp. When they reached it they found that another
troop of lions, eight in number, had approached the other
grove, where two had been killed by the i)arty commanded
by Adherbal and (Jiscon, and the rest of the cavalry were
still in pursuit of the others. They presently returnetl,
bringing in four more skins; so that eight lions in all had
fallen in the night's work.

"Well, Malchus, wliat do you think of lion hunting?"
Adherbal asked as they gathered again in the general's
tent.

"They are terrible beasts," Malchus said. "I had not
th'^ught that any beast could make so tremendous a roar.
Of course I have heard those in captivity in Carthage, but
it did not seem nearly so terrible as it sounded here in the
stillness of the desert."

"1 own that it made my blood run cold," Adherbal said;
" and their cliarge is tremendous — they broke through the
hedge of spears as if they had been reeds. Three of our
men were killed."

"Yes," Malchus agreed; "it seemed almost like a dream
for a minute when the great beast was among us. I felt
very glad wlien he rolled over on to his side."

" It is a dangerous way of hunting," Hamilcar said. "The
chase on horseback in the plains has its dangers, as we saw
when that Numidian was killed; but with proper care and
skill it is a grand sport. But this work on foot is too dan-

THE ALARM.

gcrons, and has cost the ropuhlic the loss of five soMiers.
lliid I liiul nets with me I would Iwive adopted the usual
l)lan of stretcliiiiL; one across the trees ten paces in front of
U8. This breaks tlu; lion's spring, he becomes entangled
in its mesht's, and can he destroyed with hut little danger.
Unt no skill or adtlress avidl against the charge of a wounded
lion. Hut you are bounded, liiscon."

" It is a mere nothing," (Jiscon said.

"Nay," Mamilcar replied, "it is an ugly .scratch, Giscon;
he has laid open your arm from the shoulder to the elbow
as if it were bv the cut of a knife."

"It .'served me right for beijjg too rash," Giscon said.
" I thought he was nearly <leud, and api>roached with my
swoid to give him a linishing thrust. AVhen he struck
viciously at me I sjtrang back, but one of his claws caught
my shouhler. A few inches nearer and he would have
stripped the flesh from my arm, and i)erhaps broken the
lirdj and shoulder-bone."

AVhile he was speaking a slave was washing the wound,
which he then carefully bandaged up. A few minutes later
the whole jiarty lay down to sleep. Malchus found it difficult
to close his eyes. His pulse was still throbbing with excite-
ment, and his mind was busy with the brief but stirring
scene of the coutiict.

Two or three houis passed, and he felt drowsiness creep-
ing over him, when he heard a sudden challenge, followed
instantly by a loud and j)iercing yell from hundreds of
throats. He s})rang in an instant to his feet, as did the
other occupants of the tent.

"To arms!" Hamilcar cried; "the enemy are upon us."

Malchus caught up his shield and sword, threw his hel-
met on his head, and rushed out of the tent with his
father.

H'l

> !1

! I

A NIGHT SURPRISE.

A tremendous din had succeeded the silence which had
just before rei^'iicd in the desert, and the yells of the bar-
barians rose high in the air, answered by shouts and loud
words of coninumd from the soldiers in the other grove.
The elephants in their excitement were trumpeting loudly;
the horses stamped the ground; the draught cattle, terrified
by the din, strove to break away.

Large numbers of dark figures occupied the space some
two hundred yards wide between the groves. The general's
guards, twenty in number, had already sprung to their feet
and stood to arms; the slaves and attendants, panic-stricken
at the sudden attack, were giving vent to screams and cries
and were running about in confusion.

Hamilcar sternly ordered silence.

** Let each man," he said, *' take a weapon of some kiiid
and stand steady. AV'e are cut ofl" from the main body, atid
shall have to fight for our lives. Do you," he said to the
soldiers, "lay aside your sptars and shoot quickly among
them. Fire fast. The ureat object is to conceal from them
the smalhiess of our number."

Moving round the little grove Hamilcar posted the slaves
at short distances apart, to give warning should the enemy
be attcmj)ting an attack upon /..^ other sides, and then
returned to the side facing the other grove, where the
soldiers were keei)ing up a steady fire at the enemy.

The latter were at present concentrating their attention
upon their attack ujjon the main body. Their scouts on
the hills during the previous day had no doubt ascertained
that the Carthaginian force was encamped here, and the
occupants of the smaller grove would fall easy victims after
they had dealt with the main body. The fight was raging
furiously here. The natives had crept up close before they
were discovered by the sentries, and with a fierce rush they

A CHARGE OF THE ELEPHANT.

ch had
ho bar-
id lou<l
• grove,
loudly;
terrified

ce some
general's
heir feet
-stricken
md cries

)me kiiid
tody, aad
id to the
y among
■om them

he slaves
le enemy
M then
here the

lattention
tcouts on
Icertained
and the
lims after
IS raging
fore they
ksh they

had fallen upon the troops before they had time to seize
their anus aiul gather in order.

Tlie ti-ht ra^ed hand to hand, bows twanged and arrows
tlew, the light javelins were hurled at close (punters with
(lea.llv efle.t, the shrill cries of the Nuuiidiaiis niin-led with
the deeper shouts of the Iberians and the yells of the
n;itives. lianiilear stood for a minuter irresolute.

"Thev are neiilectin-' us," he said to Adherbal, "until
thev June tinisiied with the main body; we must go to their
ussi.staneo. At present our men are lighting witlutut order
or re''ularitv; unless their lea«lois are with them they are
lost, our presence will encourage and reanimate them, liring
up the elephants (piickly."

The three elephants were at once brought forward, their
drivers mounted on their necks. Four soldiers with their
bows an«l arrows took their places on the back of each, the
general with the rest of the fighting men followed closely
behind.

At the orders of their drivers the well-trained animals
bioke into a trot, and the party advanced from the shadow
of the glove. The natives scattered between it and the
wood tired a volley of arrows and then broke as the ele-
phants charged down upon them. 'J'rained to warfare the
elephants dashed among them, catching some up in their
trunks and dashing them lifeless to the ground, knocking
down and tram}»ling upon others, scattering terror wherever
they went, while the archers on their backs kept up a deadly
fire. As soon as the way was open llainilcar led the little
l)arty on foot at full sj eed towards the wood.

As he entered it he oidered his trumpeter to blow his
horn. The well-known signal revived the hopes and cour-
age of the sorely pressed troops, who, surprised and dis-
couraged, hud been losing ground, great numbers falling

I '

I >'

RALLYING,

'!!'■

Hi!!

:! i

before the arrows and javelins of their swarming and active
foes. The natives, surprised at the trumpet sound in the
rear, paused a moment, and before they could turn round
to face their unexpected adversaries, Hamilcar with his
Httle band burst his way through them and joined his
soldiers, vdio gatlieied now in a close body in the centre of
the grove, received their leader with a shout of welcome.

Hamilcar's measures were promptly taken. He saw that
if stationary his band nmst melt away under the shower of
missiles which was being poured upon them. He gave the
command and the troops rapidly formed into three groups,
the men of each corps gathering together. Adherbal, who
was in command of the Numidians, placed himself at their
head, Giscon led the Iberians, and Hamilcar headed the
heavily armed troops, Malchus taking his place at his side.
Hamilcar had already given his orders to the young officers.
No response was to be made to the fire of the arrows and
javelins, but with spear, sword, and battle-axe the troops
were to fall upon the natives.

"Charge!" he shouted in a voice that was heard above
the yells of the ]>arltarians. "Clear the wood of these
lurking enemies, they dare not face you. Sweep them be-
fore your path."

With an answering shout the three bodies of men sprang
forward, each in a ditTerent direction. In vain the natives
poured in volleys of arrows and javelins; many fell, more
were wounded, but all who could keep their feet rushed for-
ward with fury upon their assailants.

The chai'ge was irresistible. The natives, fighting each
for himself, were unable for a moment to withstand the
torrent, and, vastly superior in numbers as they were, were
driven headlong l)efore it. When they reached the edge
of the wood each of the bodies broke into two. The Numi-

'■%

and active
and in the
turn round
tr with his
joined his
he centre of
Avelcome.
He saw that
he shower of
He gave the
tliree groups,
.dherbal, who
imself at their
Li- headed the
,ce at his side,
young officers,
■he arrows and
ixe the troops

heard above
^vood of these
weep them be-

of men sprang
ain the natives
nany fell, more
feet rushed for-

s, fighting each

withstand the

Lhey were, were

lached the edge

^0. The Numi-

DEFEAt OF TItE NATIVES.

dians had directed their course towards their horses, which
a party of their own men were still defending desperately
against the attacks of a large body of natives. Through
these they cut their way, and springing upon their steeds
dashed out into the plain, and sweeping round ti.e grove
fell upon the natives there, and cut down the parties of
men wlio emerged in confusion from its shelter, unable to
withstand the assaults of Hamilcar and his infantry within.

The heavy infantry and the Iberians, when they gained
the edge of the wood, had swept to the right and left, cleared
the edge of the grove of their enemies until they met, then
joining they again plunged into the centie. Thus they
traversed the wood in every direction until they had com-
pletely cleared it of foes.

When the work was done the breathless and exhausted
troops gathered outside, in the liglit of the moon. More
than half their number had fallen; scarce one but was
bleeding from wounds of arrow or javelin. The plain
beyond was thickly dotted to the foot of the hills with the
, bodies of the natives, who had been cut up by the Numi-
.dian horse or trampled by the elephants, while the grove
■within was thickly strewn with their bodies.
■^ As there was no fear of a renewal of the attack, Hamilcar
ordered the men to fall out of ranks, and the hours until
daybreak were passed in extracting arrows and binding up
Irounds, and in assisting their comrades who were found to
Ik) still living in the grove. Any natives still breathing were
instantly slain.

Hamilcar found that a party of the enemy had made their
way into his own camp. His tent had been hastily plun-
dered, but most of the effects were found in the morning
fcattercd over the ground between the groves and the hills,
having been thrown away in their flight by the natives

(339)

: Ji

"ilU

SUBMISSION.

i Ih

when tho horsemen burst out of the wood in pursuit. Of
the slaves and attendants several had been killed, but the
greater portion had, when Haniilcur left the grove with the
troops, climbed up into trees, and remained there concealed
until the rout of the assailants.

It was found in the morning that over a hundred and fifty
of the three hun<lred Carthaginian troops had fallen, and
that four hundred of the natives had been slain either in
ti:\e grove or in the pursuit by cavaliy.

The following day two envoys arrived from the hostile
tribe ofTeriiii:; the submission of their chief.

As pursuit in the hills would be useless IJamilcar offered
them comparatively easy terms. A heavy fine in horses and
cattle was to be paid to the republic, and ten of the prin-
cipal members of the tribe were to be delivered up as hos-
tages for their future good behaviour. The next day the
hostages were brought into the camp with a portion of the
ransom; and Hamilcar, having thus accomplished the mission
lie had been charged to perform, marched away with his
troops to Carthage.

As they approached the coast the whole character of the
scenery changed. The desirb had been left behind them,
and they entered a fertile tiact of country which had been
literally turned into a garden by the skill and industry of the
Carthaginian cultivators, at that time celebrated throughout
the world for their knowledge of the science of agriculture.
The rougher and more sterile ground was covered with
groves of olive-trees, while rich vineyards and orchards of
fig and other fruit trees occupied the better soil. Wherever
it was possible little canals leading water from reservoirs
and dammed-up streams crossed the plains, and every foot of
the irrigated ground was covered with a luxuriant crop.

The villages were scattered thickly, and when the troops

L'M

.•liiii--!, :i»:tj Ij^fAji U! ilMt^. i i,ii\

THE GARDENS OF CARTHAGE.

arrived witliin a day's march of Carthage they came upon the
country villas and mansions of the wealtliy inhabitants.
These in t'-c richness of their architecture, the perfection
and order of their gardens, and the beauty and taste of the
orchards and grounds which surrounded them, testified alike
to tlie wealth and taste of their occupants.

Fountains threw their water into the air, numerous water-
falls s})lashed with a cool soothing sound over artificial rocks.
Statues wrought by Greek sculptors stood on the terraces,
shudy walks offered a cool retreat during the heat of the
iL.y, the vine, the pomegranate, and the fig afforded re-
fitshiiient to the palate as well as pleasure to the eye.
ralm-trees with their graceful foliage waved gently in the
passing breezes. All the countries with which the Cartha-
ginians traded had supplied their contingent of vegetation
to add to the beauty and production of these gardens, which
were the admiration and envy of the civilized world.

Crossing the brow of a low range of hills the detachment
came in sight of Carthage. The general and his three com-
]tanions, who were riding in the rear of the column, drew in
their horses and sat for a while surveying the scene. It
was one which, familiar as it might be, it was impossible to
survey without the deepest feeling of admiration.

In the centre stood the great rock of Byrsa, a flat-topped
eminence with almost perpendicular sides rising about two
hundred feet above the surrounding plain. This plateau
formed the seat of the ancient Carthage, the Phoenician
colony which Dido had founded. It was now the acropolis
of Carthage. Here stood the temples of the chief deities of the
town; here were immense magazines and storehouses capable
of containing provisions for a prolonged siege for the fifty
thousand men whom the place could contain. The craggy
sides of the rock were visible but in few places. Massive

CARtHAGl^.

mi;

;!i||i

' I

iWi^Hli

fortifications rising from its foot to its summit defended
every jwint wliere the rock was not absolutely perpendicular.
These walls were of enormous thickness, and in Ciu^emates
or recesses in their thickness were the stables for the ele-
phants, horses, and cattle of the gairison.

Round the ui)per edge of the rock extended anothei
massive wall, above which in })icturesque outline rose tho
temples and other public editices. At the foot of this
natural citadel stretched the lower town, with its crowded
population, its dense mass of liouses, its temples and forum.
The style of architecture was peculiar to the city. The Car-
thaginians abhorred straight lines, and all their buildings
presented curves. The rooms were for the most part cir-
cular, semicircular, or oval, and all exterior as well as in-
terior angles were rounded off. The material used in their
construction was an artificial stone composed of pieces of
rock cemented together with fine sand and lime, and as hard
as natural conglomerate. The houses were surmounted by
domes or cupolas. Their towers were always round, and
throughout the city scarce an angle offended the eye of the
populace.

Extending into the bay lay the istimius, known as the
Tana, some three miles in length, communicating with the
mainland by a tongue of land a hundred yards wide.

This was the maritime quarter of Carthage; here were the
extensive docks in which the vessels which bore the com-
merce of the city to and from the uttermost parts of the
known world loaded and unloaded. Here were the state
dockyards where the great ships of war, which had so long
made Carthage the mistress of the sea, were constructed
and fitted out. Tiie whole line of the coast was deeply
indented with bays, where rode at anchor the ships of the
mercantile navy. Broad inland lakes dotted the plain; while

-^-^

A GLORIOUS VIEW.

to the north of Byrsa, stretching down to the sea and ex-
tendin" as far as Cape Quamart, lay Megara, the aristocratic
suburb of Carthage.

Here, standing in gardens and parks, were the mansions
of the wealthy merchants and traders, the suburb presenting
to the eye a muss of green foHage dotted thickly with white
houses. Megara was divided from the lov/cr town by a
strong and lofty wall, but lay within the outer wall which
inclosed Byrsa and the whole of Carthage and stretched
from sea to sea.

The circumference of the inclosed space was fully twenty
miles; the population contained within it amounted to over
eii'ht hundred thousand. On the north side near the sea,
within the line of the outer fortifications, rose a low hill,
and here on the face which sloped gently down to the sea
was the great necropolis — the cemetery of Carthage, shaded
by broad spreading trees, dotted with the gorgeous mauso-
leums of the wealthy and the innumerable tombs of the
I)oorcr families, and undermined by thousands of great sepul-
chral chambers, which still remain to testify to the vastness
of the necropolis of Carthage, and to the pains which her
pcoijle bestowed upon the burying-places of their dead.

Beyond all, from the point at which the travellers viewed
it, stretched the deep blue background of the Mediterranean,
its line broken only in the foicground by the lofty citadel
of Byrsa, and far out at sea by the faint outline of the Isle
of Zinbre.

For som minutes the party sat immovable on their horses,
then Hamilcar broke the silence:

"'Tis a glorious view," he said; "the world does not con-
tain a site bettor fitted for the seat of a niiglity city. Nature
seems to have marked it out. \\'itli the gieat rock fortress,
the splendid lays and harbours, the facilities for commerce,

■ i.i

1 I,'

hamilcar's fear.

1 :

!■ ' ■

the fertile country stretching away on either hand; give her
but a government strong, capable, and honest, a people
patriotic, brave, and devoted, and Carthage would long re-
main the mistress of the world."

" Surely she may yet remain so," Adherbal exclaimed.

"I fear not," Hamilcar said gravely shaking his head.
" It seems to be the fate of all nations, that as they grow in
wealth so they lose their manly virtues. AVilh wealth comes
corruption, indolence, a reluctance to mulre sacrifices, and a
weakening of the feeling of patriotism. Power falls into
the hands of the ignorant many. Instead of the destinies
of the country being swayed by the wisest and best, a fickle
multitude, swayed by interested demagogues, assumes the
direction of atfairs, and the result is inevitable — wasted
powers, gross mismanagement, final ruin."

So saying Hamilcar set his horse in motion and, followed
silently by his companions, rode with a gloomy countenance
after his little columns towards the capital.

•^5t^'

.:! (1

CHAPTER III.

CARTHAGE.

ARTHAGE was at that time divicled between
two factions, the one led by tlie relatives and
friends of the great Haniilcar 15arca and known
as the Carcine party. The other was led by
Haiino, surnamed the Rich. This man had been the rival
of Hamilcar, and the victories and successes of the latter
had been neutralized by the losses and defeats entailed upon
the rei)ublic by the incajjacity of the former. Hanno, how-
e\ er, had the support of the greater part of the senate, of
the judges, and of the lower class, which he attached to
himself by a lavisli distribution of his vast wealth, or by the
common tie of wholesale corruption.

The Barcine party were very inferior in numbers, but
they comprised among them the energy, the military genius,
and the patriotism of the community. They advocated
sweeping reforms, the purification of the public service, the
suppression of the corruption which was rampant in every
department, the fair administration of justice, the suppression
of the tyranny of the committee, the vigorous prosecution
of the struggle with Rome. They would have attached to
Carthage the but half-subdued nations round her wiio now
groaned under her yoke, ground down to the dust by the
enormous tribute necessitated by the extiavagance of the

! ■ - ! I

THE BARCINE PARTY.

J'f

administration of the state, the corruption and wholesale
peculation of its officials.

Hamilcar Barca had been the founder of the party; in
his al)S(»nce at the seat of war it had been led at Carthage
by his son-in-law Hasdrubal, whose ncry energy and stirring
eloquence had rendered him a po})ular idol in Carthage.
But even the genius of flamilcar and the eloquence of Has-
drubal would not have suHiced to enable the Barcine party
to make head against the enormous power of the council
and the judges, backed by the wealth of Hanno and his
associates, had it not been for the military successes which
flattered the patriotic feelings of the populace.

The loss of Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily had been atoned
for by the conquest of the greater portion of Spain by
Hamilcar, and that general might eventually have carried
out his plans for the purification of the government of
Carthage had he not fallen in a battle with the Iberians.
This loss was a terrible blow to the Barcii e faction, but the
deep feeling of regret among the jjoijulation at the death of
their great general enabled them to carry the election of
Hasdrubal to be one of the sufletes in his place, and to
obtain for him the command of the army in Spain.

There was the less difficulty in the latter appointment,
since Hanno's party were well content that the popular
leader should be far removed from the capital. Hasdrubal
proved himself a worthy successor of his father-in-law. He
carried out the policy inaugurated by the latter, won many
brilliant victories over the Iberians, fortified and firmly
established Carthagena as a port and city which seemed
destined to rival the greatness of its mother-city, and Car-
thage saw with delight a great western settlement growing
in power which promised to counterbalance the influence of
the ever-spreading territory of her great rival in Italy.

TERRIBLE NEWS,

'ar-

Aftcr seeing his flcttichment safely lodged in the harracks
Haniilcar and his companions rode along the streets to tho
IJarcine Syssite, or cliil), one of the grandest buildings in
Cartlia"o. Throwing tlie reins of their horses to some slaves
who stood in readine.ss at the foot of the stops, they entered
tlie building. As they rode through the streets they had
noticed that the population appeared singularly quiet and
dejected, and tlie agitiition which reigned in the club showed
them that something unusual had happened. Groupi of
men were standing talking excitedly in the great hall.
Others with dejected mien were pacing the marble pave-
ment. As Hamilcar entered, several persons hurried up to
him.

" Welcome back again!" they exclaimed; "your presonce
is most opportune at this sad moment."

"What has happened?" Hamilcar asked; "I have but
this moment arrived, and rode straii^ht here to hear tho
news of what has taken place in my absence."

"What! have you not heard?" they exclaimed; "for the
last four days nothing else has been talked of, nothing else
thought of — ^"Hasdrubal has been assassinated!"

Hamilcar recoiled a step as if struck.

"Ye gods!" he exclaimed, "can this be so? Hasdrubal
the handsome, as he was well called, the true patriot, the
great general, the eloquent orator, the soul of generosity
and patriotism, our leader and hope, dead! Surely it cannot
be."

"It is too true, Hamilcar. Hasdrubal is dead — slain by
the knife of an Iberian, who, it seems, has for months been in
his service, awaiting the chance for revenge for some injuries
which his family or people have suffered from our arms.

"It is a terrible blow. This morning a swift-sailing ship
has arrived with the news that the army of Spain have with

hi!

!,»;.
:•!*/'

THE HOPE OF CARTHAGE.

I^'W

one voice acclaimed the young Hannibal aa their general,
and tluit thoy demand the ratlHcation of their choice by the
senate and people. Need I tell you bow important it is
that this ratification should be gained? llanno and his
satellites are furious, they are scattering money broadcast,
and moving heaven and earth to prevent the choice falling
upon Hannibal, and to secure the appointment for Hanno
himself or one of is clifpie. They say that to appoint a
youth like this to such a jjosition would be a thing unheard
of, that it would bring countless dangers ui)on the head of
the republic. We know, of course, that what they fear is
net the youth and inexperience, but the talent and genius
of Hannibal.

" Young though he is, his wonderful abilities are recog-
nized by us all. His father, Hamilcar, had the very highest
hopes of him, Ilasdrubal has written again and again saying
that in his young kinsman he recognized his superior, and
that in loftiness of aim, in unselfish patriotism, in clearness
of judgment, in the marvellous ascendency he has gained
over the troops, in his talent in administration, and in the
greatness of his military conceptions, he saw in him a genius
of the highest order. If it be in man to overthrow the rising
greatness of Rome, to reform our disordered administration,
to raise Carthage again to the climax of her glory and power,
that man is Hannibal.

" Thus, then, on him our hopes rest. If we can secure for
him the command of the army in Spain, he may do all and
more than all that Hamilcar and Hasdrubal have done for
us. If we fail, we are lost; Hanno will be supreme, the
official party will triumph, man by man we shall be denounced
and destroyed by the judges, and, worse than all, our hopes
of saving Carthage from the corruption and tyranny which
have so long been pressing her into the dust are at an end.

THE IMrOUTANCE OF SUCCESS.

It is a good omen of success that you have returned from
your ex[»c'diti(».i at sucli a critical luoincnt. All has gone
v.cll with you, I hope. You know the fate that awaits an
r.nsuccessful general here."

" Ay, I know," Haniilcar said bitterly; "to be judged by
a secret tribunal of civilians, ignorant of even the rudimen-
tary laws of war, and bent, not upon arriving at the truth,
hut of gratifying their patrons and accomplices; the end, dis-
mace and execution.

"No, my success has been complete, although not bril-
liant. I have obtained the complete submission of the
Ataruntes, an«l have brought with me ten of their [)rincipal
chiefs as hostages; but my success narrowly escaped being
nut only a failure but a disaster. I had in vain striven to
come to blows with them, when suddenl}' they fell upon me
at night, and in the desperate combat which followed, well
ni;rh half mv force fell ; but in the end we intiicted a terrible
chastisement upon them and completely humbled their
pride."

" So long as you succeeded in humbling them and bring-
ing home hostages for their good behaviour, all is well ; the
lives of a few score of soldiers, more or less, matters little
to Carthage. We have but to send out an order to the
tril)es and we can replace them a Inmdred-fold in a week;
'tis only a failure which would be fatal. Carthage has suf-
fered such terrible disasters at the hands of her tributaries
that she trembles at the slightest rising, for its success
might be the signal for another general insurrection. If you
have humbled the Atarantes, all is well.

" I know the council have been anxiously expecting news
of your expedition. Our opinion here has been from the
first that, from the small force they placed at your command,
they purposely sent you to disaster, risking the chance of

■1 III

I 11

i£|i '

i 1

THE GENERAL DETAINED.

extended trouMo in order to obtain a ground of complaint
by wliich they could intlanio tlie minds of the populace
against our pai t3\ lUii now, I roconnuend you to take some
rofreshmont at once after your journey. The iinier council
of the club will meet in an hour, and their di'liberatio'is are
likely to be long as well as important, for the whole future
of our i)arty, and of Carthage itself, depends upon the issue."

"Malchus," Hamilear said, "do you mount your horse
and ride out at once and tell your mother that all has gone
well with us, but that I am detained here on important
business, and may not return until nightfall."

"May I como back here, father, after I see my mother?
I would fain bo of some use, if I may. I am known to
many of the sailors down at the port; I might go about
among them trying to stir them up in favour of Hannibal."

"You may come back if you like, Malchus; your sailors
may aid us with their voices, or, should it come to anything
like a popular disturbance, by their arms. But, as } ou know,
in the voting the common people ccunt for nothing, it is the
citizens only who elect, the traders, shopkeci)ers, and em-
ployers of labour. Common people count for no more than
the slaves, save wlien it comes to a popular tumult, and they
frighten the shopkeeping class into voting in accordance
with their views. However, we will leave no stone unturned
that may conduce to our success. Do not hurry away
from home, my boy, for your mother would think it unkind
after three months' absence. Our council is likely to last
for some hours; when it is at an end I will look for you
here and tell you what has been determined upon."

Malchus mounted his horse and rode out through the
narrow streets of the lower city, through the gateway lead-
ing into the suburb, then he loosed the rein and the horse
started at a gallop along the broad road, lined with stately

;^ fi

KoMfi.

mansions, an<l in a (luavtcr of an hour stopped in front of
the villa of lliiniilcar. «

Throwing his Itriiilo to a slave he ran up the broad steps
of the portico and enterctl tho hall. His mother, a stately
woiium, clad in a long Mowing garment of rich material
embroidered in gold, arms and neck hare, her hair hound up
in a knot at the hack of her head, which was encircled by a
golden Hllet, with pendants of the same metal encrusted
with gems falling on her forehead, rose eagerly to meet him,
and his two sisters, girls older than himself, clad in white
rohcs, conlined at the waist with golden belts, leaped to their
feet with a cry of gladness.

"Welcome ])ack, my own son," his mother said; "all is
well, I hoi)e, with your father. It is so, I am sure, for I
should read evil news in your face."

"He is well, mother, well and victorious, though we had a
rare light for it, I can tell ou. But he is kept at the Barcine-
Sys.site on matters connected with this terrible Imsiness of
the death of Ilai-druhal. He bade me give you his love, and
say he would be l)ack here as soon as he could get away."

"It is terrible news indeed, Malchus. The loss is a
grievous blow to Carthage, but es[)ecially to us who are his
near kinsfolk; but for the moment let us set it aside and
talk of your doings. How the sun has bronzed your face,
child ! You seem to have grown taller and stouter since you
have been away."

" Yes," one of the sisters laughed, " the child is growing
up, mother; you will have to choose another name for him."

" I think it is about time," Malchus said, joining in the
laugli, "considering that I have killed a lion and have taken
part in a desperate hand-to-hand fight with the wild
Atarantes. I think even my mother must own that I an^
attaining the dignity of youth."

!i'M

m\\

■ ■;V\

1 >

MOTHER AND SISTERS.

I ' iiii
i!

iiiii!

" I wonder your father let you take part in such strife,"
the mother said anxiously; 'he promised me that he would,
as far ai possible, keep you out of danger."

"Why, mother," Malchus said indignantly, "you don't
suppose that my father was going to coddle me as he might
do one of the girls here. You know he has promised that
I shall soon enter the Carthaginian guard, and fight in the
next campaign. I think it has been very hard on me not
to have had a chance of distinguishing myself as my cousin
Hannibal did when he was no older than I am."

"Poor boy," his sister laughed, "he has indeed been un-
fortunate. AVho can say but that if he had only had oppor-
tunities he would have been a general by this time, and that
Rome would have been trembling at the clash of his
armour."

Malchus joined heartily in the luugh about himself.

"I shall never grow to be a general," he said, "unless
you get me some food; it is past mid-day, and I have not
broken my fast this morning 1 warn you that I shall not
tell you a word of our adventures until I have eaten, there-
fore the sooner you order a meal to be served the better."

The meal was speedily servcu, and then for an hour Mal-
chus sat with his mother and sisters, giving them a history
of the expedition. There was a little playful grumbling on
the part of his sisters when he told them that he was going
to return to the Syssite to hear what had heen determined
by the conclave.

"Surely you can wait until our father returL< here, Mal-
chus," Thyra, the elder, said.

"Yes; but I maybe useful," Malchus replied. "There
will be lots to be done, and we shall all do our utmost."

" Listen to him, motlier," Anna, the younger sister, said,
clapping her hands; "this comes of slaying lions and com-

MALCHUS TAKEN DOWN.

Satin*' with the Atarantes; do not let us hinder him; beg
t< e slaves to bring round a horse instantly. Carthage totters,
let Malclius fly to its support. What part are you. thinking
of taking, my brother, do you mean to harangue the people,
or to ur'e the galley slaves to revolt, or to lead the troops
a'-ainst the coimcin"

Tlie two gills burst into a peal of merry laughter, in which
JVlalchus, although colouring a little, joined heartily.

"You are too bad, Anna; what I want is, of course, to
hear what has been done, and to join in the excitement, and
really I am not such a boy as you girls think me, just be-
cause you happen to be two or three years older than I
am. You persist in regarding me as a child ; father doesn't
do so, and I can tell you I may bs more good than you
think."

"Well, go along, Malchus, do not let us keep you, and
don't get into niiscliief ; and remember, my boy," his mother
added, "that Carthage is a place where it is well that no
one should make more enemies than he can helj). A secret
foe in the council or among the judges is enough to ruin the
strongest. You know how many have been crucified or
pressed to death witliout a sha<low of pretext, save that they
had foes, I would not see you other than your father's son;
you will belong, of course, to the Uarcine party, but there is
no occasion to draw enmity and hate upon yourself before
you are in a position to do real service to the cause. And
now ride off with you; I know all our words are falling on
deaf ears, and that wilful lads will go their own way."

A few minutes later and Malchus was on his way back to
the club. On his arrival there he found that the sitting of
the inner council was not yet finished. The buildins: was

thronged with the adherents of the party waiting to ascertain
what course w-as determined upon. He presently came across

lit

r!ii

: I

t: Ml

Tiite li'ir'itt^RMAN's am\

:|
! i

■ 1

1
J

Adherbal and Giscoii. The former, as usual, w^as gay, liglit-
hearted, and disposed to view matters in a humorous light;
Giscon was stern and moody.

"So here you are again, Malchus," Adherbal said. "I
thought 3. . would soon be back. I am glad you have
come, for Giscon here grows monotonous as a companion.
Nature in making him forgot to give him that spice of hu-
mour which is to existence v.liat seasoning is to meat. I am
ready to fight if it comes to lighting, to orate if talking is
necessary, and to do anything else which may be within the
limits of my powers, but I can't for the life of me tako matters
as if the existence of the state depended on me alone. I
have already heard that all is well with you at home. I
shall ride out there and see your mother when this business
is over. What they can find to talk about so long I can't
make out.

" The question is a simple one, surely. Will it be better
for Carthage at large, and our party in particular, for Han-
nibal to sta}'^ at the head of the army in Spain, or to come
home and bring the influence of his poi ularity and reputa-
tion to bear upon the populace? There is the question put
in a nut-shell, and if they can't decide upon it let thera toss
up. There is virtue, I an* ready to maintain, in an appeal
to dame Fortune.

"Look round now, Malchus, is it not amusing to study men's
characters. Look at little Philene going about among the
groups, standing on tiptoe to whisper into the ear first of
one and then of another. He prides himself on his knowledge
of affairs, and in his heart believes that he is shamefully
wronged inasmuch as he is not already on the secret com-
mittee.

" Look at Bomilca leaning against that pillar and lazily
pulling his moustache, an easy-going giant, who looks upon

iil.

TitE DECISION.

liglit.

light;

l. "I
I have
)anioii.
of hu-
I am
king is
hin the
matters
one. I
)me. I
jusiness
I can't

le better

or Han-

to come

reputa-

ion p\it

em toss

appeal

ly men's

iong the

first of

)wledge

^mefuUy

ret com-

lazilv
:s upon

the whole thing as a nuisance, but who, if he received orders
from the conclave, would put himself at the head of the
Libyans, and would march to storm Hanno's house, and to
slau<'-hter his Nubian guard without a question.

" Look at Magon's face of importance as he walks about
without speaking to anyone. He is trying to convey to all
the impression that he knows perfectly well what is going
on inside, and could if he chose tell you what the decision
will be. There is Carthalon, who is thinking at present, I
warrant, more of the match which he has made of his Arab
steed against that of his comrade Phano, than of the matter
in hand. But see, there is a stir, the curtains are drawing
aside at last, the meeting is over."

As he spoke the heavy curtains which shut off an inner
'•ooni from the hall were drawn aside, and the council of the
Syssite came out. Each was speedily surrounded by a group
of the members of his own family, or those who specially
looked up to him as a leader. Malchus and the two young
officers wore among those who gathered round Hamilcar.

" It has been decided," the general said, " that Hannibal
shall be retained in his command. Therefore, now let all
set to work each in his own sphere. The populace must be
stirred up. We have a small majority in the council, but
the middle class, the men who will vote, are with Hanno.
Some have been bought with his gold, some of the weak
fools dream that Carthage can be great simply as a trading
power without army or navy, and think only of the present
advantage they would gain by remission of taxation. It is
these we have to fear, and we must operate upon them by
means of the populace.

" If the people gather in the streets and shout for Han-
nibal, these cowards will hesitate. They are accessible only
in their money-bags, and rather than risk a riot they would

! I

> : !

,1, '

, 1

(339)

1 '■!

WORK TO BE DONE.

vote for the destruction of Moloch's temple. Giscon and
Adhorbal, do you go to the barracks, get as many of your
comrades together as are of our way of thinking, talk to the
soldiers of the glories of Hamilcar Barca, of the rich booty
they won under him, of the glory of their arms when he led
them, tell them that in Hannibal thoy have their old com-
mander revived, and that Hanno and his companions seek
only to have him removed, because they fear that the lustre
of his deeds will overshadow them.

"Urge that he is the elect of the army of Spain, that
the voice of the soldiers has acclaimed him, and that the
troops here should join their voices to those of their com-
rades in Spain. They too may ere long have to take share
in the war, and would it not be far better for them to be
led by a soldier like Hannibal than bj'^ Hanno, whose inca-
pacity has been proved a score of times, and who is solely
chosen because he is rich, and because he has pandered to
the fat traders and lazy shopkeepers]

"Do you, Stryphex, go to the weavers' quarter; you have
influence there. Work upon the men, point out to them how,
since Hamilcar and Hasdrubal have conquered Spain, and
the gold and silver from the mines have poured into Carth-
age, their trade has flourished. Before that gold was scarce
known in tiie city, none could i)urchase their choice piH)-
ductions, ttieir wages would scarce keep the wolf from the
door. Show them that under Hanno disaster will be sure
to befall our arms, that the Iberians will reconquer their
soil, that the mines will be lost, and we shall have to re-
turn to the leather money of twenty years back."

So one by one Hamilcar despatched the groups round him
on various missions, until Malchus alone remained.

"You, Malchus, can, as you suggested, go down to the
port; ask the sailors and fishermen what will become of their

THE MISSION OF MALCHUS.

trade were the Roman galleys cruising in our bay. Point
out tliat our conquests in Spain have alrea<ly caused the
L'reatest alarm in Rome, and that under Hannibal our arms
uill so flourish that Rome will be glad to come to terms
with us, and to leave us free to trade with the world.

" Point out how great is the trade and commerce which
Carthagena has already produced. Ask them if they are
willing that all this shall be hazarded, in order that Hanno
may gratify his personal ambition, and his creatures may
wring the last penny from the over-taxed people of Carthage.
Don't try too much, my boy. Get together a knot of men
whom you know; prime them with argument, and send them
among their fellows. Tell them to work lay and night, and
that you will see that their time is well paid. Find out if
there are any men who have special influence with their
fellows, and secure them on our side. Promise them what
they will; the Syssite will spend money like water to carry
its object. Be discreet, Malchus; when you have lit the
fire, and see that it is well on its way, withdraw quietly."

Malchus hurried ofl", and in half an hour was down by the
port. Through the densely packed district which lay behind
the lofty warehouses crammed with goods brought by sea
from all parts of the world, he made his way until he
reached the abode of a fisherman, in whose boat he often
put to sea.

The old man, with three or four groAvn-up sons, was re-
clining on a pile of rushes.

"Welcome back, my lord Malchus," he said; "glad am I
to see you safely returned. We have often talked of you,
me and my sons, and wondered when you would again go
out for a night's fishing with us. You have come back at
the right time. The tunny are just entering the bay, and
in another week we shall have rare sport."

11^

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s 1 ;!|l

\ I

» ■ I

I 1 ' !

A RECRUIT.

V I

[1,1

" I shall be glad, indeed, of another sail with you," Mal-
chus said; "but at present I have other matters in hand.
Hanno and his friends liave determined to oppose the ap
pointment of Hannibal to the army in Spain." The fisher-
man gave a grunt, which signified that the matter was one
of which he knew nothing, and wliich affected him not in
the sh'ghtcst.

"Don't you see the importance of this ?" Malchus said. " If
Hannibal doesn't get the command our troops will be beaten,
and we shall lose all our trade with Spain." The fisherman
still appeared apathetic.

*' My sons have all taken to fishing," he said indi^erently,
"and it matters notliing to them whether we lose the trade
of Spain or not."

" But it would make a difference," Malchus said, " if no
more gold and silver came from Spain, because then, you
know, peoi)le wouldn't be able to pay a good price for fish,
and there would be bad times for you fishermen. But that
is not the worst of it. The Romans are so alarmed by our
progress in Spain that they are glad to keep friends with us,
but if we were driven out from there they would soon be
at war again. You and your sons would be pressed for the
ships of war, and like enough you might see the Roman
fleets hovering on our coasts and picking up our fishing-
boats."

" By Astarte," the fisherman exclaimed, " but that would
be serious, indeed; and you say all this will happen unless
Hannibal remains as general in Spain?"

"That is so," Malchus nodded.

"Then I tell you what, my boys," the fisherman said,
rising and rubbing his hands, " we must put our oars into
this business. You hear what my lord Malchus tells us.
Get up, there is work to be done. Now^ sir, what is the

t 1::5

II.

"DOWN WITH THE TAX-GATHERERS !"

best way to stop this affair you tell us of 1 If it's got to be
done we will do it, and I think I can answer for three or
four thousand fishing hands here who ain't going to stand
by any more than I am and see the bread taken out of their
mouths. They know old Calcon, and will listen to what he
says. I will set about it at once."

" That is just what I want," Malchus said. " I want you
and your sons to go abcut among the fishermen and tell them
what is proposed to be done, and how ruinous it will be for
them. You know how fond of fishermen I am, and how sorry I
should be to see them injured. You stir them up for the
next three or four days, and get them to boiling point. I
will let you know when the time comes. There are other
trades who will be injured by this business, and when the
time comes you fishermen with your oars in your hands must
join the others and go through the streets shouting, " Han-
nibal for general ! Down witli Hanno and the tax-gatherers ! "

"Down with the tax-gatherers is a good cry," the old
fisherman said. " They take one fish of every four I bring
in, and always choose the finest. Don't you be afraid, sir;
we will be there, oars and all, when you give the word."

"And now I want you to tell me the names of a few
men who have influence among the sailors of the mercan-
tile ships, and among those who load and discharge the
cargoes; their interest is threatened as well as yours. I am
commissioned to pay handsomely all who do their best for
the cause, and I promise you that you and your sons shall
earn as much in four days' work as in a month's toiling on
the sea. The Barcine Club is known to be the true friend
of Carthage, the opponent of those who grind down the
peoi)le, and it will spare no money to see that this matter
is well carried out."

The fisherman at once went round with Malchus to the

I I

I .^A:.

P'M

A CANVAS.S FOR IIANN.DAL.

abodes of several men regarded as authorities by the sailors
and stevedores. AVith these, partly by argument, but much
more by the p/romises of handsome pay for their exertions,
Malchus established an understanding, and paved the way
for a popular agitation among the working- classes of the
water-side in favour of Hannibal.

4 i:r

■I 1

fe:: .

p.i

4 v ;.-

^^^s

f '♦^

^c^s

CHAPTER IV.

A POPULAR RISING.

r —

AY after day Malchus went down to the port.
His father was well pleased with his report of
what he had done, and provided him with
ample funds for paying earnest-money to his
various agents, as a proof that their exertions would be well
rewarded. He soon had the satisfaction of seeing that the
a<;itation was growing.

Work was neglected, the sailors and labourers collected
on the quays and talked among themselves, or listened to
orators of their own class, who told them of the dangers
which threatened their trade from the hatred of Hanno and
liis friends the tax-collectors for Hannibal, whose father
and brother-in-law had done such great things for Carthage
by conquering Spain and adding to her commerce by the
establishment of Carthagena and other ports. Were they
going to stand tameiy by and see trade ruined, and their
families starving, that the tyrants who wrung from them
the taxes should fatten at ease 1

Such was the tenor of the orations delivered by scores of
men to their comrades on the quays. A calm observer might
have noticed a certain sameness about the speeches, and
might have come to the conclusion that the orators had re-

i* i\

l:>i

BOTH I'AHTIES AT WORK.

ceivcd tlieir instructions from tlie same person, but this
piisscd iiniiotic('(l ])y the suilois and workni^'n, wlio were soon
ron.sc*! into fury l»y tlm exhortations of tlio speakers. Tliey
knew nothing eitlier of Ilaiinihul or of llanno, liut they did
know tliat they were uiound (h)wn to liie eaith with taxation,
and tliat the concjnost of Sj ain and the trade that liad arisen
had heen of enormous l)enefit to them. It was, tlien, enough
to tell them that this trade was threatened, and that it was
threatened in the interest of the t} rants of Carthage, for
them to enter heart and soul into the cause.

During these four days the I'arcine Club was like the
headquarters of an army. Night and day the doors stood
open, messengers came and went continually, consultation'
of the leading men of the city were held almost without a
break. Every man belonging to it had his ajipointed task.
The landed proprietors stirred up the cultivators of the soil,
the manufacturers were charged with the enlightenment of
their hands as to the dangers of the situation, the soldiers
were busy among the troo})s; but theirs was a comparatively
easy task, for these naturally sympathized with their com-
rades in Spain, and the name of the great Hamilcar was an
object of veneration among them.

Hanno's faction was not idle. The Syssite which was
composed of his adherents was as large as its rival. Its
orators harangued the people in the streets on the dangers
caused to the republic by the ambition of the family of
Barca, of the expense entailed by the military and naval
establishments required to keep up the forces necessary to
carry out their aggressive policy, of the folly of confiding the
principal army of the state to the command of a mere youth.
They dilated on the wealth and generosity of Hanno, of his
lavish distribution of gifts among the poor, of his sympathy
with the trading community. Each day the excitement rose,

lis 1

THE RISING OF THE PEOPLE.

business was neglected, the whole population was in a fever
of excitement.

On the evening of tlie fourth day the agents of the Barcine
Club discovered that Hanno's party were preparing for a
public demonstration on the following evening. They had
a certainty of a majority in the public vote, which, although
nominally that of the people, was, as has been said, confined
solely to what would now be called the middle class.

Hitherto the Barcine party had avoided fixing any period
for their own demonstration, preferring to wait until they
knew the intention of their opponents. The council now
settled that it 'should take place on the following day at
eleven o'clock, just when the working-classes would have
finished their morning meal.

The secret council, however, detiTmined that no words
should be whi.^pcrcd outside their own body until two
hours before the time, in order that it should not be known
to Hanno and his friends until too late to gather tlieir ad-
herents to oppose it. Private messengers were, however,
sent out late to all the members to assemble early at the
club.

At nine o'clock next morning the Syssite was crowded,
the doors were closed, and the determination of the council
was announced to the members, each of whom was ordered
to hurry off to set the train in motion for a popular outbreak
for eleven o'clock. It was not until an hour later that the
news that the Barcine party intended to forestall them
reached Hanno's headquarters. Then the most vigorous
ett'orts were made to get together their forces, but it was too
late. At eleven o'clock crowds of men from all the working
portions of the town were seen making their way towards
the forum, shouting as they went, "Hannibal for general!"

"Down with Hanno and the tax-gatherers!"

'if

POPULAR ORATORY.

Conspicuous among tlicm were the sailors and fishermen
from the port, ainud with oars, and the gang of stevedores
with lieavy clul)3. llanno and a hirgo number of his party
liurried down to the spot and tried to pacify the crowd, but
the yells of execration were so loud and continuous that they
were forced to leave the forum. The leaders of the Barcine
party now api)eared on the scene, and their most popular
orator ascended the rostrum. Wh«^n the news spread among
the crowd that he was a friend of Hannibal and an opponent
of Hanno, the tumult was sta} ed in order that all might hear
his words.

" My friends," he said, " I am glad to see that Carthage
is still true to herself, and that you resent the attempt made
by a faction to remove the general of the army's choice, the
son of the great Hamilcar Harca. To him and to Hasdrubal,
his son-in-law, you owe the con({uest of Spain, you owe
the wealth which has of late years poured into Carthage,
you owe the trade which is already doing so much to
mitigate your condition. What have Hanno and his friends
done that you should listen to him 1 It is their incapacity
which has lost Carthage so many of its possessions. It is
their greed and corruj)tion which place such burdens on
your backs. They claim that they are generous. It is
easy to be generous with the nionej'^ of which they have
plundered you; but let them know your will, and they must
bend before it. Tell them that vou Avill have Hannibal and
none other as the general of your armies, and Spain is secure,
and year by year your commerce with that country will
increase and flourish.'

A roar of assent arose from the crowd. At the same
instant a tumult was heard at the lower entrance to the forum,
and the head of a dense body of men was seen issuing from
the street, mih shouts of "Hanno for ever!" They were

A STREET FIGHT.

lieaded by the butclicrs and tanners, an important and
iiouerful bo<ly, for Curtilage ditl a vast trade in leather.

For a tinio they bore all before thoni, but the resistance
increased every foot they advanced. The shouts on both
sides became louder and more angry. Blows were soon
exchanged, and ere long a pitched lattle was raging. The
fishermen and sailors throw themselves into the thick of it,
and for ten minutes a dcjsperate fight raged in the forum.
Soon the battle extendeil, as bodies of men belonging to
either faction encountered each other as they hurried towards
the forum.

Street frays were by no means unusual in Carthage, but
this was a veritable battle. Hanno had at its commence-
nicnt, accompanied by a strong body of his friends, ridden to
llyrsa, and had called ui)on the soldiers to come out and quell
the tumult. They, however, listened in sullen silence, their
sympathies were entirely with the supporters of Hannibal,
and they had already received orders from their ofliccrs on
no account to move, whosoever might command them to do
so, until Hamilcar placed himself at their head.

The general delayed doing this until the last moment.
Hannibal's friends had hoped to carry their object without
the intervention of the troops, as it was desirable in every
way that the election should appear to be a popular one,
and that Hannibal should seem to have the suffrages of
the people as well as of the army. That the large majority
of the people were with them they knew, but the money
which Hanno's friends had lavishly spent among the butchers,
skinners, tanners, and smiths had raised up a more for
midable opposition than they had counted upon.

Seeing that their side was gaining but little advantage,
that already much blood had been shed, and that the
tumult threatened to involve all Carthage, Hamilcar and a

I i

: 1

< I,

INTERVENTION OF THE TROOPS.

number of officers rode to the barracks. The troops at once
got imd€ir arms, and, headed by the elephants, moved out
^rom Byrsa. Being desirous to avoid bloodshed, Hamilcar
bade his men leave their weapons behind them, and armed
them with headless spear -shafts, of which, with all other
things needed for war, there was a large store in the citadel.
As the colrmn sallied out it broke up into sections. The
principal jody marched toward the forum, while others,
each led by officers, took their way down the principal
streets.

The appearance of the elephants and troops, and the loud
shouts of the latter for Hannibal, quickly put an end to the
tumult. Hanno's hired mob, seeing that they could do
nothing against such adversaries, at once broke up and fled
to their own quarters of the city, and Hanno and his
adherents sought their own houses. The quiet citizens,
seeing that the fight was over, issued from their houses, and
the forum was soon again crowded.

The proceedings were now unanimous, and the F.houts
raised that the senate should assemble and confirm the vote
of the army were loud and strenuous. Parties of men went
out in all directions to the houses of the senators to tell
them that the people demanded thjir presence at the forum.
Seeing the uselessness of farther opposition, and fearing the
consequences if they resisted, Hanno and his friends no
longer offered any opposition.

The senate assembled, and, by a unanimous vote the
election of Hannibal as one of the sufletes in place of
Hasdvubal, and as commander-in-chief of the army in Spain,
was carried, anu was ratified by that of the popular assembly,
the traders and manufacturers of Hanno's party not ven-
turing to oppose the will of the mass of mechanics and sea-
faring population.

■I m' V.

A BANQtlEt.

«1

*' tt has been a victory," Hamilcar said, when, accompanied
by a number of his friends, he returned to his home that
evenin'', " but Han no will not forget or forgive the events
of this day. As long as all go?s well in Spain we may hope
for the siii)port of the people, but should any disaster befall
our arms it will go hard with all who have taken a prominent
part in this day's proceedings. Hanno's friends have so
much at stake that they will not give up the struggle. They
have at their back all the moneys which they wring from
the people and the tributaries of Carthage, and they will
work night and day to strengthen their party and to buy
over the lower classes. We are the stronger at present; but to
carry the popular vote on a question which would put a stop
to the frightful corruption of our administration, to suppress
the tyranny of the council, to sweep away the abuses which
prevail in every class in the state — for that we must wait
till Hannibal returns victorious. Let him but humble the
pride of Rome, and Carthage will be at his feet."

The party were in high spirits at the result of the day's
proceedings. Not only liad they succeeded in their principal
object of electing Hannibal, but they had escaped from a
great personal danger; for, assuredly, had Hanno and his
party triumphed, a stern vengeance would have been taken
upon all the leading members of the Barcine faction.

After the banquet, while Hamilcar and his companions
reclined on their couches at tables, a Greek slave, a captive
in war, sang songs of his native land to the accompaniment
of the lyre. A party of dancing girls from Ethiopia per-
formed their rhythmical movements to the sound of the
tinkling of a littli guitar with three strings, the beating of
a small drum, the clashing of cymbals, and the jingling of
the ornaments and little metal bells on their arms and
ankles. Perfumes were burned in censers, ar. ^ from time to

THE CARTHAGINIAN HORSE.

time soft strains of music, played by a party of slaves among
the trees without, flouted in through the casements.

Malchus was in wild sjiirits, for his father had told him
that it was settled that he was to have the command of a
body of troops which were very sliortly to proceed to Spain
to reinforce the army under Hannibal, and that he should
allow Malchus to enter the band of Carthaginian horse which
was to form part of the body under his command.

The regular Carthaginian horse and foot formed but a
very small portion of the armies of the republic. They
were a corps tPelite^ composed entirely of young men of the
aristocratic families of Carthage, on whom it was considered
as almost a matter of obligation to enter this force. They
had the post of honour in battle, and it was upon them the
Carthaginian generals relied principally to break the ranks
of the enemy in close battle. All who aspired to distinguish
themselves in the eyes of their fellow-citizens, to rise to
power and position in the state, to officer the vast bodies of
men raised from the tributaiy nations, and to command the
armies of the country, entered one or other of these bodies.
The ca\alrv was the aim chosen by the richer classes. It
was seldom that it nimil)ere(l more than a thousand strong.
The splendour of their armour and M])})ointments, the beauty
of their horses, th.e richness of the garments of the cavaliers,
and the tiap{)ings of their steeds, caused this body to be
the admiration and envy of Carthage. Every man in it was
a member of one of the uj>i)cr ranks of the aristocracy; all
were ncailv related to menibi^rs of the senate, and it was
considered the highest honour thut a young Carthaginian
could receive to be admitted into it,

E;ich man wore on his wrist a gold band for each campaign
which he had undertaken. There was no attempt at uni-
formity as to their appointments. Their helmets and shields

1.1

A CHOSEN BODY.

were of gold or silver, surmo ■•ntcd witli plumes or feathers,
or with tufts of white horse-hair. Their hreastplatcs were
adorned with arabesques or repoups6 work of the highest
art. Tlieir belts were covered with gold and studded with
«^ems. Their short-kilted skirts were of rich Tyrian purple
embroidered with gold.

The infantry were composed of men of good but less ex-
alted families. They wore a red tunic without a belt. They
carried a great circular buckler of more than a yard in dia-
meter, formed of the tough hide of the river-horse, brought
down from the upper Nile, with a central l)Oss of metal
with a point projecting nearly a foot in front of the shield,
enabling it to be used as an oficnsive wcni)on in a close fight.
They carried short heavy swords similar to those of the
Romans, and went barefooted. Their total strength seldom
exceeded two thousand.

These two bodies constituted the Carthaginian legion, and
formed but a small proportion indeed of her armies, the rest
of her forces being entirely drawn from the tributary states.
The fact that Carthnge, with her seven hundred thousand
inhabitants, furnished so small a contingent of the fighting
force of the republic, was in itself a proof of the weakness of
the state. A country which relies entirely for its defence
upon mercenaries is rapidly approaching decay.

She may for a time repress one tiibutary with the soldiers
of the others; but when disaster befalls her she is without
cohesion and falls to jjieces at once. As the Roman orator
well said of Carthage: "She was a figure of brass with feet
of clay" — a noble and imjiosing object to the eye, but whom
a vigorous push would level in the dust. Rome, on the con-
trary, young and \igorous, was a I'cople of warriors. Every
one of her citizens who was capable of bearing arms was a
soldier. The manly virtues were held in the highest esteem,

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and the sordid love of wealth had not as yet enfeebled het
strength or sapped her powers. Her citizens were men, in-
deed, ready to make any sacrifice for their country; and
such being the case, her final victory over Carthage was a
matter of certainty.

The news which afforded Malchus such delight was not
viev.ed with the same unmixed satisfaction by the members
of his family. Thyra had for the last year been betrothed
to Adherbal, and he, too, was to accompany Hamilcar to
Spain, and none could say how long it might be before they
would return.

While the others were sitting round the festive board,
Adherbal and Thyra strolled away among the groves in the
garden.

" I do not think you care for me, Adherbal," she said re-
proachfully as he was speaking of the probabilities of the
campaign. " You know well that this war may continue in
Spain for years, and you seem perfectly indifferent to the
fact that we must be separated for that time."

"I should not be indifferent to it, Thyra, if I thought
for a moment that this was to be the case. I may remain, it
is true, for years in Spain; but I have not the most remote
idea of remaining there alone. At the end of the first cam-
paign, when our army goes into winter quarters, I shall re-
turn here and fetch you."

"That's all very well," the girl said pouting; "but how
do you know that I shall be willing to give up all the de-
lights of Carthage to go among the savage Iberians, where
they say the ground is all white in winter and even the
rivers stop in their courses]"

Adherbal laughed lightly.

"Then it is not for you to talk about indifterence, Thyra;
but it won't be so bad as you fear. At Carthagena you will

.SI

»*Y0Uk CONCEIT IS SUPERB.**

have all the luxuries of Carthage. I do not say that your
villa shall he equal to this; but as you will have me it should
be a thousand times deai'er to you."

" Yoi'''-.-»nceit is superb, Adherbal," Thyra laughed. "You
•ret worse and woise. Had I ever dreamed of it I should
never have consented so submissively when my father or-
dered me to regard you as my future husband."

" You ought to think yourself a fortunate girl, Thyra,"
Adherbal said smiling; "for your father might have taken it
into his head to have done as Hamilcar Barca did, and mar-
ried hi^i daughters to Massilian and Numidian princes, to
become queens of bands of nomad savages."

" Well, they were queens, that was something, even if
only of nomads."

" I don't think that it would have suited you, Thyra — a
seat on horseback for a throne, and a rough tent for a palace,
would not he in your way at all. I think a snug villa on the
slopes of the bay of Carthagena will suit you better, not to
mention the fact that I shall make an infinitely more })lea-
sant and agreeable master than a Numidian chief would
do."

" You are intolerable, Adherbal, with your conceit and
your mastership. How'ever, I suppose when the time comes
I shall have to obey my father. What a pity it is we girls
caunot choose our husbands for ourselves! Perhaps the time
mav come when we shall do so."

" Well, in your case, Thyra," Adherbal saiil, " it would
make no diffeience, because you know you would have chosen
me anyhow ; but most girls would make a nice business of it.
How are they to know what men really are] They might
he gamesters, drunkards, brutal and cruel by nature, idle
and spendthrift. What can maidens know of a man's dis-
position 1 Of course they only see him at his best. Wise

(339) £

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HAN NO AT WORK.

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parents can make careful inquiries, and have means of know-
ing what a man's disposition and liabits really are."

" You don't think, Adherbal," Thyra said earnestly, " that
girls are such fools that they cannot read faces; that we can-
not tell the diflforence between a good man and a bad one."

" Yes, a girl may know sonivotliing about every man save
the one she loves, Thyra. She may see other's faults clearly
enough; but she is blind to those of tiie man she loves. Do
you not know that the Greek depicts Cupid with a bandage
over his eyesV

"I am not blind to your faults," Thyra said indignantly.
" I know that you are a great deal more lazy than becomes
you; that you are not sufficiently earnest in the affairs of
life ; that you will never rise to be a great general like my
cousin Hannibal."

"That is all quite true," Adherbal laughed; "and yet you
see you love me. You perceive my faults only in theory and
not in fact, and you do not in your heart wish to see me
diflferent from what I am. Is it not sol"

"Yes," the girl said shyly, "I suppose it is. Anyhow, I
don't like the thought of your going away from me to that
horrid Iberia."

Although defeated for the moment by the popular vote,
the party of Hanno were not discouraged. They had suf-
fered a similar check when they had attempted to prevent
Hannibal joining Hasdrubal in Spain.

Not a moment was lost in setting to work to recover their
lost ground. Their agents among the lower classes spread
calumnies against the Barcine leaders. Money was lavishly
distributed, and the judges, who were devoted to Hanno's
party, set their machinery to work to strike terror among
their opponents. Their modes of procedure were similar to
those which afterwards made Venice execrable in the height

1 1

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A SECRET TERROR.

of her power. Arrests were made secretly in the dead of
niflit. Men were missing from their families, and none
knew what had become of them.

Dead bodies bearing signs of strangulation were found
floating in the sliallov/ lakes around Carthage; and yet, so
great was the dread Inspired by tlie terrible power of the
judges, that the friends and relations of those who were
missing dared make neither complaint or inquiry. It was not
against the leaders of the Barcine party that such measures
were taken. Had one of these been missing the whole would
have flown to arms. The dungeons would have been broken
open, and not only the captives liberated, but their arrest
might have been made the pretext for an attack upon the
whole system under which such a state of things could exist.

It was chiefly among the lower classes that the agents of
Hanno's vengeance operated. Among these the disa})pear-
ance of go many men who were regarded as leaders among
the rest spread a deep and mysterious fear. Although none
dared to complain openly, the news of these mysterious dis-
appearances was not long in reaching the leaders of the
Barcine party.

These, however, were for the time powerless to act. Cer-
tain as they might bo of the source whence these unseen
blows descended, they had no evidence on which to assail so
formidable a body as the judges. It would be a rash act
indeed to accuse such important functionaries of the state,
belonging, with scar ?ely an exception, to powerful families,
of arbitrary and cruel measures against insignificant persons.

The halo of tradition still surrounded the judges, and
aided to the fear inspired by their terrible and unlimited
power. In such an attack the Barcine party could not rely
upon the population to side with them; for, while compara-
tively few were personally affected by the arrests which

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had taken place, the fear of future conscciuences would
opeiate upon all.

Among the younger members of the party, however, the
indignation aroused l^y these secret blows was deep. Giscon,
who was continually brooding over the tyranny and corrup-
tion which were ruining his country, was one of th? leaders
of this section of the party; with him were other spirits as
ardent as himself. They met in a house in a qiiiet street
in the lower tov , aiu' 'ler i discussed all sorts o'" desperate
projects ;'>i' freei.j . ! i^-' cit^^ of its tyrants.

One day as ' isc» n ua^'. aaking his way to this rendezvous
lie met Maichus riding at : " speed from the port.

" What is it, Maichus, whither away in such haste?"

"It is shameful, Giscon, it is outrageous. I have just
been down to the port to tell the old fisherman with whom
I often go out that I would sail with him to-morrow, and
find that four days ago he was missing, and his body was
yesterday found by his sons lioating in the lagoon. He
had been strangled. His sons are as much overpowered
with terror as by grief; they believe that he has suffered for
th'i part he took in rousing the fishermen to declare for
Hannibal a fortnight since, and they fear lest the terrible
vengeance of Hanno should next fall upon them.

^*How it happened they know not. A man arrived late
in the evening and said that one of their father's best cus-
tomers wanted a supply of fish for a banquet he was to give
next day, and that he wanted to speak to him at once to
arrange about the quantity and quality oi fish he required.
Suspecting nothing the old man left at once, and was never
heard of afterwards. Next morning, seeing that he had not
returned, one of his sons went to the house to which he had
been fetched, but found that its owner knew nothing of the
affair, and denied that he had sent any message whatever

"I WILL JOIN YOU." (0

to liim. Fearing that something was wrong they searched
evervwlKTe, but it was not until last night that his body
was, as I have told you, found.

"Thn/ aro coi- 'inced th it their fa.'ier died in no private
feud. He had not, as far as they know, an enemy in the
world. You may imagin'-, liow I feci this; not only did I
I'gard him as a friend, but I feel tliat it was owing to his
acting as I 'ad him that ho has come to his death."

"The tyrants!" Giscon exclaimed in a low voice. "But
what can you do, Mulchus?"

" I am going to my father," Malchus replied, " to ask him
to take the matter up."

"What can he do?" Giscon said with a bit<vi I gh.
"What can he prove? Can he accuse our most ,J h ,ody
of judges, without a shadow of proof, of makinj^ a^v-^y with
this unknown old fisherman. No, Malchus, if you are in
earnest to revenge your friend come with me, s al intro-
duce you to my friends, who are banded together against
this tyranny, and who are sworn to save Carthage. You
are young, but you are brave and full of ardour; you are a
son of General Hamilcar, and my friends will gladly receive
you as one of us."

Malchus did not hesitate. That there would be dancrer
in joining such a body '..s Giscon spoke of he knew, but the
young officer's talk during their exi)edition had aroused in
him a deep sense of the tyranny and corruption which were
sapping the power of his country, and this blow which had
struck him personally rendered him in a mood to adopt any
dangerous move.

" I will join you, Giscon," he said, " if you will accept rae.
I am young, but I am ready to go all lengths, and to give
my life if needs be to free Carthage."

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CHAPTER V.

THE CONSPIRACY.

TSCON led his companion among the narrow
lanes until he reached the back entrance of the
house where the nieetings were held. Knocking
in a pt'culiar way it was opened at once and
closed behind thcni. As they entered a slave took Malchus's
horse without a word and fastened it to a ring in the wall,
where four or five other horses wei-e standing.

" I rather wonder you are not afraid of drawing attention
by riding on horseback to a house in such a quarter,"
Malchus said.

" We dare not meet secretlv, you know. The city is full
of spies, and doubtleo?, the movements of all known to be
hostile to Hanno and his party are watched, therefore we
thought it best to meet here. We have caused it to be
whispered as a secret in the i.ei<^h])ourhood, that the house
has been taken as a place where we can gamble free from
the presence of our elders. Therefore the only comments
we excite is, 'There go those young fools who are ruining
themselves.' It is only because you are on horseback that
I have come round to this gate; had you come on foot we
should have entered by the front. Fortunately there are
among us many who are deemed to be mere pleasure- seekers
— men who wager fortunes on their horses, who are given to

THE MEETING- PLACE.

banquets, or whose lives seem to bo passed in luxury and in-
dolence, but who at hctart are as earnest in the cause of
Cartilage as I am. The presence of such men among us
gives a probability to the tale that this is a gambling house.
Were we all of my stamp, men known to bo utterly hostile
to Hanno and his party, suspicion would fall upon our
meetings at once. But here we are."

As he spoke he drew aside some heavy curtains and
entered a large room. Some ten or twelve young men were
assemlded there. They looked up in surprise as Giscon
entered followed by his compunion.

"I have brought a recruit," Giscon said, "one whom
all of you know by repute if not personally; it is Malchus,
the son of General Hamikar. He is young to be engaged
in a business like ours, but I have been with him in a cam-
paign and can answer for him. He is brave, ready, thought-
ful, and trustworthy. He loves his country and hates her
tyrants. I can guarantee that he will do nothing imprudent,
but can be trusted as one of ourselves. Being young he
will have the advantage of being less likely to be watched,
and may be doubly useful. He is ready to take the oath
of our society."

As Giscon was the leading spirit of the b.and his recom-
mendation was taken as amply sufficient. The young men
rose and formed in a circle round Malchus. All drew their
uaggers, and one, whom Malchus recognized with a momen-
tary feeling of surprise as Carthalon, whom Adherbal had
pointed out at the Barcine Club as one who thought only
of horse-racing, said :

" Do you swear by Moloch and Astarte to be true to this
society, to devote yourself to the destruction of the oppres-
sors of Carthage, to carry out all measures which may be
determined upon, even at the certain risk of your life, and

TAKING THE OATH.

to sufTijr yourself to })o torn to pieces by the torture rather
than reveal uuLjIit that jtasses within tlusse walls?"

"That I sw(!ar soleinnlv," Malehus saitl.

•'I need not say," Carthalon said carelessly, "that the
puuisliinent of tlie violation of the oath is death. It is po
put in our rules. Hut w(? are all nobles of Carthage, antl
nobles do not break their oaths, so wo can let that pass.
When a niau's word is good enough to nudvo him bt^ggar
himself in order to discharge a wager, he can be trusted to
keep his word in a matter which concerns the lives of a
score of his fellows. And now that this business is arranged
we can go on with our talk; but first let us have some wine,
for all this talking is thirsty work at best."

The young men tiirew themselves upon the couches around
the room and, while slaves brought round wine, chatted
lightly with each otlier a))0ut horses, the play presented the
day before, tlw^ respective merits of the reigning ])eauties of
Carthage, and other similar topics, and Malchus, who was
impresseil witli the serious nature of tl.e secret cons})iracy
which he had just sworn to aid, could not help being sur-
prised at the careless gaiety of the young men, although
engaged in a conspiracy in which they risked their lives.

It was not until some minutes after the slaves had left
the apartment tliat the light talk and banter ceased, as
Giscon rose and said :

"Now to business. Malehus has told me that an old
fisherman, who took a lead in stirring up his fellows to de-
clare for Hannibal, has been decoyed away fioni his home
and murdered ; his boly luis been found floating in the lake,
stranglctl. This is tlie nineteenth in the course of a week.
These acts are sprea ling terror an.'>ng the working-classes,
and unless they are put a stop to we can no longer expect
assist£^nce from them,

otscon's speech.

"That these deeds are the work of the ofTicials of the
trihiiiuils wo liavc no tlonht. The sooner wo strike the
hotter. Matters are gettinj:; ripe. I have ei^^ht men sworn
into my section among the weavers, ami iiocil hnt two more
to comploto it. \Vu will instinct our latest reeruit to raise
a section among the (ishernien. The sons of the man just
munlered should form a nucleus. We aLrreed from the first
that three hundred resolute men hesides ourselves wore
requii'ed, and that each of us should rais3 a section of ten.
Malchus hrings up our nund)er here to thirt\", and when all
the sections are filled up we shall he ready for action.

"P'ailure ought to he impos.sihlo. The houses of Hanno
and thirty of his party will he attacked, and the tyrants slain
hcforo any alarm can ho given. Another thirty at least
should he slain hcfore the town is fairly arouscil. Maybe
each section can undei take three if our plans are well laid,
and each chooses for attack three living near each other.
We have not yet settled whether it will be better to separate
when this is done, content with the first blow against our
tyrants, or to prepare beforehand for a poi>ular rising, to
place ourselves at the head of the populace, and to make a
clean sweep of the judges and the leaders of Hanno's party."

Giscon spoke in an ordinary niatter-of fact tone, as if he
were discussing the airangements of a party of pleasure;
but Malchus could scarcely re})rcss a movement of anxiety
as he heard this proposal for the wholesale destruction of
the leading men of Caithage. The council thus opened was
continued for three hours. Most of those present spoke,
but, to the surprise of Malchus, there was an entire absence
of that gloon. and mystery with which the idea of a state
conspiracy was associated in his mind.

The young men discussed it earnestly, indeed, bm- m the
same spirit in which they would have agreed over a disputed

if ' 1 ' I

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JESTING WITH DEATH.

question as to the respective merits of two horses. They
laughed, joked,, offered and accepted wagers, and took the
whole matter with a h'ufhtnoss of heart which Malchus
imitated to the best of lii^ })Ower, but which he was very far
from feehng; and yet he felt that beneath all this levity his
companions were perfectly in earnest in their plans, but
they joked now as they would have joked before the com-
mencement of a battle in which the odds against them were
overwhelming and great.

Even Giscon, generally grave and gloomy, was as light-
hearteH as the rest. The aristocracy of Carthage w^ere, like
the aristocracy of all other countries, from tradition, train-
ing, and habit, brave to excess. Just as centuries later the
noblesse of France chatted gaily on the tumbril on their way
to execution, and offered each other their snuff'-boxes on the
scaffold, so these young aristocrats of Carthage smiled and
jested, though well aware that they were risking their lives.

No decision was arrived at, for this could only be decided
upon at a special meeting, at which all the members of the
society would be present. Among those now in council
opinions were nearly equally divided. The one party urged
that, did they take steps to prepare the populace for a
rising, a rumour would be sure to meet the ears of their
opponents and they would be on their guard; whereas, if
they scattered quickly after each section had slain two of
their tyrants, the operation might be repeated luitil all the
influential men of Hanno's faction had been removed.

In reply to these arguments the other party urged that
delays were always dangerous, that huge rewards would be
offered after the first attempts, that some of the men of the
sections might turn traitors, that Hanno's party would
be on their guard in future, and that the judges 'vould effect
wholesale arrests and executions; whereas, were the popu-

THE AIMS OF THE CONSPIRATORS.

Bie

lace appealed to in the midst of the excitement which would
be caused by the death of Ilanno and his principal adher-
ents, the people would rise and finish with their tyrants.

After all who wished to speak on the subject had given
their opinions, they proceeded to details; each gave a state-
ment of the number of men enrolled in his section, with a
few words as to the disjjosition of each. Almost without an
exception each of these men was animated with a sense of
private wrong. Some had lost near relatives, executed for
some trifling ofTence by the tribunals, some had been ruined
by the extortion of the tax-gatherers. All were stated to
be ready to give their lives for vengeance.

"These agents of ours, you see, Malchus, are not for the
most part aiwmated by any feeling of pure jiatriotism, it is
their own wrongs and not the injuries of Carthage which
they V Duld avenge. But we must take them as we find them;
one cannot exi)ect any deep feeling of patriotism on the
part of the masses, who, it must be owned, have no very
great feason to feel any lively interest in the glories of the
republic. So that they eat and drink sufficiently, and can
earn their living, it matters not very greatly to them whether
Carthage is great and glorious, or humbled and defeated.
But this will not alwavs be so. "When we have succeeded
in ridding Carthage of her tyrants we must next do all we
can so to raise the condition of the common people that
ttiey may feel that they too have a common interest in the
fate of our country. I shouM not, of course, propose giving
to them a vote; to bestow the suffrage upon the ignorant,
who would simply follow the demagogues who would use
them as tools, would be the height of madness. The affairs
of state, the government of the countrj'-, the making of the
laws, must be solely in the hands of those fitted for the task
— of the men who, by education, by birth, by position, by

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"WHERE ARE YOU 001X0^*

study, and by leisure have prepared their minds for such a
charge. But the peoi)le sliould share in the advantages of a
good government; they should not be taxed more than they
could reasonably pay, and any tax-gatherer who should ex-
tort a penny beyond the legal amount should be disgraced
and jmiiished.

" The courts should be open to all, the Judges should be
impartial and incorruptible; every man should have his
rights and his privileges, then each man, feeling an interest
in the stability of the state, would be ready to bear arms in
its defence, and Carthage, instoiid of being dependent
entirely upon her tributaries and mercenaries, would be able
to place a great army in the field by her own unaided
exertions.

"The barbarian tribes would cease to revolt, knowing
that success would be hopeless. And as we should be strong
at home we should be lespected abioad, and might view
without apprehension the rising power of Kome. There is
plenty of room for both of us. For us, Africa and Spain; for
her, all the rest of Europe and as much of Asia as she
cares to take. We could look without jealousy at each other's
greatness, each secure in his own strength and power. Yes,
there may be a grand future before Carthage yet."

The meeting now broke uj).

"Where are you going, Malchus?" Giscon asked the lad
as thev w^ent out into the court-vard; "to see the sacrifices]
You know there is a grand function to-day to propitiate
Moloch and to pray for victory for our arms."

"No," Malchus said with a shudder. " I don't think I am
a coward, Giscon, but these terrible rites frighten me. I
was taken once by my father, and I then swore that never
again, unless it be absolutely necessary for me in the per-
formance of a public office, will I be present at sucn a scene.

•»BtASP«teMii KD't tilM dobs.

P
I

for Weeks afterwards I scarcely slept; day and night there
was before me that terrible brazen image of Moloch. If I
fell off to sleep, I woke bathed in perspiration as I heard the
scieanis of the infants as they were dropped into those huge
hands, heated to redness, stretched out to receive them. I
cannot believe, Giscon, !hat the gods are so cruel.

"Then there was the slaughter of a score of captives
taken in war. I see them now, standing pale and stern,
with their eyes directed to the brazen image which was soon
to be sprinkled with their blood, while the priests in their
scarlet robes, with the sacrificial knives in hand, approached
them. 1 saw no more, for I shut my eyes till all was over.
I tell you again, Giscon, I do not believe the gods are so
crael. Why should the gods of Phoenicia and Carthage
alone demand blood? Those of Greece and Kome are not
so bloodthirsty, and yet Mars gives as many victories to the
Koman arms as Moloch does to ours."

" Blaspheme not the gods, Malchus," Giscon said gloomily;
"you may be sure that the wreath of a conquering general
will never be placed around your brow if you honour them
not."

"If honouring them means approval of shedding the
blood of infants and captives, I will renounce all hopes of
obtaining \ictory by their aid."

" I would you had spoken so before, ]\Ialchus ; had I
known that you were a scorner of the gods I would not
have asked you to join in our enterprise. No good fortune
can be expected to attend our efforts unless we have the
help of the gods."

"The matter is easily mended, Giscon," Malchus said
calmly. " So far I have taken no step towards carrying
out your plans, and have but listened to what you said,
theiefore, no harm can yet have been done. Strike my

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((

IT WERE BETTER SO.

name oflF tiie list, and ^rget that I have been \vith you.
You have my oath that I will say nought of anything that
I have heard. You can well make some *■■ cuse to your
comrarles. Tell them, for example, that though I fear not
for myself, I thought that, being the son of Hamilcar, I had
no right to involve his name and family in such an enter-
prise, unless by his orders."

"Yes, it were better so," Giscon said after a pauses; **!
dare not continue the enterprise with one who condemns
the gods among us; it would be to court failure. I did not
dream of this; v/ho could have thought that a lad of your
age would have been a spurner of the gods?"

" I am neither a condemner nor a spurner," Malchus said
indignantly; "I say only that I believe you worship them
wrongfully, that you do them injustice. I say it is impos-
sible that the gods who rule the world can have pleasure in
the screams of dying infants or the groans of slaughtered
men."

Giscon placed his hands to his ears as if to shut out such
blas])hemy, and hurri(3d away, while Malchus, mounting his
horse, rode out slowly and thoughtfully to his father's villa.
He was not at heart sorry that he was freed from this asso-
ciation into w hich, ^\ ithout knowing the measures by which
it intended to carry out its aims, he had rashly entered. He
was ready for armed insurrection against the tyrants of Car-
thage, but he revolted from the thought of this plan for a
midnight massacre — it was not by such means that he would
have achieved the regeneration of his country. He felt, too,
that the reason which he had given Giscon was a valid one,
He had no right, at his age, to involve his family in such a
conspiracy. Did it fail, and were he found to be among the
{.o-^spiT-ators, Hanno and his associates w^ould be sure to
seiz-' I'le f^^' t as a pretext for assailing Hamilcar. They

PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE.

would say that Malchus would never have joined in such a
plot had he not known that it had the approval of his
fatlier, and that he was in fact but the representative of his
family in the design for overthrowing the constitution of
the rei)ublic.

Fortunately for Malchus a few days later orders were
given for the instant embarkation of a portion of the rein-
forcements destined for Hannibal. Hamilcar was to j)roceed
in command of them, and, busied with his preparations for
the start, ^lalchus thought little more of the conspiracy
which was brewing. Thirty large merchant ships were
hired to convey the troops, who numbered six thousand.
These were principally Lil)yan foot-men. The main body,
with the Numidian horse, were to follow shortly. At last the
day for embarkation arrived, and the troops defiled through
the temple of Moloch, where sacrifices were ofi'ered up for
the success of the enterprise.

Malchus, under the pretence that something was not
ready, at the last moment lingered at home, and only joined
his comrades, a hundred young men of tiie Caithaginian
horse, on the quays. This body, all composed of young men
of the best families of Cai thage, were to sail in the same ship
which carried Hamilcar. The scene was a busy one — the
docks of Carthage were extensive, and the ships wl h were
to convey the expedition la}'^ in deep water by the lays, so
that the troops could march on board. A great lowd of
the populace had assembled to view the embarkati . These
were with diflaculty kept from crowding the troops and
impeding their movement by a cordon of soldic .

As the troops marched on to the quay they were formed
up in parties by the side of the ships which were to convey
them. Very ditlerent was the demeanour of the men of the
dih'erent nationalities. The Libyans were stern and silent,

!ri

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* M I i

W.i^ feivibAkKATtoM*

they were part of the contingent which their state wad
bound to furnish to Carthage, and went unwillingly, cursing
in their hearts the power which tore them from their homes
to fight in a war in which they had neither concern nor
interest.

Near them were a body of Cuiramantes, wrapped in the
long bernous \vhich then as now was the garb of the children
of the desert. Tall swarthy figures these, lissome and agile,
with every muscle standing out clear through the brown
skin. Strange as must have been the scene to them, there
was no wonder expressed in the keen glances which they
shot around them from underneath their dark eyebrows.
Silent and taciturn, scarce a word was to be heard among
them as they stood awaiting the orders to embark; they
were there unwillingly, and their hearts were far away in the
distant desert, but none the less would they be willing to
light when the time came. Terrible foes these would be in
a night attack, with their stealthy tiger-like tread, their
gleaming vengeful eyes, and their cruel mouths.

Very different were the band of Ethiopians from the
distant Soudiin, with their cloaks of lion skin, and the
gaudy feathers fastened in a lillet round their heads. Their
black faces were alive with merriment and wonder — every-
thing was new and extraordinary to them. The sea, the
ships, the mighty city, the gathered ciowd, all excited their
astonishment, and their white teeth glistened as they chatted
incessantly with a very babel of laughter and noise.

Not less light-hearted were the chosen band of young
nobles grouped by the general's ship. Their horses were held
in ranks behind them for the lu, time by their slaves, for
in future they would have to attend to them themselves,
and as they gathered in groups they laughed and jested
over the last scandal in Carthage, the play which had been

THE INSPECTION.

produced the night before at the theatre, or the horse-race
which was to be run on the following day. As to the des-
perate work on which they were to be engaged — for it was
whispered that Hannibal had in i)reparation some mighty
enterprise — it troubled them not at all, nor the thought that
n»uny of them might never look on Carthage again. In
their hearts perhaps sume of them, like Malchus, were
thinking sadly of the partings they had just gone through
with those they loved, but no signs of such thoughts were
apparent in their faces or conversation.

Presently a blast of trumpets sounded, and the babel of
voices was hushed as if by magic. The soldiers fell into
military order, and stood motionless. Then Hamilcar walked
along the quays inspecting carefully each group, asking
questions of the ca])tains of the ships as to their store of
})rovisions and watei, receiving from the officers charged with
that duty the lists of the war-machines aifl stores which
were stored away in the hulls; and, having assured himself
that everything was in order, he gave the signal to his trum-
peter, who again blew a long and piercing blast.

The work of embarkation at once commence*!. The in-
fantry were soon on board, but the operation of shipping
the horses of the cavalry took longer. Half of these were
stored away in the hold of the general's ship, the rest in
another vessel. When the troops were all on board the
soldiers who had kept back the crowd were withdrawn, and
the Carthaginians thronged down on to the quay. A small
space was still kept clear on the wharf by whose side the
admiral's shij) was lying, and here was gathered a throng of
the aristocracy of the city to see the last of their sons and
relatives of the guard.

Having seen their horses safely stowed below the young
men crowded to the side of the ship to exchange adieus

(339) #

f 11

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CARTIU lENA.

with their friends. The parting was a brief one, for the
wind Mas fair, and the geneial anxious to be well out of
the bay before nightfall. Therefore the signal was hoisted.
Numbers of slaves seized the hawsers of the shijjs and towed
them along through the narrow passage which connected the
docks Avith the sea. A shout of adieu rose from the crowd,
the sails were hoisted, and the fleet })roceeded on its way.

The arrangements for the comfort of the troops at sea
were simple and ])rimitive. Each man shifted for himself:
The whole sjiace below was occupied by cargo or horses. The
troops lived and sle])t on deck. Here, on wide Hat stones,
they cooked their nicalc, vhilcd away the day by games of
chance, and slept at night on skins or thick rugs. Fortunately
the weather was fair. It was t'arly in March, but the nights
were not cold.

The Heet hugged the coast, anchoring at night, until the
northern ."^hores stood out clear and well defined as Spain
stretched down towards Africa. Then they crossed and
cruised along until tliey arrived at Carthagena. Short as
was the time which had elapsed since the foundation of that
city, its aspect was already imposing and extensive. It lay
at the Ih^uI of a gulf facing south, about a mile in depth
and neany double that width. Across the mouth of this
bay was an island, with but a narrow passage on each side,
protecting it from the southern winds, and forming with
it a magnificent harbour.

On a bold hill at the head of the harbour stood the town.
This hill rose from a wide lagoon, which communicated on
one side with the sea, and was on the other separated from
it only by a strip of land four hundred yards wide. Through
this a M ide channel had been dug. Thus the hill, which was
of considerable extent, lugged and precipitous, was isolated,
and could only be attacked by sea.

THE MINES OF SI'AIN.

111

The town was built in a sort of aini)hithcatre facing the
sea and was puiroinidcd by a strong fortilication two miles
and a half in circumference, so that even should an assail-
ant cross the lagoon, which in summer was nearly dry, he
would have before liim an almost impregnable defence to
carry. Here, in buildings whose magnitude surprised the
new-comers, acquainted as they were with the buildings of
Carthage, were stored the treasures, tlie baggage, the am-
munition of war, and the ])rovisions of the army.

It had been the aim of the great Hamilcar, and of Has-
drubal after him, to render the army of 8i)ain as far as pos-
sible independent of the mother counti y. They well knew
how often the treasui-y of Carthage was empty owing to the
extravagance and dishonesty of her rulers, .'md how impos-
sible it would be to obtain thence the supplies required for
the army. Therefore they established immense workshops,
where arms, munitions of war, machines for sieges, and
everything required for the use of the army were fabri-
cated.

Vast as were the expenses of these establishments, the
revenues of Iberia were amply sufficient not only to defray
all the cost of occupation, but to transmit large sums to Car-
thage. These revenues were derived partly from the tribute
paid by conquered tribes, jiarily from the spoils taken in
captured cities, but most of all from the mines of gold and
silver, which were at that time immensely rich, and were
worked by tlie labour of slaves taken in war or of whole
tribes subdued.

Some idea of the richness of these mines may be formed by
the fact that one mine, which Hannibal had inherited from
his father, brought in to him a revenue of nearly a thousand
l)0unds a day ; and this was but one of his various sources of
wealth. This was the reason that Hamilcar, Hasdrubal,

i M

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111

1 1

THE CARTHAGINIAN COMMISSIONERS.

and Ilatinibal wore able to maintain themselves in si)ite of
the intiiguc's of their enemies in tlic ca))ital. Their armies
were their own rather than tliose of tlie conntry.

It was to them tliat tlie soldiers looked for their pay, as
well as for ])i(>m()tion and rewards for valour, and they were
able, therefore, to carry out the i)lans which their genius sug-
gested untranimelied by orders from Carthage. They occu-
pied, indeed, a }»o.sition very similar to that of Wallenstein.
when, with an aiiny raised and [laid fi om his i)rivate means,
he defended the cause of the emi)ire iigainst Gustavus
Adoljthus and the i)rinces of the Protestant league. It is
true that tin; Carthaginian geneials had always by their
side two commissioneis of the senate. The republic of Car-
thage, like the first republic of France, was ever jealous of
lier generals, and a})pointed commissioners to accompany
them on their campaigns, to advise and control their move-
ments and to repoit on their conduct; and many of the de-
feats of the Carthaginians weie i\uG in no small demeo to
their generals being hami»eied by the interference of the
commissioners. They were present, a-^ a matter of course,
v/ith the army of llamiibal, but his jiower was so great that
their inlluence over his proceedings was but nominal.

The war which was about to break out with liome is called
the secon<l Punic war, but it should rather be named the
war of Hannibal with Pome. He conceived and carried it
out from his own resources, without interference and almost
without any assistance from Carthage. Throughout the war
her ships lay idle in her harbour. Even in his greatest need
Carthage never arnie»l a galley for his assistance. The pay
of the army came solely from his coffeis, the material for the
war from the arsenals constructed by his father, his brother-
in-law, and himself. It was a war waged by a single man
against a mighty power, and as such there is, with the ex-

HANNIBAU

ception of the case of Wallcnstein, nothing to resemble it in
the history of the world.

Passing tlirough the narrow passage into Hie harbour the
fleet sailed up to tlie end of the l)ay, and were soon along-
side the spacious (juays which had been erected, A large
quantity of shii)pii)g already lay there, for tlie trade of Car-
thagena with the mother city and with the ports of Spain,
Africa, an<l the P^ast already rivalled that of Carthago. A
group of oflicers were gathered on the ()nay as Hamilcar's
ship, which was leading the fhet, neared it, and llamilcar
exclaimed, "There is Hannibal himself!"

As the shi[) moored alongside the quay Hanni})al came on
board and warndy embraced his cousin, and then bestowed
a cordial greeting upon Malchus.

" Why, cousin Malchus," he said, " though it is but a year
since I was in Carthage I should .>-» arce have known you, so
much have you grown, I see you have entered the cavalry.
That is well. You cannot begin too early to accustom your
self ^.0 war."

Then turning, he went among the young men of the guard,
to all of whom ho was personally known, greeting them
with a cordiality and kindness which greatly gratified them.
Malchus gazei^ at him with admiration. Fortunately an ac-
curate description of Hannibal liis come down to us. He was
one who, even at first sight, won all hearts by his lofty and
noble expression, by the kindness and sincerity which his
face expressed. The Cnrthaginians, as a race, were short,
but Hannibal was very tall, and his great width of shoulders
testified to his immense sti'eni'th.

The beauty of the ladhaginian race was proverbial, but
even among them he was iemarka])lo His head was well
placed on his shouKlers; his carriage was upright and com-
manding; his forehead ! )fty; his eye, though soft and

IMAGE EVALUATION
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Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

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23 WIST MAIN STREIT

WMSTH.N.Y. MSSO

(716)873-4503

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A LEADER OF MEN.

|i i

gentle at ordinary tim^s, was said to be terrible in time of
battle. His head was bare. His hair, of a golden brown,
was worn long, and encircled by a golden band. His nose
was long and straight, forming, with the forehead, a perfect
profile. The exjtression of the mouth was kind but firm.
His beard was short. The whole contour of the face was
noble in the extreme.

In battle he wore a helmet of bronze closely fitting the
head, behind which projected a curved metal plate covering
his neck. A band of gold surrounded the helmet; in front
were five laurel leaves in steel; at the temi>les two leaves
of the lotus of the same metal. On the crest, rising from an
ornament enriched with pearls, was a large [)lume of feathers,
sometimes red and sometimes white. A tuft of white horse-
hair fell from the plate behind. A coat of mail, made of a
triple tissue of chains of gold, covered his body. Above
this he wore a shirt of the finest white linen, covered to
the waist by a jerkin of leather overlaid with gold plates.
A large mantle of purple embroidered with gold hung from
his shoulders. He wore sandals and leggings of red morocco
leather.

But it was only on special occasions that Hannibal was thus
magnificently clad. On the march he dressed generally in a
simple blouse like that worn by his soldiers. His arms were
borne behind him by an esquire. These consisted of his shield,
of Galatian manufacture. Its material was bronze, its shape
circular. In the centre was a conical, shar[)ly-pointed boss.
The face of the shield was ornamented with subjects taken
from the history of Carthage in relief. The offensive arms
were a sword, a lance, and a bow with arrows. But it was not
to the splendour of his aj^pcarance that Hannibal owed the
enthusiasm by which he was regarded by his trooi)s. His
strength and skill were far siiiicrior to those of any man in

THE IDOL OF THE ARMY.

his army. His food was as simple as that of his soldiers,
he was cai>able of going for days witliout eating, and it
was seldom that he broke his fast until the day's work was
over. AVhen he ate it would he sitting on horseback, or as
he walked about seeing to the needs of the soldiers.

At night he slept among them, lying on a lion skin without
covciiig. Ho was indiflerent to heat and cold, and in the
heaviest tempest of wind and rain wouhl ride bareheaded
among his troops, ai)i)arently unconscious of tlie tempest
a<:ainst which he was struiruling. So far as was known ho
was without a vice. He seldom touched wine. His morals
were irreproachable, lie never gave way to anger. His
l)atience under trials and difficulties of all sorts was illimit-
able.

In the midst of the greatest trials and dangers he pre-
served his cheerfulness, and had ever an encouraging word
for his soldiers. Various as were the nationalities of the
troops who followed him, constrained as most of them had
been to enter the service of Carthage, so great was their love
and admiration for their commander that they were ready
to suffer all hardships, to dare all dangers for his sake. It
was his personal influence, and that alone, which welded this
army, composed of men of various nationalities and tribes,
into one whole, and enabled it to perform the greatest mili-
tary exploits in the world's history, and for years to sustain
a terrible struggle against tho whole power of liome.

i i

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CIIAPTETl VI.

A CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN.

MONO the young officers who had followed
IIannil)al on hoard were some who had left
Cartilage only a few months hefore and were
known to Malchus. From them he learnt with
delight that the troops would take the field at once.

" We are going on a cam])aign against the Vacca?i," one
of them said. "The army marched out two days since.
Hannibal has heen waiting here for your arrival, for a fast-
sailing shi}) which started a few hours after you brought the
news that you were on } our way, and you Mill set off to
join the rest without delay. It is going to be a hard cam-
paign."

"Where is the country of the Vaccaiil" Malchus asked.

" A long way olT," the other replied. " The marches will
be long and tiresome. Their country lies somewhat to the
north-west of the great phiteau in the centre of Iberia. We
shall have to ascend the mountains on this side, to cross the
plateau, and to follow the rivers which fiow to the great
ocean."

The Vaccjei, in fact, dwelt in the lands bordered by the
upper Duero, their country comprising a portion of old
Castillo, Leon, and the Basque provinces. The journey
would indeed be a long and ditlicult one; and Hannibal was

A CAMPAIGN IN PROSPECT.

r
(1

undertaking the expedition not only to punish the turbulent
Vacccci, who had attackfd some of the tribes which had
submitted to Carthage, )»ut to accustom the troops to
fatigues and hardships, and to prepare them for the great
expedition which he had in view. No time was indeed lost,
for as soon as the troo})S were landed they were formed up
and at once started on their march.

"This is more than we bargained for," Trebon, a young
guardsman whose place in the ranks was next to Malchus,
said to him. "I thought we should have had at least a
month here before we set out. '1 hvy say the city is as gay
asCaithage; and as I have many friends here 1 have looked
forward to a month of jollity before starting. Every night
when I lay down on the hard planks of the deck I have con-
soled myself with the thought that a soft bed awaited me here;
and now we have to take at once to the bare ground, with
nothing but this skin strapped on tiie jiommel of my saddle
to sleep on, and my bernous to cover me. It is colder al-
ready a great deal than it was at Carthage; and if tliat is so
here, what will it be on the tops of those jaggetl mountains
we see before us? Why, as 1 live, that highest one over
there is of dazzling white! That must be the snow we have
heard of — the rain turned solid by cold, and which they say
causes a pain to the naked limbs something like hot iron.
Fancy having to sleep in such stull!"

Malchus laughed at the complaiiils of his comrade.

" I confess 1 am glad we are oil" at once," he said, " for I
was sick of doing nothing but idling away my time at Car-
thage; and 1 suppose it would be just the same here. How
])usy are the streets of the town ! Except for the sight of
the mountains which we see throuuh the breaks of the
houses, one might believe one's self still at home."

The aspect of Carthagena, indeed, closely resembled that

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Ifi^

THE COLONIES OF CARTHAGE.

of the mother city, and the inhabitants were of the same
race and blood.

Caithagcna had in the first place been formed by a great
colony of Libyans. The inhabitants of that province inha-
biting the sea-}>orts antl coasts near Cartilage were a mixtnre
of Plia-nirian and native blooil. They were ever impatient of
the supremacy of Carthai^e, and their rebellions were frecpicnt
and often (htngerous. After the sui)press;on of these insur-
rections, Carthage, sensible of the danger arising from the
turbulence of her neighbours, deported great numbers of
them to form colonies. \'ast numbers was sent up into t!ie
Soudan, which was then one of the most im})ortant posses-
sions of the republic. The most extensive, however, of these
forced emigrations was the great colony sent to found Car-
thagena, which had thus in a very few years, under the
fostering genius of the great llamilcar, become a great and
prosi)erous city.

Carthage it-self had thus smhlenly sprung into exist-
ence. After many internal troubles the democracy of Tyre
had gained the upper hand in that city; and finding their
position intolerable, the whole of the aristocracy decided to
emigrate, and, sailing with a great Hect under their Queen
Dido or Eli.-^a — for she was called by both names — founded
Carthage. This triumph of the democracy in Tyre, as might
be exi)ectcd. proved the ruin of that city. Very rapidly she
fell from the lofty position she had held, and her place in
the world and her proud position as Queen of the Seas was
very speedily taken by Carthago.

The original Libyan colony of Carthagena had been
very largely increased by subsequent emigration, and the
populace presented an appearance very similar to that of
the mother city, save that instead of the swarthy desert
tribesmen, with their passive face and air of proud indif

ON THE MARCH.

fcrenco, mingling with the population of the town, there
was in Cartliagt'na a large admixture of native Iberians,
who, belonging to the tribes first subdued by Carthage,
had either been forced to settle here to supi»ly the manual
labour needed for the rising city, or who had voluntarily
abandoned their wandering life and adopted the more
settled habitudes and more assured comforts of existence
in a great town.

Skirting the lower part of the city, Hamilcar's force
marched along the isthmus and crossed the bridge over the
canal cut through it, and was soon in the country beyond.
The ground rose gradually, and after marching for six miles
the brigade was halted at a spot to which Hannibal had,
when the fleet was first discerned approaching along the
coast, despatched some bullocks and other provisions for
their use. The march was a short one, but after a week's
confinement on board ship the men were little fitted for a
long journey. The bullocks and other rations were served
out to the various companies, and the work of preparing the
repast began. Malchus was amused, although rather dis-
gusted at his first experience in a real campaign. When
with Hamilcar on the expedition against the Atarantes he
had formed part of his father's suite and had lived in luxury.
He was now a simple soldier, and was called upon to assist
to cut up the bullock which had fallen to the share of the
Carthaginian cavalry.

Some of the party went out to cut and bring in wood for
the fires and cooking ; others moistened the flour and made
dough for the flat cakes which would be baked in the hot em-
bers and eaten with the meat. Loud shouts of laughter rose
as the young soldiers worked at their unaccustomed tasks,
superintended by the officers, who, ha\ tng all made several
campaigns, were able to instruct them as to their duties.

A BIVOUAa

From a culinary point of view tho meal could not be
pronounced a success, and was, indeed, a contrast to the
food to wliicli the younLj nuliles were accustomed. Tho
inarch, however, and the keen hracing air had given them
good appetites, and tho novelty and strangeness of the
experience gave a zest to tho food; and in spite of tho
roughness of tiu; meal, all declared tliat they liad never
dined better. ]\lany tires were now lit; and round these,
as tho evening closed in, the men gathered in grouj)s, all
closely wrai)ped in their hcrnouses, which were worn alike
by otHceis ami men of the whole of tho nationalities serv-
ing in the Carthaginian army, serving as a cloak by day
and a blanket at night. Presently a trampling of horses
was heard, and Hannibal and bis personal stall' rode into
the encam}iment.

He had not started until several hours after thorn, when,
having given iiis last orders and made all final arrangements
for the nianagcnuMit of alKiirs during his absence, he had
ridden on to join the army. Dismounting, he went at once
on foot among the troops, chatting gaily with them and
in(piiring how they fared. After visiting all the other de-
tachments he came to the bivouac of the Carthaginian horse,
and for an hour sat ta'king by their fires.

"Ah!" he said as he rose to go, "the others will sleep
well enough to-night; but you sybarites, accustomed to
your soft couches and your luxuries, will fare badly. I re-
member my fii'st night on the hard ground, although 'tis
now sixteen years back, how ni}^ limbs ached and how I
longed for morning. Now, let me give you a hint how to
make your beds comfortable Mind, this is not for the
future, but till your limbs get accustomed to the ground
you may indulge in luxuries. Before you try to go off to
sleep note exactly where your hip-bones and shoulders will

A HARD COUCH.

rest; take your daj/gcrs ami scoop out tlio earth at these
jmiiits HO as to rnake th'pn'ssioiis in which they may He.
Then spHMil your lioii-skins al>ovo tlieiu and ho down. Vou
will sleep as coiiif(irtui)ly as if on a soft coueh."

Many of thu young soldiers followed llannihal's advice;
others, amon«^ whom was Malchus, determined to accustom
themselves at onco to the liaid ;;round. Maldius was not
h)n,<; in getting to sleep, his last thought heing that the pre-
caution advised hy llanuihal to ensure rci)ose was altogether
uiuiecessary. Jhit he changed his opinion when, two or
three honis later, he woke up with acute pains in his hip
and shoulder. After trying vainly, hy changing his position,
again to go off to sleep, lu,' rose, rolled up tlu? skin, and set
to work to make the excavations recommended hy the gene-
ral. Then spreading out the skin again he lay down, and
was astonished to find liow immense was the relief atlbrded
hy this simple expedient.

At dayhreak the party were in motion. Their niarcli was
a long one; for Ilannihal wished to como up with the main
army as soon as i)ossihle, and no less than thirty miles were
encompassed hefore they halted for the night. They were
now far up on the slopes of the Sierras. The latter part of
the journey ha<l heen exceedingly toilsonu\ The route was
mostly hare rock, which sorely tried the feet of the soldiers,
these heing in most cases unprotected even hy sandals.
Malchus and his mounted c()mi)anions did TiOt of course
sutler in their feet. Ihit they were almost as glad as the
infantry when the cam}>ing- place was reached, for nothing
is more fatiguing to a horsenuin than to he ohliged to travel
in the saddle for ten hours at the i)ace of footmen. The
halting-place this time was near .he upper edge of the forest
which then clothed the lower .slojjes of the mountains.

Enough meat had heen killed on the previous evening for

I- 1

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iii

WOLVES.

■I I

three flays' rations for tlie troops, ami there was therefore
no loss of time in jnojiaring the nicai. Wood, of course, was
in ahuiwhincc, and the pots v/cro soon hanj^ing from tljick
1 olcs phiced ahove tlie fires. 'J'lie niu'ht was exccedinj^ly cold,
and th«' siildicrs were <:rat('ful for the shelter wliith the trees
atl'nrded from tlu^ pieicin^'win 1 which idew across tlie snow-
c«»ver(Ml peaks of the higher ran.!.,'e of niountuins.

"What is that uctiscl" iMalchns asked one of the officers
as, after the meal was finished and silence hcgan to reign in
the camp, a tleep sound was heard in the forest.

"That is the howling of u pack of wolves," the officer
said. "They are savage hrutes, and when in company will
not hesitate to attack small parties of men. They abound in
the nioJintains, and are a scourge to the shej^ierds of the
}tlains, especially in the cold weather, when they descend
and commit terrible damage among the flocks."

"I thought I did not know the sound," Malchus said.
"The m'glits were noisy enough sometimes at the southern
edge of the desert. The pac ks of jackals, with their sharp
yelping cry, aboun<led; then there was the deeper note of the
hyenas, and the barking cry of troops of monkeys, and the
thundering roar of the lions. They were miplcasant enough,
and at first used to keep one awake; but none of them were
so lugubrious as that mouiiiful howl 1 hear now. I suppose
sometimes, when there is nothing else to do, we get up
hunting jjartiesf

"Yes," the officer replied; "it is the chief amusement of
our garrisons in winter among the wild parts of the country.
Of course, near Carthagena these creatures have been era<li-
cated; but among the meuntains they abound, and the
carcass of a dead horse is sure to attiact plenty of them.
It is a sport not without danger; and there are many in-
stances where parties of five or six have gone out, taking

A TROUBLED NIGHT.

with thorn a carcass to atiract t!ic wolves, and have never
rcturnLMl; and a search has resulted in the discovery of their
ueiipons, injureil and perhaps Itroken, of stains of hlood aiul
sij^ns of a desjierate striigi^U*, hut of tlieni not so nnich as a
hone; lias remained heiiind."

"I thoiii^lit lion hiuiHuLC was an exciting sport; hut the
lions, allliou^'h they may move and hunt in companies, do
not liiiht in parks, as these liercc hrutes seem to (h). I hope
snuie day to try it. 1 should like to send hack two of their
heads to hanj,' on the wall hy the side of that of tiie Hon I
killed up in the de>ert."

"Next winter you may do so," the oflicer said. "The
season is ni arly over now, and you may he sure that Han-
nihal will <;ive us enough to do without our thinking of
hunting wolves. 'I'he N'accu'i are tierce enough. Per-
haps two of their heads would do instead of those of
wolves."

"1 do not think my mother and sisters woidd approve of
tliat," Mahhus laughed; "so I nuist wait for the winter."

The night did not pass so (juietly as that which had pre-
ceded it. The distant howling of the wolves, as they hunted
in the forest, kept the horses in a tiemor of terror and ex-
citement, and their riders were ohliged over and over again
to rise and go amoug them, and hy speaking to and patting
them, to allay their feais. So long as their masters were
near them the well-tiained horses were quiet and tractable,
and would at a whispered order lie down and remain in
l)erfect quiet; but no sooner liad they left them and again
settled to sleej) than, at the lirst howl which told that the
pack were at all approaching, the horses would lift their
heads, prick their ears in the diiection of the sound, and
rise to their feet and stand trendjling, with extended nostrils
snuffing the unknown danger, pawing the giound, and occa-

1 ^!l

1 '!

1 1

ll \

A DIFFICULT MARCH.

Rioiijilly ni.'iking desperate efl'orts to break loose from thoir
picket ropea.

Tin; work of so(»tliiiii; Iia«l tlien to l)e repented, until at
la.st most of tlu- riders lirouglit tlieir lions' skins and lay
down l»y tile prostrate horses, with their heads upon their
neeks. 'I'lie animals, trained thus to sleep with their riiiers
hy their sid«», and reassured hy the presoiiec of their masters,
were; for the mo>t part e<nitent to lie ipiiet, althou^di the
parks of wolves, attracted hy the srent of the meat that
had heen rooked, a]iproa( hed ehtse to the eamp and kept up
a dismal chorus round it until mornin<;.

I)ay hy tlay the inarch was continued. The country was
wild and ruiri,'ed, foaming torrents had to he crossed, j»re-
cipices surmounted, hairen tracts traversed. Hut after a
week's hanl mai<hin:; the column ha«l overcome the greater
part of the dilliculty, had cro.ssed the Sierras an<l gained
the plateau, which with a gratliuil fall slopes west down to
th-i Atlantic, and was for the most part covereil with a dense
growth of forests. They now to their satisfaction overtook
the main hodv of the armv, and their marches would he
somewhat less severe, for hitherto they had ea h day traversed
extra distances to make up for the two days' loss in starting.
Here Malchus for the first time saw the hands of Gaulish
mercenaries.

The Spanish troops had excited the admiration and as-
tonishment of the Carthaginianr by their stature and strength;
but the (Jauls were a still more j)oweiful race. They be-
longed to the tribes which had poured down over the Ap-
ennines, and occupied the northern portion of Spain long
anterior to the arrival of the Carthaginians. Their counten-
ances were rugged, and, as it seemed to Malchus, savage.
Their cohmr was much lighter than that of any people he
had yet seen. Their eyes were blue, their hair, naturally

ten-

fg^-

illy

Tlllt oxrusH tttOOM.

fair or lnown, was dyed with some preparation which gave
it a red colour.

Some wore their long loclcs floating over their shoulders,
others tiod it in a knot on the top of their heads. They
wore a loose short trouser fastened at the knee, resembling
the ba;^'gy trousers of the modern Turks. A shirt with
open sleeves came half-way down their thighs, and over it
was a blouse or loose tunic decorated with ornaments of
every description, and fastened at the neck by a metal
brooch. Their helmets were of copper, for the most part
ornamented with the horns of stags or bulls. On the crest
of the helmet was generally the figure of a bird or wild beast.
The whole was surmounted by immense tufts of feathers,
something like those of our Highland bonnets, adding greatly
to the height and apparent stature of the wearers.

The Ciauls had a passion for ornaments, and adorned their
persons with a profusion of necklaces, bracelets, rings, bald-
ricks, and belts of gold. Their national arms were long
heavy pikes — these had no metal heads, but the points were
hardened by fire; javelins of the same description — these
before going into battle they set fire to, and hurled blazing
at the enemy — lighter darts called matras SininionSj pikes
with curved heads, resembling the halberts of later times;
and straight swords. Hannibal, however, finding the in-
convenience of this diversity of weapons, had armed his
Gaulish troops only with their long straight swords. These
were without point, and made for cutting only, and were
in the hands of these powerful tribesmen terrible weapons.
These swords were not those they had been accustomed
to carry, which were made of copper only, and often bent at
the first blow, but were specially made for them in Carthage
of heavy steel, proof against all accident.

The march was conducted with all military precautions,

(339) o

\ 'M

,i n

I i It

li.

:i,S'

i- I

SALAMANCA.

Ii '

although tlicy were still traversing a country which had
been already suhdued. Nevertheless they moved as if ex-
pecting an instant aLtack. The light horse scoured the
country. The lithe and active soldiers furnished by the
dfisert tribes formed the advanced guard of the army, and
marched also on its flanks, while the heavy-armed soldiery
marched in solid colunm ready for battle. Behind them
came the long train of baggage protected by a strong rear-
guard.

A.t last they reached a fertile country, and were now in
the land of the Vaccnei and their allies. Arbocala, now
call<.d Tordesillas, was captured without much difficulty.
The siege was then laid to Salamanca, the chief town of
the encmv. In the actual siogo operations the Carthaginian
horse took no i)art. The place resisted vigorously, but the
machines of Hannibal effected a breach in tlie walls, and the
inhabitan;,s, seeing that further resistance was impossible,
offered to capitulate, stipulating that they should be allowed
to depait unharmed, leaving behind them all their arms and
their treasure.

The Carthaginian army were drawn up in readiness to
march into the town as the Vaccaii came out. As they
filed past the Carthaginians they were inspected to see that
they had carried out the terms of the agreement. It was
found that they had done so rigidly — not an arm of any kind
was found upon them. Their necklaces, bracelets, and orna-
ments had ail been left behind.

"What a savage looking race!" Malchus remarked to
Trebon; " they look at us as if they would gladly spring on
us, unarmed as they are, and tear us with their hands. They
are well nigh as dark skinned as the Numidians."

"Here come their women!" Trebon said; "verily I would
as soon fight the men as these creatures. Look how they

h ;■ ,

mtam

THE SACK OF A TOWN.

;s to

|they

that

was

:ind

irna-

)uld
bhey

glare at us! You see they have all had to give up their
ornaments, so they have each their private grievance as well
as their national one."

When the whole of the population had filed out, the
Carthaginian army entered the town, with the exception of
a body of light horse who were ordered to remain without
and keep an eye on the doings of the late garrison. Mal-
chus was amused at tlie scene within. The members of the
Carthagi^nian horse disdained to join in the work of plunder,
and were, therefore, free to watch with amusement their
comrades at work. The amount of booty was large, for the
number of gold ornaments found in every house, deposited
there by the inhabitants on departing, was very great; but
not satisfied with this the soldiers dug up the floors in search
of buried treasure, searched the walls for secret hiding-
places, and rummaged the houses from top to bottom.
Besides the rich booty, the soldiers burdened themselves
with a great variety of articles which it would be impossible
for them to carry away.

Men were seen staggering under the weight of four or five
heavy skins. Some had stuck feathers in their helmets until
their heads were scarce visible. Some had great ijundles
of female garments, which they had collected with a vague
idea of carrying them home to their families. The arms
had in the first place been collected and placed under
a strong guard, and picked troops were placed as sentries
over the public treasury, whose contents were allotted to the
general needs of the army.

Night fell soon after the sack commenced. Malchus with
a number of his comrades took possession of one of the
largest houses in the place, and, having cleared it of the
rubbish with which it was strewn, prepared to pass the
night there. Suddenly a terrible uproar was heard — shouts,

Ml ' , ■

,'-11 1

1 f ll

i'n.

100

A DESPERATE StRUGGLtt.

V. IT

cries, the clashing of arms, the yells of the enemy, filled the
air. The cavalry charged to watch the Vaccaei, believing
that these had departed quietly, had abandoned their post,
and had entered the town to join in the work of plunder.

As the garrison had marched out the men had been rigidly
searched; but the women had been allowed to [)ass out with-
out any close inspection. This carelessness cost the Car-
thaginians dear, for under their garments they had hidden
the swords and daggers of the men. lielying ui)on the dis-
order which would reign in the city, the Vaccaji had re-
turned, and now poured in thiough the gates, slaying all
whom they met.

For a short time a terrible panic reigned among the Car-
thaginians, great numbers were cut down, and it seemed
as if the whole force would be destroyed. Hannibal and
his generals rode about trying to get the scattered men to
form and oppose the enemy; but the panic was too general,
and had it not been for the Carthaginian legion all would ^
have been lost. The horse and foot, however, of this body,
having abstained from joining in the pillage, had, for the
most part, kept together in bodies, and these now sallied
out in close and regular order, and fell upon the attacking
enemy.

The streets were too narrow for cavalry to act, and Mal-
chus and his comrades fought on foot. The enemy, who had
scattered on their work of slaughter, were in their turn taken
at a disadvantage, and were unable to withstand the steady
attack of the solid bodies. These, in the first place, cut
their way to the square in the centre of the town, and there
united. Hannibal, seeing he had now a solid body of troops
under his command, at once broke them up into parties and
advanced down all the streets leading from the central square.
The hand-to-hand fight which was going on all over the

LENIENCY.

101

town was soon terminated. The Carthaginians fell in in
good order beliind the ranks of their comrades, and the
small bodies soon became columns which swept the enemy
before them.

The enemy fought desperately, firing the houses, hurling
stones from the r.)ofs upon the columns, and throwing them-
selves with reckless bravery upon the spears, but their efforts
were in vain. Foot by foot they were driven back, until they
were again expelled from the town. Keeping together, and
ever showing front to the Carthaginians, the Vaccrei, now
reduced to less than half th(ar number, retired to an eminence
near the town, and there prepared to sell their lives dearly.
The Carthaginians now fell into their regular ranks, and
prepared to storm the enemy's position; but Hannibal rode
forward alone towards the Vacciei, being plainly visible to
them in the broad blaze of light from the burning city.

From his long residence in S})ain he was al)le to speak the
Iberian tongue with fluency, and indeed could converse with
all the troops of the various nationalities under the banner
of Carthage in their own language.

"Men of Salamanca," he said, "resist no longer. Car-
thage knows how to honour a brave enemy, and never did
men fight more valiantly in defence of their homes than you
have done, and although further resistance would be hope-
less, I will press you no further. Your lives are spared.
You may retain the arms you know so well how to wield,
and to-morrow my army will evacuate your town and leave
you free to return to it."

Hannibal's clemency was i)olitic. He would have lost
many more men before he finally overcame the desperate
band, and he was by no means desirous of exciting a deep
feeling of hate among any of the tribes, just as he was
meditating withdrawing the greater portion of the army foi

il*

I*, if..
ft

!,•!

*'li

.,1

102

A DANGEROUS POSITION.

his enterprise against Rome. With the fall of Salamanca
the resistance of the Vaccrei ceased, and Hannibal pre-
pared to march back to Carthagena.

A storm, however, had gathered in his rear. Great num-
bers of the Vacca}i had sought refuge among the Olcades,
who had been subdued tlie previous autumn, and together
they had induced the whole of the fierce tribes known as
the Carpatans, who inhabited the country on the right bank
of the upper Tagus, to make common cause with them
against the invaders. As Hannibal approached their neigh-
bourhood they took up their position on the right bank of
the river near Toledo. Here the stream is rapid and difficult
of passage, its bed being thickly studded with great boulders
brought down in time of flood from the mountains. The
country on each side of the river is andy, free from forests
or valleys, which would cover the movements of an army.

The host gathered to oppose the Carthaginians were fully
one hundred thousand strong, and Hannibal saw at once
that his force, weakened as it was with its loss at Salamanca,
and encumbered by the great train laden with the booty they
had gathered from the Vaccai, would have no chance what-
ever in a battle with so vast a body. The enemy separated
as he approached the river, their object being evidently to
fall upon his rear wlien engaged in the diHicult oi>eration of
crossing. The Cartluiginians moved in two heavy columns,
one on each side their baggage, and Hannibal's orders were
stringent that on no account should they engage with the
tnemy.

The natives swarmed around the columns, hurling darts
and javelins; but the Carthaginians moved forward in solid
order, replying only with their arrows and slings, and content-
ing themselves with beating off the attacks which the bolder
of their foes made upon them. Night was falling when they

iilBiiliiiill

tmmM

THE PASSAGE EFFECTED.

103

arrived on the bank of the river. Tho enemy then desisted
from their attack, believing that in tlie morning the Car-
thaginians wonld be at their mercy, encumbered by their vast
booty on one side and cut off from retreat by a well-nigh
impassable river on the other.

As soon as the army reached the river Hannibal caused
the tents of all the officers to be erected. The baggage-
waggons were arranged in order, and the cattle unharnessed.
The troops began to throw up intrenchments, and all seemed
to show that the Carthaginians were determined to fight till
the last on the ground they held. It was still light enough
for the enemy to perceive what was being done, and, secure
of their prey in the morning, they drew off to a short dis-
tance for the night. Hannibal had learned from a native
that morning of a ford across the river, and it was towards
this that he had been marching. As soon as it was perfectly
dark a number of men entered the river to search for the
ford. This was soon discovered.

Then the orders were passed noiselessly round to the
soldiers, and these, in regular order and in the most perfect
quiet, rose to their feet and manlu-d down to the ford.
A portion of the infantry first passed, then the waggons were
taken over, the rest of the infantry followed, and the cavalry
and the elephants brought up the rear. The point Avhere
the river was fordable was at a sharp angle, and Hannibal
now occupied its outer side. As daylight approached he
placed his archers on the banks of the river where, owing
to the sharp bend, their arrows would take in flank an enemy
crossing the ford, and would also sweep its approaches.

The cavalry were withdrawn some distance, and were
ordered not to charge until the Spaniards had got across
the river. The elephants, forty in number, were divided
into two bodies. One of these was allotted to protect each of

I M

104

THE BATTLE AT THE TAGUS.

the bodies of infantry on the bank from attack, should the
Spaniards gain a strong footing on the left bank. W'^hen
day broke the enemy perceived that the Carthaginians liad
made the passage of the river. Believing that they had
been too much alarmed to risk a battle, and were retreating
liastil}', the natives thronged down in a multitude to the
river without waiting for their leaders or for orders to be
given, and rushing forward, each for himself, leapt into the
river.

Numbers were at once swept away by the stream, but
the crowd who had struck upon the ford pressed forward.
When they were in mid stream in a tumultuous mass Han-
nibal launched his cavalry upon them, and a desperate con-
flict ensued in the river. The combat was too unequal to
last long. The Spaniards, waist-deep in the rapid stream,
had difficulty in retaining their feet, they were ignorant of
the width or precise direction of the ford, and were ham-
pered by their own masses; the cavalry, on the other hand,
were free to use their weapons, and the weight and im-
petus of their charge was alone sufficient to sweep the
Spanish from their footing into deep water.

Many were drowned, many more cut down, and the rest
driven in disorder back across the river. But fresh hordes
had now arrived; Hannibal sounded the retieat, and the
cavalry retired as the Spaniards again threw themselves into
the stream. As the confused mass poured across the ford
the two divisions of infantry fell upon them, while the
arrows of the archers swept the struggling mass. Without
order or discipline, bewildered at this attack by a foe whom
they had regarded as flying, the Spaniards were driven
back across the river, the Carthaginians crossing in their
rear.

The flying Iberians scattered terror among their comrades

tmt

THE ROUT OF THE IBERIANS.

105

still flocking down to the bank, and as the Carthaginian
infantry in solid column fell npon them, a panic seized
the whole host and they scattered over the plain. The
Carthaginian cavalry followed close behind the infantry,
and at once dashed forward among the broken masses, until
the S}'anish army, lately so confident of victory, was but a
broken mass of i>anic-strickcn fugitives. »

The victory of Toledo was followed at once by the sub-
mission of the whole of the tribes of Spain south of the
Ebro, and Hannibal, having seen that the country was
everywhere pacified, marched back with his army to Car-
thagena to pasa the winter there (220-219 B.C.).

-Jc

3'J-

I I

~ 1

■

CHAPTER VII.

A WOLF HUNT.

I HE summer's work had been a hard one, and the
young soldiers of the Carthaginian cavalry re-
joiced when they marched into Carthagena
again, with the ])ros])ect of four months' rest
and gaiety. When in the tield their discipline was as strict
and their work as hard as that of the other corps, but,
whereas, when they went into ^'inter quarters, the rest of
the army were placed under tents or huts, this corps d^dite
were for the time their own masters.

Two or three times a-woek they drilled and exercised
their horses, but with these exceptions they were free to do
as they chose. Scarce one but had relations or friends in
Carthagena with whom they took up their abode, and those
)vho were not so fortunate found a home at the great mili-
tary club, of which, ranking as they did with the ofiicers
of other corps, they were all members.

Hamilcar and Malchus had rooms assigned to them in the
splendid mansion of Hannibal, which was the centre of the
life and gaiety of the place, for Hannibal had, before starting
on his campaign in the spring, mairied Iniilce, the daughter
of Castalius, a Spaniard of noble blood, and his household
was kept up with a lavish magnificence, worthy alike of
his position as virtual monarch of Spain and of his vast

WINTER FESTIVITIES.

107

private wealth. Fetes were given constantly for the amuse-
ment of the people. At these there were prizes for horse
and foot racing, and tlie Numidian cavah-y a.stonislied the
populace by the manner in which they manteuvred their
steeds; bowmen and siingers entered the lists fur prizes of
value given by the general; and the elephants exhibited
proof of their docility and training.

In the bay there were races between the galleys and
triremes, and emulation was encouraged among the troops
by large money prizes to the \.:<:iipanies who mana'uvred
with the greatest ]>recision and activity. For the nobles
there were bancpicts and entertainments of music. The
rising greatness of C'artliagena had attracted to her nmsicians
and artists from all paits of the Mediterranean. Snake-
charmers from the far Soudan, and jugglers from the di.stant
East exhibited their skill. Poets recited their verses, and
bards sung their lays before the wealth and beauty of Car-
thagena. Hannibal, anxious at once to please his young
wife and to increase his i)0pularity, spared no pains or ex-
pense in these entertainments.

Gay as they were Malchus longed for a more stirring life,
and with five or six of his comrades obtained leave of
absence for a month, to go on a hunting expedition on the
mountains. He had heard, when u])on the campaign, the
issue of the plot in which he had been so nearly engaged.
It had failed. On the very eve of execution one of the
subordinates had turned traitor, and Giscon and the whole of
those engaged in it had been arrested and put to a cruel death.

Malchus himself had been denounced, as his name was
found upon the list of the conspirators, and an order had been
sent to Hannibal that he should be carried back a prisoner
to Carthage. Hannibal had called the lad before him, and
had inquired of him the circumstances of the case. Malchus

\ I

.1,

|,|i

'••

$•!)

108

THE RESULT OF THE PLOT.

ii'i

ill

explained tliat he had hecn to tlicir meeting hut once, being
taken there hy (Jiscon, and heing in entire ignorance of the
objects of the i»h)t, and tliat he liad refused when ho dis-
covered them to iiroccetl in the matter. Hannibal and
Hamilcar bhimed him severely for allowing himself at his
age to be mixed up in any way in pul)lic all'airs; but they
80 represented the matter to the two Carthaginian commis-
sioners with the ariMy, that these had written home to say,
that having imiuiicd into the atlair they found that beyond
a boyi.sh imjtrudcnce in accompanying Cliscon to the place
where the conspirators met, Makhus was not to blame in
the matter.

The narrow escape that he had had was a lesson which
was not lost u))on Malehiis. lltimihar lectured him sternly,
and pointed out to him that thi? all'airs of nations were not
to be settled by the ell'orts of a handful of enthusiasts, but
that grievances, however grc;\t, lould only be righted when
the people at large were determined that a change should
be made.

"There would be n<;ithcr order nor stability in afTairG,
Malchus, if parties of desperate men of one party or another
were ever striving for change, for revolution would be met
by counter-revolution. The atlairs of nations march slowly;
sudden changes are ever to be dei)rccated. If every clique
of men who chance to be sup])0'ted b}' a temporary wave
of public opinion, were to introduce oiganic changes, there
would be no stability in aflairs. Capital would be alarmed;
the rich and powerful, seeing their possessions threatened
and their privileges attacked by the actrion of the dema-
gogues of the hour, would do as did our forefathers of Tyre,
when the whole of the aristociary emigrated in a body to
Carthage, and Tyre received a blow from which she has
never recovered."

A HUNTlNG.PAP.tY,

109

lue
Ive

Ire

DO
IS

For some time aftrr this event Makluis liad felt that he
was in disgrace, but his steadiness antl good con(hict in the
campaign, and the excellent reports which his otticers gave
of him, liad restored him to favour; and indeed his father
and Hannibal both felt that a lad might well be led away
by an earnest enthusiast like (iiscon.

The hunting-[>aity took with tlu^m a hundred Iberian
soldiers used to the mountains, together with six peasants
actjuainted with the country and accustonuMl to the chase.
They took several carts laden with tents, wine, and pro-
visions. Four days' journey from Carthagena took the party
into the heart of the mountains, and here, in a sheltered
valley through which ran a stream, they formed their camp.

They had good sjjort. Sometimes with dogs they tracked
the bears to their lair, sometimes the soldiers maile a wide
sweep in the hills, and, having inclosed a considerable tract
of foiest, moved forward, shouting and clashing their arms
until they drove the animals inclosed down through a valley
in which Malchus and his companions had taken }»ost

Very various was the game which then fell before their
arrows and javelins. Sometimes a herd of deer would dart
past, then two bears with their family would come along
growling fiercely as they went, and looking back angrily at
the disturbers of their peace. Sometimes a pack of wolves,
with their red tongues hanging out, and fierce, snarling
barks, would hurry along, or a wild boar would trot leisurely
past, until he reached the spot where the hunters were
posted. The wolves and deer fell harmlessly before the
javelins of the Carthaginians, but the bears and wild boars
frequently showed themselves formidable opponents, and
there were several desperate fights before these yielded to
the spears and swords of the hunters.

Sometimes portions of the animals they had killed were

1 i

'. '

i I

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ft i

110

LOST IN THE FOREST.

hung up at ni^'lit from the hough of a tree at a distance
from tlie camp, to attract tlie hears, and one or two of the
party, taking their post in neij^hhouring trees, would watch
all night for the coming of the beasts. TI.o snow was now
lying thick on the tops of the mountains, and the wolves
were plentiful among the forests.

One day Malchus and two of his companions had fol-
lowed a woumled deer far up among the hills, and were
some miles away from the camp when the darkness began
to set lin.

"I think we had better give it up," Malchus said; "we
shall find it difhcult as it is to find our way back; I had no
idea that it was so late."

His companions at once agreed, and they turned their
faces towards the camp. In another half hour it was
perfectly dark under the shadow of the trees, but the moon
was shining, and its position afi'orded them a means of judg-
ing as to the direction where the cami) lay. But even with
such assistance it was no easy matter making their way.
The country was rough and 1 >roken ; ravines had to be crossed,
and hills ascended. After pushing on for two hours, Halcon,
the eldest of the party, said :

" I am by no means sure that we are going right after all.
We have had a long day's woik now, and 1 do not believe
we shall find the camp tonight. I think we had better
light a fire here and wrap ourselves in our cloaks. The fire
will scare wild beasts away, and we shall be easily able to
find the camp in the morning."

The proposal was at once accepted; sticks were collected,
and, with fiint and steel and the aid of some dried fungus
which they carried in their i)ouches, a fire was soon lit, and
some choice portions of a deer which they had killed early
in the day were soon broiling on sticks over it.

WOLVES I

111

"We must keep watch by turns," Ilalcon said; "it will
not do to let the tire burn low, for likely enough we may
be visited by boars before nioiniiig."

After eating thrir nioal and chatting for some time, Hal-
con and his conii>anions lay down to rest, Malchus volun-
teering to keep the first watch. For some time he sat
quietly, occasionally throwing logs on the tire from the store
which they ha<l collected in readiness. Presently his attitude
changed, he listened intently am? rose to his feet. Several
times he had heard the howls of wolves wandering in the
woods, but he now made out a long, deep, continuous howl-
ing; he listened for a minute or two and then aroused his
companions.

"There is a large pack of wolves ajiproaching," he said,
"and by the direction of the sound I judge they are hunting
on the traces of our footsteps. That is the line by which
we came down from yonder brow, and it seems to me that
they are ascending the opposite slope."

" Yes, and by the sound there must be a very large pack
of them," Ilalcon agreed; " pile up the fire and set yourselves
to gather more wood as quickly as possible; these beasts in
large packs are formidable foes."

The three men set to work, vigorously cutting down
brushwood and lopping off small boughs of trees with their
swords.

"Divide the fire in four," Halcon said, "and pile the fuel
in the centre; they will hardly dare to pass between the
fires."

The pack was now descending the slope, keeping up a
chorus of howls and short yelps which sent a shiver of un-
easiness through Malchus. As the wolves approached the
spot the howling suddenly ceased.

"They see us," Halcon said; "keep a sharp look-out for

i 111

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StJRtlOVNDKto.

thorn, but do not throw away a shot, we shall need all Our
arrows before daylight."

Standing perfectly quiet, the friends could hear the pat-
tering sound made by the wolves' feet upon the fallen
leaves; but the moon had sunk now, and they were unable
to make out their figures.

- "It seems to me," Malchus said in a whisper, "that I can
see specks of fire gleaming on the bushes."

" It is the reflection of the fire in their eyes," Halcon re-
plied. " See ! they are all round us ! There must be scores
of them."

For some time the wolves approached no closer; then, en-
couraged by the silence of the little group standing in the
centre of the fire, two or three gray forms showed them-
selves in the circle of light. Three bows twanged. Two of
the wolves fell, and the third, with a howl of pain, fled in
the darkness. There was a sound of snarling and growling;
a cry of pain, a fierce struggle, and then a long-continued
snarlinu;.

" ^Vhat are they doing?" Malchus asked wi^h a shudder.

"I believe they are eating their wounded co irade," Hal-
con replied. "I have heard such is the custom of the
savage brutes. See, the carcasses of the other two have dis-
appeared already."

Short as had been the time which had elapsed since they
had fallen, other wolves had stolen out, and had dragged
away the bodies of the two which had been killed. This in-
cident, which showed how extreme was the hunger of the
wolves, and how noiseless were their motions, redoubled the
vigilance of the party.

Malchus threw a handful of brushwood on to each of the
fires.

" We must be careful of the fuel," Halcon said. "I would

■MP

THE LASt BRAND.

113

We had thought of this before we lay down to sleep. If we
had collected fuel enough for our fires we should have been
safe; but I doubt much if our supply will last now till

morning.

As the hours went on, the attitude of the wolv'es became
more and more threatening, and in strong bodies they ad-
vanced close up to the fires. Every time that they did so
armfuls of fuel were thrown on, and as the flames leapt up
brightly they each time fell back, losing se' oral of their
numbers from the arrows of the little party. But the pile
of fuel was now sinking fast, and except when the wolves
advanced it was necessary to let the fires burn down.

" It must want four hours yet of daylight," Halcon said,
as he threw on the last piece of wood. "Look round as the
fire blazes up and see if you can make out any tree which
may be climVjed. I would that we had taken to them at
first instead of trusting to our fires."

Unfortunately they had chosen a somewhat open space of
ground for their encampment, for the brushwood grew thick
among the trees.

" There is a tree over there," Malchus said, pointing to it,
"with a bough but six feet from the ground. One spring on
to that and we are safe."

"Very well," Halcon assented; "we will attempt it at
once before the fire burns low. Put your swords into your
sheaths, sling your bows and arrows behind you, and take
each a burning brand. These will be better weapons in
such a case than swords or spears. Now, are you ready?
Now!"

Waving the burning brands over their heads, the three
Carthaginians dashed across the intervening space towards
the tree.

It seemed as if the wolves were c<^nscious that their prey

(339) H

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A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

were attempting to escape them; for, with a fierce howl,
they sprang from the bushes and rushed to meet tliem ; and,
undeterred by the blazing brands, sprang upon them.

Malchus scarce know what passed in the short fierce
struggle. One wolf sprang upon his shield and nearly brought
him to the groun<l; but the sharp boss pierced its body,
and he flung it from him, at the same moment that he
dashed the brand full in the face of another. A third sprang
upon his shoulder, and he felt its hot breath in his face.
Dropping his brand, he drove his dagger deep into its side.
Then he hurled his heavy shield among the mass of wolves
before him, took a bound into their midst, and grasping the
bough, swung himself into the tree and sat there with his
legs drawn up as a score of wolves leai)t up towards him
with open mouths.

He gave a cry of horror. His two friends were down,
and a confused mass of fstruirulin-jr bodies alone bowed
where they had fallen. For an instant he hesitated, de-
bating whether he should leap down and strive to rescue
them; but a glance below showed him that he would be
pulled down long before he could reach the spot where they
had fallen.

Shifting himself along the arm until he reached the trunk,
he rose to his feet and sent his arrows vengefully into the
midst of the struggling mass of wolves until he had but
three or four shafts left. These he reserved as a last re-
source.

There was nothing to do now, and he sat down on the
branch, and burst into tears over the fate of his comrades.
When he looked up again all was quiet. The fierce pack
had devoured not only his comrades, but their own fallen
companions, and now sat in a circle with their red tongues
hanging out and their eyes fixed upon him. As the fire

33d

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339

THE DANGERS OF A WOLF HUNT.

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mmtam

GUARDED.

115

gradually died out their forms disappeared; but he could
liear their quick breathing, and knew that they were still on
the watch.

Malchus climbed the tree until he reached a fork, where
he could sit at ease, and there waited for morning, when he
hoped that his foes would disappear But as the gray light
dawned, he saw them still on the watch; nor, as the dawn
brightened into day, did they show any signs of moving.

When he saw they had no intention of leaving the place,
Malchus began to consider seriously what he had best do.
He might still be, for auglit he knew, miles away from the
camp, and his friends there would have no means of know-
ing the position in which he was placed. They would no
doubt send out all *\\e soldiers in search of the party; but
in that broken wilderness of forest and mountain, it was the
merest chance whether they would find the spot where he
was prisoner. Still, it appeared to him that this was the
only possibility of his rescue. The trees grew thickly
together, and he could easily have climbed from that in
which he was stationed to the next, and might so have made
his way for some distance; but as the wolves were watching
him, and could see as well by night as b}^ day, there was
no advantage in shifting his position.

The day passed slowly. The wolves had for the most
part withdrawn from beneath the tree, but a iew kept their
station there steadily, and Malchus knew that the rest were
only lying beneath the bushes round; for he could hear
their frequent snarling, and sometimes a gray head was
thrust out, and a pair of eager eyes looked hungrily towards
him. From time to time Malchus listened breathlessly in
hopes of hearing the distant shouts of his comrades; but all
was still in the forest, and he felt sure that the wolves
would hear anyone approaching before he should.

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116

A NEW PLAN.

Once or twice, indeed, lie fancied that by their pricked
ears and attitude of attention they could hear sounds in-
audible to him; but the alarm, if sucli it was, soon passed
away, and it might have been that they were listening only
to the distant footsteps of some stag i)assing through the
forest. Night came again with its long dreary hours.
Malchus straiij)ed himself by his belt to the tree to pre-
vent himself from falling, and managed to obtain a few
hours of uneasy sleci>, waking up each time with a start, in
a cold pors})iration of fear, believing that he was falling
into the hungry jaws below. In the morning a tierce
desire to kill some of his foes seized him, and he descended
to the lowest branch.

The wolves, seeing their prey so close at han<l, thronged
thickly under it, and strove to leap up at him. Lying down
on the bough, and twisting his legs firmly under it to give
him a purchase, Malchus thrust his sword nearly to the liilt
between the jaws, which sna])ped fiercely as a wolf sprang
to within a few inches of the bough. Several were killed in
this way, and the rest, rendeied cautious, withdrew to a short
distance. Suddenly an idea struck Malchus. He took off
his belt and formed it into a running noose, and then waited
until the wolves should summon up courage to attack again.
It was not long. Furious with hungei-, which the prey
they had already devoured was only sufficient to whet, the
wolves again ap[)roached and began to spring towards the
bough.

Malchus droppe<l tlie noose over one of their necks, and
with an effort hauled it to the bough, and despatched it
with his dagger. Then he moved along the bough and
hung it on a branch some ten feet from the ground, slashing
open with his dagger its chest and stomach. Having done
this he returned to his place. Six wolves were one after the

ESCAPED.

117

Other 80 hauled up and despatched, and, as Malchus ex-
pected, the smell of their blood rendered the pack more
savage than ever. They assembled round the foot of the
tree, and continued to spring at the trunk, making vain
endeavours to get at the supply of food which hung tanta-
lizingly at so short a distance beyond their reach.

So the day passed as before without signs of rescue.
When it became dark Malchus again descended to the
lowest trunk, and fired his three remaining arrows among
the wolves below him. Loud howls followed each discharge,
followed by a desperate struggle below. Then he tumbled
from their position the six dead wolves to the ground below,
and then as noiselessly as possible made his way along a
bough into an adjoining tree, and so into another, till he
had attained some distance from the s})ot where the wolves
were fighting and growling over the remains of their com-
panions, far too absorbed in their work for any thought of him.

Then he dropped noiselessly to the ground and fled av. the
top of his si)eed. It would be, he was sure, some time
before the wolves had completed their feast; and even should
they discover that he was missing from the tree, it would pro-
bably be some time before they could hit upon his scent,
especially as, having just feasted on blood, their sense of
smell would for a time be dulled. His previsions were ac-
curate. Several times he stopped and listened in dread lest
he should hear the distant howl, which would tell him
that the pack was again on his scent. All was quiet, save
for the usual cries and noises in the forest. In two hours
he saw a distant glow of light, and was soon in the encamp-
ment of his friends.

"Why, Malchus!" his comrades exclaimed as he entered
the tent, "where have you been these two daysl" Why, you
are splashed with blood. Where are Halcon and Chalcusi"

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IN CAMP.

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" Dead," Malchus srid — " devoured by wolves."

A cry of horror broke from the three young guardsmen.

"'Tis too true," Malchus went on; "but give me food
and wine. I have neither eaten nor drunk for the last two
days, and I have gone through a terrible time. Even now I
seem to see all round me countless cruel eyes, and hungry
open mouths with their red tongues."

Seeing that Malchus was utterly worn and exhausted, his
companions hastened to place food and drink before him
before asking any further questions.

Malchus drank a cup of wine and took a mouthful of
bread; but he was too faint and exhausted at present to eat
more. He had sui)ported well the terrible strain for the
last forty-eight hours, and as he hud run through the forest
he had not noticed how it had told u[)on him; but now that
he was safe among his friends he felt as weak as a child.
For a time he lay upon the lion skin on which he had
thrown himself upon entoiing the tent, unable to reply to
his comrades' questions. Then, as the cordial began to takt
effect, he roused himself and forced himself to eat more.
After that he told his friends what had happened.

" You have indeed had an escaiie, Malchus; but how was
it you did not take to the trees at oncel"

"I did not think of it," Malchus said, "nor, I suppose,
did the others. Halcon was our leader, and we did as he
told us. He thought the fires would keep them off. Who
could have thought the beasts would have ventured to at-
tack us!"

"I have always heard they were terrible," one of the
others said; "but I should have thought that three armed
men would have been a match for any number of them."

" It would have been as much as thirty could have done
to withstand them," Malchus replied; "they did not seem

THE AFTER EFFECTS.

119

to care for their lives, but sought only to slay. There were
hundreds and hundreds of them, I would rather march
alone to the assault of a walled city than face those terrible
beasts."

In the morning the whole party started for the scene of
the encounter.

Malchus had some difficulty in discovering it; but at last,
after searching for a long time, he came upon it.

The ground beneath the tree was everywhere trampled
and torn by the wolves in their struggles, and was spotted
with patches of dry blood. The helmets, shields, and arms
of Halcon and Chalcus lay there, but not a remnant of their
bones remained, and a few fragments of skin and some
closely-gnawed skulls, alone testified to the wolvet? which
had fallen in the encounter. The arms were gathered up,
and the party returned to their cam}), and the next day

that

experience, none

started for Carthagena; for, after
cared for any further hunting.

It was some weeks before Malchus completely recovered
from the effects of the strain he had undergone. His nights
were disturbed and restless. He would constantly start
from his couch, thinking that he heard the howl of the
wolves, and any sudden noise made him start and turn pale.
Seeing how shaken his 3'oung kinsman was, and what he
had passed through, Hannibal sent him several times in
ships which were going across to Africa for stores. He did
not venture to send him to Carthage; for although his in-
fluence with the commissioners had been sufficient to annul
the order of the council for the sending of Malchus as a
prisoner there, it was probable that were he to return he
would be seized and put to death — not for the supposed
crime he had committed, but to gratify the hatred of Hanno
against himself and his adherents.

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120

A CONFIDENCE.

The sea voya^^cs soon restored Malclms to his accustomed
health. Trained and disciidincd as his hody had been by
constant cxeicise liis ncM vcs woic! not easily sliakcn, and
60(111 iccovorcd their tone, and when, ( ally in March, he
rejoiiKMl his rcuinieiit lie was uhle to enter with zest and
enerijy into the prejiarations which llannilal was making
for th(! siege of Sagiintuni. Dillicult as this operation would
be, the i)rej)arations which were being made appeared
enormous. Kvery we(!k ships brought over reinforcements
of troojts and the Iberian contingents were largely increased.

One day iMalchus entered an apartment where liis father
and Hannibal were talking earnestly together with a large
map spread out before them. He would have retired at
once, but Hannibal called him in.

"Come in, IMalchus, I would have no secrets from you.
Although you are young I know that you are devoted to
Carthage, that } ou are brave and determined. I see in you
what I was myself at your age, but nine years ago, and it
may be that some day you will be destined to continue the
work which I am beginning. You, too, liave commenced
early, your training has been severe. As your father's son
and my cousin your promotion will naturally be rapid. I will,
therefore, tell you my plans. It is clear that Kome and
Carthage cannot both exist; one or the other must be de-
stroyed. It is useless to strike at extremities, the blow must
be dealt at the heart. Unfortunately our fleet is no longer
superior to that of Rome, and victories at sea, however
important, only temporarily cripple an enemy.

" It is by land the blow must be struck. Were the sea
ours, I should say, land troops in Southern Italy, and
continue to pour over reinforcements until all the fighting
men of North Africa are at the gates of Rome. But without
the absolute command of the sea this cannot be done. There-

A GRAND SCHEME.

121

fore I intend to make Spain our base, and to march through
Southern Gaul over the Alps into Italy, and there to fight
the Komans on their own ground. Aheady I have agents
at work among tho (Jauls and the northern tribes of Italy,
who will, I trust, join me in tho war against our common
enemy. The enterprise is a great one, but it is not irapos-
pible; if it succeeds, Kome will be destroyed and Carthage
will reign, without a rival, mistress of the world. The plan
was Hasdrubal's, but it has fallen to mo to carry it out."

"It is a grand plan indeed," Malchus exclaimed enthu-
siastically — "a glorious plan, but the difficulties seem
tremendous."

"Difficulties are made to be overcome by brave men,"
Hannibal said. "The Alj s are the greatest barrier, but my
agents tell me thiit the diiiicultics are not insuperable even
for elephants. But before we start wc have Spain to subdue.
Saguntum is under the protection of Kome, and must be
crushed, and all the country north of tiio Ebro conquered and
pacified. This done the passage of reinforcements to my
army in Italy will be easy. The Gauls will favour us, the
mountain tribes will be crushed or bought over, so that the
route for the advance of reinforcements, or for our retreat,
if too hardly pressed, will be always open. But all this is
for yourself alone.

" My plans must not yet be known. Already our enemies
in Carthage are gaining in strength. Many of our adherents
have been put to death and the estates of others confiscated;
bu^ the capture of Saguntum will restore our supreuiacy, and
the enthusiasm which it will incite among the populace will
carry all before it. The spoils which will be taken there
will be sufficient to silence every murmur in Carthage. Now
leave us, Malchus, we have much to talk over and to arrange,
and I have given you plenty to think about for the present."

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CHAPTER VIII.

A PLOT FRUSTRATED.

'II

FTER leaving Hannibal, Malchus did not rejoin
liis comrades, but inountt'd tbe hills behind the
town and sat down there, looking over the
sea, and thinking over the v.ast plan which
Hannibal's words had laid before him, and to which his
father had once alluded in his presence. !Malchus had
been brouglit up by Hamilcar to regard Kome as the deadly
enemy of Carthage, ])ut he had not till now seen the truth
which Hannibal had grasi)ed, that it was a struggle not for
empire only between the two republics, but one of life and
death — that Carthage and liome could not co-exist, and
that one or other of them must be absolutely destroyed.

This, indeed, was the creed of the I'arcine party, and was,
apart from the minor questions of internal refon. ., the great
point on which they dillered from Hanno and the trading
portion of the community, who were his chief supporters.
These were in favour of Carthage abandoning her colonies
and conquests, and devoting herself solely to commerce and
the acquisition of wealth. lielieving that Rome, who would
then have open to her all Europe and Asia to conquer, would
not grudge to Carthage the northern sea-board of Africa,
they forgot that a nation which is rich and defenceless will
speedily fall a victim to the greed of a powerful and warlike

A TREMENDOUS ENTERPRISE.

123

neighbour, and tliat a conqueror never needs excuses for an
attack upon a defeiiceU'ss neiglil)our.

Hitherto Mukluis liud thought only of a war witli Rome
made \\[i of sea-Hglits and of descents upon Sicily and
Sardinia. The very idea of invading Italy and striking at
liomo herself hiul never even entered his mind, for the
words of liis father had been forgotten in the events which
followed so quickly upon tluni. The prosjtect which the
words opened .seemed immense. First Northern Spain was
to l)e concjuered, (Jaul to l)e crossed, the terrible mountains
of which he had lu'iud from travellers were next to bo
surmounted, and finally a tight for life and death to be
fought out on the jduins of Italy. The struggle would
indeed be a tremendous one, end Malohus felt his lieart
beat fast at the thouiiht that he was to be an actor in it.
Surely the history of the world told of no greater enteri)rise
than this. P^ven the first stej) which was to be taken, a
mere preliminary to this grand expedition, was a most
formidable one.

Suguntum stood as an outpost of Rome. While Carthage
had been advancing from the south Rome had been i)re3sing
forward from the east along the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, and had planted herself firmly at Marseilles, a port
which gave her a foothold in Gaul, and formed a base
whence she could act in Spain. In order to check the
rising power of the Carthaginians there she had entered
into a firm alliance with the Saguntines, whose country
occupied what is now the district of Valencia. By the terms
of the last treaty between the two republics each was for-
bidden to make war upon tribes in alliance with their rivals,
and Saguntum being thus under the jurisdiction of Rome,
an attack upon it would be almost ei^uivalent to a declar-
ation of war.

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124

SAGUNTUM.

ft!; 1

The position of the city was one of great strength. It
stood on an almost isolated rock at the foot of a spur of the
mountains which formed an amphitheatre behind it. Around
it extended a rich and fertile country, the sea was less than a
mile from its walls, and the Romans could thus quickly send
succour to their allies. The rock on which the town stood
was well-nigh inaccessible, falling sheer down from the foot
of the walls, and v.'as assailable only on the western side,
where the rocks sloped gradually down to the plain. Here
the walls were extremely strong and lofty, and were strength-
ened by a great tower which dominated the whole slope.
It would be difficult to form approaches, for the rock was
baie of soil and afforded no cover of any kind.

Hitherto the Carthaginian generals had scrupulously
respected the territory of the Saguntines, but now that the
rest of Spain was subdued it was necessary to reduce this
advanced post of Rome — this open door through which
Rome, now mistress of the sea, could at any moment pour
her legions into the heart of Spain.

The Saguntines were not ignorant of the danger which
threatened them. They had again and again sent urgently
to Rome to demand that a legion should be stationed there
for their protection. But Rome hesitated at despatching a
legion of troops to so distant a spot, where, in case of a naval
reverse, they would be isolated and cut off.

Hannibal had not far to look for an excuse for an attack
upon Saguntum. On the previous year, while he had been
engaged in his campaign against the Carpatans, the Sagun-
tines, taking advantage of his critical position, had made
war upon the town of Torbola, an ally of Carthage. Torbola
had implored the assistance of Hannibal, and he was now
preparing to march against Saguntum with his whole force
without waiting for the arrival of spring. His preparations

IL«

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A CHOICE.

125

had been silently made. The Saguntines, although uneasy,
had no idea of any imminent danger, and the Carthaginian
army collected in and around Carthagena were in entire
ignorance that they were about to be called upon to take
the field.

" What say you, M-ilchusf Hannibal asked that evening.
" It is time now that 1 gave you a command. As my near
relative it is fitting that you should be in authority. You have
now served a campaign, and are eligible for any command
that I may give you. You have shown yourself prompt in
danger and worthy to command men. Which would you
rather that I should place under you — a company of these
giant Gauls, of the steady Iberians, of the well-disciplined
Libyans, or the active tribesmen of the desert] Choose which
you will, and they shall be yours."

Malchus thought for some time.

" In the day of battle," he said at last, " I would rather
lead Gauls, but, in such a march as you have told me you
are meditating, I would rather have a company of Numidian
footmen to act as scouts and feel the way for the army.
There would not, perhaps, be so much glory to be obtained,
but there would be constant work and excitement, and this
will be far better than marching in the long column of the
army."

"I think your choice is a good one," Hannibal replied.
" Such a corps will be needed to feel the way as we
advance, to examine the roads and indicate that by which
the column Jiad best move, and to guard against ambushes
and surprises. To-morrow I will inspect the "umidian foot-
men and will put them through their exercises. We will
have foot-races and trials of skill with the bow, and I will
bid their officers pick me out two hundred of the most active
and vigorous among them ; these you shall have under your

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A PICKED BODY.

command. You can choose among your comrades of the
guards one whom you would like to have as your lieutenant."

"I will take Trebon," Malchus said; "we fought side by
side through the last campaign. He is prompt and active,
always cheerful under fatigue, and as brave as a lion. I
could not wish a better comrade."

" So be it," Hannibal replied, " henceforth you are captain
of the advanced company of the army, liemember, Malchus,
that the responsibility is a great one, and that henceforward
there must be no more boyish tricks. Your company will
be the eyes of the army, and upon your vigilance its safety,
when we once start upon our expedition, will in no slight
degree depend. Remember, too, that you have by your
conduct to justif}^ me in choosing my young kinsman for
so important a post."

The next day the Xumidians were put through their
exercises, and by niglitfall the two hundred i)icked men
were chosen from their ranks and were placed by Hannibal
under the command of Malcluis. Trebon was greatly pleased
when he found himself ai)})ointod as lieutenant of the com-
pany. Although of no))Ie family his connections were much
less influential than tliosc of the majority of his comrades,
and he had deemed himself exceptionally fortunate in having
been })eimitted to enter the chosen corps of the Cartha-
ginian cavalry, and had not exi)ected to be made an officer
for years to come, since promotion in the Carthaginian army
was almost wholly a matter of family influence.

" I am indeed obiii;t(l to vou, Malchus," he said as he
joined his friend after Hannibal had announced his appoint-
ment to him. "The general told me that he had appointed
me at your request. 1 never even hoped that such good
fortune would befall me. Of couv.se 1 knew that you would
speedily obtain a command, but my people have no influence

I i

DREAMmo.

127

whatever. The general says that your company are to act
as scouts for the army, so there will be plenty of opportunity
to distinguish ourselves. Unfortunately I don't see much
chance of fighting at present. The Iberian tribesmen had
such a lesson I'.st autumn that they are not likely for a long
time to give us further trouble."

"Do not make yourself uneasy on that score, Trebon,"
Malchus said, " I can tell you, but let it go no further, that
ere long there will be fighting enough to satisfy even the
most pugnacious."

One evening Malchus had left the club early. Full as he
was of the fchounhts of the tremendous struirde which was
soon to begin between the great antagonists, he wearied of
the light talk of his gay comrades. The games of chance,
to which a room in the club was allotted, afforded him no
pleasure; nor had he any interest in the wagering which
was going on as to the merits of the horses which were to
run in the races on the following day. On leaving the club
he directed his footsteps towards the top of the hill on
which Carthagena stood, and there, sitting alone on one of
the highest points, looked over the sea sparkling in the
moonlight, the many vessels in the harbour and the lagoons
stretching inland on each side of the city.

He tried to imagine the course that the army was to
follow, the terrible journey tl^ough the snow-covered passes
of that tremendous range of mountains of which he had heard,
the descent into the plains of Italy, and the first sight of
Rome. He pictured to himself the buttles which would
have to be fought by the way, and above all, the deadly
conflict which would take place before Rome could be
carried by assault, and the great rival of Carthage be
hiunbled to the dust. Then he pictured the return of the
trumphant expedition, the shouting multitudes who would

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A CURIOUS INCIDfiNt.

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acclaim Hannibal the sole arbitrator of the destinies of Car-
thage, and in his heart rejoiced over the changes which
would take place — the overthrow of the faction of Hanno,
the reform of abuses, the commencement of an era of justice,
freedom, and prosperity for all.

For more than three hours he sat thus, and then awoke
to the fact that the night was cold and the hour late.
Drawing his bernous tightly round him he descended into
the city, which was now for the most part wrapped in sleep.
He was passing through the native quarter when a door
opened and several men came out. Scarcely knowing why
he did so Malchus drew back into a doorway until they had
moved on ahead of him, and then followed them at some
little distance. At any other time he would have thought
nothing of such an incident, but his nerves were highly strung
at the moment, and his pause was dictated more by an in-
disposition to encounter anything which might disturb the
current of his thoughts than by any otiier motive.

In the moonlight he could see that two of the five men
ahead of him were members of the Carthaginian horse-guard,
for the light glittered on their helmets; the other three
were, by tiieir attire, natives. Two of the latter soon
separated from the others, and on reaching the better part
of the town the twc Carthaginians turned down a side
street, and in the still night Malchus heard the parting
words to their neighbour, "At the same place to-morrow
night." The remaining native kept straight along the road
which Malchus was following. Still onward he went, and
Malchus, to his surprise, saw him go up to one of the side
entrances to Hannibal's palace. He must have knocked very
quietly, or some one must have been waiting to admit him,
for without a sound the door was open-^J and the man
entered.

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kALCttUS OK THE WATCH.

i^d

Malchus went round to the j)rincipal entrance, and after
a Mttle badinaire from the officer on <ruard as to the lateness
of the hour at which he returned, made his way to his
apartment.

He was puzzled by what he had seen. It was strange
that two of the Carthaginian guanl, men necessarily belong-
ing to noble families, should luive been at a native gathering
of some sort in the ui)per town. Strange, too, that a man
probablv an attendant or slave belonging to the palace
should also have been piesent. The more he thought of it
the more he was puzzled to account for it, and before he
went to sleep he cami; to the resolution that he would, if
possible, on the following night discover the object of such
a gathering.

Next evening, therefore, he retnined from the Syssite
early, exchanged his helmet for a skull-cap, and, wiapping
himself in his cloak, made his way to the house from
which he had seen the men come forth. It stood at the
corner of the street. Thick hangin-'s hung across the
openings for the windows, and prevented even a ray of light
from finding its way out. Listening attentively Malchus
could hear a low hum of voices within. As there were still
people about he moved away for half an hour.

On his return the stieet was deserted. Malchus put his hand
through a window opening into the side street and felt that
the hanging was composed of rushes tightly plaited together.
With the point of his dagger he veiy cautiously cut a slit
in this, and a[iplying his eye to it was able to obtain a
glimpse of the apartment w'thin. On low stools by a fire
two Carthaginians were sitting, while four natives were
seated on the rushes which covered the floor. Malchus
recognized the Carthaginians at once, for they w'ere members
of the troop in which he had served. Neither of them weie

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"TO-MORROW NIOIIT, WITHOUT FAIL."

men popular among their fellows, for they belonged to
families closely related to Hanno. They had always, how-
ever, professed the greatest admiration for Hannibal, and
had declared that for their part they altogether repudiated
the doings of the party to which their family belonged.

The conversation was carried on in low tones, a precaution
absolutely necessary in the days when glass windows were
unknown, unless the discourse was upon general subjects.
Malchus listened attentively, but although he thought he
caught the words Hanno and Hannibal repeated several
times, ho was unable to hear more. At the end of the half
hour the conference was apparently at an end, for all rose
to their feet. One of the Carthaginians put a bag, which
was evidently heavy, into the hands of one of the natives,
and the party then went out. Malchus stei)ped to the
corner and caught the words, "To-morrow night, then, with-
out fail."

The party then separated, the Carthaginians passing straight
on, the natives waiting until they had gone some little dis-
tance ahead before they followed. Malchus remained for
some little time in the side street before he sallied out and
took his way after them. After he saw two of the natives
leave the other, he quickened his steps and passed the man
who proceeded alone towards the palace, a short distance
before he arrived there. As he did so he glanced at his
face, and recognized him as one of the attendants who
waited at Hannibal's table. Malchus did not turn his head,
however, but kept straight on his way and entered the
palace as usual.

"Malchus," the captain of the guard laughed as he went
in, " assuredly I shall have to tell Hamilcar of your doings.
Last night you entered an hour after every one had retired
to rest, to-night you are back in better time, bu*^ assuredly

"WHAT COULD IT MEANI"

131

you have not been to tlie Syssito in that hunting-cap. This
savours of a mystery. I'O n(jt pretend to me that you have
been looking after your company of Nunmlians at this time
of the night, because, did you swear it by Astarte, I should
not believe you."

"No; I think I could invent a better story than that if
I were put to it," Malchus said with a laugh; "but as I am
not obliged to invent one at all, 1 will leave you to do so
for me. In truth I have been about some j^'ivate business,
but what that business is is a profound secret."

"A secret of state, no doubt," the officer rejoined. " Well,
I will say nothing this time; but do not let it occur again, or
I shall think that some Iberian maiden has captured that
susceptible heart of yours."

After Malchus had reached his chamber he sat down for
some time in deep thought. It was clear to him that some-
thing was wrong. This secret meeting of the two Car-
thaginians with natives, one of whom was employed in
Hannibal's household, could mean no good. Money had
passed, too, and, judging from the size and api)arent weight
of the bag, no inconsiderable amount. What could it mean]
It was but a few months before that Hasdrubal had fallen
beneath the dasx^er of a native servant. Could this be a
plot against the life of Hannibal ?

The two Carthaginians were connected with Hanno, and
might well be agents employed to rid him of his great rival.
And yet he had heard nothing which would justify his
bringing so grave an accusation against these men. The
money which he had seen exchanged might be for the price
of a hoise or of a slave, and he might only make himsself
ridiculous were he to speak to Hannilial or his father as to
what had occurred. He decided, therefore, that any action
he might take must be on his own account. If the v/ords

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MALCnUS TAKKS MEASttlfeJ*.

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he had overheard meant anything, and if a plot were really
on hand, it was to be carried out on the following night.
Malchus determined to take steps to meet it.

The next day he took Trebon into his counsels and told
him of the mysterious meetings which he had accidentally
discovered. There was free access to Hannibal's palace;
officers were constantly coming in and out, and soldiers
arriving and leaving with messages and orders. Malchus
had, therefore, had no difficulty in passing into his apart-
ment, one by one, ten picked men of his company. They
had orders to remain there perfectly quiet, and Trebon also
took post with them, Malchus telling him to make some
excuse or other to prevent any attendant or slave from
entering the apartment while he was absent.

There was a concert that evening; the palace was crowded
with guests. From time to time Malchus stole away to his
room, where the Numidians were seated on the ground silent
and immovable as so many bronze statues. At other times
he kept near Hannibal, watching closely the movements of
every native who passed near him, and ready to spring for-
ward instantly if he saw any signs of an evil intention.
However, he did not much apprehend, that even if his sus-
picions were correct and a plot was on foot against Hannibal,
any attempt would be made to assassinate him in the
midst of a crowded assembly, where there would be no pos-
sibility of escape for the perpetrators of such a deed. At
last the guests began to depart, and an hour later all was
quiet in the palace. Laying aside his sandals, Malchus
stole noiselessly over the marble pavements until he ap-
proached the entrance which he had twice seen opened so
late. A slave was lying close to it.

Unobserved Malchus stole away again to his chamber
and bade the Numidians follow him. Noiselessly the troop

THE FIRST STEP.

133

-like

of barefooted Arabs moved shad
halls and corridors. Two of them he placed at the en-
trance to the chamber where Hannibal slept, with orders
to allow no one to pass until he returned, tlien with the
others he proceeded to the entrance. A few lights only
were burning in the passages, and it was not until they were
close at hand that the slave perceived the ai)proaching
figures. He leaped to his feet, but before he could cry out
Malchus stepped forward and said :

"Silence, if you value your life. You know me; I am
Malchus the son of Hamilcar. Now, tell me the truth, or
to-morrow the torture shall wring it from you. Who placed
you here, and why?"

"Carpadon, one of the chief attendants, ordered me to
remain here to admit him on his return. I knew not there
was harm in it," the slave said.

"Is it the first time you have kept watch for such a
purpose?"

"No, my lord, some six or seven times he has gone out late."

"Do you know the cause of his absence?"

"No, my lord, it would not become a slave to question
one of the chief attendants of my lord Hannibal as to why
he goes or comes."

The man's manner was so natural, and his surprise at
the interest which one of the rank of Malchus showed in
the doings of an attendant so genuine, that Malchus was
convinced he kneAv nothing of any enterprise in which the
man who had placed him there might be engaged.

" Very well," he said, " I will believe what you tell me.
Now, do you resume your place at the door, and open it as
usual at his signal. Say no word and make no sign which
may lead him to know of our presence here. Mind, my eye
will be upon you, and your life will pay for any treachery."

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"ENTER, ALL 13 SAFE."

Malchus with four of his men now took post on one side
of the door, standing well back in the shadow so that their
presence would not be noticed by anyone entering. Trebon
with the remaining four men took up a similar position on
the other side of the doorway.

Two hours passed. At length a low tap followed by two
others was heard at the door The slave at once opened it. Car-
padon entered, and with a sudden movement threw one arm
round the slave's neck and with the other stabbed him to the
heart. Then he opened the door wide, and said in a low tone:

" Enter, all is safe."

In a moment a dark mass of men poured in at the door.
The matter was more serious than Malchus had expected.
He had looked for tlie entry perhaps of three or four men,
and had intended to close in behind them and cut them off;
but here were a score at least, and how many more might
be outside he knew not. He therefore gave the signal by
shouting "Carthage," and at once with his followers fell upon
one flank of the natives, for such their dress showed thern
to be, while Trebon attacked them on the other. There was
a shout of surprise and alarm at the unexpected onslaught,
and several were cut down at once. The others, drawing
their swords, began to defend themselves, trying at the same
time to retreat to the door, through which, however, many
others were still pressing in. For a few minutes a severe
fight went on, and the numbers and desperation of Carpadon's
followers began to tell, and, in spite of the efforts of Malchus
and the Numidians, they would have been forced to fall back
and allow the others to pass out, had not help been at hand.

The shouting and clashing of weapons had awakened the
palace, and the officer of the guard with ten of his men,
some of them bearing torches, came running at full speed
from their post at the chief entrance. As the guard came

••WHAT MEANS THIS FRAY?"

135

up anrl stood gazing uncertain wliat to do, or among whom
tilt! conflict was raging, Malchus for a moment drew out
from the fray.

"Seize and disarm all the natives," he said; "the Nu-
midians are here by my orders."

The instant the soldiers understood the situation they
fell to, and the natives whose retreat was cut off by the
Numidians, were speedily disarmed; those nearer to the
door had, the instant they saw the torches approaching,
taken to flight.

A moment later Hannibal, Hamilcar, and many other
officers resident at the palace came running up.

"What means this fray, Malchusr*

" It means an attemi)t upon your life, Hannibal, which I
have been fortunate enough to discover and defeat."

"Who are these men?" Hamilcar asked.

"So far as I know they are natives," ^lalchus reph'ed.
"The cliief of the i)arty is that man who lies bleeding there;
he is one of your attendants."

One of the soldiers held a torch close to the man's face.

" It is Carpadon," Hannibal said. " I believed him honest
and faithful."

"He is the tool of others, Hannibal; he has been well
paid for this night's work."

Hannibal gave orders for the prisoners to be strictly
guarded, and then, with Hamilcar and Malchus, returned to
his private study. The lamps were lighted by the attendants,
who then withdrew.

" Now, Malchus, tell us your story," Hannibal said. " It
seems strange to me that you should have said nought to
your father or me of what you had learned, and left us to
take such measures as might seem fit to us, instead of taking
the matter into your own hands."

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136

MALCHUS EXPLAINS.

" Had I liad cortaintios to go upon I hHouM assuredly
Imvo (lono so, hut, as you will sco when I tell you all 1 had
IeainL'«l, I liad nothing hut suspicions, and those of the vaguest,
and for auL;ht 1 knew I might ho altogether in the wrong."

Mak'hus then iravo the full details of the manner in
which his suspicions had heen first excited, and in whicli on
the pi'evious night he had taken steps to ascertain whetlier
there were any foundation for them.

" V'ou see," he concluded, " there was no sort of certainty,
nothing to i)rove that the money was not paid for the purchase
of a horse or a slave. It was only the one fact that one of the
})arty was a servant lu.'re that rendered what I discovered
serious. Had it not heen for the fate of Hasdruhal I should
never have given the matter a second thought; hut, knowing
that lie was assassinated hy a trusted servant, and seeing two
men whose families I knew helonged to Haimo's faction
engaged in secret talk witli one of your attendants, the
suspicion struck me that a similar deed might again be
attempted. The only words I had to go u])on were, 'To-
morrow night, then, without fail.' This was not enough for
me to bring an accusation against two men of noble family;
and, had I toM you the tale without the confirmation it
has now received, you would i)robably have treated it but
lightly. I resolved, theiuifore, to wait and see, taking such
precaution that no harm could come of my secrecy. I
concealed in my room ten of my Numidians with my lieu-
tenant Trebon — an ample force whate\er might betide.

"If, as 1 sus[»ected, this man intended, with two or three
others, to steal into yoar chamber and slay you while you
slept, wo could at once have stoi>ped the attempt; should he
come with a larger force, we could, as is proved, resist them
until the guard arrived on the spot. If, on the other hand,
the night passed oflf quietly and my suspicions proved to be

APPROVAU

137

altogether erronoous, I should escape tlie ridicule wliich
would cortaiuly have boon forthcoming iiad I ahirniod you
witliout caust«,"

'* Vou have actinl very wisely and well, my son," Ilamilcar
said, ''and Cartilage owes you tiie life of our ht'h)ved
Haimihal. Vou indeed nsasoned with great wisdom an«l
forethouglit. Had you informed us of wiiat you had dis-
covered we should iiave taken prei-autions which would
doulitless have ertecte I the object; hut thi3y wouhl prohahly
have become known to the plotters, and tiie attemi)t would
have been postponed and attem;>ted some other time, and
perhaps with sueces->. What say you, Hannibal, have I not
reason to bo proud of this young son of mine'/"

"You have indeed, Hamilcar, and deeply am I indebted
to him. It is not my life I care for, although that now is
precious to me for the sake of my beloved imilco, but
had I fallen now all the, plans which we have thought of
together wovdd have been frustrated, and the fairest chance
which Carthage ever had of Huhting out the ouarrel with
her rival would have been destroyed. Truly it has been
a marvellous escape, and it seems to me that the gods
themselves must have inspired Malchus to act as he did on
such slight grounds as seeing two Carthaginians of the
guard in company with three or four natives at a late hour
of the evening."

" What do you think will be best to do with the traitors
who have plotted against your Lfe, Hannibal] Shall we try
and execute them here, or send them to Carthage to be dealt
with?"

Hannibal did not answer for a minute.

" I think, Hamilcar, the best plan will be to keep silent
altogether as to the danger I have run. The army would
be furious but would at the same time be dispirited were it

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"YOU HAVE SAVED MY LIFE."

known in Harthage that two of her nobles had been executed
for an attem^.t on my life. It would only cause a fresh
outbreak of animosity and an even deadlier feud than before
between Hanno's friends and ours. Therefore, I say« let the
men taken to-nii-ht be executed in the morniiii' without
question asked, and let no word be said by them or by us
that they were bribed by Carthadnians. All in the palace
now know that a party of natives have broken in, and will
guess that my life was their object; there is no need that
they should know more. As to the two men, I will call
them before me to-morrow, with none but you present, and
will let them know that I am aware that they are the
authors of this attcmi)t, and will bid them resign their
places in the guard and return at once to Carthage."

" It grieves me that they should go unpunished," Ilamil-
car said; "but doubtless your plan is the ^^iscst."

"Then," Hannibal said rising, "we will to bed again.
Malclius, acquaint Trebon of our determinriion that silence
is to be kept; tell him that I shall bear him in mind, and
not forget his share in this night's work. As for you,
Malchus, henceforth you are more tlian my cousin; you
have saved jriy life, and I shall never fo"g(!t it. I shall tell
Imilce in tiie morning of the danger which hus passed, for
it is sure to come to her ears, and she will know better than
I do how to thank you."

Accordingly in tlie morning Hannibal's orders were carried
out; the twelve natives taken prisoners were behead'^i
without any of the usual tortures which would have been
inflicted upon a similar occasion. No less than fourteen
others had been killed in the fight. The two Carthaginian
nobles were sent for by Hannibal. They came j)repared to
die, for they knew already by rumour tliat the attempt had
failed, and doubted not when the summons reached them

A NOBLE REPROOF.

139

that Carpadon had denounced them as his accomplices. But
they went to their certain doom with the courage of their
class — pale, perhaps, but otherwise unmoved. Hnnnibal was
alone with Hamilcar when they entered.

" That assassination is not an altogether unknown crime
in Carthage," he said quietly, " I was well aware, but I did
not before think that nobles in the Carthaginian horse
would stoop to it. I know that it was ycu who provided
the gold for the payment of the men who made an attempt
upon my life, that you personally paid my attendant Car-
padon to hire assassins, and to lead them to my chamber.
Were I to denounce you, my soldiers would tear you in
pieces. The very name of your families would be lield
accursed hy all honest men in Carthage for all time. I do
not ask you whether I have given you cause for offence, for
I know that I have not done so; you acted simj)ly for the
benefit of Ilanno. AVhether you were instructed by him I
do not deign to ask. I shall not harm you. The tale of your
infamy is known to but four persons, and none otheis will
ever know it. I am proud of the honour of the nobles of
Carthage, and would not that the scum of the people should
bandy the name of your families on their lips as guilty of
so foul an act of treason. You will, of course, at once resign
your positions in the Carthaginian horse. Make what
pretext you will — illness or })rivate affair 5. To-morrow sail
for Carthage, and there strive by efforts for the good of your
country to efface the remembrance of this blow which you
would have struck her."

So saying, with a wave of the hand he dismissed them.

They went without a word — too astonished at his clemency,
too humiliated by their own disgrace even to utter a word
of thanks. When they were fairly beyond the j)alace they
looked at each other as men awakened from a dream.

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140

PRINCELY CLEMENCY.

"What a man!" one of them exclaimed. '"No wonder
the soldiers adore him ! He has given us our lives — more, he
has saved our names from disgrace. Henceforth, Pontus,
we, at least, can nevp** pgain take part against him."

"It is almost too much to bear,'* the other said; "I feel
that I would rather that he had ordered us to instant
execution."

"Ay, for our own sakes, Pontus, but not for those of
others. For myself I shall retire to the country; it seems
to me that never again shall I be able to mix with others;
they may know nothing of it, but it will bo ever on my
mind. How they would shrink back in horror were what
we have done whispered to them ! Truly, were it not for
my family, I would prefer death with the worst torture to
life as it will be now."

The excitement in the army was intense when it became
known that a body of Iberians had attempted to break into
Hannibal's palace with the design of murdering him, and
many of the soldiers, seizing their arms, hurried towards the
city, and had not an officer ridden with the news to Hannibal,
they would assuredly have fallen upon the native inhabi-
tants, and a general massacre would have taken place.

Hannibal at once mounted and rode out to meet the
soldiers. He was received with enthusiastic acclamations;
at length he raised his arm to restore silence, and then
addressed the troops, telling them how deeply he valued the
evidence of their affection, but that he prayed them to
return to their camps and lay l)y their arms.

"We must rot," he said, "confound the innocent with
the guilty. Those who were concerned in the attempt have
paid the penalty with their lives; it is not because a hand-
ful of Spaniards have plotted against me that you are to
swear hatred against the whole race; were you to punish

k WUiilf QlifiiAfit).

the innocent for the guilty you would arouse the fury of the
Iberians throughout the whole peninsula, and all our work
would have to be done over again. You know that above
all things I desire the friendship and good-will of the natives.
Nothing would grieve me more than that, just as we are
attaining this, our efforts should be marred by a quarrel
between yourselves and the people here. I pray you, there-
fore, as a personal favour to me, to abstain from all tumult,
and go quietly back to your camp. The attack upon my
j)alace was made only by some thirty or forty of the scum
of the inhabitants, and the attempt was defeated by the
wisdom and courage of my young cousin Malchus, whom
you must henceforth regard as the saviour of my life."

The soldiers at once acceded to tiie request of their
general, and after another outburst of cheering they returned
quietly to their camp.

The result of this affair was to render IMalchus one of the
most popular personages in the army, and the lad was quite
abashed by the enthusiastic reception which the soldiers
gave him when he passed among them. It removed, too,
any feeling of jealousy which might have existed among his
former comrades of the Carthaginian horse, for although it
was considered as a matter of course in Carthage that
generals should appoint their near relatives to posts of high
command, human nature was then the same as now, and
men not possessed of high patronage could not help grum-
bling a little at the promotion of those more fortunate than
themselves. Henceforth, however, no voice was ever raised
against the promotion of Malchus, and had he at once been
appointed to a command of importance none would have
deemed such a favour undeserved by the youth who had
saved the life of Hannibal

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CHAPTER IX.

THE SIEGE OF SAGUNTUM.

FEW clays later the Carthaginian army were as-
tonished bv the issue of an order that the
whole were to be in readiness to march upon
the following day. The greatest excitement
arose when tlie news got abroad. None knew against
whom hostilities were to be directed. No one had heard
aught of the arrival of messengers announcing a fresh insur-
rection among the recently conquered tribes, and all sorts
of surmises were indulged in as to the foe against whom
this great force, the largest which had ever been collected
by Carthage, Avei'e about to get in motion.

• The army now gathered around Carthagena amounted,
indeqd, to a hundred and fifty thousand men, and much
surprise had for some time existed at the continual arrival
of reinforcements from home, and at the large numl?er of
troops which had during the winter been raised and disci-
plined from among tlie friendly tribes.

Simultaneously with the issue of the order long lines of
Avaggons, laden with military stores, began to pour out from
the arsenals, and all day long a procession of carts moved
across the bridge over the canal in the isthmus, to the
mainland. Tlie tents were struck at daylight, the baggage
loaded up into the waggons told off to accompany the

THE FIRST BLOW AGAINST ROMK

143

various bodies of soldiers, and the troops formed up in
military order.

When Hannibal rode on to the ground, surrounded by
his principal officers, a shout of welcome rose from the army ;
and he proceeded to make a close inspection of the whole
force. The officers then placed themselves at the head of
their respective commands, the trumpets gtive the signal, and
the army set out on a march, as to whose direction and
distance few present had any idea, and from which few,
indeed, were ever destined to return.

There was no longer any occasion for secrecy as to the
object of the expedition. Tlie generals repeated it to their
immediate staffs, these informed the other officers, and the
news speedily spread through the army that they were
marching against Saguntum. The importance of the news
was felt by all. Saguntum was the near ally of Rome, and
an attack upon that city could but mean that Carthage was
entering upon another struggle with her great rival.

Saguntum lay about 140 miles north of Carthagcna, and
the army had to cross the range of mountains now known
as the Sierra Morena, which run across the peninsula from
Cape St. Vincent on the west to Cape St. Martin on the
east. The march of so large an army, imj)eded as it was
by a huge train of waggons with stores and the machines
necessary for a siege, was toilsome and arduous in the
extreme. But all worked with the greatest enthusiasm and
diligence; roads were made with immense labour through
forests, across ravines, and over mountain streams.

Hannibal himself was always present, encouraging the
men by his praises, and sharing all their hardships.

At last the mountains were passed, and the army poured
down into the fertile plains of Valencia, which town, how-
ever, was not then in existence. Passing over the site where

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^ttfe sttMMot*!i.

it is now situated they continued tlieir march north until
Saguntura, standing on its rocky eminence, came into view.

During the march Malchus and his comjiany had led the
way, guided by natives, who pointed out the easiest paths.
As there were no enemies to be guarded against, they had
taken their full share in the labours of the army.

The Saguntincs were already aware of the approach of the
expedition. No sooner had it crossed the crest of the
mountains than native runners had carried the news of its
approach, and the inhabitants had spent the intervening
time in laying in great stores of jnovisions, and in making
every preparation for defence. The garrison was small iii
comparison with the force marching against it, but it was
ample for the defence of the walls, for its position rendered
the city well-nigh impregnable against the machines in use
at the time, and was formidable in the extreme even against
modern artillery, for 2000 years afterwards Saguntum, with
a gar: ison of 3000 men, resisted for a long time all the
eftbrts of a French army under General Suchet. As soon
as his force arrived near the town Hannibal rode forward,
and, in accordance with the custom of the times, himself
summoned the garrison to surrender. Upon their refusal
he solemnly declared war by hurling his javelin against the
walls. The troops at once advanced to the assault, and
poured flights of arrows, masses of stones from their
machines, javelins, and missiles of all description, into the
city, the defenders replying with equal vigour from the
walls. At the end of the first day's fighting Hannibal per-
ceived that his hopes of carrying the place hy assault were
vain — for the walls were too high to be scaled, too thick to
be shaken by any irregular attack — and that a long siege
must be undertaken.

This was a great disappointment to him, as it would

THE SIEGE WORKS.

145

cause so long a delay that it would be scarce possible to
commence the march which he meditated that summer. As
to advancing, with Saguntum in his rear, it was not to be
thought of, for the Romans would be able to land their
armies tliere and to cut him off from all communication
with Carthagena and Carthage. There was, then, nothing
to be done but to undertake the siege in regular order.

The army formed an encampment in a circle round the
town. A strong force >'"as left to prevent the garrison
from making a sortie, and the whole of the troops were then
marched away in detachments to the hills to fell and bring
down the timber which would be required for the towers
and walls, the bareness of the rock rendering it impossible
to construct the approaches as usual with earth. In the
first place, a wall, strengthened by numerous small towers,
was erected round the whole circumference of the rock; then
the approaches were begun on the western side, where
attack was alone possible.

This was done by lines of wooden towers, connected
one with another by walls of the same material; movable
towers were constructed to be pushed forward against the
great tower which formed the chief defence of the wall,
and on each side the line of attack was carried onward
by portable screens covered with thick hide. In the mean-
time the Saguntines were not idle. Showers of missiles of
all description were hurled upon the working parties, great
rocks from the machines on the walls crashed through the
wooden erections, and frequent and desperate sorties were
made, in which the Carthaginians were almost always
worsted. The nature of the ground, overlooked as it
was by the lofty towers and walls, and swept by the missiles
of the defenders, rendered it impossible for any considerable
force to remain close at hand to render assistance to the

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A BREACH EFFECTED.

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workers, and the sudden attacks of the Sagimtines several
times drove them far down the hillside, and enabled the
besieged, with axe and fire, to destroy niiich of the work
which had been so laboriously carried out.

In one of these sorties Hannibal, who was continually at
the front, overlooking the work, was seriously wounded by a
javelin in the thigh. Until he was cured the siege languished,
and was converted into a blockade, for it was his presence
and influence alone whifh encouraured the men to continue
their work under such extreme d'ihculties, involving the
death of a large proportion of those engnged. Upon
Hannibal's recovery the wor\ wis ])resscd forward with
new vigour, and the srreens and towers were pushed on
almost to the foot of the walls. The battering-rams were
now brought up, and — shielded by massive screens, which
protected those who worked them from the darts and stones
thrown down by the enemy, and by lofty t(>wers, from whose
tops the Carthaginian archers engaged the Saguntines on
the wall — began their work.

The construction of waiis was in those days rude and
primitive, and they had little of the solidity of such struc-
tures in succeeding ages. The stones were very roughly
shaped, no mortar was used, and the displacement of one
stone consequently involved that of several others. This
being the case it was not long before the heavy battering-
rams of the Cartliaginians produced an effect on the walls,
and a large breach was speedily made. Three towers and
the walls which connected them fell with a inighty crash,
and the besiegers, believing that the phico was won, advanced
to the assault. But the Saguntines mat them in the breach,
and for hours a desperate liuttle raged there.

The Saguntines hurled down i^pon the as ;ailants trunks
of trees bristling with spear-heads and spikes of iron,

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THE ASSAULT REPULSED.

147

blazing darts and falariques — great blocks of wood with pro-
jecting spikes, and covered thickly with a mass of pitch and
sulphur which set on fire all they touched. Other species
of falariques '"'^re in the form of spindles, the shaft
wrapped round with flax dipped in pitch. Hannibal fought
at the head of his troops with desperate bravery, and
had a narrow escape of being crushed by an enormous
rock which fell at his feet; but in spite of his efforts and
those of his troops thoy were unable to carry the breach,
and at nightfall fell back to their camp, having suffered very
heavy losses.

Singularly enough the French columns were repulsed in
an effort to carry a breach at almost the same spot, the
Spaniards hurling among them stones, hand-grenades of
glass bottles and shells, and defending the breach with their
long pikes against all the efforts of Suchet's troops.

Some days passed before the attack was renewed, as the
troops were worn out by their labours. A strong guard in
the meantime held the advanced works against any sorties
of the Saguntines.

These, on their side, worked night and day, and by the
time the Carthaginians again advanced the wall was rebuilt
and the breach closed. But Hannibal had also been busy.
Seeing that it was impossible for his troops to win an
entrance by a breach, as long as the Saguntines occupied
every point commanding it, he caused a vast tower to be
built sufficiently lofty to overlook every point of the de-
fences, arming each of its stages with catapults and balistas.
He also built near the walls a great terrace of wood higher
than the walls themselves, and from this and from the
tower he poured such torrents of missiles into the town that
the defenders could no longer remain upon the walls. Five
hundred Arab miners now advanced, and these, setting to

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work with their implements, soon loosened the lower stones
of the wall, and this a^'uin fell with a miyhty crash and a
breach was opened.

The Carthaginians at once swarmed in and took possession
of the wall; but while the besiegers had been construct-
ing their castle and terrace the Sagiintines had built an
interior wall, and Hannibal saw himself confronted with a
fresh line of defences.

As preparations were being made for the attack of the
new defences messengers arrived saying that the Carpatans
and Uretans, furious at the heavy levies of men which had
been demanded from them for the army, had revolted.
Leaving J\laluirl)al to conduct the siege in his absence,
Hannil)al hurried away with a portion of his force, and
returned in two njontlis, having put down the revolt and
severely i)unished the tribesmeii.

While the sie-'c had been continuin<' the Konians had
been makin-jr vain efforts to induce the Carthaginians to
desist. No sooner had the openilions commenced than agents
from the Roman senate waited on Hannibal and bei'L'ed him
to abandon the siei:;e. Hannibal tr(^ated their remonstrance
with disdain, at the same time wiiting to Carthage to say
that it was absolutely necessary that the peoi)le of Saguntum,
who were insolent and hostile, relying on the protection of
Rome, should be punished. The envoys then went to
Carthage, where they made an animateti protest against what
they regarded as an un})rovoked attack upon their allies.
Rome, in fact, was anxious at this moment to postpone the
struggle with Carthage for the same reason that Hannibal
was anxious to })ress it on.

She had but just finished a long struggle with the Gaulish
tribes of Northern Italy, and was anxious to rejover her
strength before she engaged in another war. It was for

PEACE OR WAR.

149

this very reason that Hannibal desired to force on the
struggle. His friends at Carthage persuaded the senate to
refuse to listen to the envoys of Eome. Another embassy
was sent to Hannibal, but the general would not give
them an interview, and, following the instructions they had
received, the ambassadors then sailed to Carthage to make a
formal demand for repaiation, and for the person of Hannibal
to be delivered over to th.em for punishment.

But the Barcine party were for the moment in the ascen-
dency; long negotiations took i)lace which led to nothing^
and all this time the condition of the Saf'untines was becom-
ing more desperate. Five new ambassadors were therefore
sent from Koaie to ask in the name of the republic whether
Hannibal was authorized by the Carthaginians to lay siege
to Saguntum, to demand tliat he should be delivered to
Rome, and, in case of refusal, to declare war. The Cartha-
ginian senate met in the temple of Moloch and there
received the Roman ambassadors. Q. Fabius, the chief
man of the embassy, brieHy laid the demands of Rome
before the senate. Gestar, one of the Barcine leaders,
replied, refusing the demands. Fabius then rose.

"I give yOu the choice — peace or war?"

" Choose yourself," the Carthaginians cried.

" Then I choose war," Fabius said.

" So be it," the assembly shouted.

And thus war was formally declared between the two
republics. But Saguntum had now fallen. The second
wall had been breached by the time Hannibal had returned
from his expedition, and an assault was ordered. As before,
the Saguntines fought des{)erately, but after a long struggle
the Carthaginians succeeded in winning a footing upon the
wall.

The Saguntines, seeing that further resistance was vain,

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150

SAOUNTUM FALLS.

that the besiegers had already won the breach, that there
was no chance of assistance from Rome, and having, more-
over, consumed their last provisions, sought for terms.
Halcou, the Saguntine general, and a noble Spaniard named
Alorcus, on the part of Hannibal, met in the breach. Alorcus
named the conditions which Hannibal had imposed — that
the Saguntinos should restore to the Torbolates the territory
they had taken from them, and that the inhabitants, giving
up all their goods and treasures, should then be permitted to
leave the town and to found a now city at a spot which
Hannibal would name.

The Saguntines, who were crowding round, heard the terms.
Many of the principal senators at once left the place, and
hurrying into their houses carried the gold and silver which
they had there, and also some of that in the public treasury,
into the forum, and piling up a vast heap of wood set it
alight and threw themselves into the flames. This act caused
a tremendous commotion in the city. A general tumult
broke out, and Hannibal, seeing that his terms were refused,
poured his troops across the breach, and after a short but
desperate fight captured the city. In accordance with the
cruel customs of the times, which, however, wore rarely
carried into effect by Hannibal, the male prisoners were all
put to the sword, as on this occasion he considered it neces-
sary to strike terror into the inhabitants of Spain, and to
inflict a lesson which would not be forgotten during his
absence in the country.

The siege had lasted eight months. The booty taken
was enormous. Every soldier in the army had a rich share
of the plunder, and a vast sum was sent to Carthage; besides
which the treasure chests of the army were filled up. All
the Spanish troops had leave given them to return to their
homes for the winter, and they dispersed highly satisfied

Hannibal's agents.

151

with the booty with wliich they wero laden. Tliis was a
most politic step on tlio part of the young general, as tlie
tribesmen, seeing the wealth with which their countrymen
returned, no longer felt it a hardship to fight in the Cartha-
ginian ranks, and the levies called out in the spring wont
willingly and oven eagerly. •

Hannibal returned with his African troops to spend the
winter at Carthagena. He was there joined by the emissaries
ho had sent to examine Southern Gaul and the i)assos of the
Alps, to determine the most practicable route for the march
of the armj', and to form alliances with tho tribes of Southern
Gaul and Northern Italy. Their rei)orts were favourable,
for they had found l-ho greatest discontent existing among
tho tribes north of tho Apennines, who had but recently
been conquered by the Romans.

Their chiefs, smarting under tho heavy yoke of Home,
listened eagerly to the oilers of Hannibal's agents, who dis-
tributed large sums of money among them, and promised
them, in return for their assistance, not only their freedom
from their conqueror, but a full share in the spoils of Komo.
The chiefs replied that they would render any assistance to
the Carthaginians as soon as they passed the Alps, and that
they would then join them with all their forces. Tho reports
as to tho passes of the Alps were less satisfactory. Those
who had examined them found that the difficulties they
offered to the passage of an army were enormous, and that
tho tribes who inhabited tlie lower passes, having suffered
in no way as yet at the hands of liome, would probably
resist any army endeavouring to cross.

By far tho easiest route would be to follow the sea-shore,
but this was barred against the Carthaginians by the fact
that the Massilians (the people of Marseilles) were the close
allies of Rome. They had admitted Roman colonists among

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A BELOVED GENERAL.

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them, and carried on an extensive trade with the capital.
Their town was strong, and their ports would be open to
the Roman fleets. Tlie tribes in their neighbourhood were
all ciusely allied with them.

Hannibal saw at once that he could not advance by the
route by the sea without first reducing Marseilles. This
would be an even mo"e difficult operation than the siege
of Saguntum, as Rdi^e would be able to send any number
of men by sea to the aid of the besieged, and the great
struggle would be fought out in Southern Gaul instead of,
as he wished, in Italy. Thus he decided to march by a
route whix:h would take him far north of Marseilles, even
although it would necessitate a passage through the terrible
passes of the Alps.

During the winter Hannibal laboured without intermission
in preparing for his expedition. He was ever among his
soldiers, and personally saw to everything which could con-
duce to their comfort and well-f)eing. He took. a lively
interest in every minute detail which affected them; saw
that their clothing was abundant and of good quality, in-
spected their rations, and saw that these were well cooked.

It was this personal attention to the wants of his soldiers
which, as much as his genius as a general, his personal valour,
and his brilliant qualities, endeared him to his troops.
They saw how anxious he was for their welfare; they
felt that he regarded every man in his army as a friend
and comrade, and in return they were ready to respond
to every appeal, to raake every sacrifice, to endure, to
suffer, to fight to the death for ttieir beloved leader. His
troops wer'i mercenaries — that is, they fought for pay in a
cause which in no way concerned them — but personal affec-
tion for their general supplied in them the place of the
patriotism which inspires modern soldiers, and transformed

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ORGANIZATION.

153

these semi -barbarous tribesmen into troops, fit to cope with
the trained legionaries of liome.

Hannibal was far in advance of any of the generals of his
time in all matters of organization. His commissariat was
as perfect as that of modern armies. It was its duty
to collect grain from the country through which the army
marched, to form magazines, to collect and drive with the
troops herds of cattle, to take over the provisions and booty
brought in by foraging parties, and to see to the daily distri-
bution of rations among the various divisions.

Along the line of communication depots were formed,
where provisions, clothing, and arms were stored in readiness
for use, and from which the whole army could, in case of
necessity, be supplied with frt'sh clothing and shoes. A
band of surgeons accompanied the army, at the head of
whom was Synhalus, one of tlie most celebrate<l physicians
of the time. So perfect were the arrangements that it is
said that throughout the long campaign in Italy not a single
day passed but that the troops, elephants, and animals of all
descriptions accompanying the army, received their daily
rations of food.

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CHAPTER X.

BESET.

URING the winter Hannibal made every prepar-
ation to ensure the tranquillity of Spain while
he was al)sent. In order to lessen the number
of possible enemies there he raised a body o{
twelve hundred horse and fourteen thousand infantry from
among the most turbulent tribes, and sent them across to
Africa to serve as garrisons in Carthage and other points,
while an equal number of African troops were brought ovei
to garrison Spain, of which Hasdrubal, Hannibal's brother,
was to have the government during his absence.

Hanno, an able general, was to command the force
which was to be left in Southern Gaul to keep open the
communications between the Pyrenees and the Alps, while
the youngest brother, ^lago, a youth of about the same age
as Malchus, was to accompany him to Italy. Hannibal's
wife and a child AA'hich had been born in the preceding
spring, were sent by ship to Carthage.

In the early spring the march commenced, the army
following the coast line until it reached the mouth of the
Ebro. The mountainous and broken country lying between
this river and the Pyrenees, and now known as Catalonia,
was inhabited by fierce tribes unconquered as yet by Roman
or Carthaginian. Its conquest presented enormous difficuh

THE CONQUEST OF CATALONIA.

156

ties. There was no coherence between its people; but each
valley and mountain was a stronghold to be defended des.
perately until the last. The inhabitants, accustomed to the
mountains, were hardy, active, and vigorous, ready to op-
pose a desperate resistance so long as resistance was possible,
and then to flee across their hills at a spe^^d which defied the
fleetest of their pursuers.

Every man was a soldier, and at the first alarm the inha-
bitants of the villages abandoned their houses, buried their
grain, and having driven away their cattle into almost in-
accessible recesses among the hills, returned to oppose the
invaders. The conquest of such a people was one of the
most difficult of undertakings, as the French generals of Na-
poleon afterwards discovered, to their cost. The cruelty of
the mountaineers was equal to their courage, and the lapse
of two thousand years changed them but little, for in their
long struggle against the French they massacred every
detachment whom they could surprise among the hills,
murdered the wounded who fell into their hands, and
poisoned wells and grain.

The army which Hannibal had brought to the foot of
this country through which he had to pass, amounted to
102,000 men, of which 12,000 were cavalry and 90,000 in-
fantry. This force passed the Ebro in three bodies of equal
strength. The natives opposed a desjierate resistance, but
the three columns pressed forward on parallel lines. The
towns were besieged and captured, and after two months
of desperate fighting Catalonia was subdued, but its con-
quest cost Hannibal twenty-one thousand men, a fifth of his
whole army. Hanno was for the time left here with ten
thousand infantry and a thousand cavalry. He was to sup-
press any fresh rising, to hold the large towns, to form maga-
zines for the armv, and to keep open the passes of the

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HARD WORK.

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Pyrenees. He fixed his headquarters at Burgos. His oper-
ations were facilitated by the fact that along the line of the
sea-coast were a number of Phoenician colonies who were
natural allies of the Carthaginians, and aided them in every
way in their power. Before advancing through the passes
of the Pyrenees Hannibal still further reduced the strength
of his force by weeding out all those who had in the conflict
among the mountains shown themselves wanting in personal
strength or in military qualities. Giving these leave to re-
turn home he advanced at the head of 50,000 picked infantry
and 9000 cavalry.

The company under Malchus had rendered good service
during the campaign of Catalonia. It had accompanied the
column marching by the sea-shore; with this were the ele-
phants, the treasure, and the heavy baggage of the army.
It had throughout been in advance of the column, feeling
the way, protecting it from ambushes, and dispersing any
small bodies of tribesmen who might have placed themselves
on heights, whence with arrows and slings they could harass
the column on its march. The company had lost compara-
tively few men in the campaign, for it had taken no part in
the various sieges. Its duties, however, were severe in the
extreme. The men were ever on the watch, scouting the
country round, while the army was engaged in siege opera-
tions, sometimes ascending mountains whence they could
command views over the interior, or pursuing bands of
tribesmen to their refuges among the hills.

Severely as Malchus had trained himself in every exercise,
he found it at first difficult to support the fatigues of such
a life ; but every day his muscles hardened, and by the end
of the campaign he was able to keep on foot as long as the
hardiest of his men.

One day he had followed a party of the tribesmen far up

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NESSUS.

157

among the mountains. Tlie enemy had scattered, and the
Arabs in their hot pursuit had also broken up into small
parties. Malchus kept his eye ui)on the man who appeared
to be the ^bief of the enemy's party, and pressing hotly
upon him brought him to bay on the face of a steep and
rugged gorge. Only one of the Numidians was at hand,
a man named Nessus, who was greatly attached to his
young leader, and always kept close to him in his expedi-
tions. The savage, a bulky and heavy man, finding he
could no lon;.;er keep ahead of his fleet-footed pursuers,
took his post at a narrow point in the path where but one
could oppose him; and there, with his heavy sword drawn,
he awaited the attack. Malchuf advanced to meet him,
sword in hand, when an arrow from Xessus whizzed past
him and struck the chief in the throat, and his body fell
heavily down the rocks.

"That is not fair," Malchus said angrily. "I would fain
have fought him hand to hand."

The Arab bowed his head.

"My lord," he said, "the combat would not have been
even; the man had the upper ground, and you would have
fought at a grievous disadvantage. Why should you risk your
life in a fight with the swords, when my arrow has answered
all purposes? What should I have said if I had gone back
without you? What satisfaction would it have been to me
to fvenge your fall? AV'hat would they have said to me when
I told them that I looked on idly while you engaged in such
a struggle ? Valour is valour, and we all know that my lord
is the bravest among us; but the life of the cousin of our
general is too valuable to be risked for nought when we are
embarked upon a great enterprise."

"Look, Nessus! what is there?" Malchus exclaimed, his
attention attracted by a dark object which was crossing the

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158

A BEAR STARTED.

narrow path some distance ahead and ascending the steep
side of the gorge. "It is a bear, let us follow him; his
flesh will form a welcome change for the company to night."

The bear, who had been prowling in the bottom of the
ravine, hc.d been disturbed by the fall of the body of the
savage near him, and started hastily to return to its abode,
which lay hij^h up on the face of the cliff. Malchus and
his companion hurried forward to the spot where it had
crossed the path. The way was plain enough; there were
scratches on the rock, and the bushes growing in the crevices
were beaten down. The path had evidently been frequently
used by the animal.

"Look out, my lordl" Nessus exclaimed as Malchus hur-
ried along. " These bears of the Pyrenees are savage brutes.
See that he does not take you unawares."

The rocks were exceedingly steep; and Malchus, with his
bow in his hand and the arrow fitted and readv to draw,
climbed on, keeping his eyes on every clump of bush lest
the bear should be lurking there. At last he paused.
They had reached a spot now but a short distance from the
top. The cliff here fell almost perpendicularly down, and
along its face was a narrow ledge scarcely a foot wide.
Along this it was evident thti bear had passed.

" I should think we must be near his den now, Nessus.
I trust this ledge widens out before it gets there. It would
be an awkward place for a conflict, for a stroke of his paw
would send one over the edge."

" I shall be close behind you, my lord," said Nessus, whose
blood was now up with the chase. "Should you fail to
stop him, drop on one knee that I may shoot over you."

For some fifty yards the ledge continued unbroken.
Malchus moved along cautiously, with his arrow in the
string and his shield shifted round his shoulder, in readiness

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malchus and ni;ssus are suddenly stopped.

)

A NARROW ESCAPE.

159

for instant action. Siuldenly, upon turning a sharp corner
of the cliff, he saw that it widened ten feet ahead irto a
sort of phitform lying in the angle of the cliff, which heyond
^'t again jutted out. On this platforr^ was a hear, which
with an angry growl at once advanced towards him. Mal-
clius discl'argc"! his arrow; it st iick the hear full on the chest,
and )enetrate<I deeply. AVjtli a stroke of his paw the animal
broke the shaft asunder and rushed forward. Mahhus threw
for\»ard the point of his spear, and with his shield on his arm
awaited the ouiQt. He struck the hear fairly on the chest,
but, as before, it snapped the shaft with its paw, and rising
to its feet advanced.

"Kneel, my lord!" Nessus exclaimed.

Malchus dropped on one knee, bracing himself w fi* • ]y
as he colli I against the rock, and, witli his shield ib. \e his
head and his sword in his luiml, awaited the atiacv ;i the
enraged animal. He lieard the twang of the ■ o\v behind
him, then he felt a mighty blow, which beat dow^. i.is shield
and descended .\itli terrible force upon his helmet, throwing
hira forward on to his face. Then there was a heavy blow
on his back ; and it was well for him that he had on back-
l)iece as well as breastplate, or the ilesh would have been
torn from his shoulder to his loins. As the blow fell
there was an angry loar For a moment he felt crushed by
a weight which fell upon him. This was suddenly removed,
and he heard a crash far below as the bear, pierced to the
heart by the Arab's spear, fell over the precipice.

Nessus hastened to raise him.

"My lord is not hurt, I hoi)e^"

"In no way, Nessus, thanks to you; but my head swims
and my arm is well-nigh broken with that blow. Who
would have thought a beast like tiiat corld h-vve struck so
hard? See, he has dinted in my helmf c and has bent my

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160

THE SHE-BEAR.

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sliiold ! Now, before we go back and search for the body^

lot lis SCO wliat its den is like."

" Do yon take my spear, my lord ; your own is broken,
and your bow has gone over tlie precipice. It may be that
there is another boar hero. Where one is, the other is sel-
dom far olf."

They advanced on to the platform, and saw in the corner
of the angle a cave extending some distance into the hill.
As they approached the entrance a deep growl was heard
within. "

"We had best leave it alone, my lord," Nessus said as
they both recoiled a step at the entrance. "This is doubtless
the female, and these are larger and fiercer than the males."

" I agree with you, Nessus," Malchus said. " Were we on
other ground I should say let us attack it, but I have had
enough of fighting bears on the edge of a precipice. There
is as much meat as we can carry ready for us below. Be-
sides, the hour is late and the men will be getting uneasy.
Moreover, we are but half armed; and we cannot get at her
without crawling through that hole, which is scarce three
feet hi!>h. Alt()ii;ethcr, we had best leave her alone."

While they were si)eaking the bear began to roar angrily,
the deep notes being mingled with a chorus of snarls and
winnings which showed that there was a young family with
her,

"Do you go first, Nessus," Malchus said. "The rear
is the post of honour here, though I fancy the beast does
not mean to come out."

Nessus without a word took the lead, and advanced across
the platform towards the corner.

As he was in the act of turning it he sprang suddenly
back, while an arrow flew past, grazing the corner of the
rock.

AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION.

161

"There are a score of natives on the pathl" he exclaimed.
" We are in a trap."

Malchus looked round in dismay. It was evident that
some of the natives must have seen the fall of their leader
and watched them pursue the hear, and had now closed in
behind them to cut oft' their retreat. The situation was a
most unpleasant one. The ledge extended no further than
the platform; below, the precipice fell away sheer down a
hundred feet; above, it rose as high. The narrow path
was occui)ied with numerous foes. In the den behind them
was the angry bear.

For a moment the two men looked at each other in con-
sternation.

"We are fairly caught, Nessus," Malchus said. "There is
one thing, they can no more attack us than we can attack
them. Only one can come round this corner at a time, and
we can shoot or spear them as they do so. We are tolerably
safe from attack, but they can starve us out."

" They can shoot over from the other side of the ravine,"
Nessus said; "their arrows will carry from the opposite
brow easily enough."

"Then," Malchus said firmly, "we must dispose of the
bear; we must have the cave. We shall be safe there from
their arrows, \ bile, lying at the entrance, we could shoot
any that should \e;iture past the corner. First, though, I
will blow my horn. Some of our men may be within hear-

ing.

Malchus pulled forth the horn which he carried. It was
useless, being completely flattened with the blow that the
bear had struck him.

" That hope is gone, Nessus," he said. " Now let us get
the bear to come out as soon as possible, and finish with her.
Do you stand at the corner with your arrow ready, in case

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162

SMOKING OUT THE BEAR.

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the natives should try to surprise us, and be ready to aid
me when she rushes out."
Malchus went to tl

against

3 went to the mouth of the den, struck his spear
e side, and threw in some pieces of stone; but,
although the growling was deep and continuous, the bear
showed no signs of an intention of coming out.

The Arab was an old hunter, and ho now asked Malchus
to take his place with the bow while he drove the bear out.
He first took off his bernous, cut otf several strips from the
bottom, knotted them together, and then twisted the strip
into a rope. Growing out from a crevice in the rock,
some three feet above the top of the cave, was a j'oung tree;
and round this, close to the root, Nessus fastened one end
of his rope, the other he formed into a s]ii)-knot and let the
noose fall in front of the cave, keeping it open with two
twigs i)laced across it. Then he gathered some brushwood
and placed it at the entrance, put a bunch of dried twigs
and dead leaves among it, and, striking a light with his flint
and steel on some dried fungus, placed this in the middle of
the sticks and blew upon it. In a minute a flame leapt up.
" Now, my lord," he said, " be ready with your sword and
spear. The beast will.be out in a minute; she cannot stand
the smoke."

Malchus ran to the corner and looked round. The natives
were at a distance along the ledge, evidently witli no inten-
tion of attacking a foe of whom they felt sure. A taunting
shout was raised and an arrow flew towards him, but he
instantly withdrew his head and ran back to the platform.

A minute later there was a fierce growl and the bear
rushed out. The brushwood was scattered as, checked sud-
denly in its rush by the noose, the animal rose on its hind-
legs. In an instant the spear of Xessus w^as plunged deeply
into it on one side, while Malchus buried his sword to the hilt

^vi

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IN SHELTER.

163

in its body undor the fore-sliouMor of the other. Stalibed
to the heart, the hear fell prostrate. Nessus repeated his
blow, but tlie animal was dead. Five young boars rushed
out after their mother, growling and snapping; but as
these were only about a (piarter grown they were easily
despatched.

"There is a supply of food for a long time," Malchus said
cheerfully; "and as there is a drip of water coming down
in this angle we shall bo able to quench our thirst. Ah! we
are just in time."

As he spoke an arrow struck the rock close to them and
dropped at their feot. Others came in rai)id succession;
and, looking at the brow of the oi)posite side of the ravine,
they saw a number of natives.

"Pull the bear's body across the mouth of the cave,"
Malchus said, "it will prevent the arrows which strike the
rock in front from ijrlancinL' in. The little bears will do for
food at present."

They were soon in the cave, which opened beyond the
entrance and extended some distance into the mountain;
it was seven or eight feet wide and lofty enough to stand
upright in. Nessus lay down behind the bear, with his bow
and arrow, so as to command the angle of the rock. Malchus
seated himself farther in the cave, sheltered by the entrance
from the arrows which from time to time glanced in at the
month. Only once did Nessus have to shoot. The natives
on the ledge, informed by their comrades on the opposite
side of the gorge that their foes had sought refuge in the
cave, ventui id to advance; but the moment the first turned
the corner he fell over the precipice, transfixed by an arrow
from the bow of Nessus, and the rest hastily retreated.

"Hand me your flint and steel, Nessus, and a piecf3 of
fungus. I may as well have a look round the cave."

???

164

A RESPITE.

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A light wsis soon pror-ured, and ^lalchus found that the
cave extended some forty feet back, narrowing gradually to
the end. It had eviilently been used for a long time by
wild animals. TIh3 Hoor was completely covered with dried
bones of various sizes.

As soon as he saw that this w^as the case Malchus tore off
a strip of his linen shirt, and rolling it into a ball set it on
fire. On this he piled up small bones, which caught readily,
and he soon had a bright and almost smokeless fire. He
now took the place of Nessus. The latter skinned and
cut up one of the small bears, and soon had some steaks
broiling over the fire. By this time it was getting dusk
without.

When the meat was cooked Nessus satisfied his hunger
and then sallied out from the cave and took his post as
sentry with his spear close to the angle of the rock, as by
this time the natives on the opposite side, being no longer
able to see in the gathering darkness, had ceased to shoot.
Malchus ate his food at his leisure, and then joined his com-
panion.

" We must get out of here somehow, Nessus. Our com-
pany will search for us to-morroM^j but they might search
for a w^eek without finding us here; and, as the army is
advancing, they could not spare more than a day; so, if we
are to get away, it must be by our own exertions."

" I am ready to fight my way along this ledge, my lord,
if such is your wish. They cannot see us to fire at, and as
only one man can stand abreast, their numbers would be of
no avail to them."

"Not on the ledge, Nessus; but they would hardly de-
fend that. No doubt they are grou[)ed at the further end,
and we should have to fight against overwhelming numbers.
No, that is not to be thought of. The only way of esca^'i

I '

A MEANS OF ESCAPE.

.65

I can think of would be to let ourselves down the precipice;
but our bernouses would not make a rope long enough."

" They would not reach a third of the distance," Nessus
replied, shaking his head. "They have been worn some time,
and the cloth is no longer strong. It would need a broad
strip to support us."

"That is so, Xessus, but we have materials for making
the ro})e long enough, nevertheless."

" I do not understand you, my lord. Our other garments
would be of but little use."

'*0f no use at all, Nessus, and I was not thinking of them;
but we have the skins of the bears — the hide of the old
bear at least is thick and tough — and a narrow strip would
bear our weigh.t."

"Of course," Nessus said. "How stupid of me not to
think of it, for in the desert we make all our rope of twisted
slips of hide. If you will stand sentry here, my lord, I will
set about it at once."

Malchus took the spear, and Nessus at once set to work to
skin the bear, antl when that was done, he cut long strips
from the hide, and having fastened them together, twisted
them into a rope.

The bernouses — which Mdien on the march were rolled up
and worn over one shoulder like a scarf, as the German and
Italian soldiers carry their blankets in modern times —
were also cut up and twisted, and in three hours Nessus
had a rope, which he iissured Malclius wa'^> long enough to
reach to the bottom of the pre Jpice, and sufficiently strong
to bear their weight.

One end was fastened to the trunk of t^ e young tree,
and the rope was then thrown over the edi;e of tlie })]atform.
One of the young bear's skins was fastened round and round
it, at the point where it crossed the edge of the rocky plat-

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166

IN THE RAVINE.

form, to prevent it from being cut when the v/eight was put
upon it, and they then prepared for their descent.

"Do you go first," Mnlchus said. "As soon as I feel that
the rope is loose, I will follow you."

The Arab sv.ung himself off the edge, and in a very
short time Malchus felt the rope slacken. He followed
at once. The first twenty feet the descenc was absolutely
perpendicular, but after that the rock inclined outward in
a steep but pretty regular slope. ]\Ialchus was no longer
hanging by the rope; but throwing the principal portion of
his weight still upon it, and jDlaeing his feet on the ine-
qualities of the rock, he made his way down without diffi-
culty. Presently he stood by Nessus at the foot of the sloi)e.

"We had better make up the ravine. There will be
numbers of them at its mouth. We can see the glow of
their fires from here."

"But we may not be abb to find a way up," Nessus
said ; " the sides seem to get steeper and steeper, and we
may find ourselves caught in a trap at the end of this gorge."

"At any-rate we will try that way first. I wish the moon was
up; it is as black as a wolfs month here, and the bottom of
the gorge is all covered with boulders. If we stumble, and
our arms strike a stone, it will be heard by the natives
on the opposite heights."

They now set forward, feeling their way with the greatest
care; but in the dense darkness the task of making their
way among the boulders was dithcult in the extreme. They
had proceeded but a short distance when a loud yell rose
from the height above them. It was repeated again and
again, and was answered by shouts from the opposite side,
and from the mouth of the ravine.

"By Astarte!" Malchus exclaimed, "they have found
out that we have escaped already."

THE ESCAPE DISCOVERED.

167

It was so. One of the natives had crept forward along
the path, hoping to find the sentry asleep, or to steal up
noiselessly and stab him. When he got to the angle of the
rock, he could see no form before him, nor hear the slightest
sound. Creeping forward, he found the platform deserted.
He listened attentively at the entrance to the cave, and the
keen ear of the savage would have detected had any been
slumberinf' there: but all was still.

He rose to his feet witl; the intention of creeping into the
cave, when his hea<l struck against something. He put up
his hand and felt the rope, and saw how the fugitives had
escaped. He at once gave the alarm to his comrades. In
a minute or two a score of men with blazing brands came
running along the i)atli. On seeing the rope, they entered
the cave, and found that their pre}^ had really escaj)ed.

Malchus and his companion had not moved after the
alarm was given.

" We had better be going, my lord," the Arab said as he
saw the men with torches retracing their steps along the
brow. "They will soon be after us."

"I think not, Nessus. Their chance of finding us among
these boulders in tlie dark would be small, and they would
off'er such good marks to our arrows that they would hardly
enter upon it. No, I think they will wait till daybreak,
planting a strong force at the mouth of the ravine, and
along both sides of the end, wherever an ascent could be
made. Hark, the men on the heights there are calling to
others along the brow."

" Very well, my lord," Nessus said, seating himself on a
rock, "then we will sell our lives as dearly as possible."

" I hope it has not come to that, Nessus. There is a chance
of safety for us yet. The only jjlace they are not likely to
look for us is the cave, and, as we have cli.nbed down

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168

BACK IN THE CAVE.

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from above with tlie rope, there will be no difficulty in
ascending."

Nessus gave an exclamation, which expressed at once
admiration of his leader's idea and gratification at the
thought of escape. They began without delay to retrace
their stejjs, and after some trouble again found the rope.

Nessus mounted first; his bare feet enabled him to grip
any inequality of the surface of the rock. Whenever he
came to a ledge which afforded him standing room he shook
the rope, and waited until Malchus joined him.

At last they stood toi;ether at the foot of the perpendicular
rock at the top. The lightly armed Arab found no difficulty
whatever in climbing the rope; but it was harder work for
Malchus, encumbered with the weight of his armour. The
numerous knots, however, helped him, and when he was
within a few feet of the top, Nessus seized the rope and
hauled it up by sheer strength until Malchus was level with
the top. Then he gave him his hand, and assisted him to
gain his feet. They entered the cave and made their way
to the further end, and there threw themselves down. They
had not long been there when they saw a flash of light at
the mouth of the cave and heard voices.

Malchus seized his spear and would have leapt to his feet,
but Nessus pressed his hand on his shoulder.

"They are come for the she-beur," he said. "It is not
likely they will enter."

Lying hidden in the darkness the fugitives watched the
natives roll the bear over, tie its legs together, and put a
stout pole through them. Then four men lifted the pole on
their shoulders and started.

Another holding a brand entered the cave. The two
fugitives hel'^ their breath, and Nessus sat with an arrow in
the string ieau v Ut r,h(jot. The brand, however, gave but a

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THE SEARCH.

169

feeble light, and the native, picking up the bodies of three
of the young bears, uhich lay close to the entrance, threvvr
them over his shoulder and crawled back out of the cave
again. As they hearil his departing footsteps the fugitives
drew a long breath of relief.

Nessus rose and made his way cautiously out of the cave.
He returned in a minute.

" They have taken the rope with them," he said, " and it
is well, for when they have searched the valley to morrow,
were it hanging there, it might occur to them that we have
made our way up. Now that it is gone, they can never
sus])ect that we have returned here."

" There is no chance of our being disturbed again tonight,
Nessus. We can sleep as securely as if we were in our
camp."

So sayings Malchus chose a comfortable place, and was
soon asleep.

Nessus, hoM'ever, did not lie down, but sat watching with
unwearied eyes the entrance to the cave. As soon as day
had fairly broken, a chorus of loud shouts and yells ftir
down the ravine told that the search had begun. For
hours it continued. Every bush and boulder in the bottom
was searched by the natives.

Again and again they went up and down the gorge, )n-
vinced that the fugitives must be hidden somewhere; or,
as Nessus had anticipated, the clifts at the upper end ere
so precipitous that an escape there was impossible, aim the
natives had kept so close a watch all night along the -iopes
at the lower end, and at the mouth, that they felt sure that
their prey could not have escai)ed them unseen. An i yet at
last they were forced to come to the conc'.usion that in some
inexplicable way this must have been the case, for how else
could they have escaped ? The thought that they had re-

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170

WAITING.

ascended by the rope before it was reTnoved, and that they
were hidden in the cave at the time the bodies of the
bear and its cubs were carried a way, never occurred to
them.

All day they wandered about in the bottom of the ravine
searching every possible place, and sometimes removing
boulders with great labour, where these were piled together
in such a manner that anyone could be hidden beneath them.
At nightfall they feasted upon the body of the bear first
killed, which had been found where it had fallen in the ravine.
The body of one of the young boars, which lay far up the
cave, had escaped their search, and a portion of this fur-
nished a meal to the two prisoners, who Avere, however,
obliged to eat it raw, being afraid to light a fire, lest the
smoke, however slight, should be observed coming out at
the entrance.

The next morning, so far as they could see, the place was
deserted by the natives. Lying far back in the cave they
could see that the men on the o]»posite side of the ravine
had retired; but as it was quite possible that the natives,
feeling still convinced that the fugitives must be hidden
somewhere, had set a watch at some spot commanding a
view of the whole ravine, they did not venture to show
themselves at the entrance.

After making another meal off the bear, they sallied out,
when it again became dark, and made their way along the
path. When they neared the end tlicy saw a p/arty of the
enemy sitting round a great fire at the mouth of the ravine
below them. They retired a short distance, and sat down
patiently until at last the fire burned low, and the natives,
leaving two of the party on watch, hiy down to sleep. Tlien
Malchus and his companion rose to their feet, and made
their way al^ng the path. When they were nearly abreast

ESCAPED.

171

of the fire, Malchus hai)[)cned to tread upon a loose stone,
which went bounding down the side of the liill.

Tlie scouts gave a shout, which called their companions
to their feet, and started up the hillside towards the spot
where the stone had fallen.

Nessus discharged an arrow, which struck full on the
chest of the leader of the party, and then followed Malchus
along the hillside.

A shout of rage broke from the natives as their comrade
fell; but without pausing they jmshed on. Malchus did not
hurry. Silence now was of more importance than speed. He
strode along, then, with a rapid but careful step, Nessus
following closely behind him. The shouts of the savages soon
showed that they were at fault. Malchus listened atten-
tively as he went. Whenever the babel of tongues ceased
for a moment he stojiped 'perfectly still, and only ventured
on when they were renewtd.

At last they had placed a long gap betwe^ n. ilem and
their pursuers, and came out on a level shoulder of the
hill. They continued their way until they found them-
selves at the edge of the forest. It was so dark under
the trees that they could no longer advance, and Mal-
chus therefore determined to wait till the dawn should
enable them to continue their journey. Whether they were
in a clump of trees or in the forest, whicli covered a large
portion of the mountain side, thoy were unable to tellj nor,
as not a single star could be seen, had they any indication
of the direction which they should take. Retiring then for
some little distance among the trees, they lay down and
were soon asleep.

When the first dawn of day appeared they were on
their way again, and soon found that the trees under which
they had slept formed part of the forest. Through occa-

172

AMONG FRIENDS.

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sional openings, formed by trees which had fallen from age
or tempest, they obtained a view of the surrounding country,
and were enabled to form an idea where lay the camp which
they had left two days before.

They had not proceeded far when they heard in the dis-
tance behind them the shouting of men and the barking of
dogs, and knew that the enemy were upon their track.
T^ey ran now at the top of their speed, convinced, however,
that the natives, who would have to follow the track, could
not travel as fast as they did. Suddenly Malchus stopped.

"Listen!" he said. They paused, and far down the hill-
side heard the distant sound of a hoi n. " Those must be
our men," Malchus exclaimtd, "they arc searching for us
still; Hannibal must have allowed them to stay behind when
the army proceeded on its way."

In another half-hour the horn sounded close at hand, and
they were speedily among a body of Malchus's own followers,
who received them with shouts of delight. The men were
utterly worn out, for they had searched continuously day
and night from the time they had missed their leader,
sometimes high up among the hills, sometimes among the
lower valleys. The /arty which he met comin-ised but a
fourth of the band, ivv they had divided into four parties,
the better to range the country.

The}'^ were now ascending the hills again at a distance of
two miles apart, and messengers were at once sent oft' to the
other bodies to inform thorn tl.'at Malchus had returned.
Malchus quickly recounted to his men the story of what
had befallen them, and then bade them lie down to rest
while he and Nessus kept watch.

The natives who had b'^en in pursuit did not make their
appearance, having doubtless heard the horn which told of the
approach of a body of the Carthaginians, In two hours the

WITH THE ARMY.

173

whole of the biintl were collected, and after a few hours'
halt, to enable the men to recover from their long fatigue
and sleeplessness, Malcluis put himself at their head and
they marched away to join the main body of the army,
which they overtook two days later.

Malcluis was received with great delight by his father and
Hannibal, who had given liim up for lost. Nessus had over
and over again recounted all the details of their adventure
to his comrades, and the quickness of Malchus at hitting
upon the stratagem of returning to the cave, and so escaping
from a position where escape seemed well-nigh impossible,
won for him an even higher place than before in the admir-
ation of his followers.

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i ,1

CHAPTER XI.

THE PASSAGE OF THE RHONE.

HE army was now moving Unough the passes of
the Pyrenees. The labour was great; no army
had ever before crossed this mountain barrier;
roads had to be made, streams bridged, and rocks
blasted away, to allow the passage of the elephants and bag-
gage waggons. Opinions have differed as to the explosives
used by the Carthaginian miners, but it is certain that they
possessed means of blasting rocks. The engineers of Han-
nibal's force possessed an amount of knowledge and science
vastly in excess of that attained by the Romans at that
time, and during the campaign the latter frequently endea-
voured, and sometimes with success, by promises of high
rewards, to induce Hannibal's engineers to desert and take
service with them. A people well acquainted with the
uses of sulphur and nitie, skilled in the Oriental science of
chemistry, capable of manufacturing Greek fire — a compound
which would burn under water — mav well have been ac-
quainted with some mixture resembling gunpowder.

The art of making this explosive was certainly known to
the Chinese in very remote ages, and the Phoenicians, whose
galleys traversed the most distant seas to the east, may
have acquired their knowledge from that people.

i !(

A FEMALE COURT.

176

'6'

take
the
Lce of
ound
n ac-

Tho wikl tribes of the mountains harassed the army (hiring
this diflicult niarc'li, and constant skirmishes went on between
them and Hannil)ars hght-armcd troops. However, at last
all ditlicnltics wore overcome, and the army descended the
6loi)es into the plains of Southern (laul.

Already Hannibal's agents had negotiated for an un-
ojiposcd passage through this country; but the Gauls, alarmed
at the a}>})carance of the army, and at the news which had
reached them of the conquest of Catalonia, assembled in
arms. Hannibal's tact and a lavish distribution of presents
dissipated the alarm of the (Jauls, and their chiefs visited
Hannibal's camp at Elne, and a treaty was entered into for
the i)assage of the army.

A singular article of this treaty, and one which shows the
esteem in which the Gauls held their women, was that all
complaints on the part of the natives against Carthaginian
troo})S should be carried to Hannibal himself or the general
representing him, and that all complaints of the Carthaginians
against the natives should be decided without appeal by a
council composed of Gaulish women. This condition
caused much amusement to the Carthaginians, who, how-
ever, had no cause to regret its acceptance, for the decisions
of this singular tribunal were marked by the greatest fair-
ness and impartiality. The greater part of the tribes through
whose country the aimy marched towards the Rhone ob-
served the terms of the treaty with goou faith; some proved
troublesome, but were wholly unable to stand against the
Carthaginian arms.

The exact route traversed by the army has been a subject
of long and bitter controversy; but, as no events of ver}' great
importance occurred on the way, the precise line followed in
crossing Gaul is a matter of but slight interest. Suffice that,
after marching from the Pyrenees at a high rate of speed, the

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176

THE RIIONa

army readied tlie Rhone at the point where Koquemanre
now stands, a short distance above Avignon.

This i)oint had been chosen by Hannibal becanse it vas
one of the few spots at whi( h the Khone runs in a single
stream, its course being for the most j)art greatly broken
up by islands. Itocpieniauie lies sixty-Hve miles from the
sea, and it was necessary to cross the Rhone at some distance
from its mouth, for Rome was now thoroughly alarmed, and
Scipio, with a fleet and j)owerful army, was near ^larscillcs
w^aiting to engage Hannibal on the plains of Gaul.

During the last few days' march no inhabitants had been
encountered. The Arecomici, who inhabited this part of
the country, had not been lej^resented at the meeting, and
at the news of the approach of the Carthaginians had de-
serted their country and fled across the Rlione, where, joined
by the tribes dwelling upon the further h-dwk, they i)rei)arcd
to offer a desperate opposition to the passage of the river.
The appearance of this mass of barl)an*ans, armed with bows
and arrows and javelins, on the furtlier side of the wide and
rapid river which had to be crossed, was not encouraging.

"It was bad enough crossing the Pyrenees," Malchus said
to Trebon, "but that was nothing to this undertaking; it is
one thing to climb a precipice, however steep, to the assault
of an enemy, another to swim across at the head of the army
under such a shower of missiles as we shall meet with on
the other side."

Hannibal, however, had prepared to overcome the diffi-
culty. Messengers had been sent up and down the river to
all the people living on the right bank, offering to buy fiom
them at good prices every barge and boat in their j)osses-
sion, promising them freedom from all exactions and hard
treatment, and offering good pay to those who would render
assistance to the army in the passage. Hannibal's offers

:.fi:,^

A JLEET OP BOATS.

177

t ^vas

singlo

ii'okcn

m tl»e

stance

!(1, aiul

rs;cillcs

d been
part of
ng, and
lad de-
, joined
iicpared
le river.
Ith bows
ide and

ms said
g; it is
assault
he army
with on

he diffi-
rivcr to
)uy fioni
r posses-
md hard
pd render
I's offers

Were accepted without hesitation. That the army, which
could, had it chosen, have taken all their boats by force and
impressed their labour, should ofTer to pay liberally for both,
filled them with admiration, and they were, moreover, only
too glad to aid this formidable army of strangers to pass out
of their country.

The dwellers upon the Khone at this period carried on an
extensive commerce, not only with the tribes on the ui)per
river, but with Marseilles and the ports of Spain and Xortiiern
Italy, consequently a large number of vessels and barges of
considerable tonnage were at once obtained.

To add to the means of transport the whole army were
set to work, and, assisted by the natives, the soldiers cut
down trees, and, hollowing them out roughly, formed canoes
capable of carrying two or three men. So industriously did
the troops work that in two days enough canoes were made
to carry the army across the river; but there was still the
ojiposition of the natives to be overcome, and when the
canoes were finished Hannibal ordered Hanno, one of his
best generals, to start with a division at nightfall up the
bank of the river,

Hanno marched five miles, when he found a spot where
the river was smooth and favourable for the passage. The
troops set to at once to cut trees; rafts were formed of these,
and the troops passed over. The Spanish corps, accustomed
to the passage of rivers, simply stripped, and putting their
broad shields of hides beneath them, passed the river by
swimming. Once across Hanno gave his men twenty-four
hours' rest, and then, calculating that Hannibal's prepara-
tions would be comi)lete, he marched down the river until he
reached a hill, whose summit was visible from Hannibal's
camp at daybreak. Upon this he lit a signal fire.

The moment the smoke was seen in the camp Hannibal

■. 1

(3;;9)

PW^

(If-

178

^1IE PASSAOB.

I^'^ i

gave orders for the troops to embark. The h'ght infantry took
to their little ranoes, the cavalry embarked in the larger
vessels, and, as these were insuflicient to carry all the horses,
a great m* 'y of the animals were made to enter the river
attached by ropes to the vessels. The heavier craft started
highest up, in order that they might to some extent break
the roughness of the waves and facilitate the passage of the
canoes.

The din was prodigious. Thousands of men tugged at
the oars, the roughly made canoes were dashed against each
other and often upset, while from the opposite bank rose
loudly the defiant yells of the natives, prepared to dispute
to the last the landing of the flotilla. Suddenly these cries
assumed a different character. A mass of smoke was seen
to rise from the tents of the enemy's camp, and Hanno's
division i)oured down u^jon their rear. The Arecomici,
taken wholly b}?^ surprise, M'ere seized with a panic, and tied
hastily in all directions, leaving the bank clear for the land-
ing of Hannibal. The whole of the army were brought
across at once and encamped that night on the river.

In the morning Hannibal sent off' five hundred Numidian
horse to reconnoitre the river below, and ascertain what
Scipio's army, which was known to have landed at its mouth,
was doing. He then assembled his aimy and introduced to
them some chiefs of the tribes beyond the Alps, who had a
day or two before arrived in the camp with the agents he
had sent to their country. They harangued the soldiers, an
interpreter translating their speeches, and assured them of
the welcome they would meet in the rich and fertile country
beyond the Alps, and of the alacrity with which the people
there would join them against the Konians.

Hannibal himself then addressed the soldiers, pointed out
to them that they had already accomplished by far the

THE ELEPHANTS.

179

rytook
larger
horses,
le river
started
t break
e of the

i2n;ed at
nst each
ank rose
) dispute
lese cries
was seen

Hanno's
Lvecoiuici,
J, and tied

the land-
3 brought

or.
»sumidian

tain what
jits mouth,
•oduced to
who had a
agents he
[oldiers, an
|d them of
ilo country
[the people

pointed out
)y far the

greater part of their journey, liad overcome every obstacle,
and that tliore now roniaiiiod l)ut a few (la\s' passage over
tin* mountains, and tliat Italy, tlie goal of all tiieir endea-
vours, woul<l then lie before them.

The soKlicis replied with enthusiastic shouts, an«l Han-
nibal, after ofiering up players to the gods on behalf of the
army, dismissed the soldiers, antl told them to prepare to
start on the following day. Soon after the asseml)ly had
broken up the Nnmi<lian horse returned in great confusion,
closely pressed l»y the Konian cavalry, who had been sent by
Scipio to ascertain Hannibal's })o.silion and course. The
hostile cavalry had charged each other with fury. A hundred
and forty of the Konuins and two hundred of the Xumidians
were slain.

Hannibal saw that there was no time to be lost. The next
morning, at daybreak, the whole of his cavalry were posted
to the south to cover the niovenients of the army and to
check the Koman advance. The infantry wtue then set in
motion up the bank of the river, and Hanni])al, with a small
party, remained behind to watch the i)assage of the elephants,
which had not yet been brought across.

The elephants had not been trained to take to the wate".',and
the operation was an extremely difticult one. Very strong
and massive rafts were joined together until they extended
two hundred feet into the river, being kept in their place by
cables fastened to trees on tlie bank above them. At the
end of this floating pier was placed another raft of immense
size, capable of carrying four elejihants at a time. A thick
covering of earth was laid over the whole, and on this turf
was placed. The elephants were then led forward.

So solid was the consti'uction that they advanced upon it
without hesitation. When four had taken their place on the
great raft at the end, the fastenings which secured it to the

180

THE ARMY MOVES ON.

rest of the structure were cut, and a large number of boats
and barges filled witli rowers bc^an to tow the raft across
the river. Tlie elepliants were seized witli terror at finding
tlieniselves afloat, but seciui, no way of e.scnpe remained
trembling in the (.entre of the raft until they reached the
otlier side. When it was safely across, the raft and towing
boats leturned, anil the operation was repeated until all the
elcplmnts were over.

Some of the animals, however, were so terrified that tiiey
flung tliemselves from the rafts into the river and made
tlieir way to shore, keeping their probosces above the surface
of the water. The Imlians who directed them were, however,
all swept away and drowned. As soon as the ele[)hants were
all across Hannib;d called in his cavalry, and with them and
the elephants followed the army.

The llomans did not arrive at the spot until thiee days
after the Carthaginians had left. Scipio was greatly aston-
ished when he found that Hannibal had nuirched north, as
ho believed that the Alps were impassable for an army, and
had reckoned that Hannibal would certainlv march down
the river and follow the sea-shore. Finding that the Cartha-
ginians had left he marched his army down to his ships again,
re-embarked them, and sailed for (^enoa, intending to oppose
Hannibal as he issued from the defiles of the Alps, in the
event of his succeeding in making the passage.

Four days' march up the Rhone brought Hannibal to the
point where the Isere runs into that river. He crossed it,
and with his army entered the region called by Polybiua
"The Island," although the designation is an incorrect one,
for while the lihone flows along one side of the triangle and
the Isere on the other, the base is formed not by a third
river, but by a portion of the Alpine chain.

Malchus and his band had been among the first to push

[ij*

AN UPSET.

181

{ boats

across
tiinling
niaiiied
led the

towing
1 all the

luit they
1(1 made
e surface
liowever,
mts were
,heni and

lirce days
tly aston-
north, as
rniy, and
rch down
e Cartha-
ij)S again,
to oppose
ps, in the

bal to the
crossed it,
' Polybiua
rrcct one,
i angle and
)y a third

•st to push

oflf from the shore when the army began to cross the Rhone.
Malchus was in a roughly-constructed canoe, which was i)ad-
dled by Nessus and another of his men. Like most of the
other canoes, their craft soon became water-logged, for the
rapid and angry current of the river, l)roken and agitated
by so large a nund)er of boats, s])lashc<l over the sides of the
clumsy canoes, whioh were but a few inches above the water.
The buoyancy of the wood was sulficient to float them even
when full, but they paddled slowly and heavily.

The confusion was prodigious. The greater part of the
men, unaccustomed to rowing, had little control over their
boats. Collisions were frecpient, and numbers of the boats
were upset and their occupants drowned. The canoe which
carried Malchus was making fair i)rogress, l)ut, to his vexa-
tion, was no lon^jrer in the front line, lie was uriring the
paddlers to exert themselves to the utmost, when xSessus
gave a sudden cry.

A horse which had broken loose from its fastenings behind
one of the barges w^as swimming down, frightened and con-
fused at the din. It was within a few feet of them when
Nessus perceived it, and in another moment it struck the
canoe broadside with its chest. The boat rolled over at
once, throwing its occupants into the water. Malchus
gra.sped the canoe as it u})set, for he would instantly have
sunk from the weight of his armour. Nessus a moment
later appeared by his side-

" I will go to the other side, my lord," he said, " that will
keej) the tree from turning over again."

He dived under the canoe, and came up on the opposite
side, and giving Malchus his hand across it, there was no
longer any fear of the log rolling over. The other rower did
not reappear above the su: /ace. Malchus shouted in vain to
some of the passing boats to pick him up, but all were so

! 'U

I ,■!'■■

182

OETTINO niD OF ENCUMBRANCES.

'n,: ' I

i :j

!'»i

absorbed in their cfTorts to advance and tlieir eagerness to
engage the enemy that none ])aid attention to Malchus or
the otliers in like l>l'glit. Besides, it seemed i)roljable that
all, if they stuck to their canoes, would presently gain one
bank or other of the river. Malchus, too, liad started rather
low down, and he was tlierefore soon out of the flotilla.

The boat was nearly in midstream when the accident hap-
pened.

"The first thing to do," Malchus said when he saw that
there was no chance of their being picked up, " is to rid my-
self of my armour. I can do nothing with it on, and if the
tree turns over I shall go down like a stone. First of all,
Nessus, do you unloose your sword-belt. I will do the same.
If we fasten then, together they are long enough to go round
the canoe, and if wo take off our helmets and pass the belts
through the chin chains they will, with our swords, hang
safely."

This was with some difficulty accomplished.

"Now," Malchus continued, "let us make our way to the
stern of the canoe. I will ])lacc my hand on the tree there,
and do you unfasten the shoulder and waist-straps of my
breast .and backpieees. I cannot do it myself."

This was also accomplished, and the two pieces of armour
laid on the tree. They weie now free to look round. The
rapid stream had already taken them half a mile below the
point where the army were crossing, and they were now en-
tering a spot where the river was broken up by islands,
and raced along its pent-u[) channel with greater velocity
than before, its surface broken with short angry waves,
which rendered it difficult for them to retain their hold of
the tree.

For a time they strove by swimming to give the canoe an
impetus towards one bank or the other; but their efforts

;erne88 to
alt bus or
)ablo that
gain one
:e(l rather
jtilla.
(lent hap-

9 saw that
to rid my-
and if the
irs^t of all,
) the same,
o mo round
IS the belts
ords, hang

way to the
tree there,
raps of my

J of armour
iind. The
3 below the
3re now en-
by islands,
,er velocity
gry waves,
leir hold of

le canoe an
iheir efforts

ON SHORE.

183

were vain. Sometimes they thought they were about to
succeed, and then an eddy wouhl take the boat and carry
it into the middle of the stream again.

"It is useless, Ncssus," Malchus said at last. "Wo are
only wearing ourselves out, and our ellbrts are of no avail
whatever. We nuist be content to di ift down the river until
our good luck throws us into some eddy which may carry us
near one bank or the other."

It was a long time, indeed, before that stroke of fortune
befell them, and they were many miles down the river before
the current took them near the eastern bank at a point
where a sharp curve of the river threw tho force of the cur-
rent over in that direction; but although they were carried
to within a few yards of the shore, so nund)cd and ex-
hausted were they by tlieir long immersion in the cold water
that it was with the greatest ditlieulty that they could give
the canoe a sufllcient iu)i)ulsion to carry it to the bank.

At last, however, their feet touched the bottom, and they
struggled to shore, canying with them the arms and armour;
then, letting the canoe drift away again, they crawled up the
bank, and threw themselves down, utterly exhausted. It was
some time before cither of them spoke. Then Malchus said :

" We had best strip oil' oui" clothes and wring them as well
as we can; after that they will soon diy on us. We have
no means of drying them here, so we must lie down among
some bushes to shelter us from this bitter wind which blows
from the mountains."

The clothes were wrung until the last drop was extracted
from them, and then ])ut on again. They were still damp
and cold, but Malclius and his companion had been accus-
tomed to be drcnchct* to the skin, and thought nothing of
this. They were still too exhausted, however, to walk
briskly, and therefore lay down among some thick bushes

■I. >

(

■

tM
\''\'

184

A rnisoNER.

I !

until tho.y slioiiltl feel (Mjual to sctti?)!:,' out on the long tramp
to rejoin tlioir comiianious. After iviuij for a couple of hours
iM;il(iius rose to his feet, and issuiiiij fioin fhelMislies looked
I'ouixl. lie liad resniiie<l iiis armour and sword. A» lie
.ste|»|>ed out a sudden shout arose, and he saw within a hun-
dreil yards of him a body of nati\es s(tme hundred strong
ui»|»i"oa(;liin;^. 'J hey had ainatly caught siicht of him.

" Nessus," he exelainied witiiout lookinLj round, "lie still.
I am seen, and shall he taken in a minute. It is hopeless
for me to try to escape. Vou will do me more good by re-
maining hid and tr} iug to free niu from their hands after-
wards."

So saying, and without drawing his sword, Malehus(|nietly
advanced towards the natives, who were rushing down towaids
him with loml shouts. Flight or resistance would he, as lie
had at osice seen, hopeless, and it was only by present sub-
mission he couhl hope to save his life.

The natives were a portion of the force which had opposed
Hannibal's lamling, and had alieady killed several Cartha-
ginians who had, like Malchus, struggled to the bank after
being upset in the jiassage. Seeing that he attempted
neither to fly nor to defend himself, they iusIkmI upon him
tumultuously, strijiped him of his arms and armour, and
draggtid him before their leader. The latter briefly ordered
him to be brought along, and the i)artv continued their
hurried march, fearing that the Carthagiin'an horse might
at any moment pursue them. For the rest of the afternoon
tliey marched without a halt, but at nightfall stoi)ped in
a wood.

No fires were lit, for they knew not how close the Car-
thaginians might be behind them. Malchus was bound
hand and foot and thrown down in their midst. There was
uo sleep that nigiit; half the party remaiued on watch, the

A GLEAM OP HOPE.

IS.'i

tramp
• liours
looked
As he
a hun-
strong

ie still.
lOjK'less
I by le-
Is after-

, (jiiietly
towards
c, as he
I'lit sub-

)|)|)oscd
C'artha-
ik after
oniptod
)on him
ur, and
ordered
3d their
e might
ternoon
pped in

[\\c Car-
bound
here was
Itch, the

others sat together roun<l the spot where Malchns lay and
discussed the (lisustrous events of the day — the great
Hotilla of the Carbha-'iiiiaiis, the sudden atta^'k in their rear,
the destruetion of their «ani|», the eaptuie of the whole
of their j.oo Is, ami the slaughter and defeat which had
befallen them.

As their dialect ilitlered but little from that of the (Jauls
in the ('artha;^'inian servitc, .Malchus was enabled to under-
stand the grei;t(U- part of tlieir conversation, and learned
that the only reason why he was not put to death at once
was that they wished to keep him until beyond the risk of
pursuit of the Carthaginians, when he could be saeriticed
to their go Is formally and with t!ie Usual ceremonies.

All the time tliai they were talking Mahhus listened
anxiously for any sudden outhrea ; whi h woiM tell that
Nessus had been disovered. Tliat the Numidian had fol-
lowe I on their traces and was somewhere in the neigh-
bourhood Malchus had no doubt, but rescue in his present
j)Ositio;i was impossib!(!, and he only hojied that his follower
would lind that this was so in time and would wait for a
more favourable oppoitunity. The night })assed off tjuietly,
and in the morning the natives continued their march.
After proceeding for three or four hours a sudden exelama-
tion from one of them c u sjd the others to turn, and in
the distance a black mass of horsemen was seen ai)proaching.
At a rapid run the native s started olf, for the shelter of a
wood half a mile distant. iMalchus was forced to accomi)any
them. He felt sure that the horsemen were a party of
Hannibal's cavalrv, and he wondered whether Nessus was
near enough to see tlieni, for if so he doubted not that he
would manage to j(»in tliem a:id lead them to his rescue.

Just bef( re they reached the wood the natives suddenly
stopped, for, couiing from the opposite direction was

' '

i< • ti

186

A CAVALRY ENCOUNTER.

H f ■ n

'11!

i(!;

another body nf cava'ry. It needed not the joyous shouts
of tliu natives to tell Miilcliiis that these weie Komans,
for they were coming fntm the south and could only bo
u paity of Scipio's caviil y. The n.itives halted at the
edj^c of the woo. I to watch the result of the conflict, for the
parties evidt ntly saw each other, and both continuetl to
ailvanceat full speed. The Konian trumpets were sountling,
while the wild yells whidi canu up on the biO'ze told
iMalchu:^ that Hannibal's cavalry were a paity of the Nu-
midians.

The IJonians were somewhat the most numerous; but, hatl
the cavalry opposed to them ronsi.>ted of the Carthaginian
horse, Malchus would have had little doubt as to the result;
he felt, however, by no njeans certain that the light-armed
Nunndians were a match for the IJoman cavalry. The
party had stoi)ped but a (luar'er of a mile from the sjiot
where the ri\al b;uuls met, and the crash of bodies driven
violently against ea h (»ther and the clash of steel on armour
could be i)lainly heard.

For a few minutes it was a wild confused melee, neither
party ai>i)earing to have any advantage. Kiileiless steeds
galloped oil" from the tliiong, but neither party seemed to
give way a foot. 'J'he who!o ma s seemetl interlaced in
contiict. It was a moving strui;u;ling throng of bodies with
arms waving higli and swords rising an<l falling. The
Konians fought in .'•ilence, but the wild yells of the Numi-
dians rose shrill and continuous.

At last there was a movement, and Malchus gave a groan
while the natives around him shouted in triumph as the
Numidians were seen to detach themselves from the throng
and to gallop otf at full spoeil, hotly followed by the llomans,
both, however, in greatly diminislied numbers, for the
ground on which the contiict had taken place was thickly

STRIPPING THE SLAIN.

187

shouts

lomatis,

iiily bo

ut the

for tlie

lUOll to

lunding,
'ze told
the Nu-

hut, liad
luiyinian
e result;
it-aimed
y^. The
the spot
53 driven
1 armour

, neither
ps steeds
mod to
laced in
lies with
The
10 Numi-

a groan
I as the
e throng
Uomans,

for the
; thickly

strewn with bodies; nearly half of those who had engaged
in that short but (ie-iperate sliife wrre h iiig there.

No sooner had the inir>u -is and {lursiied disappeared in
the distance than ih' nativea t'.irongetl down to tiie 8p!»:
Suih »)f the Nuniitluns as were found to he alive were
iiislantly slaughterrd, and ail were des^ oiled of their clothes,

arms, and ornamii»t-». The lloinans wero left untouched,
and those aujoni; them who were foun<l to he only wounded
were assisted hy the natives, who unlnickled tluir armour,
helpetl them into a siitin^' po-ition, houml up their wounds,
and ga\e tl.em water.

Highly satislie I with the hoiity they obtained, and having
no longer any fear of pursuit, t' e natives halted to await
the return of the Konians. Malchus learned from their
convcisation that they had some little doubt whether the
liomans would approve of their appropriating the s^joils of
the dead Nunddians, and it was Hnally decided to hand over
Malehus, whose rich armour proclaimed him to be a prisoner
of im[)Oi'tance, to the Koman commander.

The main body of the natives, with all the spoil which
had 1 e 'ii collected, moved away to the wood, while the
chief, with four of his companions and Malehus, remained
with the wounded Romans. It was late in the eveniiiir
befoje the Romans returnid, af.er having, as has been said,
followed the Xumitlians right up to Hannihal's camp. There
was some grumbling on the part of the Roman soMiers
when they foun>l that their allies had forestalled them with
the spoil; but the oflicer in command was well ]»leased at
finding that the wounded had been carefully attended to, and
bade the men be content that thoy had rendered good ser-
vice to the public, ami that Scipio would be well satis. ied with
them. The native chief now exhibited the helmet and
armour of Malehus, who was led forward by two of liis men.

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188

IN THE HANDS OF THE ROMANS.

" Who are you?" the commander asked Malchus in Greek,
a language wliich was understood by the educated both of
Rome and Carthage.

" I am Malchus, and command the scouts of Hannibal's
army."

"You are young for such a post," the officer said; "but
in Carthage it is interest not valour wliich secures promotion.
Doubtless you are related to Hannibal."

" I am his cousin," Malchus said quietly.

"Ah!" the Roman said sarcastically, "that accounts for
one who is a mere lad being chosen for so important a post.
However, I shall take you to Scipio, who will doubtless
have questions to ask of you concerning Hannibal's army.*'

Many of the riderless horses on the plain came in on
hearing the sound of the Roman trumpets and rejoined the
troop. Malchus was placed on one of these. Such of the
wounded Romans as were able to ride mounted others,
and a small party being left behind to look after those un-
able to move, the troops started on their nay.

They were unable, however, to proceed far; the horses
had been travelling since morning and were now completely
exhausted; therefore, after proceeding a few miles the
troop halted. Strong guards were i)osted, and the men lay
down by their horses, ready to mount at a moment's notice,
for it was possible that Hannibal might have sent a large
body of horsemen in pursuit. As on the night before, Mal-
chus felt that even if Nessus had so far followed him he
could do nothing while so strong a guard was kept up, and
he therefore followed the example of the Roman soldiers
around him and was soon fast asleep.

At daybreak next morning the troops mounted and again
proceeded to the south. Late in the afternoon a cloud of
dust was seen in the distance, and the party presently rode

n Greek,
I both of

[annibal's

lid; "but
romotion.

counts for
lilt a post.

doubtless
's army.*'
ime in on
joined the
Lich of the
ed oliers,

those un-

the horses
jompletely
miles the
le men lay
[it's notice,
^nt a large
jfore, Mal-
}d him he
|pt up, and
in soldiers

and again
la cloud of
leiitly rode

8Cli»i6.

I8d

into the midst of the Roman army, who had made a day's
march from their ships and were just halting for the night.
The commander of the cavalry at once hastened to Scipio's
tent to inform him of the surprising fact that Hannibal had
already, in the face of the opposition of the tribes, forced
the passage of the Rhone, and that, with the exception of
the elei)hants, which had beta seen still on the opposite
bank, all the army were across

Scipio was greatly mortified at the intelligence, for he
had deemed it next to impossible that Hannibal could carry
his army across so wide and ra^jid a river in the face of
opposition. He had little doubt new tliat Hannibal's inten-
tion was to follow the Rhone down on its left bank to its
mouth, and he prepared at once for a battle. Hearing that
a })risoner of some importance had been captured, he
ordered J\lalchus to be brought before him. As the lad,
escorted by a Roman soldier on each side, was led in,
Scijjio, accustomed to estimate men, could not but admire
the calm and haughty self-possession of his young prisoner.
His eye fell with approval upon his active sinewy figure,
and the knotted niu.scles of his arms and Icirs.

" You are Mahhus, a relation of Hannibal, and the com-
mander of the scouts of his ariny, I hear," Scipio began.

Malchus bowed his head in assent.

"What force has he with him, and what are his inten-
tions'!"

"I know nothing of his intentions," Malchus replied
quietly; "as to his force, it were better that you inquired
of your allies, who siw us pass the river. One of them was
brought hither with me, and can tell you what he saw."

"Know }ou not," Scipio said, "that I can order you to
instant execution if you refuse to answer my questions?"

"Of that I am perfectly well aware," Malchus replied;

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190

SECURELY FASTENED.

i :

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" but I nevertheless refuse absolutely to answer any ques-
tions."

" I will give you until to-morrow morning to think the
matter over, and if by that time you have not made up
your mind to give me tlie information I require, you die."

So saying he waved his hand to the soldiers, who at once
removed Malchus from his presence. He was taken to a small
tent a short distance away, food was given to him, and at
nightfall chains were attached to his ankles, and from these
to the legs of two Roman soldieis appointed to guard him
during the night, while a sentry was placed at the entrance.
The chains were strong, and fitted so tightly round the ankles
that escape was altogether impossible. Even had he pos-
sessed arms and could noiselessly have slain the two soldiers,
he would be no nearer getting away, for the cl a'ns were
fastened as securely round their limbs as round his own.
Malchus, therefore, at once abandon jd any idea of escapo,
and lying quietly down, meditatttl on his fate in the

mornmg.

"fWr

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1

y ques-

ink the
lade up
L die."
at once
) a small
, and at
)m these
ard him
;n trance,
le ankles
he pos-
soldiers,
,*ns were
his own.
if escap3,
b in the

CHAPTER XII.

AMONG THE PASSES.

T was not until loni:' after the guards to whom he
was chained had fallen asleep that Malchus
follo'.ved their example. It seemed to him he
had been asleep a long time when a pressure
by a hand on his shoulder woke him ; at the same moment
another hand was placed over his mouth.

**Hu8h, my lord!" a voice said. It was Nessus. "Arise
and let us go. There is no time to be lost, for it is nigh

mornmg.

I have been the whole night in discovering where

you were.

'*But the guards, Nessus?"

" I have killed them," Nessus said in a tone of indiffer-
ence.

" But I am chamed to them by the ankles."

Nessus gave a little exclamation of impatience, and then
in the darkness felt the irons to discover the nature of the
fastenings. In a minute there was a sound of a dull crash-
ing blow, then Nessus moved to tie other side and the
sound was repeated. With two blows of his short heavy
sword the Arab had cut off the feet oi the dead Romans at
the ankle, and the chains were free.

"Put on the clothes of this man, my lord, and take his
arms; I will take those of the other."

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19^

FREEb.

As soon as this was done Nessus wrapped some folds of
cloth round each of the chains to prevent their clanking,
then passing a band through the ends he fastened them to
Malchus' waist.

"Quick, my lord," he said as he finished the work; "day-
light is beginning to break."

They stepped over the dead sentry at the door of the
tent and were going on when Malchus said:

"Best lift him inside, Nessus; it may be some little time
before it is noticed that he is missing from his post."

This was quickly done, and they then moved away quietly
among the tents till they approached the rear of the camp.
It was now light enough to enable them to see dimly the
figures of the Roman sentries placed at short intervals round
the camp.

" We cannot get through unseen," Malchus said.

"No, my lord," Nessus replied; "I have wasted too much
time in finding you."

"Then we had best lie down quietly here," Malchus said;
" in a short time the men will be moving about, and we Ccin
then pass through the sentries without remark."

As the light spread over the sky sounds of movement
were heard in the camp, and soon figures were moving about,
some beginning to make fires, others to attend to their
horses. The two Carthaginians moved about among the
tents as if similarly occupied, secure that their attire as
Roman soldiers would prevent any observation being
directed towards them. They were anxious to be off, for
they feared that at any moment they might hear the alarm
raised on the discovery that the sentry was missing.

It was nearly broad daylight now, and when they saw
two or three soldiers pass out between the sentries unques-
tioned they started at once to follow them. The morning

OUTSIDE THE LINES.

193

Was very cold, and the soldiers who were ahout were all
wearing their military cloaks. Malchus had pulled the
irons as high up as he could possihly force them, and they
did not show helow his cloak.

Walking carelessly along they passed through the sentries,
whose duties, now that morning had dawned, related only
to discovering an enemy ai>proa('liing the camp, the soldiers
being now free to enter or leave it as they pleased.

" It is of no use to go far," Malchus said, " the nearer we
hide to the camp the better. We are less likely to be looked
for there tlum at a ilistance, and it is inqiossible for me to
travel at any speed until I get rid of these heavy irons. As
soon as we get over that little brow ahead we shall be out
of sight of the sentries, and will take to the first hiding-
place we see."

The little rise was but a short distance from camp, the
country beyond was open but was covered with low brush-
wood. As soon as they were over the brow and were
assured that none of those who had left the camp before
them were in sight they plunged into the brushwood, and,
making their way on their hands and knees for a few hundred
yards, lay down in the midst of it.

"They are not likely to search on this side of the camp,"
Malchus said. " They will not know at what hour I escaped,
and will naturally suppose that I started at once to regain
our camp. Listen, tlk.ir trumpets are blowing. No doubt
they are about to strike their camp and march; by this time
my escape must be known. And now tell me, Nessus, how
did you manage to follow and discover me?"

" It was easy to follow you, my lord," Nessus said. "When
I heard your order I lay still, but watched through the
bushes your meeting with the Gauls. My arrow was in the
string, and had they attacked you I should have loosed it

(339) N

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194

NESSUS TKLLS HIS STORY.

^.■

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among them, and then rushed out to die with you, but when
I saw them take you a prisoner I followed your orders. I
had no difficulty in keeping you in sight until nightfall.
Then I crept up to the wood and made my way until I was
within a few yards of you and lay there till nearly morning;
but, as the men around you never went to sleep, I could do
nothing and stole away again before daylight broke. Then I
followed again until I saw our horsemen approaching. I had
started to run towards them to lead them to you when I saw
the Koman horse, and I again hid myself.

"The next night again the Komaiis kept too vigilant
a watch for me to do anything, and I followed them all
yesterday until I saw them enter the Roman camp. As soon
as it was dark I entered, and, getting into the part of the
camp occupied by the Massilians, whose Gaulish talk I could
understand a little, I gathered that a Carthaginian prisoner
who had been brought in was to be executed in the morning.
So I set to work to find you; but the night was too dark to
see where the sentries were placed, and I had to crawl round
every tent to see if one stood at the entrance on guard, for
I was sure that a sentry would be placed over } ou. I entered
seven tents, at whose doors sentries were placed, before I
found yours, but they were all those of Koman generals or
persons of importance. I entered each time by cutting a
slit in the back of the tent. At last, when I was beginning
to despair, I found your tent.

" It was the smallest of any that had been guarded, and
this made me think I was right. When I crawled in I found,
feeling cautiously about, that two Koman soldiers were
asleep on the ground and that you were lying between them.
Then I went to the entrance. The sentry was standing with
his back to it I struck a blow on his neck from behind, and he
died without knowing he was hurt. I caught him as I struck

THE CAMP DKSEIITKD.

195

11, but when
r onlers. I
il nightfall
until 1 was
•ly morning;
», I could do
oke. Then I
;hing. I had
I when I saw

too vigilant
ved them all
,mp. As soon
,c part of the
h talk I could
inian prisoner
1 the morning.
as too dark to
,0 crawl round
on guard, for
ou. I entered
iced, before I
an generals or
by cutting a
was beginning

guarded, and
cd in I found,
soldiers were
between them,
standing with
behind, and he
liim as 1 struck

and lowered liim gently down, for the crash of his arms
as he full would have roused everyone near. After that it
was easy to stab the two guards sleeping by you, and then I
woke you."

" You have saved my life, Nessus, and I shall never forget
it," ^lalchus said gratefully.

"My life is my lord's," the Arab replied simi)ly. "Glad
am I indeed that I have been able to do you a service."

Just as he spoke they saw through the bushes a party
of Koman horse ride at a gallop over the brow between them
and the camp. They halte<l, however, on passing the crest,
and an olticer with them gazed long and searchingly over
the country. For some minutes he sat without speaking,
then he gave an order and the horsemen rode buck again
over the crest.

" I think we shall see no more of them," Malchus said.
" His orders were, no doubt, that if I was in sight they
were to pursue, if not, it would be clearly useless hunting
over miles of brushwood in the hope of finding me, especi-
ally as they must deem it likely that I am far away in the
opposite d'cction."

An hour later Nessus crept cautiously forward among the
bushes, making a considerable detour until he reached the
spot whence he could command a view of the Koman camp.
It had gone, not a soul remained behind, but at some dis-
tance across ihe plain he could see the heavy column march-
ing north. He rose to his feet and returned to the spot
where he had left Malchus, and told him that the Romans
had gone.

"The first thing, Nessus, is to get rid of these chains."

"It is easy as to the chains," Nessus said, "but the rings
around your legs must remain until we rejoin the camp, it
will need a file to free you from them."

t :

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196

GEITINO HID OK THE CHAINS.

•( ('

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The soil was sundy, and Ncssiis coiiltl find no stone suffi-
ciently largo for his purpose. They, therefore, started in the
direction which the Konians had taken until, after two hours'
slow walking, they came upon the bed of a stream in which
were some boulders sufficiently large for the purpose.

The rings were now pushed down again to the ankles,
and Nessus wound round them strips of cloth until he had
formed a pad between the iron and the skin to lessen the
jar of the blow, then he placed the link of the chain next
to the leg upon the edge of the boulder, and, drawing his
sharp heavy sword, struck with all his force upon the iron.

A deep notch was made; again and again he repeated the
blow, until the link was cut through, tlien, with some diffi-
culty, he forced the two ends apart until the shackle of the
ring would puis between them. The operation was repeated
on the other chain, a id then Malchus was free, save for the
two iron rings around his ankles. The work had taken
upwards of an hour, and when it was done they started at
a rapid walk in the direction taken by the column. They
had no fear now of the natives, for should any come upon
them they would take them for two Roman soldiers who
had strayed behind the army.

Scipio made a long day's march, and it was not until
nightfall that his army halted. Malchus ar.d his companion
made a long detour round the camp and continued their
way for some hours, then they left the track that the army
would follow, and, after walking for about a mile, lay down
amongst some bushes and were soon asleep.

In the morning they agreed that before proceeding fur-
ther it was absolutely necessary to obtain some food. Mal-
chus had been fed when among the Komans, but Nessus
had had nothing from the moniing when he had been upset
in the Rhone four days before, save a manchet of bread which

STALKING A GOAT.

197

r I

} stone suffl-
barted in the
ar two liours'
•am in which
irpose.

> the ankles,
until he had
to lessen the
le chain next
, drawing his
pon the iron.
} repeated the
ith some diffi-
shackle of the
1 was repeated
c, save for the
»rk had taken
hey started at
olumn. They
tny come upon
1 soldiers who

was not until
lis companion

ontinued their
that the army

mile, lay down

proceeding fur-
[tie food. Mai-
ns, but Nessus
had been upset
of bread whicli

he had found in one of the tents he had entered. Survey-
ing the country round carefully, the keen eye of the Arab
perceived some light smoke curling up at the foot of the
hills on their right, and they at once directed their course
towards it An hour's walking brought them within sight
of a native village.

As soon as they perceived it they dropped on their hands
and knees and proceeded with caution until within a short
distance of it. Tiiey were not long in discovering a Hock of
goats browsing on the ver^ .'re in some broken ground a few
hundred yards from the village. They were under the
charge of a native boy, who was seated on a rock near them.
They made their way round among the brushwood until
they w ere close to the spot.

" Shall I shoot him?" Nessus asked, for he had carried his
bow and arrows concealed in his attire as a Koman soldier.

" No, no," Malchus replied, " the lad has done us no harm;
brt we must have one of his goats. Kis back is towards us,
and, if we wait, one of them is sure to come close to us
presently."

They lay quiet among the bushes until, after a delay of a
quarter of an hour, a goat, browsing upon the bushes, passed
within a yard or two of them.

Nessus let fly his arrow; it passed almost through the
animal, right behind iU shoulder, and it fell among the bushes.
In an instant Nessus Avas ui)on it, and, grasping its mouth
tightly to prevent it from bleating, cut its throat. They
dragged it away until a fall in the ground hid them from
the sight of the natives, then they quickly skinned and cut
it up, devoured some of the meat raw, and then, each taking
a leg of the animal, proceeded u[)on their way.

They now walked without a halt until, late in the evening,
they came down upon the spot where the Carthaginian army

• . i

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198

OVKUTAKING THE ARMY.

bad crossed. It was deserted. Going down to the edge of
the river tliey saw the great rafts iH)on which the elephants
had crossed.

" We had host go on a mile or two ahead," Xessus said,
"the Roman cavalry may be here in the morning, though
the column will be still a day's march away. By daylight
we shall have no ditliculty in finding the truces of the
army."

Malchus took the Arab's advice, and the next morning
followed on the traces of the army, which were j)laiidy
enough to be seen in the broken bushes, the trampled
ground, and in various useless articles drojjped or thrown
away by the troops. They were forced to advance with
caution, for they feared meeting any of the natives who
might be hanging on the rear uf the army.

After three days' travelling with scaice a pause they
came upon the army just as the rear-guard was crossing the
Is6re, and Malchus received a jo}ous welcome from his
friends, who had supposed him drowned at the passage of
the Rhone. His account of his adventure was eagerly
listened to, and greatly surprised were they when they found
that he had been a prisoner in the camp of Scipio, and
had been rescued by the fidelity and devotion of Nessus.
Hannibal asked many questions as to the strength of Scipio's
army, but Malchus could only say that, not having seen it
except encamped, he could form but a very doubtful estimate
as to its numbers, but considered it to be but little superior
to that of the Carthacrinian.

"I do not think Scipio will pursue us," Hannibal said.
"A defeat here would be as fatal to him as it would be to
us, and I think it more likely that, when he finds »ve have
marched away north, he will return to his ships and meet
us in Italy."

..■■«

I M

THE ALPINE VALLEYS.

1'j9

Malclius learned tl»atcvoiytl)inj,'li;ul i>ro,i;rcRso(l favourably
since the army had crosscMJ the Khonc, the natives havin;^
ofVcred no further opvositioki to their advance. A civil
war was ^'oinj,' on in tlie region tlio army had now en-
tered, between two rival prinee.>*, biothers, of the Allobroges.
Hannibal was re(|uestt'd to act as umpire in the quarrel, and
decided in favour of the elder brother aiid restored order.
In return ho received from the prince whom he reseated on
his throne, provisions, clothing, and other necessaries for the
army, and the princj, with liis troops, escorted the Car-
thaginians some distance up into the Alps, and prevented
the tribes dwelling at the foot of the mountains from
attacking them.

The conquest of Catalonia, the passage of the Pyrenees,
and the march across the south of CJaul had occupied many
months. Summer had come and gone, autumn had passed,
and winter was at hand. It was the eighteenth of October
when Hanniltal led his army up the narrow valleys into the
heart of the Alps. The snow had already fallen thickly
upon the upper part of the mountains, and the Carthaginians
shuddered at the sight of these lofty summits, these wild,
craggy, and forbidding wastes.

The appearance of the wretched huts of the inhabitants,
of the people themselves, unshaved and unkempt and clad
in sheep-skins, and of the Hocks and herds gathering in shel-
tered spots and crowding together to resist the effects of the
already extreme cold, struck the Carthaginian troops with
dismay. Large bodies of the mountaineers were perceived
posted on the heights surrounding the valleys, and the
column, embarrassed by its length and the vast quantity of
baggage, was also exposed to attack by hordes who might at
any moment rush out from the lateral ravines. Hannibal,
therefore, ordered his column to halt.

»'!iii

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200

PASSING IJY STRATAr.KM.

If.'

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Miilchus w;is now oidcnMl to <^o forward with \m hand
of scouts, ami to tu!\o witli him a iKUty of (lauls, who,
their lan;i;uugo ])vm'^ similar to tliat of the natives, could
enter into conver-ation with tliem. Tiic mountaineers,
seeing hut a small Jiarty mlvjinein^, allowed tliem to
approach peaccaliiy and entere«l fioely into conversation
with them. Thev deciarctl that thev would on no account
permit tlic Caithai^inian army to pass forward, hut would
opjtose every ff>«)t of tlu-ir advance.

The (Jauls learned, however, that, helicvini^ the great
column ct>uld onlv move forwaid in the davtime, the natives

a. •/ '

M'ere in the hal)it of retiring from their rocky citadels at
in'ghtfall. Malcluis returned with this news to llannihal,
who prepared to take advantage of it. The camp was at
once pitched, and the men set to work to form an intrench-
nient round it as if llannihal meditated a jjrohmged halt
tliere. Great fires were lit and tlie animals unloailed. The
natives, seeing from ahuve everything that M-as h<Mng done,
deserted their posts as usual at nightfall, conti«lent that
the Cartha-^inians hud no intention of moving forward.

Malchus with his scouts crept on along the path, and soon
sent down word to Hannihal that the heights were deserted.
The geneial himself now moved forward with all his light
troops, occupied the head of the pass, and posted strong
parties of men upon the heights commanding it. As soon
as day iMoke the rest of the army got into motion and
proceeded up the pass. The "natives W(>re now seen ap-
proaching in great nnmhers, hul they halt«Hl in dismay on
seeing that the Cm thaginians had already gained possession
of the strong places.

The road by which the column was ascending wound along
the face of a precipice, and was so narrow that it was with
diflJculty that the horses, snorting with fright, could be ])&V'

ON TIIK FA<'K OF TIIK PUF/MPICE.

201

id possession

RUJidod to prorced. The natives, pceinj^ tlie confusion wliich
the friL,'ht of th(? jininials cirjitt'd in the c(»Iumn, at «incc took
to the niouiituins, clinil»iii>,' up ni,iru'«''l precipices which
iippj'ared to tlie ('jiithaj:inians iilisolutcly iiiacccssihle, and
InescMitly nKwh; their np|ii'aiaiice far np on the mountain
side ahov(; th«' cohinin.

Here, sondinj; up tlie nu>Rt ])icrcinj:j \c]h, they ])egan to
roll rocks and stones «lo\vn upou the cohnun. The confusion
Im.'Iow hecaine tcrrihh'. Tl.o liorses, ahuined liy the strange
wild crii's, echoed and re eelioctl a score of times among the
mountains, an<l struck l)y the falling stones, plunged and
struggled wildly to escape. Som«' tore along the path, pre-
cipitating those in front of them over the })recipice, others
lost their footing, and, dragging with them the carts to which
they were attachetl, f«!ll into the valley below. All order
was lost. Incapahle of defence or of movement the column
appeared to ho on the verge of destruction.

"Conio, my men," Malchus exclaimed to his Arabs, "where
these men can climb we can follow them; the safety of the
whole colunni is at stake."

Slinging their weapons behind them tlic scouts began to
climb the crags. Sure-footed and hardy as they were,
it was with the greatest ditliculty that they could make their
way up. Many lost their footing, and rolling down were
dashed to pieces; but the great majority succeeded in climb-
ing the heights, and at once became engaged in a desperate
battle with the natives.

Eveiv narrow ledge and crag was the scene of a conflict.
The natives from the distant heights encouraged their com-
panions with their shouts, and for a time the confusion in
the column below was heightened by the combat which was
proceeding far above them. Every stone dislodged by the
feet of the combatants thundered down upon them, and the

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202

A FRIENDLY RECEPTION.

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falling bodies of those hit by arrow or javelin came crushing
down with a dull thud amon2: the ni^ss.

At last the bravery and superior weapons of the Arabs
prevailed. The precipice was cleared of the natiA'CS, and as
the uproar ceased and the missiles ceased to fall, the colunm
recovered its order, and again moved forward until the whole
army gained the top of the pass. Here Hannibal took
possession of a rough fort erected bj' the natives, captured
several villages, and enough flocks and herds to feed his
army for three days. Then descending from the top of the
pass, ^vhich is now known as the Col-du-Chat, he entered
the valley of Chambery, and marched forward for three days
without 0})position.

Malchus and his scouts received the warmest congratula-
tions for their conduct at the pass, for they had undoubtedly
saved the army from what had at one time threatened to be
a terrible disaster. On arrival at a town supposed to be
identical with the modern Contlans, the inhabitants came
out with green boughs and expressed their desire for peace
and friendship. They said that they ha«l h'-ard of the fate
which had befallen those who ventured to o]i}>ose the Car-
thaginians, and that they were anxious to avoid such mis-
fortunes. They offered to deliver hostages as a proof of
their good intentions, to supi)ly sheep and goats for the
army, and to furnish guides through the difficult country
ahead.

For two days the march continued. The route the army
was passing was that now known as the Little St. Bernard.
Fortunately Hannibal had from the first entertained con-
siderable doubt as to the jrood faith of his guides, and never
relaxed his vigilance. The scouts and light infantry, with
the cavalry, preceded the great column of baggage, the
heavy cavalry defended the rear.

the Arabs
ves, and as
the coUnim
il the whole
iiiibal took
iS, captured
to feed his
e top of the
^ he entered
,r three days

b congratula-
undouljtedly
atened to be
iposed to be
)itants came
;ire for peace
I of the fate
)Ose the Car-
id such mis-
s a proof of
l;oats for the
jcult country

\\te the army

St. Bernard.

iitaiiied con-

?s, and never

lifantry, with

[baggage, the

ATTACKED IN A GORGE.

203

The track, wliich had for the last five days' march proceeded
along a comj)aratively level valley, now mounted rai)idly, and
turning aside from the valley of the Is6re it led up the deep
bed of the mountain torrent known as the Keclus; this stream
ran in a deep trough hoHowcd out in a very narrow valley.
The bed is now so piled with rocks and stones as to be im-
passable, and the Komans afterwards cut a road along on
the side of the mountain. But at this time it was possible
for men and animals to pioceed along the betl of the torrent.

Suddenlv while struiA'dini' with the difficultieG of the as-
rent a vast number of natives appeared on the hills on either
side, and began to hurl down stones and rocks upon the
column below, while at the same time a still stronger force
attacked them in the rear. The instant the natives made
their ajtpearance the treacherous guides, who were proceed-
ing with the scouts at the head of the column, attempted to
make their escape by climbing the mountain side. The
Arabs were starting off in pursuit, but Malchus checked
them.

" Keep together," he shouted, "and on no account scatter;
the enemy are upon us in force, and it behoves us all to be
steady and deliberate in our action."

A flight of arrows was, however, sent after the traitors,
and most of them rolled lifeless down the slope again.

Hannihal's first care was to extricate his cavalry from the
gorge. This was performed with great difficulty, and they
were drawn up in good order on the narrow piece of level
ground between the goige in which the river ran and the
mountains bordering the side of the pass.

The light troops now ascended the hills on both sides,
and speedily became engaged with the enemy. The con-
fusion in the bed of the torrent was tremendous. Great
numbers of men and animals were killed by the rocks an

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204

AT THE SUMMIT OF THE PASS.

missiles from above, but more of the soldiers were trampled
to death by the frightened horses. The heavy infantry in
the rear remained steady, and repulsed every effort of tL»
main body of the enemy to break in upon the column.

As night fell the combat ceased, but Hannibal and the
troops in advance of the column passed the night under
arms at the foot of a certain white rock standing above the
ravine, and which still marks the exact site of the conflict.
The natives had suffered heavily both from their conflict
with the light troops upon the hillside, and fiorn the repulse
of their assaults upon the rearguard, and in the morning
they did not venture to renew t!ie attack, and the column
moved forward out of the ravine and continued its march,
the natives from time to time dashing down to attack it.

The elephants were placed on the flank of the line of
march, and the appearance of these strange beasts s< terrified
the enemy that they desisted from their attack, and by
evening the army encamped on the sunnnit of the pass.

The snow had already fallen deeply, the army were worn
out and dispirited by the exertions and dangers through
which they had passed, and had suffered great losses in men
and animals in the nine days which had elapsed since they
first entered the mountains. Hannibal gave them two days*
rest, in which time they were joined by many stragglers
who had fallen behind, and by beasts of burden which, in
the terror and confusion of the attack, had got rid of their
loads and had escaped, but whose instinct led them to follow
the line of march.

At the end of the second day Hannibal assembled his
troops and addressed them in a stirring speech. He told
them that the worst part of their journey was now over.
He pointed to them the plains of Italy, of which a view
could be obtained through the pass ahead, and told them

'|!|!lll ''<!'!

liiii

BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL

tliat there they would find rest and friends,
glory. The soldiers as usual responded to the
their beloved general with shouts of acclamation, an
renewed spirits prepared to meet the difficulties whici.
lay before them.

The next mornim? the march was renewed. The snow
lay deep on the track, and the soldiers found that, great
as had been the difficulties of the ascent, those of the descent
were vastly greater, for the slopes of the Alps on the Iialian
side are far steeper and more abrupt than are those on the
French. Every step had to be made with care; those who
strayed in the slightest from the path found the snow give
way beneath their feet, and fsU down the precipice beside
them.

Many of the baggage animals thus perished; but at last
the head of the column found itself at the foot of the steep
descent in a ravine with almost perpendicular walls, and
whose foot was in summer occupied by a mountain stream.
Into the depth of this ravine the rays of the sun never pene-
trated, and in it lay a mass of the previous years' snow which
had never entirely melted, but which formed with the water
of the torrent a sheet of slippery ice.

The newly formed snow prevented the troops from seeing
the nature of the ground, and as they stepped upon it they
fell headlong, sliding in their armour down the rapidly slop-
ing bed of ice, many dashing out their brains or breaking
tlieir limbs against the great boulders which projected
through it. The cavalry next attempted the passage, but
with even less success, for the hoofs of the horses broke
through the hard upper crust of the old snow, and the
animals sank in to their bellies Seeing that it was impos-
sible to pass this oostacle, Hannibal turned back the head
of the column until they reached the top of the ascent down

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206

THE TASK ACHIEVED.

which they had just come. There he cleared away the snow
and erected a camp, all the infantry w^ere then brought down
into the pass and set to work to build up a road along the
side of the ravine.

The engineers with fire and explosives blasted away the
foot of the cliffs; the infantry broke up the rocks and formed
a level track. All night the work continued, the troops re-
lieving each other at frequent intervals, and by the morning
a i^ath which could be traversed by men on foot, horses,
and baggage animals was constructed for a distance of three
hundred yards, beyond which the obstacle which had arrested
the advance of the army did not continue.

The cavalry, baggage animals, and a portion of the infantry
at once continued their way down the valley, while the rest
of the infantry remained behind to widen the road sufficiently
for the elephants to pass along. Although the work was
pressed on with the greatest vigour it needed three daj's of
labour in all before the elephants could be passed through.
The animals were by this time weak with hunger, for from
the time when they had turned aside from the valley of the
Is6re the Alps had been wholly bare of trees, and the
ground being covered with snow, no foliage or forage had
been obtainable to eke out the store of flour which they
carried for their consumption. Nor was any wood found
with which to manufacture the flat cakes into which the
flour was formed for their rations.

The elephants once through, the march was continued, and,
joining the troops in advance, who had halted in the woods
below the snow level, the column continued its march. On
the third day after passing the gorge they issued out on to
the plain of the j?o, having lost in the fifteen days' passage
of the Alps great numbers of men, from the attacks of the
enemy, from the passage of the rapid torrents, from falls

TERRIBLE LOSSES.

2C7

Ely the snow
ought down
[1 along the

id away the
and formed
le troops re-
the morning
foot, horses,
ince of three
had arrested

the infantry
^hile the rest
d sufficiently
tie work was
ihree days of
sed through,
ger, for from
valley of the
es, and the
forage had
which they
wood found
which the

tinned, and,
in the woods
march. On

d out on to

lays' passage

tacks of the

from falls

over the precipices, and from cold, and having suffered still
more severely in horses and baggage animals.

Of the 59,000 picked troops with which he had advanced
after the conquest of Catalonia, Hannibal reached the plains
of Italy vith but 12,000 African infantry, 8000 Spanish and
' Jaulish infantry, and 6000 cavalry — in all 2G,000 men. A
small force indeed with which to enter upon the struggle
witli the might and power of Rome. Of the 33,000 men
that were missing, 13,000 had fallen in the passes of the
Pyrenees and the march through Gaul, 20,000 had died in
the passage of the Alps.

'Hi

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CHAPTER XIII.

THE BATTLE OF THE TREBIA.

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ELL wai it for the Caithaginians that Hannibal
had opened ccmmunications with the Gaulish
tribes in the plains at the foot of the Alps, and
^^ that on its issue from the mountain nasses his
army found itself among friends, for had it been at-
tacked it was in no position to offer a vigorous resistance,
the men being utterly broken down l^y their fatigues and
demoralized by their losses. Many were suffering terribly
from frost-bites, the cavalry w»'Te altogether unable to act,
so worn-out and enfeebled were the horses. Great numbers
of the men could scarce drag themselves along owing to the
state of their feet; their shoes and sandals, well enough
adapted for sandy plains, were wholly unfitted for traversing
rocky precipices, and the greater part of the army was
almost barefoot.

So long as they had been traversing the mountains they
had struggled on doggedly and desperately; to lag behind
was to be slain by the natives, to lie. down was to perish of
cold; but with the cessation of the absolute necessity for
exertion the power for exertion ceased also. Worn-out,
silent, exhausted, and almost despairing, the army of Han-
nibal presented the appearance of one which had suffered

I ■ i'

A HOSPITABLE RECEPTIOI^.

JJ09

hat Hannibal
h the Gaulish

the Alps, and
ain masses his
\ it been at-
ous resistance,
r fatigues and
fcring terribly

unable to act,

ireat numbers
[t owing to the
well enough
for traversing

the army was

rtountains they
to lag behind
as to perish of

le necessity for

lo. Worn-out,
army of Han-

Ih had suffered

a terrible defeat, rather than that of a body of men who had
accomplished a feat of arras unrivalled in the history of
war.

Happily they found themselves among friends. The
Insubres, who had been looking forward eagerly to their
coming, flocked in great numbers to receive them as they
issued out into the plain, bringing with them cattle, grain,
wine, and refreshments of all kinds, and inviting the army
to take up their quarters among them until recovered
from their fatigues. This offer Hannibal at once accepted.
Tlie army was broken up and scattered among the various
towns and villages, where the inhabitants vied with each
otlier in attending to the comforts of the guests. A fort-
night's absolute rest, an abundance of food, and the con-
sciousness that the worst of their labours was over, did
wonders for the men.

Malchus had arrived in a state of extreme exhaustion,
and had, indeed, been carried for the last two days of the
march on the back of one of the elephants. The company
which he commanded no longer existed; they had borne far
more than their share of the fatigues of the march; they
had lost nearly half their number in the conflict among the
precipices with the natives, and while the rest of the army
had marched along a track where the snow had already
been beaten hard by the cavalry in front of them, the scouts
ahead had to make their way through snow knee-deep.
Inured to fatigue and hardship the Arabs were unaccus-
tomed to cold, and every day had diminished their numbers,
until, as they issued out into the plain, but twenty men of
the company remained alive.

Hannibal committed his young kinsman to the care of one
of the chiefs of the Insubres. The latter caused a litter
to be constructed by his followers, and carried the young

(339)

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210

MALCIIUS IN GOOD HANDS.

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Carthaginian away to his villago, wliicb was situated at the
foot of the hills on the hanks of the river Orcus.

Here he was handed over to the care of the women.
The wounds and bruises caused b}' falls on the rocks and
ice were bathed and bandaged, tli^n he was placed in a small
chamber and water was poured on to heated stones until it
was filled with hot steam, and Malchus began to think that
he was going to be boihid alive. After being kept for an
hour in this vapour bath he was anointed with oil, and was
rubbed until every limb was sui)})le, he was then placed on
a couch and covered with soft skins, and in a few more
minutes was sound asleep.

It was late next day before he woke, and on rising he
found himself a new man. A breakfast of meat, fresh
cheese formed from goats' milk, and flat cakes was set
before him, and, had it not been that his feet were still com-
l^letely disabled from the effects of the frost-bites, he felt
that he was fit again to take his place in the ranks. The
chief's wife and daughters waited upon him. The former
was a tall, majestic-looking women. She did not belong to
the Insubres, but was the daughter of a chief who had, with
a portion of his tribe, wandered down from their native
home far north of the Alps and settled in Italy.

Two of the daughters were young women of over twenty,
tall and robust in figure like their mother, the third was a
girl of some fifteen years of age. The girls took after their
German mother, and Malchus wondered at the fairness of
their skins, the clearness of their complexion, and the soft
light brown of their hair, for t) y were as much fairer than
the Gauls as these were fairer than the Carthaginians. Mal-
chus was able to hold little converse with his hosts, whose
language differed much from that of the Ti-ansalpine Gauls.

His stay here was destined to be much longer than he

I III'

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situated at the

cus.

of tlio women.

the rocks and
)laced in a small
[ stones until it
.in to think that
iug kept for an
ni\\ oil, and was
1 then placed on

in a few more

.nd on rising he
t of meat, fresh
it cakes was set
!ct were still com-
lost-hitcs, he felt

the ranks. The

.nn. The former

[lid not belong to

icf who had, with

lom their native

Italy.

11 of over twenty,

r, the third was a
s took after their

at the fairness of

ion, and the soft

much fairer than

L-thaginians. ^lal-

liis hosts, whose

,'ransalpine Gauls.

[h longer than he

839

THE INSUBRIAN CHIEF'S DAUGHTERS NURSiE MALGHUS.

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212

A CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT.

^ff.-

him on tho Klione, he had despatclicd the principal part of
his army, under his brotlier Cneiiis, to Spain, their original
destination, and with tlie rest saihd to Pisa and landed tliere.
Marching witli all haste north he eidisted 10,000 troops
from among the iiduihitants of the country, many of them
having already served in tlie Konuin army, lie then marched
north to Tenneto, wln^re he was joine«l hy tlu; prietors Manlius
and Attilius with over 20,000 men, with whom he marched
to Piacenza.

Hannibal, after, as usual, rousing the enthusiasm of his
soldiers by an address, marclied towards Scii)io. The latter,
with his cavalry, had crossed the Ticino and was within five
miles of Vercella, when Hannibal, also with his cavalry,
came within sight. 8cii)io's front was covered with a swarm
of foot skiiniisliers mixed with irregular Gaulish horsemen;
the Roman cavalry and the cavalry of the Italian allies
formed his main boily.

H'uinibal ordered the Carthaginian horse to charge full
upon the centre of the enemy, and the Numidians to attack
them on both Hanks. The Komans, in those days, little
understood the use of cavaliy, the troops frequently dis-
mounting and fighting on foot; Hannibal's soldiers were, on
the other hand, trained to figiit in tactics resembling those
of modern days. No sooner was the word given to charge
than the Carthaginian horse, delighted at being at last, after
all their toils and sufferings, within stiiking distance of
their foes, gave a mighty shout, and setting spurs to their
splendid horses flung themselves at the eneni}'.

The charge of this solid mass of picked cavalry was irre-
sistible. They swejjt before them the skirmishers and
Gaulish horse, and fell with imy upon the main body, cleav-
ing a way far into its ranks. fJefore the Romans could re-
cover from their confusion the Numidian horse burst down

MALCHU9 REJOINS THE ARMY.

213

cipal part of
their original
landed there.
0,000 troops
lany of them
tlien marched
LetorsiSIanHua
11 he marched

nsiasm of his
). The latter,
;as within five
1 his cavalry,
with a swarm
lish horj-emen;
; Italian allies

to charge full
(lians to attack
(se days, little
requently dis-
idiers were, on
icmbling those
•iven to charge
iii at last, after
iir distance of
spurs to their

I V airy was irre-
liimishers and
liu body, cleav-
Imans could re-
•se burst down

upon their flanks. Tlie charge was irresistible; large num-
bers of the Komans were killed and the rest fled in panic,
hotly pursued by the Caithaginians, until they reached the
shelter of the Konuui infantry, which was advancing behind
them. Scipio, who had been wounded in the fight, at once
led his army back Lo riacfiiza.

The news of this battle reached Malcluis just as he was
preparing to depart; the messenger who brought it brought
also a lod hors«', which Hamilcar had sent for his son's use.
IJesuniing his armour Malchus mounted and rode off at
once, after many warm thanks to his friends, whom he
expected to see again shortly, as they, with the rest of that
section of the tril)e, were about to join the chief — the Gaul-
ish women frccjuently accompanying their husbands in their
camjjaigns.

Malchus was delighted to rejoin the army, from which he
liad now been separated more than two months. He saw
with pleasure that they had now completely recovered from
the efFects of their hardships, and presented as proud and
maitial an appearance as when they had started from Car-
thagena.

The issue of thoir first fight with the Romans had raised
their spirits and confidence, and all were eager to enter
upon the camjjaign which awaited them. Malchus, upon
his arrival, was appointed to the command of the company of
Gauls who formed the body-guard of the general. Hannibal
moved up fhe Fo and prejured to cross that river at Cambio,
tno days' easy march above its junction with the Ticino.
The army was accompanied by a considerable number of
the Insubres. The work of constructing a bridge was at
once commenced.

Malchus, riding through the camp, came upon the tents
of his late host, who had been joined that day by his family.

) :■

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214

THE PASSAGE OF THE PO.

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To them Malchus did the honours of the camp, took them
through the lines of the Cartliaginian cavalry, showed them
the elephants, and finally conducted them to Hannibal, who
received them most kindly, and presented thcni with many
presents in token of his thanks for their care of his kinsman.
The next day the bridge was completed and the troops began
to pass over, the natives crowding to the banks and even
venturing on the bridge to witness the imposing procession
of the troops.

Malchus remained with Hannibal in the rear, but seeing
that there was a delay as the elephants crossed, he was
ordered to ride on to the bridge and see what was the
matter. Finding the crowd too great to enable him to pass
on horseback, Malchus gave his horse to a soldier and pressed
forward on foot. When he reached the head of the column
of elephants he found that one of the leading animals, enter-
taining a doubt as to the stal)ility of the bridge at this point,
obstinately refused to move further. Ordering the mahout
to urge the animal forward, and telling some soldiers to
prick the beast with a spear from behind, Malchus entered
into conversation with the wife and daughters of the Insu-
brian chief, who had received from Hpnnibal a special order
allowing them to take ujj their position on the bridge to
witness their crossing.

While he was speaking to them the elephant suddenly
wheeled round and, trumpeting loudly, tried to force his
way back. A scene of wild confusion ensued. The crowd
gave way before him, several soldie.s were thrust oft' the
bridge into the river, and Malchus and his companions were
borne along by the crowd; there was a little cry, and Malchus
saw the youngest of the girls i)uslied off" the bridge into the
river.

He flung off his helmet, unbuckled the fastenings of his

AN ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.

210

>, took them
ihowed them
aiinibal, who
n with many
his kinsman.
I troops began
nks and even
\\ir procession

•ar, but seeing
ossed, he was
wiiat was the
,le him to pass
ior and pressed
I of the column
animals, enter-
re at this point,
ing the mahout
)me soldiers to
lalchus entered
rs of the Insu-
a special order
the bridge to

Iphant suddenly
led to force his
;d. The crowd
thrust off the
lompanions were
Iry, and ^lalcluis
bridge into the

astenmgs

of his

breastplate and back-piece, undid the belt of his sword,
and leapt in. As he rose to the suifaco he lieard a merry
laugh beside liiui, and saw the girl swimming (luictly close
by. Although mortilicd at having so hastily assumed
that she was unable to take care of liersflf he joined in her
laugh, and swam by her side until they reached the bank
.some distance down. Kncumbcicd by the trappings which
he still retained, Malchus had far more diiliculty than the
girl in gaining the shore.

"AVhat, did you think," she asked laughing as ho strug-
gh'tl up the bank, " that I, a Gaulish maiden, could not
swiml"

"I did not think anything about it," Malchus said; "1
saw you pushed in and followed without thinking at all."

Altliough they imjierfectly understood each other's words
the meaning was clear; the girl put her hand on his shoulder
and looked frankly ui) in his face.

"I thank you,"' she said, "just the same as if you had saved
my life. Vou meant to do so, and it was very good of you,
a great chic^f of this army, to hazard your life for a Gaulish
maiden. C'lotilde will never forget."

By the time they reached the bridge the column had
moved on. A more docile elephant had been })laced in
front, and this having moved across the doubtful portion
of the bridge, the others had quickly followed. Just as
Malchus and his companion reached the end of the bridge
they met her mother and sisters coming to meet them.

There was a smile of amusement on their faces as they
thanked Malchus for his attempt at rescue, and Clotilde'a
sisters whisi)ei'ed some laughing remarks into her ear which
caused the girl to flush hotly, and to draw her slight figure
indignantly to its full height. Malchus retired to his tent
to provide himself with fresh armour and sword, for he

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216

SCIPIO ASKS FOR REINFORCEMENTS.

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doubted not that those thrown aside had been carried over
the bridge in the confusion. The soldier had returned with
his horse, and in a few minutes he took his place at the
head of the Gauls who were drawn up near Hannibal's
tent.

The general himself soon appeared, and mounting his
horse rode forward. Malchus followed Avith his command,
waving an adieu to the party who stood watching the de-
parture, and not ill-pleased that those who had before known
him only as a helpless invalid, should now see him riding
at the head of the splendid body-guard of the great com-
mander.

Hannibal was marching nearly due east, with the inten-
tion of forcing Scipio to give battle south of the Po. A
strong Roman fortress, Casteggio (Clastidium), lying at the
foot of the hills, should have barred his way; but Han-
nibal, by the medium of one of his native allies, bribed the
Roman commander to abstain from interrupting his march.
Then he pressed forward until on the third day after cross-
ing the Po he came within sight of Piacenza, under whose
walls the Roman army were ranged.

Scipio, after his disastrous cavalry conflict, had written to
Rome urging his inability, with the force under his com-
mand, to give battle single-handed to Hannibal, and begging
that he might be at once reinforced by the army under
Sempronius, then lying at Ariminum (Rimini). The united
consular armies, he represented, should take up their position
on the river Trebia. This river rose in the Apennines but a
short distance from Genoa, and flowed nearly due north into
the Po at Piacenza. The Roman army there would therefore
effectually bar Hannibal's m.arch into the rich plains to the
east, and would prevent him from making across the Apen-
nines and following the road by the coast, as they would,

THE RIVAL ARMIES.

217

arried over

urned with

lace at the

Hannihal's

ounting his
s command,
ling the de-
efore known
him riding
5 great com-

h the inten-
the Po. A
lying at the
y; but Han-
|s, bribed the

lor his march.

y after cross-
under whose

•-'M*

should he undertake such a movement, be able to fall on

his rear.

Hannibal pitched his camp on tlie Nure, about five miles
from Piaceuza, but Scipio leinained immovable in his lines
waiting for the arrival of his colleague. Hannibal's position
was a difficult one. He had traversed the Pyrenees and the
Alps that he might attack Pome; but between him and
Southern Italy lay yet another barrier, the Apennines.
Scii)io had missed him after he had crossed the Pyrenees,
had been too late to attack him when, exhausted and worn-
out, his army emerged from the Alps; lii.t now, united
with Sempronius, he hoped to crush him at the foot of the
Apennines. Hannibal wishisl, if i)ossible, to prevent a
junction of the two Roman armies, lut if that could not be
done, he determined to fight them together.

Scipio perceived the danger of his position; and in order
to be able the better to join Sempronius he left Piacenza
under cover of night, and took uj) a strong position on the
banks of the Trebia. Here he could maintain his communi-
cations direct with Rome, and, if absolutely necessary, fall
back and join his colleague advancing towards him. Han-
nibal, when he perceived Scipio's change of position, broke
up his camp and took post on the Trebiola, a little stream
running into the Trebia and facing the Roman camp at a
distance of four miles.

He was now powerless to prevent the junction of the two
Roman armies, and for nearly a month Scipio and Hannibal
lay watching each other. By that time Sempronius was
within a day's march of Scipio. Hannibal had not been idle
during this time of rest. He had been occupied in cement-
ing his alliance with the Gaulish tribes inhabiting the Lom-
bard plains. These, seeing how rapidly Hannibal had cleared
the province of the Romans, believed that their deliverance

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218

DIVISION AMONG THE GENERALS.

! <■• i •

would be accomplished, and for the most part declared for
the Carthaginians.

Hannibal's agents had also been at work at Clastidium,
and the prefect of the garrison was induced by a bribe to
surrender the place to him. This was of enormous advan-
tage to Hannibal, and a corresponding blow to the Komans,
for C astidium was the chief magazine north of the Apen-
nines. The news of the fall of this important place filled
Sempronius, an energetic and vigorous general, with fury.
He at once rode down from his camp to that of Scipio and
proposed that Hannibal should be attacked instantly.

Scipio, who was still sufiering from the wound he had
received in the cavalry engagement, urged that the lioman
army should remain where they were, if necessary, through
the coming winter. He piointed out that Hannibal's Gaulish
allies would lose heart at seeing him inactive, and word I
cease to furnish him with supplies, and that he would be
ooliged either to attack them at a disadvantage or to retire
from the position he occupied. But Sempronius Avas an aml;i-
tious man, the time for the consular election was api)roaching,
and he was unwilling to leave for his successor the glory of
crushing Hannibal.

The fact, too, that Scipio was wounded and unable to take
part in the battle added to his desire to force it on, since the
whole glory of the victory would be his. He therefore
told his colleague that although he saw the force of his
arguments, puldic opinion in Kome was already so excited at
Hannibal having been allowed, without a battle, to wrest so
wide a territory from Rome, that it was absolutely necessary
that an action should be fought. The two armies were now
united on the Trebia; and opinion was among the officers
and troops, as between the consuls, widely divided as to the
best course to be pursued.

it'

HANNIBAL CHOOSES HIS GROUND.

219

leclared for

Clastidium,
)y a bribe to
•mous advan-
the Komans,
of tlie Apen-
t place filled
il, with fury,
of Scipio and
itantly.
ound be bad
at tbe lloinan
ssary, tbiongb
nibal's Gaulish
ve, and woull
t be would bo
ige or to retire
,s was an ambi-
s approacbin
ior tbe glory of

unable to take
|it on, since tbe
He therefore
ie force of bis
lly so excited at
Itle, to wrest so
lutely necessary
•mies were now
,ng the officers
:vided as to tbe

g»

Hannibal's spies among tbe natives kept him acquainted
with what was going on in the Eoman camp, and he deter-
mined to prove ve tho Romans to battle. He therefore de-
spatched two thousand infantry and a thousand cavalry to
ravage the lands of some Gaulish allies of the Romans.
Sempronius sent off the greater part of his cavalry, with a
thousand light infantry, to drive back uie Carthaginians.

In the fight which ensued the Romans were worsted.
Still more furious, Sempronius marched to suj)port them
with his army. Hannibal called in his troops and drew
them otf before SeAupronius could arrive. The disappoint-
ment and rage of the Roman general were great, and Han-
nibal felt that he could now bring on a battle when he
would. He determined to fight in the i)lain close to his
own jiosition. This was flat and bare, and was traversed
by the Trebiola. This stream ran between steep banks below
the level of the plain; its banks were covered with thick
bushes and reeds, and the narrow gap across the plain was
scarce noticeable.

On the evening of the twenty-fifth of December Hannibal
mo , ed his army out from the camp and formed up on the
plain facing the Trebia, ordering the corps commanded by his
brother Mago to enter the bed of the Trebiola, and to conceal
themselves there until they received his orders to attack.
The position Mago occupied would bring him on the left
rear of an army which had crossed tho Trebia, and was
advancing to attack the position taken up by Hannii>al.
Having thus prepared for the battle, Hannibal proceeded to
provoke it.

At daybreak on the twenty-sixth he despatched a strong
body of horsemen across the river. Crossing the Trebia partly
by ford and partly by swimming, the Carthaginian horse rode
up to the palisade surrounding the Roman camp, where, with

ii'''

220

THE ORDER OF BATTLE.

'ir\\i

liHi III

insulting shouts and the hurling of their javelins, they aroused
the Roman soldiers from their shmiber. This insult had the
desired effect. Sempronius rushed from his tent, furious at
what he deemed the insolence of the Carthaginians, and
called his troo})s to arms. AVith their accustomed discipline
the Itomans fell into their ranks. The light cavalry first
issued from the palisade, the infantry followed, the heavy
cavalry brought up the rear. The insulting Numidians had
already retired, but Sempronius was now determined to
bring on the battle. He marched down the river and
crossed at a ford.

The water was intensely cold, the river was in flood, the
ford waist-deep as the soldiers marched across it. Having
gained the opposite bank, the Roman general formed his
army in order of battle. His infantry, about forty-five
thousand strong, was formed in three parallel lines; the
cavalry, five tliousand strong, was on the flanks. The in-
fantry consisted of sixteen thousand Roman legionary or
heavy infantry, and six thousand light infantry. The
Italian tribes, allied to Rome, had supplied twenty thou-
sand infantry; the remaining three thousand were native
allies. The infantry occupied a front of two and a half
miles in length ; the cavalry extended a mile and a quarter
on each flank. Thus the Roman front of battle was five
miles in extent.

Hannibal's force was inferior in strength; his infantry of
the line were twenty thousand strong. He had eight thou-
sand light infantry and ten thousand cavalry. The Cartha-
ginian formation was much deeper than the Roman, and
Hannibal's line of battle was less than two miles long. In
front of it were the elephants, thirty-six in number, divided
in pairs and placed with intervals of a hundred yards be-
tween each pair. \

i , 1

tHE CARTHAGINIAN SLINtlERS.

621

hey aroused
iult had the
t, furious at
ivinians, and
ed discipline
cavalry first
tl, the heavy
Liuiidians had
etermined to
he river and

I in flood, the
,s it. Having
al formed his
Dout forty-five
.Uel lines; the
nks. The in-
legionary or
iantry. The
twenty thou-
id were native
o and a half
and a quarter
•attle was five

Ihis infantry of
\ad eight thou-
The Cartha-
|e Roman, and
liles long. In
imher, divided
ired yards be-

While the Romans, exposed to a bitterly cold wind,
chilled to the bone by their immersion in the stream, and
having come breakfastless from camp, were forming their
long order of battle, Hannibal's troojjs, gathered round
blazing fires, were eating a hearty breakfast; after which, in
high spirits and confidence, they prepared for tlie fight.

Hannil)al called the officers together and addressed them
in stirring words, which were repeated by them to the sol-
diers. The Roman prejiarations had occujjied a long time,
and it was afternoon before they advanced in order of battle.
Wiion within a short distance of the Carthaginians they
halted, and the trumpets and musical instruments on both
sides blew notes of defiance. Then the Carthacrinian slin<xers
stole out between the ranks of their heavy infantry, passed
between the elephants, and commenced the battle.

Each of these men carried three slings, one of which was
used for long distances, another when nearer to the foe, the
third when close at hand. In action one of these slings was
wound round the head, one round the body, the third carried
in hand. Their long-distance missiles were leaden bullets,
and so skilful were they that it is said they could hit with
certainty the face of a foe standing at slinging distance.

Naked to the waist they advanced, and with their long-
distance slings hurled the leaden bullets at the Roman
infantry. When closer they exchanged their slings and dis-
charged from ihem egg-shaped pebbles which they had
gathered from the bed of the Trebia. When within still
closer distance with ^\ie third slings they poured in volleys
of much larger and heavier stones, with such tremendous
force that it seemed as though they were sent from cata-
pults. Against such a storm of missiles the Roman skir-
mishers could make no stand, and were instantly driven
back.

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222

THE HEAVY INFANTRY.

Their Cretan archers, after shooting away their arrows
with but small effect, for the strings had been damped in
crossing the river, also fled behind the heavy troops; and
these in turn were exposed to the hail of stones. Disor-
ganized by this attack, the like of which they had never ex-
perienced before, their helmets crushed in, their breastplates
and shields battered and dinted, the front line of the Ro-
mans speedily fell into confusion. Sempronius ordered up
his war machines for casting stones and javelins, but these
too had been injured in their passage across the river.

The hail of Carthaginian missiles continued until the
Roman light infantry were forced to fall back; and the
slingers were then recalled, and the heavy infantry of the
two armies stood facing each other. The Carthaginians took
up close order, and, shoulder to shoulder, their bodies covered
with their shields, they advanced to meet the legions of
Rome. As they moved, their music — flute, harp, and lyre —
rose on the air in a military march, and keeping step the
long line advanced with perfect order and regularity. In
the centre were the Carthaginian foot soldiers and their
African allies, clothed alike in a red tunic, with helmet of
bronze, steel cuirass and circular shield, and carrying, be-
sides their swords, pikes of twenty feet in length. On the
left were the Spaniards, in white tunics bordered with
purple, with semicircular shields four feet in length and
thirty-two inches in width, armed with long swords used
either for cutting or thrusting.

On the left were the native allies, naked to the waist,
armed with shields and sAvords similar to those of the Gauls,
save that the swords were used only for cutting.

Sem^pronius brought up his second line to fill uie intervals
in V-Ji first, and the Romans advanced with equal steadiness
to the conflict; but the much greater closeness of the Cartha-

iiliiil it

VICTORY.

223

ginian formation served them in good stead. They moved
like a solid wall, their shields locked closely together, and
pressed steadily forward in spite of the desperate efforts of
the Koman centre in its more open order to resist them ; for
each Roman soldier in battle was allowed the space of a
man's width between him and his comratle on either side, to
allow him the free use of his weapon. Two Carthiiginians
were therefore opposed to each lioman, in addition to which
the greater depth of the African formation gave them a
weight and impetue which was irresistible.

AVhile this fight was going on the Numidian horsemen,
ten thousand strong, charged the Eoman cavalry. These,
much more lightly armed than their oi)ponents and inferior
in numbers, were unable for a moment to withstand the
shock, and were at once driven from the field. Leaving the
elc};hants to pursue them aud prevent them from rallying,
tlie Numidian horsemen turned and fell on the fianks of the
long Koman line; while at the same moment the Cartha-
ginian slingers, issuing out again from behind the main
body, opened a tremendous fire with stones heated in fur-
naces brought to the spot.

Although taken in flank, crushed under a storm of missiles,
with their cavalry defeated and their centre broken, the Ro-
mans fought steadily and well. Hannibal now launched
against their ranks the elephants attached to the infantrv,
which, covered in steel armour and trumpeting loudly,
carried death and confusion into the Roman ranks. But
still the legions fought on obstinately and desperately until
the sound of wild music in their rear filled them with dis-
may, as Mago, with his division of Numidian infantry,
emerged from his hiding-place and fell upon the Romans
from behind.

Struck with terror at the sudden appearance of these wild

m\i

1 • !

it*

i-i

Mtl,

■ t

224

t7IE ROMAN LOSSES.

ii''

Ul ■■

IL:

, ,.

yi/

;

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III

i i

ii:;-

soldiers, of whose ferocity they had heard so much, the
Romans lost all hoart and strove now oniy to escape. But it
was in vain. The Curthaginian infantry were in their front,
the cavalry on their fhmk, the Numidiaiis in their rear.

Some ten thousand lionian soldiers onl}', keeping in a
solid body, cut their way through the cavahy and reached
Piacenza.

Tliirty thousand were slaughtered on the plain. Many
were drowned in trying to swim the Trehia, and only the
legion which had remained to guard the camp, the broken
remains of the cavalry, and the body which had escaped
from Piacenza remained of the fifty thousand men whom
Sempronius commanded.

The exultation of the victors was unbounded. The
hitherto invincible legions of Rome had been crushed.
The way to Rome was clear before them. All the fatigues
and hardships they had undergone were forgotten in the
hour of triumph, and their native allies believed that their
freedom from Rome was now assured.

The verdict of great commanders of all ages has assigned
to the battle of the Trebia the glory of being the greatest
military exploit ever performed. The genius of Hannibal
was shown not only in the plan of battle and the disposition
of his troops, but in the perfection with which they were
handled, in the movements which he had himself invented
and taught them, and the marvellous discipline with which
he had inculcated them.

Napoleon the First assigned to Hannibal the leading place
among the great generals of the world, and the Trebia was his
master[)iece. But the Carthaginians, exulting in their vic-
tory, did not gauge the extent of the stubbornness and re-
sources of Rome. Sempronius himself set the example to
his countrymen. At Piacenza he rallied the remnants of his

nd reached

uded. The
jen crushed,
the fatigues
otten in the
ed that their

has assigned

the greatest

of Hannibal

lie disposition

ch they were

Iself invented

le with which

AFTER THE BATTLE.

225

army, and wrote to Rome, saying that he had been vic-
torious, but that a sudden storm had saved the enemy from
destruction.

The senate understood the truth, but acted in the spirit
in which he had written. Tlicy announced to the people
that a victory had been won, and ordered the consular elec-
tion to take place as usual, at the same time issuing orders
to all parts of the Roman dominion for the enrolment of
fresh troops.

Hannibal attempted to surprise Piacenza, but Scipio
issued out with his cavalry and inflicted a check upon him,
Hannibal himself being slightly wounded. The Cartha-
ginians then marched away and stormed the town of Vi-
cumviae, and during their absence the two consuls evacuated
Piacenza and marched south. Scipio led his portion of
the little army to Ariminum (Rimini), Sempronius took his
command to Arretium (Arezzo), where they both speedily
received reinforcements. Hannibal made an attempt to cross
the Ai)ennines, but the snow lay deep among the moun-
tains, and, unable to effect his purpose, he fell back again
to winter in the plain.

In the meantime Cneius Servilius Geminus and Caius
Flaminius had been elected consuls. Flaminius succeeded
Sempronius in command of the Roman army at Arretium,
while Geminus took the command of that at Rimini. Be-
tween these consuls, as was usually the case in Rome, a bitter
jealousy existed. Geminus was the nominee of the aristo-
cratic party, while Flaminius was the idol of the populace,
and, as has often been the case in war, this rivalry between
two generals possessing equal authority wrought great evil
to the armies they commanded.

(339)

; !'

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i|iiliiiil!Jiiii

lill' IT, I! 'II, 111

.'i

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1

-'ill ' , ■;

i i

CHAPTER XIV,

THE BATTLE OF LAKE TRASIMENK

HE battle of Trebia cost Malchus the loss of his
father. It was against the portion of the force
lieaded by Hamilcar that the Konians, who cut
their wav throu''li the circle of foes which Han-
nibal had thrown round them, Hung themselves. Hamilcar
had in vain attem)»ted to stem the toirent. Surrounded by
his bravest officers, he had cast himself in the way of the
lioman legion; but nothing could withstand tlie rush of the
heavy armed spearmen, who, knowing that all was lost, and
that their only hope was in cutting their way thiough the
Carthaginians, pressed forward, shoulder to shoulder, and
swept aside the opposition of their more lightly-armed foes.
Hamilcar and most of his oflicers fell, striving to the last to
stem the current.

It was a grievous blow to Malchus, when, as he was ex-
ulting in the great victory which had been gained, the news
came to him that his father had fallen. Hamilcar was very
dear to him. He had been his companion and his friend,
his guide and adviser. He had encouraged him in his a.splra-
tions, and had from his earliest years urged him to make the
sacrifices and exertions ncci'ssary to qualify him to bear a
prominent part under his cousin Hannibal.

He had been his tutor in arms, and had striven to inspire

A TERRIBLE LOSa

227

loss of lus
of the force
ins, who cut
which Han-
Hamilcar
rrounded by
^ way of the
rush of the
vas h:>st, and
lirough the
ouWer, and
armed foes.
the last to

he was ex-

ed, the news

3ar was very

ll his friend,

|iu his asplra-

to make the

|im to bear a

3n to inspire

birr with the noblest sentiments. Since they had reached
Spain he had seen less of him tluin before, for Hamilcar felt
that it was best for his son to depend upon himself alone.
He was proud of the name wliich Muldius was already winning
for himself, and knew that it was better for him that his
advancement should be considered duo to his own exertions
and gallantry and not to the influence of his father.

"When, however, they were thrown together, their rela-
ticns were unchanged. Malchus was as affectionate, as re-
spectful, and as eager to listen to his father's advice as he
had heen as a boy, while Iliimilcar was gl:id in the society
of his son to forg(;t the cares and toils of the expedition in
which they had embarked and to talk of the dear ones at home.

It was only three days before the battle that they had re-
joicet' together over the news which had reached them by a
messenger from CJaul that Thyra had married Adherbal,
and had immediately sot out with him for Carthagena, where
Adherbal had been offered a command by Hannibal's brother
Hasdrubal, the governor of Spain, in his absence.

Father and son had rejoicod at this for several reasons.
Hanno's faction had now gained the upper hand, and the
friends of Hannibal were subjected to persecution of all
kinds. The very life of Adherbal as a prominent member
of the Barcine party had been menaced. And it was only
by embarking secretly for Spain that he had succeeded in
avoiding arrest. The property of many of Hannibal's friends
had been confiscated. Several had been put to death under
one pretext or another, and although Hamilcar did not think
that Hanno's faction would venture to bring forward any
accusation against him while he was fighting the battles of
his country, he experienced a sense of relief at the know-
ledge that, should the worst happen, his wife and Anna
would find a refuge and asylum with Adherbal in Spain.

|,-l

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7-'r ., 1
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^^_

228

GLOOMY PUKSKNTIM KNTS.

Hamilcar and Malchus had discussed the matter long and
seriously, and liad talked, Hamilcar with sorrow, Malchus
with indignation and rage, of the state of Carthago.

"It makes one hate one's country," Malchus exclaimed
passionately, " when one hears of these things. Vou
taught me to love Carthage, father, and to he proud of her.
How can one be proud of a country so misgoverned, so cor-
rupt, 80 base as this? Of what use ait^ sacriticcs and etlorts
here, when at home they think of nothing but luxury and
ease and the making of money, when the best and bravest
of the Carthaginians are disgraced and dishonouied, and
the people bow before these men whoso wealth has been
gained solely by corrui)tion and robbery? It makes one
wish one had been born a Koman."

" Did not one hope that a better time would come, Mal-
chus, when Carthage will emancipate herself from the rule of
men like Hanno and his corrupt friends, I should, indeed,
despair of her, for even the genius of Hannibal and the
valour of his trooi)s cannot avail alone to carry to a successful
conclusion a struggle between such a state as Carthago
now is and a vigorous, patriotic, and self-reliant people like
those of Rome.

"We may win battles, but, however great the victories
may be, we can never succeed in the long run against the
power of Rome unless Carthage proves true to herself. Our
army is not a large one. Rome and her Latin allies can, if
need be, put ten such in the field. If Carthage at this crisis
of her fate proves worthy of the occasion, if she by a great
effort again wins the sovereignty of the sea, and sends over
armies to support us in our struggle, we may in the end
triumph. If not, glorious as may be our success for a time,
we are in the end doomed to failure, and our failure will
assuredly involve the final destruction of Carthage.

HAMII.CAKS DISAlM'oINTMKNT.

229

"Rome will not l)o slow to pn^fit by tho lesson which
IIannil)al is tcarliijii; Iut. His <;(Miius perceives that only l)y
striking at Komk! Id Italy could a vital Itlow be given to
her. The Konians in turn will perceive that only hy an in-
vasion of Africa can Carthage be humbled. Iler task will
then he far easier than ours is now, for not only is Koine
fresh, strong, and vigorous, but she has had the wisdom to
bind the Latin peoples around her closely to her by bestow-
ing upon them the rights of citizenship, hy making them
feel that her cause is theirs.

"Ui)on the other hand, Carthage has throughout her his-
tory been paving tho way for her fall. She tights, but it is
with foreign mercenaries. She stamps under foot the people
she has conquered, and whih' her tax-collectors griiid them
to the earth, and she forces them to send their sons to tight
her battles, she gives them no share in her privileges, no
voice in her councils.

" I had hoped, Malchus, that at such a moment as this
faction would have been silent at Carthage, and a feeling of
patriotism would once again have asserted itself. I find
that it is not so, and my heart siidcs for my country. Were
it not for my wife and family, Malchus, I would gladly die
in the coming battle."

The words recurred to Malchus as he sat in his tent by
the side of his father's body on the night after the battle of
the Trebia, and a dee^) bitterness mingled with his sorrow.

"Giscon was right," he exclaimed. "All means are justi-
fiable to lid one's country of those who are destroying her.
It makes one mad to think that while men like my father
are fighting and dying for their country, the tribunes of
tho democracy, who fatten on our spoils, are jilotting against
them at home. Henceforth, I light not as a Carthaginian,
but as a soldier of Hannibal, and will aid him in his endea-

, 1

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230

LEAVE OF ABSLNCK.

n i

lii

vour to humble Romej not that Carthage, with her blood-
stained altars, her corrupt officials, and her indolent popula-
tion, may continue to exist, but that these manly and valiant
Gauls who have thrown in their lot with us may live free
and independent of the yoke o^ Eome. These people are
rude and primitive, but their simple virtues, their love of
freedom, their readiness to die rather than to be slaves, put
the sham patriotism of Carthage to shame."

When the army went into winter quarters, and Hannibal
dismissed his Gaulish allies, with many rich presents, to
their homes, Malchus obtained leave from liannibal to
depart with Allobrigius — the chief of the Insubrian tribe
living on the Orcus — wliO had, with his fighting men, accom-
panied Hannibal through the campaign. The chiefs wife
and daughters had returned after seeing the army across the
Po. Malchus had sought the society of his late host during
the campaign, had often ridden beside him on the march,
and had spent the evening in his tent talking either of the
civilization of Carthage, which seemed wonderful indeed to
the "imple Gaulish chieftain, or of the campaign on which
they were engaged.

Malchus had by this time mastered the difTerences between
the dialect of the C!s ilpine Gauls ana that of those in Gaul
itself and Iberia, witli which he was already acquainted.
The chief was gratilied by the frier. d^hip of ILinniljal's kins-
man, and liked the frank simplicity of his manner. He
h; d laughed loudly when his wife had told him how
JNIalchus had leajjcd from the bridge to save the life of
Clotilde when she fell into the river. But the act had
proved that Makhus was grateful for the kindness which had
been shown him, and had cemented the friendship between
them. Therefore, when the campaign came to a close, he
had offered a hearty invitation to Malchus to spend the

HANNIBAL S ADVICE.

231

er blood-
it popula-
id valiant
J live free
)eople are
ir love of
slaves, put

Hannibal
resents, to
annibal to
brian tribe
aen, accom-
chief's wife
Y across the
host during

the march,
ither of the
[1 indeed to
[n on which

Ices between
lose in Gaul
acquainted.
|nil)ars kins-
lanner. He
him how
the life of
:he act had
5S which had
hip between
a close, he
spend the

'!*^- ^

time, until the army should again assemble, with him in his
village on the banks of the Orcus. Hannibal had smiled
when ^lalclius had asked for leave of absence.

'''Those daughters of the chief Avhom you presented
to me on the day when we crossed the Po are the fairest I
have seen in Gaul. Malchus, are you thinking of keeping
up the traditions of our family] My father wedded all my
sisters, as you know, to native princes in Africa, and I took
an Iberian maiden as my wife. It would be in every way
jjolitic and to be desired that one so nearly related to me as
yourself should form an alliance by marriage with one of
these Gaulish chiefs."

Malchus laughed somewhat confusedly.

" It will be time to talk about marriage some years hence,
Hannibal; I am scarce twenty yet, and she is but a girl."

"Oh! there is a she in the case," Hannibal laughed; "and
niy arrow drawn at a venture has struck home. Ah ! yes,
there were three of them, two tall and stately maidens and
one still a slim and unformed girl. Indeed, I remember
now having heard that you lost your armour and helmet in
jumping off the bridge across the Po to fish out one of the
daughters of Allobrigius, who turned out to be able to swim
much better than you could. I had a hearty laugh over it
with your poor father, but with the Komaiis at Piacenza
and a great battle before us the matter passed from my
mind. So that is how the wind lies. Well, as you say, you
are both young, and there is no saying what the next two
or three years may bring forth. However, bear in mind
that such an alliance would please me much, and remember
also that the Gaulish maidens marry young, and in times
like ours, Malchus, it is nevei well to delay long."

^lalchus took with him Ne&sus, who had, from the day
when they escaped together from Scipio's camp, been always

!^?Hf' !

'1 :

232

THE RETURN OF THE GAULS.

near his person, had carried his helmet on the line of march,
slept next t. .im by tlie camp fire, and fought by his side
in battle, ready at any moment to give his life to avert
harm from his leader.

The return of Allol)rigius and his tribesmen was celebrated
by great rejoicings on the Orcus. The women and old men
and boys met them some miles from the village, raising loud
cries of welcome and triumph as they returned frori their
successful campaign against their former oppressors. Among
no people were family ties held more precious than among
the Gauls, and the rough military order which the tribesmen
had preserved upon their march was at once broken up
when the two parties met.

Wives rushed into the arms of husbands, mothers embraced
their sons, girls hung on the necks of their fathers and
brotheis. There was nothing to mar the joy of the meeting,
for messengers had from time to time can ied news from the
army to the village, and the women wlio had lost those
dearest to them in tlie campaign remained behind in the
village, so that their mourring should not mar the bright-
ness of the return of the tribe.

Brunilda, the wife of the chief, stood with her daughters
a little apart from the ciowd on a rising knoll of ground,
and the chief, who was mounted upon a horse taken from
the Romans at the Trebia, spurred forward towards them,
while Malchus hung behind to let the first greeting pass
over before he joinid the fam'l/ circle. He had, how-
ever, been noticed, and Clotilde's cheeks were colouring
hotly when her father rode up, from some laughing remark
from her sisters. Brunilda received Malchus cordially, say-
ing that she had often heard of him in the messages sent
by her husband.

" He has come to stop the winter with us," Allobrigius

' t

MALCHUS IS WELCOMED.

233

f march,
his side
to avert

elehrated
[ old men
isiiig loud
ion their
3. Among
tan among
tribesmen
broken up

s embraced
athers and
he meeting,
^'s from the

lost those
tind in the

the bright-

ir daughters

of ground,

[taken from

ards them,

Meeting pass

had, how-
|e colouring
ling remark
Irdially, say-

jssages sent

AUobrigius

said. " I promised him a warm welcome, and he needs rest
and quiet, as do we all, for it has been hard work even to
seasoned men like us. What with snow and rain I have
scarcely been dry since I left you."

** That would not matter to the young Carthaginian lord,"
the eldest girl said with a smile; "we know that he rather
I'kes getting wet, don't we, Clotilde?" she said turning to her
sister, who was, contrary to her usual custom, standing
shyly behind her.

" I am afraid I shall never hear the last of that," Malchus
laughed; "I can only say that I meant well."

"Of course you did," AUobrigius said; "you could not
know that our Gaulish maidens could swim and march, and,
if necessary, fight as stoutly as the men. The Komans
IjL'fore now have leanie I that, in the absence of the men
from the camp, the women of Gaul can fight desperately for
country, and home, and honour. Do not let yourself Ve
troubled by what these wild girls say, my lord Malclms;
you know our Gaulish women are free of tongue, and hold
not their men in such awe and deference as is the custom
among other nations."

"I am accustomed to be laughed at," Malchus said
smiling; "I have two sisters at home, and, whatever respect
women may pay to their lords in Carthage, I suppose that
neither there nor anywhere else have girls respect for their
brothers."

The music at this moment struck up, the harpers began
a song which they had com[)osed in honour of the occasion,
the tribesmen fell into their ranks again, and AUobrigius
placed himself at their head. Malchus dismounted, and,
leading his horse, walked by the side of Ihunilda, who, with
tlie rest of the women, walked on the flanks of the column
on its way back to the village.

V, i

I i

1 .1

•I

234

A PLEASANT TIMK

The next three months passed very jileasantly to Malchus.
In the day he hunted the boar, the bear, and the wolf
among the mountains with Allobrigius; of an evening he
sat by the fire and listened to the songs of the hari)ers or
to the tales of the wars and wanderings of the Gaulish
tribes, or himself told the story of Carthage and Tyre and
the wars of the former with the Romans, described the life
and manners of the great city, or the hunting of the lion in
the Libyan deserts.

While his listeners wondered at the complex life and
strange arts and magnificence of Carthage, Malchus was
struck with the simple existence, the warm family ties, the
honest sincerity, and the deep love of freedom of the Gauls.
When Brunilda and her daughters sighed with envy at the
thought of the luxuries and pleasures of the great city, he
told them that they would soon weary of so artificial an
existence, and that Carthage, with its corru[)tion, its ever-
present dread of the rising of one class against another, its
constant fear of revolt from the people it had enslaved, its
secret tribunals, its oppression and tyranny, had little which
need be envied by the free tribes of Gaul.

" I grant," he said, " that you would gain greater comfort
by adopting something of our civilization. You might im-
prove your dwellings, hangings round your walls would keep
out the bitter winds, well-made aoors are in winter very
preferable to the skins which hang at your entrance, and I
do think that a Carthaginian cook might, with advantage,
give lessons to the tribes as to the i)reparation of food; but
beyond that I think that you have the best of it."

"The well-built houses you speak of," Allobrigius said,
"have their advantages, but they have their drawbacks. A
people who once settle down into permanent abodes have
taken the first step towards losing their freedom. Look at

RECALLED.

236

all the large towns in the plains; until lately each of them
held a Roman garrison. In the first place, they offer an
incentive to the attack of a covetous foe; in the second, they
bind their owners to them. The inhabitants of a town cling
to their houses and possessions, and, if conquered, become
mere slaves to their captors; we wiio live in dwellings which
cost but a few weeks of work, whose worldly goods are the
work of our own hands, or the products of the chase, should
never be conquered; we may be beaten, but if so, we can
retire before our enemies and live in freedom in the forest
or mountains, or travel beyond the reach of our foes.

" Had not your army come and freed us from Rome I
was already meditating moving with my tribe across the
jjrreat mountains to the north and settlini^ amono; Brunilda's
people in the German forests, far be\ond the reach of
Rome. What though, as she tells me, the winters are long
and severe, the people ignorant of many of the comforts
which we have adoi)ted from our neighbours; at least we
should be free, and of all blessings none is to compare with
that."

" I agree with you," IVIalchus said, thinking of the plots
and conspiracies, the secret denunciations, the tyranny and
corruption of Carthage, "it is good to be great, but it is
better to be free. However," he added more cheerfully,
" I trust that we are going to free you from all future fear
of Rome, and that you will be able to enjoy your liberty
here without having to remove to the dark forests and long
winter of the country north of the Alps."

So passed the winter. Early in the spring a messenger
arrived from Hannibal bidding Malchus rejoin him, and
calling upon Allobrigius to prepare to take the field against
the Romans. Similar messages had been sent to all the
Gaulish tribes friendly to Carthage, and early in March

mwt

236

ACROSS THE APENNINES.

Hannibal prepared to cross the Apennines and to advance
against Kome.

The position occupied by the two Roman armies barred
the only two roads by which it was believed that Hannibal
could march upon Kome, but as soon as the spring com-
mencod Hannibal started by a path, hitherto untrodden by
troops, across the Apennines. In the march the troops
suifered even greater hardships than those which they had
undergone in the passage of the Alps, for during four days
and three nights they marched kiiej-deep in water, unable
for a single moment to lie down.

While ever moving backwards and forwards among his
men to encourage them with his presence and words, even
the iron frame of Hannibal gave way under the terrible
hardships. The long-coiitinned strain, the want of sleep, and
the obnoxious miasma from the nuirshes, brought on a fever
and cost him the sight of one of his eyes. Of all the elephants
but one survived the march, and it was with an army as
worn-out and exhausted as that which had issued from the
Alps that he descended into the fertile plains of Tuscany,
near Fiesole.

The army of Flaminius, 30,000 strong, was still lying at
Arezzo, on his dii e .t road south, and it was with this only
that Hannibal had now to deal, the force of Sei villus being
still far away at Rimini. His own army was some 35,000
strong, and, crossing the Up})er Arno near Florence, Hannibal
marched towards Arezzo. Flaminius, as soon as he had heard
that Hannibal was ascending the slopes of the Apennines,
had sent to Servilius to join him, but the latter, alleging
that he feared an invasion by the Gaulish tribes on the
north, refusetl to move, but sent four thousand cavalry to
Flaminius. This brought the armies to nearly equal strength,
but, although Hannibal marched his troops within sight of

LAKE TRASIMENE.

237

Arezzo, Flaminius would not issue from his camp to attack
him.

He knew that Hannibal had defeated a force of tried
troops, much exceeding his own in numbers, in the north,
and that he would therefore probably be successful against
one which scarcely equalled his own. He hoped, too, that
Hannibal would attack him in his intrenched position.
This the Carthaginian general had no intention of doing,
but, leaving the camp behind him, marched on, plundering
and ravaging the country towards Kome. Flaminius at once
broke up his camp and followed on his track, preparing to
take any opportunity which might occur to full upon the
Carthaginians, and knowing that the senate would at once
call up the army of Servilius to assist him.

Hannibal, by means of scouts left in his rear, found that
Flaminius was marching on with his troops in solid column,
taking no precaution against surprise, secure in the belief
that Hannibal's object was to march on Kome without a
stop. The Carthaginian general prepared at once to take
advantage of his enemy's carelessness. He halted bis troops
at Cortona. The road by which he had passed wound along
the shore of Lake Trasimene, at the foot of a range of steep
hills, which ap[)roach closely to the water.

Half-way along these hills a stream runs down a valley
into the lake, and in the valley, completely hidden from the
sight of an enemy ai)proaching, Hannibal placed the Numi-
dian cavalry and the Gaulish infantry. Among some woods
clothing the lower slope of the hills facing the lake he
placed his light troops, while the Spanish and African
infantry and the Gaulish cavalry were similarly hidden on
the outer slopes of the hill in readiness to close in on the
rear of the Romans when they had entered on the road
between the hills and the lake.

i. I

) I

- :i
I

* 238

A CARELESS ADVANCE.

:,«

V- i

n ii

ifi

fll!'

iiiii!!

No better position could have been chosen for a surprise.
When once the Komans had entered the [)ath between the
hills and the lake there was no escape for them. They
were shut up between the wood-clad hills swarming with
the Carthaginian light troops and the lake, while the heavy
infantry and cavalry of Hannibal were ready to fall on them
front and rear.

When Flaminius arrived at Cortona late at night he heard
of the ravages and exactions committed by the Carthaginians,
as they had passed through early in the morning, and re-
solved to press forward at daybreak in hoj)es of finding some
opportunity for falling upon and punishing them.

When day broke it seemed favourable to his design, for a
thick mist was rising from the lake and marshes. This, he
thought, Wv^uld conceal his advance from the Carthaginians,
while, as the high ground ahead rose above the mist, he
would be enabled to see their position. He pushed for
ward then rapidly, thinking that he should be iible to over-
take the rear of the Carthaginian army as it moved slowly
along encumbered with its plunder. '

As he neared the entrance to the pass ho caught sight of
the heavy-armed Carthaginians on the distant hill above the
level of the mist, and believing that his own movements were
hidden from the enemy, pushed forward as fast as the in-
fantry could march. Bud the m.oraent tiie rear of his column
had entered the narro^.v flat between the foot of the hills
and the lake, the Numidians quietly moved down and
closed the pass behind them, while Hannibal with his heavy
infantry descended from the farther hill to confront him.
When all was ready he gave iho signal, and at once in front,
on their right flank, and on their rear the Carthaginians fell
upon them.

The light troops lieralded their attack by rolling a vast

m'sht he heard

irning, and re-

A MAssAcna
quantity of rocks down the l,;il .. ^^^

thon. press; ,, do,v„ thro, ! t ,!" " '"= '°''"""- ""'^

iaken wholly by s„rj,iisc, unable t. „a
desperate at fi„di„g theinse vl .1 '^'''''"'"' «'• ^feat,

Kon,ans fought bratelyZtt. .i" ?"="" '" "^ '^''P. fe
the ground on which the terrible fi I f " "'''^l^'^^o «hook
not for a moment did it i, t ; ^ ff'";"" S°'''S <»•; but
I'O'"^ the Jiomans, although s'f "^''''- ^""^ 'hr««

on; then Fhuninu s Z^Z ,%'"'''''''' ''''' ^-ght
thought only of escape I> f l- " '™™ """ «'"« tltey
^.x thousand only e„I the tay o„r«r'' ',° '''"P"^^'^'''

i"*rnti;;;z;"^---—

ir«'.arbal with his diS„ ^ Z"' ''""""'''' "-l-tc'-ed
«'x thousand who had leaned ."'"^' '" '""■'"" "^ "•«
n-ni„g at Perugia, mS ; ^Tf ? '"^'" "'=^'
At the same time he detached a s rn„ , '" -"rrender. ,

ousand horsemen, whom 1"°"/, "r,''^"''"-^' '•■« ^<'»
'''n.nn to aid his collea..,e a^d I. \ ,'''^-^I"''''ho'l from
-..rounded and taken p^^'' ' "J° <= ^t these were
tlnrtysix thousand stron. ,"„ ta / "'' ''*"""" ''""y.

h all history there is n'o' Zr/J '"'"' ""''"-"^
a surprise. Hannibal retail ° =''"" """^ ™'=»«««ful

"t..cns and Latins, but r 'l T. """"""'' ''''' ^'°">'»'
: H ^them that, far frof bT tt-tel ''b^ ?"^--
0^ the purpose of libera IT^'^^''^'''^^

om the tyranny of the Kon:

tJie CartI

its helpless peopi,

Cannibal has he

'^an domination. The Joss

A lasini

en blamed for

lene was only

he could

<lli

!;■ I

240

A MISSION.

V ■

iiiiii!

lllllil

surrounded by faithful allies. His army was numorically
insufficient to undertake such a siege, and was destitute of
the machines for battering the walls. Komo was still de-
fended by the city legions, besides which every man cai)ablo
of bearing arms was a soldier. The bitter hostility of the
Latins would have rendered it difficult in the extreme for
the army to have obtained provisions while carrying on the
siege, while in its rear, waning for an opportunity to attack,
would have lain the army of IServilius, thirty thousand
strong, and growing daily more numerous as the friends
and allies of Kome Hocked to its banners.

Hannibal saw that to undeitake such an enfoiprise at
present would be ruin. His course was clear. He had to
beat the armies which Kome could put into the field; to
shake the confidence of the Italian tribes in the power of
Rome; to subsist his army upon their territories, and so
gradually to detach them from their alliance with Rome.
He hoped that, by the time this work was finished, Carthage
would send another great army to his assistance provided
with siege materials, and he would then be able to under-
take with confidence the great task of striking a vital blow
at Rome herself.

" Malchus," Hannibal said one day, " I wish you to ride
north. The tribes at the foot of the hills promised to aid
us, but have so far done nothing. If they would pour
down to the plains now they would occupy the tribes
friendly to the Romans, and would prevent them from
sending men and stores to them. They sent me a message
a month ago, saying that they were still willing to help us,
and I then replied that I had been long waiting to hear that
they had risen, and urged them to do so without loss of
time. I have not heard since, and fear that the Roman
agents have, by promises of money and privileges, prevailed

iimerically
cstitutc of
AS still de-
an capable
jity of the
jxtreme for
ying on the
y to attack,
y thousand
the friends

ntci prise at
He had to
the field; to
:\\Q power of
3ries, and so
with Rome,
ed, Carthage
|nce provided
ible to under-
a vital blow

you to ride
Imised to aid
would pour
ly the tribes
them from
Ine a message
\if to help us,
to hear that
^hout loss of
the Roman
^es, prevailed

AN EMBASSY TO THE HILL TUTBES.

241

upon them to keep quiet. It is a service of danger; for if
they have been bought over tliey may seize you and send
you in token of their good-will as a prisoner to Rome; but
I know that will not deter you."

*' I am ready to go," IMakhus said, " and will start to-day.
What force shall I take with me, and which of the chiefs
shall I first seel"

" You had best go first to Ostragarth. He is the most
powerful of the chiefs on this side of the Apennines. You
can select from the treasury such presents as you may choose
for him and the others. You can promise them largo
grants of the land of the tribes aiding the Romans, together
with a share in the plunder of the cities. I leave you quite
free. In those respects you will be guided by what you
see they want; but any promises you may make I will
ratify. As to men I should not take a large escort. Force
will, of course, be of no avail, and the appearance of a large
number of troops might alarm them at once. Twenty men
will be sufficient for dignity, and as a protection against any
small bodies of the hostile tribesmen you may meet on your
way; but have no frays if you can avoid it. The mission is
an important one, and its success should not be risked
merely to dtifeat a body of tribesmen. Go in your hand-
somest armour, and make as brave a show as you can, as my
ambassador atid kinsman. Take twenty of the Carthaginian
horse; they will impose more upon the barbarians than
would the Libyans or Numidians. Take your friend Trebon
as their commander and a companion for yourself."

In two hours Malchus and his escort were ready to start.
As their journey would be rapid they carried no stores with
them, save throe days' provisions, which each man carried at
his saddle-bow, and a bag containing a few feeds of corn for
the horse. They took with them, however, two baggage

(339) Q

|liM|!

j i

II!

:\r-

242

A DIFFICULT COUNTRY.

'IH^iliil

horses laden with arms, armour, garments, and other pre-
sents for the chiefs.

They passed rai)i(lly arroaa the country, meeting with no
hostile parties, for the raids of Hannihal's light-armed horse
had so terrified the people that the villages were for the
most part deserted, the iiil-ahitants having sought refuge in
the fortified towns. After two days' brisk riding they
arrived at the foot of the hills, and their progress was now
slower. The village of Ostiagarth lay far up among them,
and, being ignorant of the direction, iMalchus broke the troop
up into parties of four, and sent them up difi'eient valleys
with orders to capture the first native they came across,
and oblige him either by threats or promises to act as a
guide to the stronghold of the chief.

"I sincerely trust that this barl)arian is friendly, Malchus,
for the countrv looks wild and dillicult in the extreme, and
the forests which clothe these hills are thick ami tangled.
On the plain we can laugh at the natives, however numerous,
and with twenty men I would charge a thousand of them;
but among these hills it is ditferent, one cannot find a level
spot for a charge, and, if it comes to running, the moun-
taineers are as fleet as a horse on the broken ground of their
hills."

"I agree with 3'ou, Trebon, that it would go hard with
us, and that the utmost wo could hoi)e for would be a visit
to Rome as captives. Still, these chiefs all offered alliance
to Hannibal as he went south, and the success which has
attended us should surely bind them to our interests. They
are ever willing to join the winning side, and so far fortune
has been wholly with us."

" That is so, Malchus, but then they see that the tribes
of the plains still hold aloof from us and pin their faith on
Kome. They must know that we are receiving no reinforce-

i '

DOUBTFUL ALLIES.

243

other pre-

i\rr with no
^nned horso
ere for the
ht refuge in
riding they
ess was now
jnong them,
)ko the troop
event valleys
came across,
i to act as a

dly, Malchus,
extreme, and

and tangled,
ver numerous,

and of them;

,t find a level
the moun-
Iround of their

1 go hard with
luld be a visit
[ffercd alliance
less which has
Itcrests. They
I so far fortune

Ihat the tribes

their faith on

Icr no reinforce-

ments to fill tlie gaps made in battle, and may well fear to
jirovoko the anger of iJome by tiikin<j; part with us before
our success is, as they consider, absolutely secure."

"On the same grounds then, Trebon, they will bo equally
unwilling to ollend us by any hostility until the scale is
decidedly weighed down against us. Hannibal's anger
might be as terrible as that of the Komans."

"There is something in that, iMalchus, but not so much
as you think. If Koine wins, Kome will have ample time
and ample i)0wer, with the aid of all her native allies, to
punish any who may have declared against her. On the
other hand, should CartliAge triumph, they may consider it
prob;vble that we should sack and burn Kome and then
retire, or that if we remain there will be so much to arrange,
so many tril)es in the plains to sul (jugate and pacify, that
we sliall be little likely to untlcrtake exiirditions in the
mountains. Tiierefore, you see, prudent men would decide
for Kome. Could we have marched straight on after the
victory at Lake Trasimene and have captured Kome, all
these mountain tribes would have taken the o})portunity to
pour down into the plains to plunder and slay under the
pretence of being our allies."

It was not until nightfall that the five parties returned to
the spot where the}' had left their leaders. Three of them
had been entirely unsuccessful, but the other two had each
brought in a native. Those men lookeil sullen and obstinate,
and it was not until Malchus had ordered a halter to be
placed round their necks and threatened them with instant
death that they consented to act as guides.

A vigilant watch was kept over them all night, and at day-
break next morning the party started. For some miles they
rofV along at the foot of the mountains, and then entered a
valley up which a Httle-used track ran. The men upon being

!||i

244

A MOUxNTAIN VILLAGE.

q^iestioncd intimated tliat it was several hours' journey to
the village of the chief of whom tlicy wojc in search.

This, indeed, proved to he the case, for it was not till the
afternoon, after many houi's' weary journey up gorges and
throrgh mountain valleys, that they arrived within sigiit of
the vilhiffe of Ostraiiiartli. It was situatetl on one siile of
the valley, and consisted of huts surrDunded by a rough
stone wall of such height that oidy tiie tops of the circular
roofs were visible above it. A loud shrill crv was heard as
they came in sight, a cow-horn was blown in the village, and
instantly men could be seen running in. Others, engaged
in tending flocks of goats high up on the mountain side, left
tlieir charges and began to hurry down.

CHAPTER XV.

A MOUNTAIN TRIBE.

T is a petty place for a chief of any power,"
Trebon said.

" Yes," Malchus agreed, " but I fancy these
hill tribes are broken up into a very large
number of small villages in isolated valleys, only uniting
when the order of the chief calls upon them to defend the
mountains against an invader, or to make a simultaneous
raid upon the plains."

As they neared the village several persons were seen to
issue out from the gate, and among these was a small and
elderly man, evidently the chief of the party. His white
hair descended to his waist; a boy standing behind him carried
his bow and several javelins. The rest of the men appeared
to be unarmed.

" He is a crafty-looking old fellow," Malchus said as he
alighted and advanced towards the chief, "but I suppose
he has made up his mind to receive us as friends, at any-
rate for the present.

"I come, chief, as an ambassador from the Carthaginian
general Wlien we passed south he received messengers
from you, saying that you wore ready to enter into an
alliance with him. To this he agrees and sent presents.
Since then you have done nothing, although he has sent

: !■

IIM

246

THE MOUNTAIN CHIEF.

^11 ill ill

m \i

'I'll

I .( ili,)! W. .h

to you urging you to aid him by making an attack on
the tribes allied to Rome In every battle which he
has fought with the Rom'^ns he has defeated them with
great slaughter; but, owing to the aid which tLjy have
received from the tribes in alliance with them, they are
enabled continually to put fresh armies in the field. There-
fore it is that he has sent me to you and to the other chiefs of
the tribes inhabiting the mountains, to urge you to descend
with your forces into the plains, and so oblige the tribes there
to turn their attention to their own defence rather than
to the sending of assistance to Rome. He has sent by my
hands many valuable presents, and has authorized me to
promise you, in his name, such lands as you may wish to
obtain beyond the foot of the hills. He promises you, also,
a share in the booty taken at the sack of the Italian cities."

"Will you please to enter," the chief said, speaking a
patois of Latin which Malchus found it ditficult to under-
stand. " We will then discuss the matters concerning which
you speak."

So saying he led the way through the gates to a hut
somewhat larger than the rest.

" Do you enter with me, Trcbon, but let your men remain
in their saddles, and hold our horses in readiness for us to
mount speedily if there be need. I doubt the friendliness
of this old fellow and his people."

Upon entering the hut Malchus observed at once that the
walls were covered with hangings which were new and fresh,
and he detected some costly armour half-hidden in a corner.

"The Romans have been here before us," he muttered to
his companion; " the question is, how high have they bid for
his support."

The chief took his seat on a roughly carved chair, and
seats were brought in for his visitors. He began by asking

TIIK CONFERENCE.

247

an account of the state of affairs in the plains. Malchus
answered him truthfully, except that he exagi^erated a little
the effects thaii the Carthaginian victories had produced
among the natives. The chief asked niuny questions, and
was evidently by some means well informed on the subject.
He then expressed a desire to see the presents which they
had brought him. Trebon went out and returned with two
soldiers bearing them.

"I don't like the look of things," he said in a low voice.
"The number of men in the village has trebled since we
arrived, and they still keep coming in. None of them show
arms at present, but no douljt they are hidden close at hand.
I believe the chief is only keeping us in conversation till
he considers that a sufficient force has arrived to make sure
of us."

"We can't break it off now," Malchus said, "and must
take our chance. It would not do to ensure a failure by
showing suspicion."

The chief examined the presents with great care and
announced his satisfaction at them. Then he entered upon
the question of the land which he was to receive, inquired
whether the towns were to be cajitured by the Carthaginians
and handed over to him, or were to be captured by his forces.
When these points had been arranged, as it seemed, satis-
factorily, he entered upon questions in dispute between him-
self and other chiefs of the mountain tribes. Malchus said
he had no instructions as to these points, which were new
to him, but that in all questions between the chief and
tribes hostile to Carthage, full satisfaction would be given
him. As to those between himself and other chiefs who
might also join against the Romans, if they elected to submit
them to Hannibal for decision he would arbitrate between
them.

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248

THE ATTACK.

At this moment a horn Avas blown outside. A din of voices
instantly arose, which was followed immediately afterwards
by the clashing of weapons. Mulchus and his compainon leapt
to their feet and rudied from the hut. They found that
their men were attacked by a crowd of mountaineers. In
an instant they le:ipt on their horses, and drawing their
swords joined in the fi-ay. Tiie number of their foes was
large, a great many men having come in since Trebon had
last issued out. The attack was a determined one. Those
next to the horsemen hewed at them with axes, those further
back hurled darts and javelins, v hile others crept in among
the horses and stabbed them from beneath with their long
knives.

" We must get out of this or we are lost," Trebon
exclaimed, and, encouraging the men with his shouts, he
strove to hew a way through the crowd to the gate, while
Malchus faced some of the men round and covered the
rear. Several of the Carthaginians were already dismounted,
owin": to their horses bein<jr slain, and some of them were
despatched before tln^y could gain' their feet. Malchus
shouted to the others to leap up behind their comrades.

By dint of desperate efforts Tre])on and the soldiers with
him cleared the way to the gate, but those behind were so
hampered by the enemy that they were unable to follow.
The natives ching to their legs and strove to pull them off
their horses, while a storm of blows was hurled upon them.
Trebon, seeing the danger of those behind, had turned, and
in vain tried to cut his way back to them ; but the number
of the natives was too great. Malchus seeing this shouted
at the top of his voice :

"Fly, Trebon, you cannot help us, save those you can."

Seeing that he could render his friend no assistance,
TreboQ turned round and galloped off with nine of the

PRISONERS.

249

of voices
iterwards
lion leapt
(Und that
leers. In
'ing their
• foes was
rcbon had
le. Those
ose further
b in among
I their long

it," Trebon
shouts, he
gate, while
povered the
dismounted,
them were
Malchns
mrades.
>ldiers with
lind were so
to follow,
^ill them off
ipon them.
Iturned, and
[the number
,his shouted

you can."
assistance,
line of the

soldiers who had made tlieir way with him to the gate.
Five had already fallen, and Malchus shouted to the other
six to throw down their arms and yield themselves as
prisoners. This they did, l)ut two of them were killed before
the villagers perceived they had surrendered.

Malchus and the others were dracrcced from their horses,
bound hand and foot, and thrown into one of the huts.
The natives shouted in triumph, and yells of delight arose
as the packages borne by the baggage animals were exa-
mined, and the variety of rich presents, intended for the
various chiefs, divided amoug them.

Most of the captives were more or less severely wounded,
and some of the natives presently came into the hut and ex-
amined and bound up the wounds.

"Keep up your spirits," JMalchus said cheerfully, "it is
evident they don't intend to kill us. No doubt they are going
to send us prisoners to the Romans, and in that case we
shall be exchanged sooner or later. At anyrate the Romans
would not dare ill-treat us, for Hannibal holds more than a
hundred prisoners in his hands to every one they have
taken."

Three days passed, food was brought to the captives re-
gularly, and their bonds were sufficiently relaxed for them
to feed themselves. At the end of that time they were
ordered to rise and leave the hut. Outside the chief with
some forty of his followers were aAvaiting them. All were
armed, and the prisoners being placed in their midst, the
party started.

They proceeded by the same road by which Malchus had
ridden to the village, and some miles were passed without
incident, when, as they were passing through a narrow valley,
a great number of rocks came bounding down the hillside,
and at different points along it several Carthaginians ap-

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250

AN AMBUSCADE.

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peared. In these Malchus recognized at once the soldiers
of his escort. One of these shouted out:

"Surrender, or you are all dead men. A strong force
surrounds you on both sides, and my officers, whom you see,
will give orders to their men, who will loose such an aval-
anche of rocks that you will all be swept away."

"It is only the men who escaped us," the chief cried; "push
forward at once."

But the instant the movement began the Carthaginians all
shouted orders, and a great number of rocks came bounding
down, proving that they were obeyed by an invisible army.
Several of the mountaineers were crushed by the stonei', and
tlie old chief, struck by a great rock in the chest, fell dead.
A Cartha'Aiiiian standini]f next to Malchus was also slain.

The tribesmen gave a cry of terror. Hand to hand they
were ready to fight valiantly, but this destruction by an un-
seen foe terrified them. The Carthaginian leader raised his
hand, and the descent of the stones ceawed.

"Now," he said, "you see the truth of my words. Hesi-
tate any longer and all will be lost; but if you throw down
your arms, and, leaving your captives behind, retire by
the way you came, jou are free to do so. Hannibal has no
desire for the blood of the Italian people. He has come to
free them from the yoke of Eome, and your treacherous
chief, who, after our making an alliance with him, sold you
to the Romans, has been slain, therefore I have no further
ill-will against you."

The tribesmen, dismayed by the loss of their chief, and
uncertain as to the streniith of the foes who surrounded
them, at once threw down their arms, and, glad to escape
with their lives, fled at all speed up the pass towards their
village, leaving their captives behind them.

The Carthaginians then descended, Trebon among them.

THE UNSEEN ARMY.

251

" I did not shov/ myself, Malclius," the latter said as he
joined his friend, " for the chief knew me by sight, and I
wished him tj be unceituin whether we were not a fresh
party who hal arriveil." .

"But who are your arn^y?" Malchus asked; "you have
astonished me as much as the l)arbarians."

"There they are," Trehon said laiigiiing, as some fifty or
sixty women and a dozen old men and boys began to make
their way down the hill. "Fortimtitely the tribesmen were
too much occupied with their plunder and you to pursue us,
and I got down safely with my men. I was, of course, de-
termined to try to rescue you somehow, but did not see how
it was to be done. Tiien a haj)py thought struck me, and
the next morning we rode down to the plain till we came
to a walled village, I at once summoned it to surrender,
using threats of bringing up a strong body to destroy the
place if they refused. They opened the gates sooner than I
had expected, and I found the village inhabited only by
women, old men, and children, the whole of the fighting
men having been called away to join the Komans. They
were, as you may imagine, in a terrible fright, and expected
everyone of them to be killed. Howevei-, I told them that
we would not only spare their lives, but also their property,
if they would obe) my orders.

"They agieed willingly enough, and I ordered all those
who were strong enough to be of any good to' take each
sufficient provisions for a week and to accompany me.
Astonished as they were at the order, there was nothing for
them to do but to obey, and they accordingly set out. I
found by questioning them that the road we had travelled
was the regular one up to the village, and that you would be
sure to be brought down by it if the chief intended to send
you to Rome.

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J;jr

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252

trecon's stratagem.

" By nightfall we reached this valley. The next morning
wc set to work and cut a number of strong levers, then we
went up on the hillside to where you saw us, and I posted
them all behind the rocks. We gjxint all the day loosing
stones and placing them in readiness to roll down, and were
then prepared for your coming. At nightfall I assen^bled
l.hem all, and put a ^uard over them. AVe ]»';3ted fhtm i -,ain
atd^vbrt- A y* ti rd*^;', but v/atched all day in vain, and here
we should '.':«vc remuined for a month if necessary, as I
should have . nt dr^ n some of the boys for more provisions
when those they brought were gone. However, I was right
glad when I saw you coming to-day, for it was dull work.
I would have killed the whole of these treacheious savages
if I had not been afraid of injuring 3 ou and the men. As it
was I was in terrible fright when the stones went rushing
down at you. One of our men has been killed, I see; but
there was no help for it."

The whole party then proceeded down the valley. On
emerging from the hills Trebon told his improvised army
that they could return to their village, as he had no further
need of their services, and, delighted at having escaped
without damage or injury, they at once proceeded on their
way.

"We had best halt here for the night," Trebon said, "and
in the morning I will start off with the mounted men and
get some horses from one of the villages for the rest of you.
No doubt they are all pretty well stripped of fighting men."

The next day the horses were obtained, and Malchus,
seeing that, now he had lost all the presents intended for the
chiefs, it would be useless to pursue his mission further,
especially as he had learned that the Roman agents had
already been at work among the tribes, returned with his
party to Hannibal's camp.

tttE SPIRIT OT R6MK

^53

morning

then wo
I posted
y loosing
and were
issen^bltjd
^tiu ligain
, and hero
sary, as I
provisions

was rigiit
dull work.
)U8 savages
lien. As it
jnt rushing
^ I see; but

alley. On
ised army
no further
icT escaped
>d on their

"1 am sorry, Malcluis," the Cartliaginian general said,
whep he related hi ; faikire t carry out the mission, " that
you have not succcOiled, but it is clear that your failure is
due to no want of t.a;t on your j)art. Tlie attack upon you
was evidently detcrujined upon tlie instant you ai)pearcd in
sight of the village, for men must have boon sent out at
once to summon the tribe. Your friend Trebon behaved
with great intelligence in the matter of your rescue, and I
shall at once promote him a step in rank."

"I am ready to set out again and try vv) /*""»* I can suc-
ceed better with some of the other chiefs )*. yo like," Mal-
chus said.

"No, Malchus, we will leave them ak..e foi the present.
The Romans iiave been beforehand wi'-h us, and as this
man was one of their principal chiefs, i probable that,
as he has forsaken his alliance with us, the other's have
done thj same. Moreover, the new's of his death, deserved
as it was, at the hands of a party of Carthaginians, will not
improve their feelings towards us. Nothing short of a
general movement among the hi^l tribes would be of any
great advantage to us, and it is clear that no general move-
ment can be looked for now. Besides, now that we see the
spirit which animates these savages, I do not care to risk
your loss by sending you among them."

The news of the disaster of Lake Trasimene was met by
Home in a spirit worthy of her. No one so much as breathed
the thought of negotiations with the enemy, not even a
soldier was recalled from the army of Spain. i^uintus
Fabius Maximus was chosen (^'ctator, and ho with two newly
raised legions marched to Ariminum and assumed the com-
mand of the army there, raised by the reinforcements he
brought with him to fifty thousand men.

Stringent orders were issued to the inhabitants of the dis-

il'^ti

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254

NEW TACTICS.

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tricts tliroiigh which Hannibal would march on his way to
Komo to (lesti'oy their crops, drive olF their cattle, and take
refuge in the fortified towns. Servilius was appointed to the
command of tlie Koman iicct, an<l ordered to oppose the
Carthaginians at sea. The ami}' of Fabins was now greatly
superior to that of PJannibal, but was inferor in cavalry.
He had, moreover, the advantage of being in a friendly
country, and of l)eing provisioned by the people through
whose country he moved, while llannil)al was obliged to
scatter his army greatly to obtain })rovi.sions.

Fabius moved his army until within six miles of that of
Hannibal, and then took up his position upon the hills, con-
tentinu: himself with watchim; from a distance the move-
ments of the Carthaginians. Hannibal marched unmolesL, 1
through some of the richest pToviuces of Italy till he de-
scended into t!ie plain of Campnnia. He obtained large
quantities of rich booty, but the inhabitants in all cast-s lield
aloof fiom him, their belief in the star of liome being still
unshaken in spite of the revers(.'S which had befallen her.

P'abius followed at a safe distance, avoiding every attempt
of Hannibal to biiii'jj on a battle.

The Konum soldieis fictted with rage and indignation at
seeing the enjiiiy, so inferior in strength to themselves,
wasting and i)luiuleriiig the country at their will. Minucius,
the master of horse aiuh second in command, a fiery officer,
sympathized to the full with the anger of the soldiers, and
continually urged up-on Fabius to march the aimy to the
assault, but Fabius was iinuiovable. The terrible defeats
whith Haiinil-al bad inllicted uy.on two Koman armies
showed him how vast would be the dauber of en<:a<>'ing
such an opponent unless at some great advantage.

Such advantage he thought he saw when Hannibal de-
scended into the plain of Campania. This plain was in-

SURROUNDED.

255

closed on the south hy the river Vnltnrnns, wliich could be
jtassed ordy at the hridi^o at Casilinuin, defended by the
Ivoinan garrison at that town, uliilc on its other sides it was
surrouiided l)y an UTdjroken barrier of steep and wooded hills,
the passes of whieli were strongly guarded by the Konians.

After seeing tliat every road over tlie bills was strongly
held by his troops, Fabius sat down with his army on tlio
mountains, whenee be could watch tbe doings of llannibal's
force on the i)lains. lie himself was amply supplied with
provisions from tiio country in his rear, and he awaited
patiently the time when llannil)al, liaving exhausted all the
resources of the Campaida, would Ix' forced liy starvation to
attack the Romans in their almost impregnable position in
the passes.

Hannibal was perfectly aware of the difficulties of his
position. Had he been free and unencund)ered by baggage
he might have led his army directly across the wooded
mountains, avoiding the passes guaided by the Ivomans, but
with his enormous train of baggage this was impossible un-
less he abandoned all the rich itlunder which the army had
collected. Of the two outlets from the plain, by the Appian
and Latin roads Avhich led to Kome, neither could be safely
attempted, for the lloman army would have followed in his
rear, and attacked him while endeavouring to force the pas-
sages in the mountains.

The same objection ai)plied to his crossing the Vulturnus.
The only bridge was stiongly held by the Romans, and the
river was far too deep and rai)id for a passage to be attempted
elsewhere w'ith the great Roman army close at hand. The
mountain ranue between the Vulturnus and Cades was diffi-
cult in the extreme, as the passes were few and very
strongly guarded, but it was here that Hannibal resolved to
make the attempt to lead his army from the difficult position

}■

I' ■ .

I.**

feANNlDAL'S STRATAGEik.

in which it was placed. Ho waited quietly in the plain until
the supplies of food were beginiiiiiy to run low, and then
prepared for his enterprise.

An immense number of cuttle were among the plunder.
Two thousand of the stoutest of these were selected, torches
were fastened to their horns, and shortly before midnigi.t
the light troops drove the oxen to the hills, avoiding the
position of the passes guarded l)y the enemy. The torches
were then lighted, and the light troops drove the oxen
straight up the hill. The animals, maddened by fear, rushed
tumultuously forward, scattering in all directions on the
hillside, but, continually urged by the troops behind them,
mounting towards the summits of the hills.

The Koman defenders of the passes, seeing this great
number of lights moving upwards, supposed that Hannibal
had abandoned all his baggage, and was leading his army
straight across the hills. This idea was confirmed by the
light troops, on gaining the crest of the hills, commencing
an attack upon the Romans posted below them in the pass
through which Hannibal intended to move. The Koman
troops thereupon quitted the pass, and scaled the heights
to interrupt or harass the retreating foe.

As soon as Hannibal saw the lights moving on the top of
the hills he commenced his march. The African infantry
led the way; they were followed by the cavalry; then came
the baggage and booty, and the rear was covered by the
Spaniards and Gauls. The detile was found deserted by
its defenders, and the army marched through unopposed.
Meanwhile Fabius with his main army had remained in-
active. The Roman general had seen with astonishment the
numerous lights making their way up the mountain side,
but he feared that this was some device on the part of
Hannibal to entrap him into an ambush, as he had entrapped

OUT OF THE TOILS.

257

Flaniinius on Lake Traainiene. He therefore hold hia army
in readiness for wliatover niijjjlit occur until niorninj; broke.
Tiu'n ho saw tliat he had heen outwitted. Tiie rear of
tlie Cartlia,u;iinan anny was just entering tlio defile, and in a
short time Fahius saw the Gauls and Spaniards sealing the
heights to the assistance of their comrades, who were nuiin-
tainiiig an unecjual fight Mith the Romans. The latter were
soon driven with slaughter into tlm plain, and the Car-
thaginian troops descended into the defile and followed their
retreating arjiiv. Hannibal now came down into the fertile
country of Apidia, and determined to winter there. He
took by storm the town of Geronium, where h-^. stored his
sui)plie8 and placed his sick in slielter, while his army oc-
cupied an intrenched camp which he formed outside the
town.

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(889)

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CHAPTER XVL

IN THE DUNGEONS OF CARTHAGE.

I!|

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ABIUS, after the escape ol Hannibal from the
trap in which he believed he had caught him,
followed him into Apulia, and encamped on
high ground in his neighbouT-hood intending
to continue the same waiting tactics. He was, however,
soon afterwards recalled to Rome to consult with the senate
on matters connected with the army. He left Minucius in
command, with strict orders tliat he should on no account
suffer himself to be enticed into a battle. Minucius moved
forward to within five miles of Gcroninm, and then en
camped upon a spur of the hills. Hannibal, aware that
Fabius had left, hoped to be able to tempt the impatient
Minucius to an action. He accordingly drew nearer to the
Romans and encamped upon a hill three miles from theii"
position.

Another hill lay about half-way between the two armies.
Hannibal occupied this during the night with two thousand
of his light troops, but next day ^linucius attacked tlie
position, drove off its defenders, and encamjjcd there with his
whole army. For some days Hannibal ko})t his force unit<d
in his intrenehnients, feeJmijr sure that Minucius would
attack him. The latter, however, oLrictly obeyed the orders
of Fabius and remained inactive.

ai from the
caugbt him,
ncamped on
)d intending
as, however,
th the senate
Minucius in
n no account
jmcius moved
,nd then en
aware that
[he impatient
iiearer to the
U from their

two armies,
two thousand
[attacked the
Itherc with his

force unitt«i
luicius wonltl
led the orders

TWO commandp:rs.

259

It was all-important to the Carthaginians to collect an
ample supply of food before winter set in, and Hannibal,
finding that the Komans would not attack him, was com-
pelled to resume his foraging exi)editions. Two-thirds of
the army were despatched in various directions in strong
bodies, while the rest remained to guard the intrench-
mcnt.

This was the opportunity for which Minucius had been
waiting. He at once des[)atched the whole of his cavalry
to attack the foraging jjurties, and with his infantry he ad-
vanced to the attack of the weakly-defended Carthaginian
camp. For a time Hannibal had the greatest difliculty in
resisting the assault of the Komans; but at last a body of
four tliousand of the foragers, who had beaten otT the
Konian cavalry and made their way into Geronium, came
cut to his support, and tlie Komans retired.

Hannibal, seeing the energy which Minucius had dis-
I)layed, fell l)ack to his old camp near Geronium, and
Minucius at once occupied the i)Osition which he had vacated.
The partial success of Minucius enabled the party in Kome
who had long been discontented with the waiting tactics of
Fabius to make a fresh attack upon his policy, and Mmi.cius
was now raised to an equal rank with Fabius.

Minucius, elated with his elevation, proposed to Fabius
either that they should command the whole army on alter-
nate days, or each should permanently command one half.
Fabius chose the latter alternative, for he felt certain that
the impetuosity of his colleague would sooner or later get
liini into trouble with such an adversary as Hannibal, and
that it was better to risk tiie destruction of half the army
than of the whole.

Minucius withdrew the troops allotted to him, and en-
camped in the plains at a distance of a mile and a half from

i;li

^^i»m**<!^>t<!i>immm<min-mai,.

260

A TRAP.

Fabius. Hannibal resolved at once to take advantage of
the change, and to tempt the Romans to attack him by
occupying a hill which lay about half-way between the camp
of Minucius and Geronium.

The plain which surrounded the hill was level and destitute
of wood, but Hannibal on a careful examination found that
there were several hollows in wliich troops could be con-
cealed, and in these during the night he posted five thousand
infantry and five hundred cavahy. The position occupied
by them was such that they would be able to take the
l!omans in flank and rear should they advance against the
hill. Having made these dispositions he sent forward a body
of light troops in the morning to occupy the hill. Minucius
immediately despatched his light troops, supported by
cavalry, to drive them from it. Hannibal reinforced his
Carthaginians by small bodies of troops, and the fight
was obstinately maintained until Minucius, whose blood was
now up, marched towards the hill with his legions in order
of battle.

Hannibal on his side advanced with the remains of his
troops, and the battle became fierce and general, until Han-
nibal gave the signal to his troops in ambush, who rushed
out and charged the Romans in rear and flank. Their
destruction would have been as complete and terrible as
that which had befallen the army of Sempronius at the
Trebia, had not Fabius moved forward with his troops to
save the broken lesiions of Minucius.

Fabius nov/ offered battle, but Hannibal, well content
with the heavy blow which he had struck, and the great
loss which he had inflicted upon the command of IMinucius,
fell back to his camp. Minucius acknowledged that Fabius
had saved his army from total destruction, and ac once
resigned his command into his hands, and reverted to his

Ri*'-

A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

261

antage of
k liim by
1 the camp

(\ destitute
found that
lid be con-
/e thousand
on occupied
to take the
against the
ward a body
^. Minucius
ipported by
einforced his
ad the fight
,se blood was
;ions in order

^mains of his
al, until Han-
1, who rushed
'lank. Their
Id terrible as
ionius at the
[his troops to

[well content

Ind the great

lof Minucius,

that Fabius

land at once

Iverted to his

former position under him. Both armies then went into
winter qut^rters.

Malchus had not been present at the fighting near Ger-
onium. Two days after Hannibal broke tlirough the Roman
positions round the ;.)Iains of Campania he intrusted Malchus
witli an important commission. Commanding the body-
guard of tlie general, and being closely related to him, Mal-
chus was greatly in Hannibal's confidence, and was indeed
on the same footing with Mago, Hannibal's brother, and
two or three other of his most trusted generals. Gathered
in the general's tent on the previous evening, tliese liad
aL'reed with their leader that final success could not be
looked for in their enterprise unless reinforcements were
received from Carthage.

It was now a year since they had emerged from the Alps
on to the plains of Northern Italy.- They had annihilated
two Roman armies, had marched almost unopposed through
some of the richest provinces of Italy, and yet they were
no nearer the great object of their enterprise than they were
when they crossed the Alps.

Some of the Cisalpine Gauls had joined them, but even
in the plains north of the Ai)ennines the majority of the
tribes had remained firm to their alliance with the Romans,
while south of that range of mountains the inhabitants had
in every case shown themselves bitterly hostile. Every-
where on the approach of the Carthaginians they had retired
to their walled towns, which Hannibal had neither the time
nor the necessary machines to besiege.

Although Rome had lost two armies she had already
equi})I)ed and placed in the field a third force superior in
huniber to that of the Carthaginians; her army in Spain
had not been dfawn u[)on; a legion north of the Apemiines
was operating against the revolted tribes; other leL;,ions

11
if

j i

! (

lIH'ii

!!■!

Ir:,

III

jP!

i m if

li !

\ :

' 1

in Hi

1 pf

||| m

2'')2

ANOTHER COMMISSION.

were in course of being raised and equipped, and Rome
would take the field in the spring with an army greatly
superior in strengtli to that of Carthage. Victorious as
Hannibal had been in battle, the army which had struggled
through the Alps had in the year which had elapsed greatly
diminished in numbers. Trebia and Trasimene had both
lessened their strength, but their losses Lad been much
heavier in the terrible march across the Apennines in the
spring, and by fevers subsecjuently contracted from the pesti-
ferous malaria of the marshes in the summer. In point of
numbers the gajjs had been filled up by the contingents
furnished by their Gaulish allies. But the loss of all the
elephants, of a great number of the cavalry, and of the Car-
thaginian trooi)S, who formed the backbone of the army,
was not to be re[)laced.

"Malchus," Hannibal said, "you know what we were speak-
ing of yesterday evening. It is absolutely necessary that
we should receive reinforcements. If Carthage aids me I
regard victory as certain. Two or three campaigns like the
last would alike break down the strength of Rome, and will
detach her allies from her.

" The Latins and the other Italian tribes, when they
find that Rome is powerless to protect them, that their
flocks and hci'ds, their crops and possessions are at our
mercy, will at length become weary of su})porting her cause,
and will cast in their lot with us; but if the strife is to bo
continued, Carthage must make an effort — must rouse her-
self from the lethargy in which she ai)pears to be sunk. It
is impossible for me to leave the army, nor can I well spare
Mago. The cavalry are devoted to him, and losing him
would be like losing my right hand; yet it is clear that some-
one must go to Carthage who can speak in my name, and
cai) icpresent t le true situation here.

ip!^

HANNIBAL'S VIEWS.

263

and Rome
rmy greatly
ictorious as
ad struggled
,psed greatly
ae had both

been much
nines in the
om the pesti-

In point of
} contingents
)ss of all the
d of the Car-
of the army,

ve were speak-
lecessary that
ye aids me I
laigns like the
fOme, and will

when they
Im, that their
lis are at our

ling her cause,
strife is to be
ist rouse her-
be sunk. It
h I well spare
Id losing him
;ar that some-
ly name, and

" Will you undertake the mission ? It is one of great danger.
In the first place you will have to make your way by sea to
Greece, and thence take ship for Carthage. When you
arrive there you will be bitterly opposed by Hanno and his
faction, who are now all-powerful, and it may be that your
mission may cost you your life ; for not only do these men
hate me and all connected with me, but, like most dema-
gogues, they place their own selfish aims and ends, the
advantage of their own faction, and the furtherance of
their own schemes far above the general welfare of the state,
the loss of all the colonies of Carthage, and the destruc-
tion of her imperial power. Tlie loss of national prestige
and honour are to these men as nothing in comparison with
the question whether they can retain their places and emoia-
ments as rulers of Carthage.

"Rome is divided as we are, her patricians and plebeians are
ever bitterly opposed to each other; but at present patriotism
rises above party, and both sink their disputes when the
national cause is at stake. The time will donbtless come —
thrt is, unless we cut her course short — that as Rome in-
creases in wealth and in luxury she will sutler from the like
evils that are destroying Carthage. Party rxigences will
rise above patriotic considerations, and Ron will fall to
pieces unless she finds some man strong and \ jrous enough
to grasp the whole power of the state, to siUnce the chat-
tering of the politicians, and to rule her wit' a rod of iron.
But I am wandering from my subject. Will you undertake
this mission ? "

" I will," Malchus replied firmly, " if you think me worthy
of it. I have no eloquence as a speaker, and know nothing
of the arts of the politician."

" There will be plenty of our friends there who will be
able to harangue the multitude," Hannibal r -t lied. "It is

ifl

fir I

III

It-'^

264

MALCIIUS'S INSTRUCTIONS.

your presence there as the rei)rosentative of the army, as
my kinsman, and as the son of tlie general who did sucli
good service to the state that will proHt cur cause.

" It is your mission to tell Carthage that now is her time
or never; that Home already totters from the blows I have
struck her, and that another blow only is requisite to stretch
her in the dust. A mighty effort is needed to overthrow
once for all our great rival.

"►Sacrifices will l)e needed, and great ones, to obtain
the object, but liome once fallen the future of Carthage is
secure. What is needed is that Carthage should ol»tain
and keep the command of the sea for two years, that at least
twenty-five tiiousand men should be sent over in the spring,
and as many in the spring following. With such reinforce-
ments I will uiideitake to destroy absolutely the power of
Rome. To-morrow I will furnish you with letters to our
friends at home, giving full details as to the course they
should pursue and jiai ticulars of our needs.

"A pai'ty of horse shall accomi)any you to the coast, with
a score of men used to navigation. There you will seize a
ship and sail for Corinth, whence you will have no difficulty
in obtaininijr iiassa2;e to Carthaure."

After nightfall the next day Malchus started, taking
Ncssus with him as his attendant and companion. The
party travelled all night, and in the morning the long line
of the sea was visible from the summits of the hills thev
Avere crossing. They waited for some hours to rest and
refresh their horses, and then, contiiuiing their journey,
came down in the afternoon upon a little port at the mouth
of the river Biferno. So unexpected was their approach that
the inhabitants had not time to shut their gates, and the
troops entered the town without resistance, the people all
flying to their houses.

CORINTH.

205

Malchus at once proclaimed tliat the Carthaginians came
as friends, and would, if unmolested, injure no one; but if
any armed attempt was made against them they would sack
and destroy the town. Two or three vessels were lying in
the port; Malchus took possession of the largest, and, putting
his party of seamen on boanl her, ordered the crew to sail
for Corinth. The horsemen were to remain in the town
until the vessel returned, when, with the l>arty on board her,
they vvonld at once rejoin Hannibal.

The wind was favourable, and the next morning the
mountains of Greece were in sight, and in the afternoon
they entered the port of Corinth. The anchor was drop})ed
at a short distance from the shore, the small boat was
lowered, and jVIalclms, accompanied by Nessus, was rowed
ashore by twc of his own men. These then returned on
board the ship, which at once weighed anchor and set sail
on her retnrn.

Corinth was a large and busy port, and the arrival and
depai'ture of the little vessel from Italy passed altogether
unnoticed, and witliout attracting any particular attention
Malchus and his companion made their way along the
wharves. The trade of Corinth was large and fiourishing,
and the scene reminded Malchus of that with which he was
so familiar in Carthage. Ships of many nationalities were
ranged along the quays. Galleys from Tyre and Cyprus,
from Syria and Egypt, from Cartii^ige and Italy, were all
assembled in this nentral ])ort.

Corinth was, like Carthage, essentially a trading com-
munity; and while the power and glory of the rival cities of
t'le Peloponnesus were rapidly failing Corinth was rising in
rank, and was now the first city of Greece. Malchus had
no difficulty in finding a Carthaginian trading ship. He
was amply supi>lied with money, and soon struck a bargain

' . ! -

rw^BBBMuw''

lli

266

RECOGNIZED.

ft'

II' '■ ' ;

it);' V .'

p . ' .

if: j »

that the captain should, without waiting to take in further
cargo, at once sail for Carthage.

The captain was macli surpriscel at the appearance in
Corinth of a young Carthaginian evidently of high rank,
but he was too well satisHed at the bargain he had made to
ask any questions. An hour later tlie mooring rojios were
cast off, and the ve.s.se\ spreading her sails, started on
her voyage. The weather was warm and pleasant, and
Malchus, stretched on a cor.ch spread on the ])oop, greatly
enjoyed the rest and quiet, after the long months which had
been spent in ainiojst iiiccssant activity. Upon the following
day Nessus a})proached iiim.

"My lord Malchus," ae said, "there are some on board
the ship who know you. I have overheard the men talking
together, and it seems that one of them recognized you as
having been in the habit of going out with a tishermau who
lived next door to him at Carthage."

"It matters not," Malchus said indifferently; "I have no
particular motive in concealing my name, though it would
have been as well that 1 should be able to meet my friends
in Carthage and consult with them, before my arrival there
was generally known. iHowever, before I leave the ship I
can distribute some money among the crew, and tell them
that for certain reasons of state I do not wish them to men-
tion on shore that I have been a passenger."

Had Malchus been aware that the ship in which he had
taken passage was one of the great tleet of traders owned
by iHanno, he would have regarded the discovery of his
personality by the sailors in a more serious light; as it was,
he thor.ght no more of the matter. No change in the
manner of the captain showed that he was aware of the
name and rank of his passenger, and iMalchus, as he watched
the wide expanse of sea, broken only by a few distant sails,

A STRANGE OCCURRENCE.

267

was too intent upon the mission with which he was charged
to give the matter anotlier moment's thought.

The wind fell light and it was not until the evening of
the eighth day after leaving Corinth that Carthage, with
the citadel of P>yrsa rising nbove it, couM be distinguished.
The ship was moving but slowly through the water, and the
captain said, that unless a change took place they would
not make j^ort until late the next morning. Malciuis retired
to his couch feeling sorry that the period of rest and tran-
quillity was at an end, and that he was now about to embark
in a difficult struggle, which, thou Ji he Tclt its importance,
was altogether alien to his taste and disposition.

He had not even the satisfaction that he should see his
mother and sister, for news had come a sh(Mt time before
he sailed that their position was so uncomfortal)le at Car-
thage that they had left for Spain, to take up their, abode
there with Adherbal and Anna. His mother was, he heard,
completely broken down in health by grief for the loss of
his father.

He was wakened in the night by the splash of the anchor
and the running out of the cable through the hawse-hole,
and supposed that the breeze must have sprung up a little,
and that they had anchored at the entrance to the harbour.
He soon went oif to sleep again, but was presently aroused by
what seemed to him the sound of a short struggle followed
by another splash; he dreamingly wondered what it could
be and then went off to sleep again. When he awoke it
was daylight. Somewhat surprised at the non-appearance
of Nessus, who usually came into his cabin the first thing
in the morning to call him, he soon attired himself.

On going to the door of his cabin he was surprised to find
it fastened without. He knocked loudly against it to attract
attention, but almost immediately found himself in darkness.

S ?,

Hi'

iii

fflli

268

A PRISONER.

Going to the port-liolo to discover the cause of this sudden
change, lie found that a sack had Ix'en stutl'ed into it, and
ininiediately afterwards tlie sound of hammering told him
that a i)hink was being nailed over this outside to keep it in
its I (lace.

The trntli flashed across him — he was a prisoner. Draw-
inij: his sword ho lluni' himself with all his force against the
door, but tliis had been so securely fastened without that
it did not yield in the sliglitest to his eilb'ts. After several
vain efforts he abandoned the attempt, and sitting down
endeavoured to realize the position, lie soon arrived at
something like the truth: the trading interests of Carthage
were wholly at the disposal of Uaimo and his party, and he
doubted not that, having been recognized, the captain had
determined to detain him as a prisoner until he communi-
cated to Hanno the fact of his arrival, and received instruc-
tions from him as to wlietiier ]\lalchus was to be allowed
to land.

IVIalchus recalled the sounds he had heard in the n'ght,
and uttered an exclamation of grief and anger as he con-
cfuded that his faithful follower had been attacked and
doubtless killed and thrown overboard. At present he was
powerless to do anything, and with his sword grasped in
his hand he lay on the couch in readiness to start up and
fight his way out, as soon as he heard those without undoing
the fastenings of the door.

The day passed slowly. He could hear voices without
and footsteps on the deck of the poop overhead, but no one
came near him; and after a time his watchfulness relaxed,
as he made up his mind that his cai)tors, whatever their
intentions iiight be, would not attempt to carry them out
until after nightfall. At last he heard a moving of the
heavy articles which had been piled against the door, he

"IN THK NAME OF THE UEPUBLIC."

269

Sprang to his feet, the door opened two or three inches, and
a voice said :

"In tlie name of the repuhlic I dc lare you to be my
jn'isoiier."

"I warn you I shall resist," ^ralchus cxcluiuieil. "I am
Malchus, the sun of HamiJcar, late a general of the repul)lic,
and I come to Carthai^e on a mission from llannihal.
Wh.atever complaint the state may have ai^ainst me I am
ready to answer at the ^)roper time, and sli ill not fail to
appear when called upon; but at present T have Hannibal's
mission to discharge, and those who interfere with me are
traitors to the republic, whomsoever they nuiy be, and I will
defend myself until the last."

"Open the door and seize him," a voice exclaimed.

As the door was ojiened !*'alchus sprang forward, but the
lights of several lanterns showed a dozen men with levelled
spears standing in front of the cabin.

"I surrender," he said, seeing that against such a force
as this resistance would be vain, " but in the name of
Hannibal I protest against this interference with the mes-
senger tvhom he has sent to explain, in his name, to the
senate tlie situation in Italy."

So sa\ ing Malchus laid down his siiield and sword, took
ofF his helmet, and walken quietly from the cabin. At an
order from their superior four of the men laid down their
weapons ami seized him. In a minute he was bound hand
and foot, a gag was for ed into his mouth, a cloak thrown
over his head, and he was roughly thrown into a large boat
alongside the shii>

Short as was the time which he had at liberty, Malchus liad
thrown a glarce over the bulwarks of each ide of the ship,
and perceived that any resistance would have been useless,
for far away lay the lights of Carthage; and it was evident

IMAGE EVALUATION
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Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STRUT

WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80

(716) •73-4503

270

THRUUcni CAIITHAGE.

tliut iho vessel had made little progress since lie had retired
to rest on the previous j'vcning. Had she heen inside
the harbour he had inti'inl('(l to s[)ring overboard at once
and to trust to escape hy ^wininnng.

The person in counnar.'l of the party which had seized
Malchus took his place at the helm of the boat, and his
twelve agents seated themselves at the oars and rowed away
towards Carthage, 'llio town was nearly eight miles away,
and they were two hours before tlie}' arrived there. The
|>lace where they landed was at souw. distance from the busy
part of the port. Two men were waiting for them there with
a stretcher. Upon this Malclius was laid, four men lifted it
on their shoulders, the others fell in round it as a guard,
and the i)a'ty then proceeded through (piict streets towards
the citadel.

The hour was late ard but few i)eoi)lc were about. Any
who paused for a moment to look at the little procession,
shrank away hastily on hearing the dreaded words, "In the
name of the republic," uttered by the leader of t!ie ])arty.
The citizens of Carthage were too well accustome«l to mid-
night arrests to give the matter fuither thought, save a
momentary wonder as to who was the last victim of the
tyrants of the city, and to indulge, j)erhaps, in a secret
malediction upon them. Malclius had from the first no
doubt as to his destination, and when ho felt a sudden
change in the angle at which the stretcher was carried, knew
that he was being taken uj) the steep ascent to Byrsa.

lie licard presently the challenge of a sentry, then there
was a }iause as the gates wej'e cjuiied, then he was carried
forward for awhile, there was another stop, and the litter
M'as lowered to th(5 ground, iiis cords were unfastene«l, and
he was commanded to rise. It need(Ml but a glance upwards
to tell him where he was. Above him towered the dark mass

'r.j.

UNDER THE TEMrLE OF MOLOCH.

271

of the temiileof Molocli, facing liiui was a small «loor known
to every citizen of Carthago as leading to the dungeons
under the t(;ni[)le.

l>ravc as he was, Afalchus could not resist a shud<ler as
ho entered tlie portal, accompanied by four of Ids guanls
and preceded by a jailer. No questions were asked by the
latter, and doubtless the coming of the prisoner had been
expected and prepared for. The way lay down a long
flight of steps and through several passag<'s, ,\11 hewn in
the solid rock. They parsed many closed doors, until at
last they turned into one which stooil open. The gai; was
then removed front Mahlius's mouth, the door was closed
behind him, he heard the bolts fastened, and then remained
alone in perfe(;t dark!ie.?s.

Malchus felt round the walls of his cell and foun<l that it
was about six feet square. In one corner was a bundle of
straw, and, sjm'ading this out, he threw himself uj»on it and
bitterly meditated over the position into which he had
fallen. His own situation was desperate enough. He was
helpless in the hands of Ilanno. The friends and partisans
of Hannibal were ignorant of his coming, and he could hope
for no help from them, lie had little doubt as to what his
fate would be; he would be i)ut to death in some cruel way,
and Hannibal, his rchitives, and friends wouM never know
what had become of him from the moment when he left the
Italian vessel in the port of Corinth.

But ho[)oless as was his own situation, Malchus thought
more of Hannibal and his brave comi>anions in arms than
of himself. The manner in wliieh he hatl been kidnapped
by the agents of ilaiino, show«'d how <h'U'iiMiiied was that
tlemagogue to prevent tiie true state of things wliicii pie-
vailed in Italy from becoming known to the people of Car-
thage. In order to secure their own trium[)li, ho and his

A SAFE riUSON.

l)arty were willing to sacrifice Hannibal and his army, and
to involvo Carthage in the most t(Tiil)le disasters.

At 'ast Malchus sle]>t. When he awoke a faint lii;ht was
streaming down into his cell. In the centre of tlie room
was an opening of about a foot s(|Uare, above which a .sort of
chimney extended twenty feet U}) tliroiigh the solid rock to
the surface, where it was covered with un iron grating.
Malchus knew where he was. Along each side of the gieat
temple extended a row of these grati?»gs level with the floor,
and every citizen knew that it was through these apertun-s
that light and air reached the prisoners in the cells below.
Sometimes groans and cries were heard to rise, but those
who were near Mould hurry from the spot, for they knew
that the spies of the law "were ever on the watch, and that
to bo suspected of entering into comnuun'cation with the
prisoners would be sufficient to ensure condemnation and
death.

It was the sight of these gratings, and the thought of the
dismal cells below which had increased the aversion which
Malchus had felt as a boy to enter the blood-stained temple,
little as he had dreamed that the dav would come when he
himself would be lying a prisoner in one of them. He
knew that it was useless for him to attempt by shouting to
inform his friends in the city of his presence there. The
narrowness of the air passage and the closeness of the grat-
ing above deadened and confused the voice, unless to a i)er-
son starding immediately above the opening, and as the
visitors to the temple carefully avoided the vicinity of the
gratings, it would be but a waste of breath to attempt to
call their attention.

As to escape it was out of the question. The cell was cut
in the solid rock. The door was of enormous strength,
and even could that .^ave been overcome, there were

THE SECIIET TIUnUNAL.

273

many others which would have to be passed before he could
arrive at the entrance to the dungeon.

In a short time a Nubian entered, bearing some bread and
a pitclicr of water. Malchus addressed him; but the negro
opened iiis mouth, and Malchus saw that his tongue !i;id
licen cut out, perhaps in childhood, peihaps as a punish-
ment for a crime; but more probal)ly the man was a slave
captured in war, who had been mutilated to render him a
saf(! and useful instrument of the officers of the law.

Three hours later the door again opened, {ind two men
appeared. They ordered Malchus to follow them, and led
him tlirough a number of meandering passages, until at last,
opening a door, they ushered him into a largo chamber.
This was lighted by torches. At a table in the centre of the
room were seated seven figures. In the one seated in a
chair very slightly above the others Malchus at once re-
cognized Hanno. His companions were all leading men of
his faction.

"Malchus, son of Hamilcar," Hanno said, "what have
you to say why you thus secretly come to Carthage]"

" I come not secretly," Malchus replied, " I come hither
as the messenger of Hannibal to the senate. I am charged
by him to lay before them the exact situation in Italy, to
tell them how much he has already accomplished, and what
yet remains to be done, and to explain to them the need
there is that reinforcements should be despatched to him
to carry out his great designs for the annihilation of the
power of Rome. I come not in secret. I passed in a
ship from Italy to Corinth, and there at once hired a vessel
to convey me hither."

" As we are members of the senate," Hanno said, '* you
can deliver your message to us."

" I fear that it will go no fuither," Malchus replied. "The

(331) ) S

I ' 1

274 "JUDGES 1 EXECUTIONERS, YOU SHOULD SAY."

fact tli.'it I havo been thus secretly seized and carried here,
shows how far it is your wisli tliat the i)Coi)le of Carthage
shoulil know my niessaj^o. Still, as even in your breasts all
patriotism may not yet be dead, and as my words may move
you yet to do something to enable Hannibal to save the
republic, I will give you the message he sent me to deliver
to the senate."

A murmur of angry surprise arose from tbe seven men
at the bold words and the defiant bearing of their prisoner.

"How dare you thus address your judges]" Hanno ex-
claimed.

"Judges!" Malchus repeated scornfully, "executioners,
you should say. Think you that I know not that my death
is resolved on ? Even if you would you dare not free a noble
of Carthage, a son of a general who has lost his life in her
service,- a cousin of the great Hannibal, after you have
thus treacherously seized and thrown him into a dungeon.
Cowed as the people of Carthage are by your tyranny,
corrupted as they are by your gold, this lawless act of op-
pression would rouse them to resistance. No, Hanno, it is
because I know that my doom is sealed I thus fearlessly
defy you and your creatures."

Malchus then proceeded to deliver the message of Han-
nibal to the senate. He showed the exact situation of affairs
in Italy, urged that if the reinforcements asked for were
sent, the success of the arms of Carthage and the final
defeat and humiliation of Kome were assured; while, on the
other hand, if Hannibal were left unaided, his army must
in time dwindle away until too feeble to resist the assaults
of the Komans and their allies. Ho M-arned his hearers
that if this catastroi)he should come about, Rome, flushed
with victory, smarting under the defeats and humiliation
which Hannibal had inflicted upon them, would in turn

THE MESSAGE TO THE SENATE.

275

3 seven men
leir prisoner.
" Hanno ex-

become the aggressor, and would inflict upon Carthage a
blow similar to that with which Rome had been menaced
by Hannibal.

Hanno and his companions listened in silence. Malchus
for a time forgot his own position and the character of the
men he ad<lressed, and jdcaded with an earnestness and
j)assion such as he would have used had he Iteen addressing
the whole senate. When he had finishcdj Hanno without a
word motioned to the jailers, and these, placing themselves
one on each side of Malchus, led him back to his cell.

ssage of Han-

•^=3^-

» *

ih mfl.*^\'*t»* Hi,fi*:^^hi

ClIArTER XVII.

THE ESCAPE.

;iii

OR tlio iipxt two (lavs Maldms was vi'sitod only
l)y tin; Nu)»i;in who linuiiilit liis food. The
third \\\'j}\t, as lie was Ivin^ on 'Ids straw, won-
dorini^ how loni; Hanno would be before lie
decided his fate, he started to his feet as lie heard, appa-
rently close at hand, his name whis])ere»l. It was repeated,
and he noAV perceived that it came from above.

"Yes," he said in a low ton •, Icolving upwards, "I am
Malchus. WIjo speaks to me?"

"It is I, Nessus," the voice re[>licd. "Thanks to the
gods, I have found my lord."

"How did you get here, Nessus? I fear3d that you were
drowned."

"I swam to shore," the Arab said, "and then watched
outside the gate here. I saw several prisoners brought in,
ami doubted not that you were amonuj them. I was at the
port when the ship came in, and found that she brought no
passenger. Then I came up here again. I soon found friends
among the Arab regiment in the garrison; these obtained
me employment in tlie stables of the elei»hants. Each night,
when all has been still, I have crept here, and have wliis-
pered your name down each of the gratings. To-night you
have heard me. Now that I know where you are, I will set

NESSUS AT WORK.

277

visitod only
food The
straw, won-

)e before lie
heard, appa-

vas repeated,

ards, "I am

lanks to the

liat you were

Ihen watched
brought in,
I was at the
brought no
found friends
leso obtained
Each night,
have whis-
fro-night you
Ire, I will set

to work to contrive your escape. Is the passage from your
cell here wide enough to admit your being drawn upf

" Yes," Malchus replied; " it would be a close fit, but with
a rope you could get me up through it."

'* I will set to work to loosen these bars at once," Nessus
said; "but the diHiculty is not to get you out from here, but
to get you beyond the gates of the citadel. The watch is
extremely strict, and the gates are not opened until nine
o'clock. Before that your escape would be discovered, and
it will be im[)ossibIe for you to pass out undetected. I must
find a hiding-place where you can lie concealed until the
search is over, and the vigilance of the sentries is relaxed;
hut it will be no easy matter. And now let us speak no
more; it is dangerous to breathe, nuich less to speak here."

Not another word was spoken for hours. Malchus could
hear a low continuous scraping noise as Nessus with his
dagger worked away ui)ou the stone into which the grating
fitted. At last Nessus spoke again. " I have nearly
finished, my lord, the greater part of the grating is loose,
and in half an hour I can complete the work. Daylight
will soon be breaking, and I must go. To-morrow night
I will return v. ith a rope. I hope to day to find some place
where you may be concealed."

Malchus with renewed hope threw himself upon the straw,
and lay there until about noon he was again summoned to
the presence of his judges. They were the same whom he
had seen previously.

"Malchus, son of Kamilcar," Hanno said, "you are now
brought before us to hear the crime with which you are
charged. We irive here before us the written list of the
names of the members of the cons^Mracy, headed by Giscon,
which had for its aim the murder of many of the senate of
Carthage and the overthrow of her constitution. We have

I '

278

THE SENTENCE.

Wi'fS

also here the confession of several of the conspirators con-
firming this list, and saying that you were one of the party."

" I do not deny," Malchus said firmly, " that I did once
visit the place in which those you speak of met, and that
my name was then entered on the roll; but when I went
there 1 was wholly ignorant of the purposes of the associa-
tion, and as soon as I learned their aims and objects I with-
drew from them, and did not again visit their place of
meeting."

" You could not well do that," Hanno said, " since it is
writ down that you sailed very shortly afterwards for Spain."

"I own that I did so," Malchus replied, "but I told
Giscon on the very day that I acconijianied him to the
meeting that I would go there no more. Moreover, your
commissioners with Hannibal's army have already inquired
into the circumstancesj and they, in consideration of the fact
that I was then little more than sixteen years old, that I
was led ignorantly into the plot, and at once separated my-
self from it, absolved me from blame."

" The commissioners had no authority to do so," Hanno
replied; "they were ordered to send you to Carthage, and
failed to carry out their orders only because Hannibal then,
as always, set himself above the authority of the republic.
As you have confessed that you were a member of this con-
spiracy, no further trial is needed, and this court awards to
you the same punishment which was meted to all the
others concerned in the conspiracy — you will to-morrow be
put to death by the usual punishment of the press."

Malchus abstained from all reply, for it struck him at
once that were he to defy and anger his judges they might
order him to be instantly executed. He therefore without
a word turned and accom;>anied his jailer to his cell. Ho
waited impatiently for night, and the hours seemed long

free!

279

indeed before he heard the whisper of Nessiw above.
l)irectly the Arab received tlio reply assuring him that
Miilcliiis was still there, he again set to work.

In an hour the grating was removed and tlie rope lowered.
Malchus fastened it under his arms, knotting it in front, and
then whispered to Nessus that he was ready. The Arab
drew him slowly and steadily up until his head was in the
entrance of the narrow passage. Malchus had grasped the
rope as high as possible above liis head and hung by his
hands, thereby drawing the shouKlers upwards, and reducing
their width as much as possible. He then managed to swing
himself so that his body Mas diagonally across the open-
ing, and when thus placet! he found to his joy that the
passage was large enough for him to pass through without
much difficulty.

Slowly and steadily Xessus drew him up until his shoul-
ders were above the level of the ground, when Malchus,
placing his hands on the pavement, sprang noiselessly out.
The grating was replaced, and without a word being spoken
they glided from the temple. Not a word was said until
they had gone some little distance.

" You have saved my life again, Nessus," Malchus said,
laying his hand upon his shoulder. "Another twelve hours
and it would have been too latfl. I was to have been put
to death in the morning."

Nessus gave a fierce exclamation and placed his hand on
his knife.

"Had they slain my lord," he said, "I would have
avenged you. I would have dogged your enemies night and
day till, one by one, my knife should have found its way to
their hearts ! "

" Have you found a hiding i»L*oe, Nf oSu« ("

"There is but one place of safety, my lord, that I can

t
r

I m

•

280

THE RESEIIVOIR&

think of. I liave talked it over with two or three faithful
friends, and they agroo that so rigid will be the search that
it will be well-nigh impossible fur anyone witiiin tiie walls
of the citadel to escape detection. The spies of Ilanno are
everywhere, and men fear within these walls even to whisper
what they think. At anyrate, no more secnro hiding-place
could be found than that which we have decided upon."

"And where is that, Ncssusl"

" It is in the reservoirs. With four water-skins and some
planks we have prepared a raft. My two friends are wait-
ing for us at one of the entrances. I'hey will have fitted
the raft together, and all will be in readiness. They are
not likely to search for you there."

"The idea is excellent, Nessus."

The reservoirs of Carthage were of enormous extent, and
some of these remain to this day and are the wonder and
admiration of travellers. They were subterranean and were
cut from the solid rock, the stone extra-ted from them being
used for the walls of the buildings of the city. Pillars were
left at intervals to support the roof; and it was calculated
that these underground lakes — for they were no less — con-
tained sufficient water to supply the wants of the great city
for at least six months. These vast storing-places for water
were an absolute necessity in a climate like that of Northern
Africa, where the rain falls but seldom. Without them,
indeed, Carthage would have been at the mercy of the first
army which laid siege to it

The greatest pains were devoted to the maintenance of
the water supply. The rainfall from the roofs of the
temples and houses was conducted to the reservoirs, and
bhese stores were never drawn upon on ordinary occasions,
the town being supplied with water brought by aqueducts
from long distances among the hills. Here and there open-

extent, and

wonder and

in and were

them being

illars were
Is calculated

less — con-
le great city

s for water

f Northern
[hout them,

of the first

;e faithful
earch that
tlie Willis
1 1 anno are
to whisiicr
iding-place
upon."

s and some
Is are wait-
have fitted
They are

* •

Intenance of
pofs of the
^rvoirs, and
occasions,
aqueducts
[there open-

•H.

hi-'

i i

^■1

■'

;i:'i

m',

1.^:1 ■

.- L? I' *■

II hi

i;«-

.!!

C^STAhM'

3:19

THE HIDING-PLACE IN THE RESERVOIRS UNDER CARTHAGE.

THE RAFT.

281

ings were cut in the rock which formed the roof of the
reservoirs, for the admission of air, and at a few points steps
from the surface led down to the water Iron gates guarded
the entrance to these.

Nessus and liis friends had tlic evening; before unfastened
one of these gates. The lock was old and little used, as tlie
gate was placed rather to prevent chiMr 'U and others going
down to the ^\ater tlian for any other purpose, and the
Arabs had found little ditlicultv in ])icking the rough lock.

JMalchus followed Xe>sus d(t\vn the steps until he reached
the edge of the water, some fifty feet below the surface.
Here stood two Arabs beaiiiii' torches. At the foot of
the steps Hoated the raft, formed, as Nessiis had said, of
four intiated sheep-skins connected by a framework of planks.
Across these a bullock's hide had been stretched, fornn'ng a
}»latform. On this were son.c rugs, a skin of wine, and a
pile of flat cakes and fruit, together with half a dozen
torches.

"Thanks, my friends!" Malchu^ said to the Arabs. "Some
day I may be able to prove that I am grateful to you."

"The friends of Xessus are our friends," one of the Arabs
replied simply; "his lord is our master."

" Here is a paddie, my lonl," Nessus said. " I propose
that you should paddle straight away as far as you can see
a torch burning liere; then that you should fasten the raft
to a pillar. Every other night I will come with j)rovisions
here and show a light. If you see the light burn steadily it
is safe for you to api)roach, and I come only to bring food
or news; if you see the torch wav- to and fio, it is a warn-
ing that they intend to search the reservoirs. I do not
think it likely they will do so; still it is best to be prepared,
and in that case you must paddle far away in the recesses.
They might search for a long time before they find you.

DER CARTHAGE.

Sesnmatmnim' ^f.-y^tac

I i

282

AN UNDERGROUND LAKE.

mil I

!;J

I III'! 'I

A-

I trust that your imprisonment here will not be long, but
that we may hit upon some plan of getting you out of the
citadel. I would gladly go with you to share your soli-
tude, but I must remain outside to plan sume way of
escape."

With a short farewell to his faithful follower Malchus
took his i)lace on the raft, having lit a torch and fastened
it upright upon it. Then he paddled slowly away, keeping
between the lines of heavy columns. His rate of progress
was slow, and for half an hour he kept the torch in sight.
By this time he felt sure that he must be approaching the
boundary of the reservoir. He therefore moored his raft
against a pillar and waved his torch backwards and for-
wards. The signal was answered by a similar movement of
the distant ligiit, which then disappeared. Malchus now
extinguished his own torch, placed the means of relighting it
with which Nessus had furnished him close to his hand, and
then, wrapping himself in a rug, lay down to sleep.

When he awoke it was day. The light was streaming
down on to the water from an opening two or three hundred
yards away, while far in the distance he could see a faint
light which marked the place of the steps at which he
had embarked. In the neighbourhood of the opening the
columns stood up clear and giay against the dark back-
ground. A little further off their outlines were dim and
misty; and wherever else he looked an inky darkness met
his eye, save one or two faint bands of misty light which
marked the position of distant openings.

The stillness which reigned in this vast cavern was almost
oppressive. Sometimes a faint ruistling whisper, the echo of
some sound in the citadel above, passed among the columns;
and the plaintive squeak of a bat was heard now and then,
for numbers of these creatures were flitting noiselessly in the

^1:

THE CHANCES OF ESCAPE.

283

long, but
)ut of the
your soli-
le way of

r ^lalchus
i fastened
ly, keeping
3f progvess
:h in sight.
)aching the
ed his raft
Is and for-
lovement of
[alchus now
relighting it
^s hand, and

ep,

streaming

rce hundred
see a faint

t which he

opening the
dark back-

i\e dim and
arkness met
liiiht which

was almost

the echo of

the columns;

w and then,

slessly in the

darkness, their forms visible for an instant as they passed
and repassed between Malclius and the light. He wondered
vaguely what they could find to eat here, and then remem-
bered that he had heard that at nightfall numbers of bats
could be seen flying up from the ojienings to the reservoirs
to seek food without, returning to their hiding-places when
morning approached.

Malclius amused himself by thinking over the fury and
astonishment of Hanno and his colleagues on hearing that
their prisoner had disappeared, and he pictured to himself the
hot search which was no doubt going on throughout the
citadel. He thought it improbable in the extreme that any
search would be made in the reservoir. Nessus would re-
fasten the gate after passing through it again, and the idea
that he could be floating on the subterranean lake could
hardly occur to them.

Then he turned over in his mind the various devices by
which it might be possible to get beyond the walls of the
citadel. The anxiety of Hanno and those acting with him
to prevent the manner in which they had kidnapped and
sentenced to death the messenger and kinsman of Hannibal
from becoming known in the city, would be so great that
extraordinary vigilance would be used to prevent any from
leaving the citadel. The guards on the walls would be
greatly increased; none would be allowed to pass the gate
without the most rigorous examination ; while every nook
and corner of the citadel, the temples, the barracks, store-
houses, and stables, would be searched again and again.
Even should a search be made in the reservoir, Malclius had
little fear of discovery; for even should a boat come towards
the spot where he was ly^'ng, he would only have to pass
the raft round to the opposite side of the great })illar, some
twelve feet square, agair.st which he was lying.

2S4

NESSUS MAKES HIS REPORT.

AVlicn the light fmlcd out lie again lay down to sleep.
As before, he slept soundly; for, however great the heat
above, the air in the subterranean chambers was always
fresh and cool, and he could well bear the rugs which Nessus
had i)rovided. The next day ])as.scd more slowly, for he
had less to think about. After the daylight had again faded
he began to look forward expectantly for the signal, although
he knew that nuiny hours must still elapse before Nessus
would be able to make his way to the place of meeting.

So slowly did the hours pass, indeed, that he began at
last to fear that something must have hapjiened — perhaps
that Nessus had been in some way recognized, and was now
in the dungeons below the temjde of Moloch. At last, how-
ever, to his joy Malchus saw the distant light; it burned
steadily, and he at once set out to paddle towards it. He
did not light his torch — it would have taken time, and
he knew that, quietly as he paddled, the sound would be
borne along the surface of the water to Nessus. At last he
arrived at the steps. Nessus was there alone; beside him
was a basket of fresh provisions.

"Well, Nessus, what news'?"

"All is well, my lord; but Hanno is moving heaven and
earth to find you. The gates of the citadel were kept closed
all day yesterday; and although to-day they have again been
opened, the examination of those who pass out is so strict
that no disguise would avail to deceive the scrutiny of the
searchers. One or other of the men who attended you in
the prison is always at the gate. The barracks have been
searched from end to end, the troops occupying them being
all turned out while the agents of the law searched them from
top to bottom. The same has been done with the stables;
and it is well that we did not attempt to hide you above
ground, for assuredly if we had done so they would have

NO PLAN OF ESCAPfi.

285

to sleep.

the heat
as always
ich Nessus
,ly, for he
<rain faded
il, although
ore Kessus
leeting.
le hegan at
>^l — |iorha\)s
ud was now
it last, how-
t; it Imned
ards it. He
n time, and
pid would be
At last he
I beside him

found you, however cunningly we had stowed you away.
Of course the nanie of tli(( prisoner who has escapeil is
known to none, but the r»'port that an important i>risoner
has escaped from the state prisons beneath the temi>le has
created quite an excitcmont in the city, for it is said tliat
siicli an event never t( ok place before. At present I can
liit on no plan whatever for getting you free."

"Then I must be cftntent to wait for a while, Nessus.
After a time their vigilance is sure to relax, as they will
think that I must have got beyond the walls."

"Are thore ati}' to w himi you would wish me to bear
news that 30U are here?"

This was a question which Malchus had debated with
himself over and over again. It ai»peared to him, however,
that Hanno's power was so great that it would be dangerous
for anyone to come forward and accuse him. No doubt
every one of the leading men of the I'arcine party was
strictly watched; and did Hanno suspect that any of them
were in communication with the escajjcd prisoner, he would
take instant ste})s against them. He thought it better, there-
fore, that none should be acquainted with the secret until
he was free. He therefore replied in the negative to the
question of Nessus.

" I must wait till I am free. Any action now might bring
down the vengeance of Hanno ui»on others. He would find
no difficulty in inventing some excuse for dealing a blow
at them. You think there is no possibility of escape at
present]"

"I can think on no plan, my lord. So strict is the search

that when the elephants went down to-day to the fountains

for water every howdah was examined to see that no one

was hidden within it."

"It will be necessary also, Nessus, if you do hit upon

fSfesmm-M^m^.

286

"WHAT IS YOUR NEWS?"

rifi

some plan for getting me out, to arrange a hiding-place in
the city."

"Tliat will be easy enough," Nessus replied. *' My friends
have many relations in the Arab quarter, and once free, you
might be concealed there for any time. And now I will wait
no longer, for last night visits were made in all the bar-
racks and stables by the agents of the law, to see that
every man was aslcei) in his place. Therefore I will re-
turn without delay. In two days I will be here again; but
should anything occur which it is needful to tell you I will
be here to-morrow night."

Malchus watched for the light on the following evening
with but faint hope of seeing it, but at about the same hour
as before ho saw it suddenly appear again. Wondering what
had brought Nessus before his time, he paddled to the stairs.

"Well, Nessus, what is your news?"

" We have hit upon a plan of escape, my lord. As I told
you my friend and I are in the stable with the elephants,
our duties being to carry in the forage for the great beasts,
and to keep the stables in order. We have taken one of the
Indian mahouts into our confidence, and he has promised
his aid; the elephant of which he is in charge is a docile
beast, and his driver has taught him many tricks. At his
signal he will put up his trunk and scream and rush here
and there as if in the state which is called must, when they
are dangerous of approach. The mahout, who is a crafty
fellow, taught him to act thus, because when in such a state
of temper the elepliants cannot be worked with the others,
but remain in the stables, and their drivers have an easy
time of it.

" On the promise of a handsome reward the mahout has
agreed that to-morrow morning, before the elephants are
taken out, you shall be concealed in the bottom of the

"THE IDEA IS A CAPITAL ONE."

287

ig-place in

My friends
:e free, you
I will wait
til the bai-
:o see that
5 I will re-
I again ; but
I you I will

ing evening
e same hour
idering what
to the stairs.

i As I told
tie elephants,
ereat beasts,
en one of the
las promised
e is a docile
icks. At his
id rush here
if, when they
is a crafty

such a state
h the others,

lave an easy

mahout has
elephants are
)ttom of the

howdah. He will manage that the elephant is the first in the
procession. When we get out into the court-yiird he will
slyly i)nck the beast, and give him the signal to simulate
rage; he will then so direct him that, after charging several
times about the court, he shall niak(3 a rush at the gate. You
may be sure that the guards there will step aside (juickly
enough, fur a furious elephant is not a creature to be
hiinlered.

" When he is once down to the foot of the hill the driver
u ill direct him to some quiet si)ot. That he will find easily
enough, for at his api)roach there will be a general stampede.
When he reaches some place where no one is in sight he
will halt the elephant and you will at once drop of!" him. I
shall be near at hand and will join you. The elephant will
continue his course for some little distance, and the mahout,
feigning to have at last recovered control over him, will
direct him back to the citadel."

" The idea is a capital one," Malchus said, " and if carried
out will surely succeed. You and I have often seen during
our campaigns elephants in this state, and know how every-
oii. Hies as they come along screaming loudly, with their
trunks high, and :heir great ears out on each side of their
heads. At anyrate it is worth trying, Nessus, and if by
any chance we should fail in getting through the gate, the
mahout v*'ould, of course, take his elephant back to the
stable, and I might slip off there and conceal myself till
night, and then make my way back here again."

"That's what we have arranged," Nessus sraid. " And now,
my lord, I will leave you and go back to the stables, in case
they should search them again to-night. If you will push
off and lie a short distance away from the step I will be
here again half an hour before daybreak. I will bring you
a garb like my own, and will take you direct to the

288

IN THE elephant's STALL.

!jl

stable whore the ani'u.il is kept. There will be no one
there save the tnahoiit and my two frieiida, so that it will
be easy for us to covvv you in the howdah before the ole-
phaiits go out. I'herc is little chance of anyone coniin<;
into the stables before that, for they have been searched f>o
fre(|uently during the last two days that Hanno's agents
must by this tiu'.e be convinced that wherever you arc
hidden you are not there. Indeed, to-day the search has
greatly relaxed, although the vigilance at the gate and on
the walls is as great as ever; so 1 think that they despair of
finding you, and believe that you must either have made your
escape already, or that if not you will sooner or later issue
from your hiding-place and fall into their hands."

Malchus slejjt little that night, and rejoiced when he
again saw J essus descending the stei)s. A few strokes of
his paddle sent the raft alongside. N essus fastened a cord
to it to prevent it from drifting away.

" We may need it again," he said briefly, Malchus placed
his own clothes upon it and threw over his shoulders the
bernous which Nessus had brought. He then mounted the
steps with him, the gate was closed and the bolt shot, and
they then ma<le their way across to the stables. It was
still perfectly dark, though a very faint light, low in the
eastern sky, showed that ere long the day would break.

Five minutes' walking and they arrived at the stables of
the elephants. These, like those of the horses and the oxen
which drew the cumbrous war-machines, were formed in
the vast thickness of the walls, and were what are known
in modern times as casemates. As Nessus had said, the
Indian mahout and the other two Arabs were the only
human occupants of the casemate. The elephant at once
showed that he perceived the new-comer to be a stranger by
an uneasy movement, but the mahout quieted him.

■ t

i}...

THE ESCAPE OP NESS US.

289

be no one

hat it will

re the ele-

,ne coming;

searched so

no's agents

er you an*

search has

rate and on

y despair of

e made your

r Uiter issue
>>

ed when he
3W strokes of
itened a cord

alchus placed
houlders the
mounted the
jolt shot, and
lies. It was
low in the
Id break.
:he stables of
and the oxen
•e formed in
.t are known
ad said, the
lere the only
ihant at once
a stranger by
him.

While they were waiting for morning, Nessus described
more fully than he had hitherto hud an opportunity of doing
the attack made upon him on board the ship.

"I was," he saidj "as my lord knows, uneasy when I
found that they liad recognized you, and when we were
within a day's sail of Carthage I resolved to keep a look-
out; therefore, although I wrajipcd myself in my cloak and
lay down, I did not go to sleep. After a while I thought
I heard the sor*id of oars, and, standing up, went to the
bulwark to listen. Suddenly some of the sailors, who must
have been watching me, sprang upon me from behind, a
cloak w-as thrown over my head, a rope was twisted round
my arms, and in a moment I was lifted and flung over-
board.

" I did not cry out, because I had already made up my
mind that it was better not to arouse you from sleep what-
ever happened, as, had you run out, you might have been
killed, and I thought it likely that their object would be, if
you ofl'ered no resistance, to take you a prisoner, in which
case I trusted that I might later on hope to free you. As
my lord knows, I am a good swimmer. I let myself sink,
and when well below the surface soon got rid of the rope
which bound me, and which was, indeed, but hastily twisted
round my a' Jis. I came up to the surface as noiselessly as
possible, and after taking a long breath dived and swam
under water as far as I could. When I came up the ship
was so far away that there was little fear of their seeing
me; however, I dived again and again until in perfect
safet}'.

" I heard a boat rowed by many oars approach the vessel.
I listened for a time and found that all was quiet, and then
laid myself out for the long swim to shore, which I reached
without difficulty. All day I kept my eye on the vessel,

(339) T

'»/

i'^.

290

THE SEARCH FOR MALCHU8.

which remained at anchor. As I could not tell to which
landing-place you might he hrought I went uj) in the even-
ing and took my jjost on the road leading up here, and
when towards morning a party entered, carrying one with
them on a stretcher, 1 had little douht that it was you.

"I was sure to find friends among the Arabs either
belonging to the regiment stationed in Ryrsa or those em-
ployed in the storehouses or stables; so the next morning
1 entered the citadel and soon met these men, who belonged
to my tribe and village. After that my way was plain; my
only fear was that thoy might kill you before I could dis-
cover the jtlace in which you were confined, and my heart
saidv the first night when I found that, though I whispered
down every one of the gratings, 1 could obtain no reply.

"I had many answers, indeed, but not from you. There
might be many cells besides those with openings into the
tcmi)le, and were you placed in one of t^ese I might never
hear oi' you again. I had resolved that if the next night
j)assfd without my being able to find you, I would inform
some of those known to be friends of Hannibal that you were
a prisoner, and leave it in their hands to act as they liked,
while I still continued my efforts to communicate with you.
You may imagine with what joy I heard your reply on the
following night.."

" I must have been asleep the first night," Malchus said,
" and did not hear your voice."

"1 feareil to speak above a whisper, my lord; there are
priests all night in the sanctuary behind the great image."

Day had by this time broken, and a stir and bustle com-
menced in front of the long line of casemates; the elephants
were brought out from their stables and stood rocking them-
selves from side to side while their keepers rubbed their
hides with pumice-stono. Nessus was one of those who

I I

IN THE HOWDAH.

291

was appointed to nmko the great flat cakes of coarse flour
which formed the principal food of the elephants. The other
Arabs busied themselves in biinging in fresh straw, which
Malchus scattered evenly over the stall; heaps of freshly-cut
forage were placed before each elephant.

In a short time one of the Arabs took the place of Nessus
in preparing the cakes, while Nessus moved away and
presently went down into the town to await the coming of
^lalchus. By this arrangement if the superintendent of the
stables came round he would find the proper number of men
at work, and was not likely to notice the su])stitution of
Malchus for Nessus, with whose face he could not yet have
become familiar. By this time numbers of the townsmen
were as usual coming up to the citadel to worship in the
temple or to visit friends dwelling there. Malchus learned
that since his escape had been known each person on
entrance received a slip of brass witli a stamp on it which
he had to give up on leaving.

All employed in the citadel received a similar voucher,
without which none could pass the gate. The time was now
come when the elephants were accustomed to be taken
down to the fountains in the town below, and the critical
moment was at hand. The mahout had already begun to
prepare his elephant for the part he was to play. It had
been trumpeting loudly and showing signs of impatience
and anger. The animal was now made to kneel by the
door of its stable, where Malchus had already lain down at
the bottom of the howdah, a piece of sacking being thrown
over him by the Arabs. The two Arabs and the mahout
carried the howdah out, placed it on the elephant, and
securely fastened it in its position.

These howdahs were of r,jugh construction, being in fact
little more than large open crates, for the elephants after

h !

t \

\h-

'f' if i

I I

292

THROUGH THE RATE.

being watered went to the forage-yard, where the crates
were filled with fresldy-cut j^niHs or young houghs of trees
wliich tliey carried up for t'.eir own use to the citadel.

The mahout took his jiosition on its neck, and the ele-
phant then rose to its feet. The symptoms of ijad temper
which it had alieady given were now redouhled. It gave
vent to a scries of short vicious scpieals, it trumpeted loudly
and angrily, and, although the mahout appeared to be doing
his best to pacify it, it became more and moie demonstrative.
The superintendent of the elephants rode up.

"You had better dismount and take that brute back to
the stable," he said; "he is not safe to take out this morn-
ing." As he approaclied the elephant threw up his trunk,
opened his mouth, and rushed suddenly at him. The oflicer
fled hastily, shouting loudly to the other mahouts to
bring their animals in a circle round the elephant; but the
mahout gave him a sudden prod with his pricker and the
elej)hant set ofl' with great strides, his ears out, his trunk in
the air, and with eveiy sign of an access of fury, at the top
of his speed. He rushed across the great court-yard, the
people flying in all directions with shouts of terror; he made
two or three turns up and down, each time getting some-
what nearer to the gate.

As he approached it for the third time the mahout guided
him towards it, and, accustouicd at this hour to sally out,
the elephant made a sudden rush in that direction. The
officer on guard shouted to his men to close the gate, but
before they could at: empt^ to carry out the order the elephant
charged through, and at the top of his speed went down the
road towards the town.

Lho crates
18 of trees
;\(lel.

el tlio ele-
[n\ tciuiH'r
. It j^uve
sted loudly
:o be (loin-,'
lonstrative.

ite back to

this luorn-
) his trunk,

The oflicer
mahouts to
nt; but the
^er and the
his trunk in
', at the top

rt-yard, the
or; he made

tting sowe-

Ihout guided
:o sully out,
Iction. The
le gate, but
:he elephant
it down the

CHAPTER XVIIL

CANNiE.

S the elephant tore down tlie road to the town
many Mere the narrow escapes that, as they
thought, those comini; up had of being crushed
or thrown into the air by the angry beast.
Some threw themselves on their faces, others got over the
parapet and hung by their hands until he ha<l j)assed, while
some squeezed themselves against the wall; but the elephant
passed on M'ithout doing harm to any.

On reaching the foot of the descent the mahout gin'ded the
animal to the left, and, avoiding the busy streets of the town,
directed its course towards the more quiet roads of the opulent
quarter of Megara. The cries of the i)eo})le at the approach
of the elei)hant preceded its course, and all took refuge in
gardens or houses. The latter ])ecame less and less frequent,
until, at a distance of two miles from tlie foot of the citadel,
the mahout, on looking round, i)erccived no one in sight.
He brought the elejihant suddenly to a standstill.
"Quick, my lord," he exclaimed, "now is the time."
Malchus threw off the sack, climbed out of the howdah,
and slipped down by the elephant's tail, the usual plan for
dismounting when an elephant is on its feet. Then he
sprang across the load, leai)ed into a garden, and hid himself
among son:e bushes. The mahout now turned the elephant,

''i.iiMi■^^x6t^f^^^^'!^'l.^*^^i1g<.■S^i^Jiiii^ ^ .

i !

'!' i

f'l H

fM''

tp)>n

;:M!

Ir!

i: ^'■

294

SAFE BEYOND THE CITADEL.

and, as if he had succeeded at last in subduing it, slowly
retraced his steps towards the citadel.

A minute or two later ^lalchus issued out and quietly
followed it. He had gone some distance when he saw an
Arab approaching him, and soon recognized Nessus. They
turned off together from the main road and made their way
by bye streets until they reached the lower city. At a spot
near the port they found one of the Arabs from above
awaiting them, and he at once led the way to the house
inhabited by his family. The scheme had been entirely
successful. Malclius had escaped from the citadel without
the possibility of a suspicion arising that he had issued from
its gates, and in his Arab garb he could now traverse the
streets unsuspected.

Nessus WRS overjoyed at the success of the stratagem, and
Malchus himself could hardly believe that he had escaped
from the terrible danger which threatened him. Nessus
and the Arab at once returned to the citadel. It was agreed
that the former had better continue his work as usual until
the evening, and then ask fo. his discharge on the plea that
he had received a message requiring his presence in his
native village, for it was thought that suspicion might be
excited were he to leave suddenly without drawing his pay,
and possibly a search might be instituted in the city to
discover his whereabouts.

At nightfall he returned, and tht^n went to the house of
one of the leaders of the Barcine party with a message from
Malchus to tell him where he was, and the events which had
occurred since his landing at Cartliuge, and asking him to
receive him privately in two hours' time, in order that he
might consult him as to the best plan to be followed.

Nessus returned saying that Manon was at home and was
awaiting him, and the two at once set out for his house.

THE CONSULTATION.

295

Manon, who was a distant relation of Malchus, received him
most warmly, and listened in astonishment to his story of
what had befallen him. Malchus then explained the mission
with which Hanniba^ had charged him, and asked his
advice as to the best course to be adopted. Manon was silent
for a time.

" Hanno's faction is all-powerful at present," he said, " and
were Hannibal himself here I doubt whether his voice could
stir the senate into taking action such as is needed. The
times have been hard, and Hanno and his party have
lavished money so freely among the lower classes that there
is no hope of stirring the populace up to declare against him.
I think it would be in the highest degree dangerous were we,
as you propose, to introduce you suddenly to the senate as
Hannibal's ambassador to them, and leave you to plead his
cause. You would obtain no hearing. Hanno would rise in
his place and denounce you as one already condemned by
the tribunals as an enemy to the republic, and would demand
your instant execution, and, as he has a great majority of
votes in the senate, his demand would be complied with.
You would, I am convinced, throw away your life for no
good purpose, while your presence and your mysterious
escape from prison would be made the presence for a fresh
series of persecutions of our partisans. I understand as well
as you do the urgency for reinforcements being sent to Italy;
but in order to do this the navy, now rotting in our harbours,
must be repaired, the command of the sea must be regained,
and fresh levies of troops made.

"To ask Carthage to make these sacrifices in her present
mood is hopeless; we must await an opportunity. I and
my friends will prepare the way, will set our agents to work
among the people, and when the news of another victory
arrives and the people's hopes are aroused and excited we

liTiimiTTrnff

ill .1

296

"THE SOONER THE BETTER."

will strike while the iron is hot, and call upon them to make
one great efll'ort to bring the struggle to a conclusion and to
finish with Konie for ever.

" Such is, in my opinion, the only possible mode of pro-
ceeding. To move now would be to ensure a rejection of
our demands, to bring fresh persecutions upon us, and so
to weaken us that we should be powerless to turn to good
account the opportunity which the news of another great
victory would aliord. 1 will write at once to Hannibal and
explain all the circumstances of the situation, and will tell
him why 1 have counselled you to avoid carrying out his
instructions, seeing that to do so now would be to ensure
your own destruction and greatly damage our cause.

" In the meantime you must, for a short time, remain in
concealment, while I arrange for a ship to carry you back
to Italy."

"The sooner the better," Malchus said bitterly, "for
Carthage with its hideous tyranny, its foul corruption, its
forgetfuiness of its glory, its honour, and even its safety,
is utterly hateful to me. I trust that never a,2ain shall I
set foot within its walls. Better a thousand times to die
in a battle-field than to live in this accursed city."

"It is natural that you should be indignant," Manon said,
"for the young blood runs hotly in your veins, and your
rage at seeing the fate which is too certainly impending over
Carthage, and which you are powerless to prevent, is in no
way to be blamed. We old men bow more resignedly to the
decrees of the gods. You know the saying, ' Those whom
the gods would destroy they first strike with madness.'
Carthage is such. She sees unmoved the heroic efforts which
Hannibal and his army are making to save her, and she will
not stretch out a hand to aid him. She lives contentedly
under the constant tyranny of Hanno's rule, satisfied to be

"SUCH IS MY FIRM RESOLVE."

297

a to make
on and to

de of pro-
jjection of
us, and so
:n to good
ither great
niiibal and
id will tell
ng out his
} to ensure
use.

, remain in
y you back

Lterly, "for

n-uption, its

its safety,

ain shall I

imes to die

Manon said,
s, and your
ending over
nt, is in no
iicdly to the
hose whom
madness.'
fforts which
lid she will
contentedly
Itisfied to be

wealthy, luxurious, and slothful, to carry on her trade, to
keep her riches, caring nothing for the manly virtues, in-
diflerent to valour, prej aring herself slowly and surely to
fall an easy prey to Home.

"The end probably will not come in my time, it may
come in yours, but come it certainly and surely will. A
nation which can place a mere handful of its own citizens
in the line of battle voluntarily dooms herself to destruc-
tion.''

" Whether it comes in my time or not," Malchus said, " I
will be no sha'-er in the fate of Carthaire. I have done with
her; and if I do not fall in the battle-lield I will, when the
war is over, seek a refuge among the Gauls, Mhere, if the
life is rough, it is at least free and independent, where
courage and manliness and honour count for much, and
where the enervating influence of wealth is as yet unknown.
Such is my tirm resolution."

" I say nothing to dissuade you, !Malchus," the old man
replied, "such are the natural sentiments of your age; and
niethinks, were my own time to come over again, I too
would choose such a life in preference to an existence in the
polluted atmosphere of ungrateful Carthage. And now, will
you stop here with me, or will you return to the place where
you are staying] I need not say how gladly I would have
you here, but I cannot answer certainly for your safet}'.
Every movement of those belonging to our party is watched
by Hanno, and I doubt not that he has his spies among my
slaves and servants.

" Therefore de^m me not inhospitable if I say that it were
better for you to remain in hiding where 30U are. Let your
follower come nightly to me for instructions; let him enter
the gate and remain in the garden near it. I will come
down and see him; his visits, were they known, would excite

298

FOLLOWED.

suspicion. Bid him on his return watch closely to see that
he is not followed, and tell him to go by devious windings
and to mix in the thickest crowds in order to throw any one
who may ' e following off his track before he rejoins you. I
trust to be able to arraiige for a ship in the course of three
or four days. Come again and see me before you leave. Here
is a bag of gold; you will need it to reward those who have
assisted in your escape."

Malchus at once acjreed that it would be better for him
to return to his abode among the Arabs, and thanking Manon
for his kindness he returned with Nessus, who had been
waiting without.

As they walked along Malchus briefly related to his
follower the substance of his interview with Manon. Sud-
denly Nessus stopped and listened, and then resumed his
walk.

"I think we are followed, my lord," he said; "one of
Hanno's spies in Manon's houseliold is no doubt seeking to
discover who are the Arabs who have paid his master a visit.
I have thought once before that I heard a footfall, now I am
sure of it. When we get to the next turning do you walk
on and I will turn down the road. If the man behind us
be honest he will go straight on; if he be a spy, he will
hesitate and stop at the corner to decide which of us he
shall follow; then I shall know what to do."

Accordingly at the next cross road they came to Nessus
turned down and concealed himself a few paces away, while
Malchus, without pausing, walked straight on. A minute
later Nessus saw a dark figure come stealthily along. He
stopped at the junction of the roads and stood for a few
seconds in hesitation, then he followed Malchus.

Nessus issued from his hiding-place, and, with steps as
silent and stealthy as those of a tiger tracking his prey,

I '

"HE WILL CARRY NO MORE TALES.'

299

Ime to Nessus

followed the man. When within a few paces of him he
gave a sudden spring and flung himself upon him, burying
his knife between his shoulders. "Without a sound the man
fell forward on his face. Ncssus coolly wiped his knife upon
the garments of the spy, and then proceeded at a* rapid pace
until he overtook Malchus.

*' It was a sjiy," he said, " but he will carry no more tales
to Hanno."

Two days later, Nessus, on his return from his visit to
Manon, brought news that the latter had arranged with the
captain of a ship owned by a friend to carry them across
to Corinth, whence they would have no difliculty in taking
a passage to Ital}''. They were to go on board late the fol-
lowing night, and the ship would set sail at daybreak.

The next evening Malchus accompanied by Nessus paid
a farewell visit to ^Manon, and rejieated to him all the instruc-
tions of Hannibal, and Manon handed him his letter for the
general, and again assured him that he would, with his
friends, at once set to work to pave the way for an appeal
to the populace at the first favourable opportunity.

After bidding farewell to the old noble Malchus returned
to the house of the Arab and prepared for his departure.
He had already handsomely rewarded the two men and
the mahout for the services they had rendered him. In the
course of the day he had provided himself with the garments
of a trader, the character which he was now about to assume.

At midnight, when all was quiet, he and Nessus set out
and made their way down to the port, where, at a little-
frequented landing-stoge, a boat was awaiting them, and
they were at once rowed to the ship, which was lying at
anchor half a mile from the shore in readiness for an early
start in the morning.

Although it seemed next to impossible that they could

?■■

300

AGAIN AT CORINTH.

[?'■[■!

:!?!

;|f ^.

have been traced, Malclms walked the deck restlessly until
the morning, listening to every sound, and it was not until
the anchor was weighed, the sails hoisted, and the vessel
began to draw away from Carthage that he went into his
cabin. On the sixth day after leaving Carthago the ship
entered the port of Corinth.

There were several vessels there from Italian ports, but
before proceeding to arrange for a passage jSlalchus went to
a shop and bought, for himself and Nessus, such clothing
and arms as would enable them to puss without difliculty as
fighting men belonging to one of the Latin tribes. Then he
made inquiries on the qua}', and finding that a small Italian
craft was to start that afternoon for Biundusium, he went
on board and accosted the ciii>tain.

" We want to cross to Italy," he said, " but we have our
reasons for not wishing to land at Brundusium, and would
fain be put ashore at some distance from the town. We
are ready, of course, to i)ay extra for the trouble."

The request did not seem strange to the captain. Malclms
had s})oken in Greek, the language with which all who traded
on the Mediterranean were familiar. He supposed that they
had in some way embroiled themselves with the authorities
at Brundusium, and had Hed for a while until the matter
blew over, and that thev were now anxious to return to
their homes without passing through the town. He asked
rather a high price for putting them ashore in a boat as
they wished, and Malchns haggled over the sum for a con-
siderable time, as a readiness to \)Siy an exorbitant price
might have given rise to doubts in the captain's mind as to
the quality of his passengers. Once or twice he made as if
he would go ashore, and the captain at last abated his
demands to a reasonable sum.

When this was settled Malclms went no more ashore,

a'H =

MALCHUS REJOINS HANNIBAL.

301

but retnained on board until the vessel sailed, as he feared
that he miglit be again recognized by some of the sailors of
the Carthaginian vessels in port. The weather was fair
and the wind light, and on the second day after sailing the
vessel lay to in a bay a few miles from Brundusium. The
boat was lowered, and Malchus and his companions set on
shore.

They had before embarking laid in a store of provisions
not only for a voyage, but for their journey across the country,
as the sliglit knowledge which Malchus had of the Latin
tongue would have betrayed him at once were he obliged to
enter a town or village to purchase food. Carrying the pro-
visions in bundles they made for the mountains, and after
three days' journey reached without interruption or adven-
ture the camp of Hannibal. He was still lying in his in-
trenched camp near Ceronium. The Koman army was as
before watching him at a short distance off.

Malchus at once sought the tent of the general, whose
surprise at seeing him enter was great, for he had not ex-
pected that he would return until the spring. Malchus
gave him an account of all that had taken place since he left
him. Hannibal was indignant in the extreme at Hjinno
having ventured to arrest and condemn his ambassador.
AVhcn he learned the result of the interview with Manon, and
heard how completely the hostile faction were the masters of
Carthac;e, he aiiieed that the counsels of the old nobleman
were wise, and that Malchus could have done no good,
whereas he would have exposed himself to almost certain
death, by endeavouring further to carry out the mission
with which he had been charged.

" Manon knows what is best, and, no doubt, a premature
attempt to excite the populace to force Hanno into sending
the reinforcements we so much need would have not only

'"^ M Ubt Jf iAt, lul :£4^' .4. , :./'« ..A-:.miiL

302

Hannibal's popularity.

failed, but would have injured our cause. He and his friends
will doubtless work quietly to prepare the public mind, and
I trust that ere very long some decisive victory will give
them the opportunity for exciting a great demonstration on
our behalf."

The remainder of the winter passed quietly. Malchus
resumed his post as the commander of Hannibal's body-
guard, but his duties were very light. The greater part of
his time was spent in accompanying Hannibal in his visits to
the camps of the soldiers, where nothing was left undone
which could add to the comfort and contentment of the
troops. There is no stronger evidence of the popularity
of Hannibal and of the influence which he exercised over
his troops than the fact that the army under him, composed,
as it was, of men of so many nationalities, for the most
part originally compelled against their will to enter the
service of Carthage, maintained their discipline unshaken,
not only by the hardships and sacrifices of the campaigns,
but through the long periods of enforced idleness in their
winter quarters.

From first to last, through the long war, there was
neither grumbling, nor discontent, nor insubordination among
the troops. They served willingly and cheerfully. They had
absolute confidence in their general, and were willing to un-
dertake the most tremendous labours and to engage in the
most arduous conflicts to please him, knowing that he, on
his part, was unwearied in promoting their comfort and
well-being at all other times.

As the spring advf .ced the great magazines which Han-
nibal had brought with him became nearly exhausted, and
no provisions could be obtained from the surrounding country,
which had been completely ruined by the long presence of
the two armies. It became, therefore, necessary to move

PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

303

I his friends
c mind, and
ry will give
nstration on

\ Malchus
libal's body-
jater part of
I his visits to
left undone
ment of the
e popularity
tercised over
m, composed,
for the most
to enter the
[16 unshaken,
e campaigns,
mess in their

there was

lation among

ly. They had

Ivilling to un-

kngage in the

that he, on
[comfort and

which Han-

[hausted, and

ling country,

presence of

iry to move

from the position which he had occupied during the winter.
The Romans possessed tlir great advantage over him of hav-
ing magazines in tlieir rear constantly replenished hy their
allies, and move where tlioy might, tln^y were sure of obtain-
ing subsistence without difliculty. Tiiua, upon the march,
they were unembarrassed by the necessity of taking a great
baggage-train with them, and, when halted, their general
could kce[> his army together in readiness to strike a blow
whenever an opportunity offered; while Hannibal, on the other
hand, was forced to scatter a consideiable portion of the
army m search of provisions.

The annual elections at Kome had just taken place, and
Tercntius Varro and Emilius Paulus hm] been chosen consuls.
Emilius belonged to the aristocratic jiarty, and had given
proof of military ability three years before when he had
commanded as consul in the Ill3rian war. Varro belonged
to the popular party, and is described by the historians of
the i)eriod as a coarse and brutal demagogue, the son of a
butcher, and having himself been a butcher. But he was
unquestionably an able man, and possessed some great qua-
lities. The praitor Marcellus, who had slain a Gaulish
king with his own hand in the last Gaulish war, was at
Ostia with a legion. He was destined to command the
fleet and to guard the southern coasts of Italy, while another
prretor, Lucius Postumius, with one legion, was in Cisalpine
Gaul keeping down the tribes friendly to Carthage.

But before the new consuls arrived to take the command
of the army Hannibal had moved from Geronium.

The great Roman magazine of Apulia was at Cannae, a
town near the river Aufidus. This important place was but
fifty miles by the shortest route across the plain from
Geronium; but the Romans were unable to follow directly
across the plain, for at this time the Carthaginians greatly

il I

304

HANNIBAL SEIZES CANN/E.

outniiinbered them in cavalry, and they would, therefore,
have to take tlie road round the foot of the mountains,
which was nearly seventy niiles long; and yet, hy some un-
accountahle hlumUu', they neglected to place a suHicient
guard over their great niagaziues at Cannu; to defend them
for even a few days against a sudden attack.

Hannibal saw the opjmrt unity, and when spring was pass-
ing into suujmer broke up his camp an<l marched straight
to Canna', where the vast nujgazines of the IJomans at once
fell into his hands. He thus not only obtained possession of
his enemy's su})plies, but interposed between the Konuins
and the low-lying district of Southern Apulia, where alone,
at this early season of the year, the corn was fully ripe.

The IJonums ha I now no choice but to advance and fight
a battle for the recovery of their magazines, for, liad they
retired, the Apulians, who had already sullered terribly from
the war, would, in sheer despair, have been forced to declare
for Carthage, while it would have been extremely diflicult to
continue i'uy longer the waiting tactics of Fabius, as they
would now have been obliged to draw their jjrovisions from
a distance, while Hannibal could victual his army from the
country behind him. The senate, therefore, having largely
reinforced the army, ordered the consuls to advance and give
battle.

They had under them eight full legions, or eighty
thousand infantry and seven thousand two hundred cavalry.
To oppose these Hannibal had forty thousand infantry
and ten thousand excellent cavalry, of whom two thousand
were Numidians. On the second day after leaving the
neighbourhood of Geronium the Romans encamped at a dis-
tance of six miles from the Carthaginians. Here the usual
difference of opinion at once arose between the Roman
consuls, who commanded the army on alternate days. Varro

THB EVE OF THE BATTLE.

305

1, therefore,
I mountains,
by some un-
a sutlieient
defend thini

ing was i»ass-
jlied straiiilit
inans at once
jiossession of
the Kunians
, where alone,
"ully ripe,
iince and fight
for, had they
I terribly from
•ced to declare
ely diflieult to
abiiis, as they
rovisions from
irmy from the
:iaving largely
ance and give

lis, or eighty
idred cavalry,
■iiind infantry
[two thousand
leaving the
iped at a dis-
[ere the usual
the Roman
days. Varro

wished to march against the enemy without delay, while
Emilias was adverse to risking an engagement in a country
which, being level and open, was favourable to the action of
Hannibal's superior cavalry.

On the following day \'arro, whose turn it was to com-
mand, marched towards the hostile camp. Hannibal at-
tacked the Koman advanced guard with liis cavalry and
light infantry, but Varro had supjjorf.ed his cavalry not only
by his light troops, but by a strong body of his heavy armed
infantry, and after an engagement, which lasted for several
hours, he repulsed the Carthaginians with considerable loss.

That evening the Koman army encamped about three
miles from Canme, on the right bank of the AuHdus. The
next morning Emilius, who was in command, detached a third
of his force across the river, and encamped tliem there for
the purpose of supporting the Koman foraging parties on
that side and of interrupting those of the Carthaginians.

The next day passed quietly, but on the following morn-
ing Hannibal quitted his camp and formed his army in order
of battle to tempt the Romans to attack; but Emilius, sen-
sible that the ground was against him, would not move, but
contented himself with further strengthening his camps.
Hannibal, seeing that the Romans would not fight, detached
his Numidian cavalry across the river to cut off the Roman
foraging parties and to surround and harass their smaller
camp on that side of the river. On the following morning
Hannibal, knowing that Varro would be in command, and
feeling sure that, with his impetuous disposition, the consul
would be burning to avenge the insult offered by the sur-
rounding of his camp by the Numidians, moved his army
across the river, and formed it in order of battle, leaving
eight thousand of his men to guard his camp.

By thus doing he obtained a position which he could the

(339) u

■ u

306

THE RIVAL ARMIBS.

I -t'lj

r' i

i'»

better hold with his inferior forces, while the Romans, deem-
ing that he intended to attack tlicir camp on that side of
the river, wouhl bo likely to move their whole army across
and to give battle. This in fact Varro proceeded to do.
Leaving ten thousand men in hi.s own camp with orders to
march out and attack that of Hanni))al during the engage-
ment, he led the rest of his troops over the river, and having
united his force with that in the camp on the right bank,
marched down the river until ho faced the position which
Hannibal had taken u[).

This had been skilfully chosen. The river, whose general
course was east and west, made a looj), and across this Han-
nibal had drawn up his army with both wings resting upon
the river. Thus the Romans could not outliank him, and
the effect of their vastly superior numbers in infantry would
to some extent be neutralized. The following was the dis-
position of his troops.

The Spaniards and Gauls ocrupied the centre of the lin*^
of infantry. The Africans formed the two wings. On his
left flank between the Africans and the river he placed
his heavy African and CJaulish horse, eight thousand strong,
while the two thousand Numidians were posted between the
infantry and the river on cue right flank. Hannibal com-
manded the centre of the army in person, Hanno the right
wing, Hasdrubal the left wing; Maharbal commanded the
cavalry.

Varro placed his infantry in close and heavy order, so as
to reduce their front to that of the Carthaginians. The
Roman cavalry, numbering two thousand four hundred meni
was on his right wing, and was thus opposed to Hannibal's
heavy cavalry, eight thousand strong. The cavalry of the
Italian allies, four thousand eight hundred strong, was on
the left wing facing the Numidians. ^

THE ROMAN CAVALRY ANNIIIllATED.

307

mans, deem-
that side o!
army across
oeded to do.
ith orders to
r the engage-
r, and having
right bank,
losition which

whose general
ross tliis 11 an-
3 resting ui^on
lank him, and
infantry would
i«r was tho dis-

Ure o! the liu'^
i. On his
iver he placed
onsiind strong,
1 between the
Hannibal corn-
lanno the right
ommanded the

ivy order, so as
laginians. The
" hundred men,
to Hannibal's
cavalry of the
strong, was on

Emilius commanded tlio Koman riirht, Varro the left.
The Carthaginians faced nortii, so that the wind, which was
Mowing strongly from the south, swept clouds of dust over
their heads full into the faces of tiio encmv. The l)attlo was
comnn need by tiic light troops on botii sides, who fought
for some time obstinately and coiiragoously, but without
anv advantage to either. \\ hilo this contest was mnuiz on.
Hannibal advanced his centre so as to form a s.ilient an/lo
projecting in front of his line. The whole of the (iauls and
Spaniards took part in this movt-nient, wliile the Africans
remained stationary; at the same time he launclied his
heavy cavalry against the b'oman hnr.^o.

The latter were instantly overthrown, and were driven
from the field with gteat slaughter. Kiiiihus himself was
Mounded, but managed to join the infantry. While the
Carthaginian licavy horse were thus defeating the lioman
cavalry, the Numidians manauvred near the greatly superior
cavalry of the Italian allies, and kept them occu})ied until
the heavy horse, after destroying the lioman cavalry, swept
round behind their infantry and fell upon the rear of the
Italian horse, while the Numidians charged them fiercely in
front.

Thus caught in a trap the Italian horse were completely
annihilated, and so, before the heavy infantry of the two
armies met each other, not a Roman cavalry soldier remained
alive and unwounded on the field.

The Roman infantry now advanced to the charge, and
from the nature of Hannibal's formation their centre first
came in contact with the head of the salient angle formed
by the Gauls and Spaniards. These resisted with great
obstinacy. The princi})es, who formed the second line of the
Roman infantry, came forward and joined the spearmen, and
even the triarii pressed forward and joined in the fight.

' M

,. tM

t^ i

308

tllE LOSSES At CANN4:.

4' *l

Fighting with extreme obstinacy the Carthaginian centre
was forced p;ia(hially hack until they were again in a line
with the Africans on their thinks.

The liOinans had insensibly jjressed in from both flanks
upon the j)oint where they had met with resistance, and now
occupied a face scarcely more tlian half that with which
they had begun the battle. Still further the (Jauls and
Spaniards were dri\'en back until they now formed an angle
in rear of the origiiud line, and in this angle the whole of
the Koman infantry in a confused mass i)rcsscd upon them.
This was the moment for which Hannibal had waited. He
wheeled round both his flanks, and the Africans, w-ho had
hitherto not struck a blow, now fell in perf'- order upon
the flanks of the Koman mass, while Hasdrubal with his
victorious cavalry charged down like a torrent upon their
rear. Then followed a slaughter unequalled in the records
of history. Unable to open out, to fight, or to fly, Avith no
quarter asked or given, the Komans and their Latin allies
fell before the swords of their enemies, till, of the seventy
thousand infantry which had advanced to the fight, forty
thousand had fallen on the field. Three thousand were
taken prisoners, seven thousand escaped to the small camp,
and ten thousand made their way across the river to the
large camp, where they joined the force which had been
left there, and which had, in obedience to Varro's orders,
attacked the Carthaginian camp, out had been repulsed with
a loss of two thousand men. All the troops in both camps
were forced to surrender on the following morning, and
thus only fifteen thousand scattered fi;u,itives escaped of the
eighty-seven thousand two hundred infantry and cavalry
under the command of the lioman consuls.

Hannibal's loss in the battle of Cannaj amounted to aboui
six thousand meu. '|

v_v

rinian centre
iiin in a line

11 both flanks
mcc, and now
t with whi^h
lie (Jauls and
rmed an angle
) the whole of
cd upon them,
il waited. He
cans, who had
• Older upon
rubal with his
ent upon their
I in the records
to fly, with no
eir Latin allies
of the seventy
the fight, forty
thous-ind were
,lie small camp,
le river to the
hich had been
Varro's orders,
111 repulsed with
in both camps
morning, and
escaped of the
|ry and cavalry

)unted to abo'ii

CHAPTER XIX.

IN THE xMINES.

HE exultation of the Carthaginians at the total
destruction of their enemies was immense, and
Maharbal and some of the other leaders urged
Hannibal at once to marcli upon Kome; but
Hannibal knew the spirit of the Eoman ]>eople, and felt that
the capture of Konic, even after the annihilation of its army,
would be a greater task than he conhl vindertake. History
has shown how desperate a defence may be made by a popu-
lation w^illing to die rather than surrender, and the Romans,
an essentially martial people, woidd defend their city until
the last gasp. They had an abundance o*^ arms, and there
were the two city legions, which formed the regular garrison
of the capital.

The instant the news of the defeat reached Rome, a levy of
all males over sevei.^teen years of age was ordered, and this
produced another ten thousand men and a thousand cavalry.
Eight thousand slaves who were willing to serve were en-
listed and armed, and four thousand criminals and debtors
Mere released from prison and pardoned on the condition of
their taking up arms. The prator JNIarcellus was at Ostia
with the ten thousand men with which he was about to
embark for Sicily.

,•':!

V .V

310

Hannibal's difficulties.

men, while Hannibal had but thirty-three thousand infantry,
and his cavalry, the strongest arm of his force, would be
useless. From Cannae to Kome was twelve days' march with
an army encumbered with booty. Ho could not, therefore,
hope for a surprise. The walls of Kome were exceedingly
strong, and he had with him none of the great machines
which would have been necessary for a siege. He must
have carried with him the sui)plies he had accumulated for
the subsistence of his force, and when these were consumed
he would be destitute. Fresh IJoman levies would gather on
his rear, and before long his whole army would be besieged.

In such an undertaking he would have wasted time, and
lost the prestige which he had acquired by his astonishing
victory. Varro, who had escaped from the battle, had rallied
ten thousand of the fugitives at tlie strong place of Canusium,
and these would be a nucleus round which the rest of those
who had escaped would rally, and would be joined by fresh
levies of the Italian allies of Rome.

The Eomans showed their confidence in their power to
resist a siege by at once despatching Marcellus with his ten
thousand men to Canusium. Thus, with a strongly defended
city in front, an army of twenty thousand Roman soldiers,
which would speedily increase to double that number, in his
rear, Hannibal perceived that were he to undertake the siege
of Rome he would ri>k all the advantaiies he had gained.
He determined, therefore, to continue the policy which he had
laid down for himself, namcl}'^, to move his army to and fro
among the provinces of Italy until the allies of Rome one
by one fell away from her, and joined him, or until such re-
inforcements arrived from Carthage as would justify him in
undertaking the siege of Rome.

Rome herself was never grander than in this hour of de-
feat; not for a mcmcjit was the courage and confidence of

THE ROMAN SPIRIT.

311

id infantry,
I, would be
march with
t, therefore,
exceedingly
at machines
. He must
mulated for
re consumed
lid gather on

be besieged,
ed time, and
s astonishing
ie, had rallied
of Canusium,

rest of those
ined by fresh

leir power to
with his ten
lo-ly defended
^man soldiers,
lumber, in his
Itake the siege
had gained,
which he had
ny to and fro
of Rome one
[until such re-
justify him in

ts hour of de-
confidence of

her citizens shaken. The promptness with which she pre-
pared for defence, and still more the confidence which she
si' owed by despatching Marcellus with his legion to Canusium
instead of retaining him for the defence of the city, show
a national spirit and manliness worthy of the highest admir-
ation. Varro was ordered to hand over his command to
Marcellus, and to return to Rome to answer before the
senate for his conduct

Varro doubted not that his sentence would be death, for
the Romans, like the Carthagim'aiis, had but little mercy for
a defeated general. His colleague and his army had un-
doubtedly been sacrificed by his nifliness. Moreover, the
senate was comi)0.sed of his bitter i)olitical enemies, and he
could not hope that a lenient view would be taken of .is
conduct. Nevertheless Varro returned to Rome, and ap-
peared before the cenate. That body nobly responded to the
confidence manifested in it; jtarty feeling was suspended, the
political adversary, the defeated general, were alike forgotten,
it was only remembered how Varro had rallied his troops,
how he had allayed the panic which prevailed among them,
and had at once restored order and discipline. His courage,
too, in thus appearing, after so great a disaster, to submit
himself to the judgment of the country counted in his favour.
His faults were condoned, and the senate publicly thanked
him, because he had not despaired of the commonwealth.

Hannibal, in pursuance of his policy to detach the allies
of Italy from Rome, dismissed all the Italian prisoners with-
out ransom. The Roman prisoners he oflered to admit to
ransom, and a deputation of them accompanied an ambas-
sador to offer terms of peace. The senate, however, not only
refused to discuss any terms of i)eace, but absolutely forbade
the families and friends of the prisoners to ransom them,
thinking it politic neither to enrich their adversary nor to

■>!.*

312

CARTHAGE REFUSES AID.

show indulgence to soldiers who had surrendered to the
enemy.

The victory of Cannre and Hannibal's clemency began to
bear tjie efl'eits wliirh he iioped for. Apulia declared for
liim at once, and the towns of Aipi and Celapia opened their
gates to him; Brnttiiun, Liicania, and Siuiinium were ready
to follow. Mago with one division of the army was sent into
Bruttium to take i)o.ss(;ssion of such towns as might submit.
Hanno was sent witii another division to do tlie same in
Lucania. Hannibal himself marched into Samnium, and
making an alliance with the tribes, there stored his plunder,
and proceeded into Can?i)ania, and entered (.'ai)ua, the second
city of Italy, which concluded an alliance with him. Mago
embarked at one of the ports of Bruttium to carry the news
of Hannibal's success to Carthage, and to demand reinforce-
ments.

Neither Kome nor Carthage had the complete mastery of
the sea, and as the disaster which had befallen Kome by
land would greatly lessen her jjower to maintain a large
fleet, Carthage could now have poured reinforcements in
by the ports of Bruttium without, difficulty. But unfor-
tunately Hannibal's bitterest enemies were to be found not
in Italy but in the senate of Carthage, where, in spite of
the appeals of Mago and the efforts of the patriotic party,
the intrigues of Hanno and his faction and the demands
made by the war in Spain prevented the reinforcements
from beins: forwarded which would have enabled him to
terminate the struggle by the conquest of Rome.

Hannibal, after receiving the submission of several other
towns and capturing Casilinum, went into winter quarters at
Capua. During the winter Rome made gigantic efforts to
place her army upon a war footing, and with such success
that, excluding the army of Scipio in Spain, she had, when

A MEDITERRANEAN GALE.

313

:ed to the

y began to
eclared for
poned their
were ready
as sent into
iiht submit,
tlie same in
mnium, and
his plunder,
a, the second
him. Mago
iry the news
nd reinforce-

:e mastery of
en Kome by
itain a large
ircements in
But unfor-
be found not
I, in spite of
riotic party,
[the demands
linforcements
Lbled him to

le.

I several other

3r quarters at

^tic efforts to

such success

\e had, when

the spring began, twelve legions or a hundred and twenty
thousand men again under arms; and as no reinforcements,
save some elephants and a small body of cavalry, ever
reached Hannibal from Carthage, he was, during the remain-
ing thirteen years of the war, reduced to stand wholly on
the defensive, protecting his allies, harassing his enemy, and
feeding his own army at their expense; and yet so great was
the dread which his genius had excited that, in spite of their
superior numbers, the Romans after Cannee never ventured
again to engage him in a pitched battle.

Soon after the winter set in Hannibal ordered Malchus
to take a number of officers and a hundred picked men, and
to cross from Capua to Sardinia, where the inhabitants had
revolted against lionic, and were harassing the praetor, Quin-
tus Mucius, who coiumaMded the leiiion which formed the
garrison of the ishiiul. Malchus and the officers under him
were charged with the duty of organizing the wild peasantry
of the island, and of drilling them in regular tactics; for
unless acting as bodies of regular troops, however much they
might harass the Roman legion, they could not hope to
expel them from their country. Nessus of course accom-
panied Malchus.

The party embarked in two of the Capuan galleys. They
had not been many hours at sea when the weather, which
had when they started been fine, changed suddenly, and
ere long one of the fierce gales which are so frequent in the
Mediterranean burst upon them. The wind was behind
them, and there was nothing to do but to let the galleys
run before it. The sea got up with great rapidity, and
nothing but the high poops at their stern prevented the two
galleys being sunk by the great waves which followed them.
The oars were laid in, for it was impossible to use them in
such a sea.

314

A HOPELESS PROSPECT.

[i^

J '

I J

As night came on the gale increased rather than dimin-
ished. The Carthaginian officers and soldiers remained
calm and quiet in the storm, but the Capuan sailors gave
themselves up to despair, and the men at the helm were
only kept at their post by Malchus threatening to have
them thrown overboard instantly if they abandoned it.
After nightfall he assembled the officers in the cabin in the
poop.

" The prospects are bad," he said. " The pilot tells me
that unless the gale abates or the wind changes we shall,
before morning, be tlirown ui)on the coast of Sardinia, and
that will be total destruction; for upon the side facing
Italy the clifts, for the most part, rise straight up from the
water, the only port on that side being that at which the
Komans have their chief castle and garrisqn. He tells me
there is nothing to be done, and I see nought myself. Were
we to try to bring the galley round to the wind she would be
svvan)i)ed in a moment, while even if we could carry out the
operation, it would be impossiljle to row in the teeth of this
sea Therefore, my friends, there is nothing for us to do save
to keep uj) the courage of the men, and to bid them hold
themselves in readiness to seize upon any chance of getting
to shore should the vessel strike."

All night the galley swept on before the storm. The
light on the other boat had disappeared soon after darkness
had set in. Half the soldiers and crew by turns were kept
at work baling out the water which found its way over the
sides, and several times so heavily did the seas break into
her that all thought that she was lost. However, when
morning broke she was still afloat. The wind had hardly
shifted a point since it had be<mn to blow, and the pilot
told ]\Ialchus that they must be very near to the coast of
Sardinia. As the light brightened every eye was fixed

%K^ -•

CARALIS.

315

ahead over the waste of ajigry foaming water. Presently
the pilot, who was standing next to iSIalchus, grasped his arm.

"Tiiere is the land," he cried, "dead before us."

Not until a few minutes later could Malchus make out
the faint outline through the driving mist. It was a lofty
pile of rock standing by itself.

"It is an island!" he exclaimed.

"It is Caralis," the pilot replied; "I know its outline
well; we are already in the bay. Look to the right, you
can make out the outline of the clifls at its mouth, we have
passed it already. You do not see the shore ahead because
the rock on which Caralis stands rises from a level plain,
and to the left a lagoon extends for a long way in; it is
there that the lioman galleys ride. The gods have brought
us to the only spot along the coast where we could approach
it with a hope of safety."

"There is not much to rejoice at," ^lalchus said; "we
may escape the sea, but only to be made prisoners by the
Romans."

" Nay, Malchus, the alternative is not so bad," a young
officer who was standing next to him said. " Hannibal
has thousands of Roman prisoners in his hands, and we may
well hope to be exchanged. After the last twelve hours
any place on shore, even a Roman prison, is an elysium
compared to the sea."

The outline of the coast was now clearly visible. The
great rock of Caralis, now known as Cagliari, rose dark
and threatening, the low shores of the bay on either side
were marked by a band of white foam, while to the left
of the rock was the broad lagoon, dotted with the black
hulls of a number of ships and galleys rolling and tossing
heavily, for as the wind bhnv straight into the bay the
lagoon was covered with short, angry waves.

iljsv"*'' "

!»nj

•.,)!

'i.

m \

316

SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES.

The pilot now ordered the oars to be got out The
entrance to the lagoon was wide, but it was only in the
middle that the channel .vas deep, and on either side of this
long breakwaters of stone M'<^re run out from the shore, to
afford a shelter to the shipping within. The sea was so
rough that it was found impossible to use the oars, and they
were again laid in and a small sail was hoisted. This en-
abled the head to be laid towards the entrance of the lagoon.
For a time it was doubtful whether the galley would make
it, but she succeeded in doing so, and then ran straight on
towards the upper end of the haxbour.

"That is far enough," the pilot said presently; " the water
shoals fast beyond. We must anchor here."

The sail was lowered, the oars got out on one side, and
the head of the galley brought to the wind. The anchor
was then dropped. As the storm-beaten galley ran right up
the lagoon she had been viewed with curiosity and interest
by those who were on board the ships at anchor. That she
was an Italian galley was clear, and also that she was
crowded with men, but no suspicion was entertained that
these were Carthaginians.

The anchor once cast Malchus held a council with the
other officers. They were in the midst of foes, and escape
seemed altogether impossible. Long before the gale abated
sufficiently to permit them to put to sea again, they would
be visited by boats from the other vessels to ask who they
were and whence they came. As to fighting their way out
it was out of the question, for there were a score of triremes
in the bay, any one of which could crush the Capuan galley,
and whose far greater speed rendered the idea of flight as
hopeless as that of resistance. The council therefore agreed
unanimously that the only thing to be done was to surrender

without resistance.

IlESlSTANCte IS HOPteLESS.

3lt

The storm continued for another twenty-four hours, then
the wind died out almost as suddenly as it began.

As soon as the sea began to abate two galleys were seen
putting out from the town, and these rowed directly towards
the ship. The fact that she had shown no Hag had no doubt
excited suspicion in the minds of the garrison. Each galley
contained fifty soldiers. As they rowed alongside a Roman
officer on the poop of one of the galleys hailed the ship, and
demanded whence it cume.

" We are from Capua," the pilot answered. ** The gale
has blown us across thence. I have on board fifty Cartha-
ginian officers an<l soldiers, who now surrender to you."

As in those days, when vessels could with difficulty keep
the sea in a storm, and in the event of a gale springing up
were forced to run before it, it was by no means unusual
for galleys to be blown into hostile ports, the announcement
excited no great surprise.

"Who commands the party?" the Roman officer asked.

"I do," Malchus replied. "I am Malchus, the son of
Hamilcar, who was killed at the Trcbia, a cousin of Hannibal
and captain of his guard. I surrender with my followers,
seeing that resistance is hopeless."

" It is hopeless," the Roman replied, " and you are right
not to throw away the lives of your men when there is no
possibility of resistance."

As h'e spoke he stepped on board, ordered the anchor to
be M'eighed, and the galley, accompanied by the two Roman
boats, was rowed to the landing-place. A messenger was
at once sent up to Mucins to tell him what had happened,
and the praetor himself soon appeared upon the spot. The
officer acquainted him with the name and rank of the leader
of the Carthaginian party, and said that there were with
him two officers of noble families of the Carthaginians.

318

THE LANDING.

m I :

"That is well," tho pra'tor said, "it is a piece of good
foituno. The Carthaginians have so many of our officers
in their hands, that it is well to have some whom we may
exchange for them. Lot them he landed."

As they left the ship the Cartliaginians laid down their
arms ant armour. By tliis time a large number of the
Koman garrison, among whom the new's had rapidly spread,
were assembled at the port. Many of the young soldiers
had never yet seen a Carthaginian, and they looked with
curiosity and interest at the men who had inflicted such
terril)le defeats upon the armies of the Romans. They
were fine specimens of Hannibal's force, for the general had
allowed Ma'chus to choose his own officers and men, and,
knowing that strength, agility, and endurance would be
needed for a campaign in so mountainous a country as Sar-
dinia, he had picked both officers and men witli great
care.

His second in command was his friend Trcbon, who
had long since obtained a separate command, but who, on
hearing from ^.lalchus of the exi)edition on which he was
bound, had volunteered to accomi)any him. The men were
all Africans accustonuMl to desert iiujhtins: and trained in
warfare in S]>ain. The Konians, good judges of physical
strength, could not reiress a murmur of admiration at the
sight of these sinewy ligiires. Less heavy than themselves,
there was about theuj a sjiring and an elasticity resembling
that of the ti<;er. Lonu; use had hardened their muscles
until they stood up like cords tliroiigh their tawny skin, most
of them l)ore numerous scars of wounds received in battle,
and tlie lioniaus, as they viewed them, acknowledged to
themselves what foriiii<;able opi)onents these men would be,

A stiong guard formed up on either side of the captives,
and they were marched through the town to the citadel

SENT TO THE MINES.

319

on the upper p»irt of the rock. Here a largo clianiher,
0}>ening on to the court-yard, was assiuiicd to the olhcers,
uhile the men, wlio were viewed in the h'glit of ahives, were
at once set to work to carry stores up to the citailel from a
ship wliich had arrived just as the storm broke.

A fortniglit later a vessel arriveil from Kome with a
message from the senate that they would not exchange
prisoners, and that the Carthaginians were at once to he
employed as slaves in the mines. The governor acquainted
Malchus with the decision.

"I am sorry," he said, "indeed, that it is so; but the
senate are determined that they will exchange rio prisoners.
Of course their view of the .natter is, that when a lioman lays
down his arms he disgraces him?elF, and the refusal to ran-
som him or allow him to be exchanged is intended to act
as a deterrent to others. This may be fair enough in cases
where large numbers surrender to a few, or where they lay
down their arms when with courage and determination they
might have cut their way through the enemy; but in cases
where further resistance would be hopeless, in my mind
men are justified in surrendering. However, I can only
obey the orders I have received, and to-morrow must send
you and your men to the mines."

As Malchus had seen the Ilierian captives sent to labour
as slaves in the mines in Spain, the fate thus announced to
him did net appear surprising or barbarous. In those days
captives taken in war were always made slaves when they
were not put to death in cold blood, and although Hannibal
had treated with marked humanity and leniency the Koman
and Italian captives who had fallen into his hands, this had
been the result of policy, and was by no means in accordance
with the spirit in which war was then conducted.

Accordingly, the next day the Carthaginians were, under

r1,i

326

A MINING TOWN.

! > -f

t.:

a strong guord, marched away to the mines, which lay on
the other side of tlie ishind, some forty miles duo west of
the j)ort, and three miles from the western aea-coast of the
ishind. The road lay for some distance across a dead Hat.
The country was well cultivated and thickly studdetl with
villages, for Kome drew a heavy tribute in corn annually
from the island.

After twenty miles' march they halted for the night, pur-
suing their way on the following morning. They had now
entered a wide and fertile valley with loft}'^ hills on either
side. In some places there were stagnant marshes, and the
otlicer in charge of the guard informed ^Malchus that in the
autumn a pestilential miasma rose from these, rendering a
sojourn in the valley fatal to the inhabitants of the mainland.
The native people were wild and primitive in appearance,
being clad chiefly in sheepskins. They lived in bee hive
shaped huts. The hills narrowed in towards the end of the
day's march, and the valley terminated when the party
arrived within half a mile of their destination. Here stood
a small town named Metalla, with a strong Koman garrison,
which su})plied guards over the slaves employed in working
the mines. This town is now called Iglesias.

The principal mine was situated in a narrow valley run-
ning west from the town down to the sea-coast. The officer
in command of the escort handed over Malchus and his com-
panions to the charge of the officer at the head mining
establishment.

Malchus was surprised at the largo number of people
gathered at the spot. They lived for the most part in low
huts constructed of boughs or sods, and ranged in lines
at the bottom of the valley or along the lower slopes of the
hill. A cordon of Roman sentries was placed along the
crest of the hill at either side, and a strong guard was

^ K ■^ JMMn I

A VILLAGE OF SLAVES.

321

posted in a little camp in tlus (.(Mitio of tlio vulloy, in readi-
ness to put down any tumult wliirli mii^lit arise.

The great majority of the slaves i;atlieied there were Sards,
men Ixilonging to tribes wliiih had risen in insurnM^tion
against the Komans. There were with them others of their
countrymen who were not like thiun slaves, though their con-
dition was ])Ut little better except that tlit^y receivtid a
nominal rate of payment. These were called free labourers,
but their labour was as much forced as was that of the
slaves — each district in the island being compcHed to fur-
nish a certain amount of labourers for this or the mines
further to the north. The men so conscripted were changed
once in six months. A\'ith the Sards were mingled people
of many nations. Here were Sicilians and memljers of many
Italian tribes conquered by the Ivomar s, together with (Jauls
from the northern plains and fri>m Marseilles.

There were many mines Morked in ditVerent parts of the
island, but Metalla was the principal. The laboui, in days
when gunpowder had not become the servant of man, was
extremely iiard. The rocks had to be i)ier(ed with hand
labour, the passages and galleries were of the smallest pos-
sible dimensions, the atmosphere was stilling; consecpiently
the mortality was great, and it was necessary to keep up a
constant importation of labour.

"If these people did but possess a particle of courage,"
Trebon said, "they would rise, overpower the guaid, and
make for the forests. The w hole island is, as the otKcer who
brought us here told us, covered with mountains with the
exception of the two broad jtlains running through it; as we
could see the hills are covered with woods, and the whole
Koman army could not find them if they once escaped."

" That is true enougli," Malchus said, " but there must be
at least five or six thousand slaves here. How could tliese

(S39) ^

322

AT WORK.

find food among the mountains? They might exist for a
time upon berries and grain, but they would in the end be
forced to go into the valley.'* for food, and would then be
slaughtered by the Eomans. Nevertheless a small body of
men could no doubt subsist among the hills, and the strength
of the guard you see on the heigl:ts shows that attempts to
escape are not rare. Should we find our existence intoler-
able here, we will at anyrate try to escape. There are fifty
of us, and if we agreed in common action we could certainly
break through the guards and take to the hills. As you
may see by their faces, the spi'it of these slaves is broken.
See how bent most of them are by their labour, and how
their shoulders are wealed by the lashes of their task-
masters!"

The officer in charge of the mines told Malchus that he
should not put him and the other two officers to labour, but
would appoint tht^m as overseers over gangs of the men,
informing them that he had a brother who was at present a
captive in the liandrf of Hannibal; and he trusted that Mal-
chus, should he liave an opportunity, would use his kind
offices on his behalf.

One of the lines of huts near the Roman camp was assigned
to the Carthaginians, and that evening they received rations
of almost black bread similar to those served out to tlie
others. The following morning they were set to work.
Malchus and his two friends found «',heir tasks by no means
laborious, as they were appointed to look after a number of
Sards employed in breaking up and sorting the lead ore
as it was brought up from the mine. The men, huweve;,
returned in the evening worn out with toil. All had been
at work in the mines. Some had had to crawl long distances
through passages little more than three feet high and one
foot wide, until they reached the broad lode of lead oie.

iSv"

TERRIDLE TASK-WUIIK,

323

, exist for a
the end be
uld then be
nail body of
the strength
b attempts to
:ence intoler-
here are fifty
)uld certainly
ills. As you
,'es is broken,
our, and how
)£ their task-

ilchus that he

to labour, but

s of the men,

as at present a

sted that Mal-

use his kind

ip was assigned
leceived rations
Ud out to t!'e
set to vvork.
Ivs by no means
ler a number of
the learl ore
men, howeve. ,
AH had been
long distances
high and one
I of lead 01 e.

Here some of tlio party had be( n set to work, otliers had
been employed in pusliing on the little galleries, and there
liad sat for hours working in a cramped position, with pick,
hammer, and wedge. Others had been lowered by ropes
down shafts so narrow that v hen they got to the bottom it
was only with extreme difliculty tliat they were able to
sioop to work at the rock beneath their feet. ^lany, indeed,
of these old shafts have been found in the mines of
Montepone, so extremely narrow that it is sui)posed that
they must have been bored by slaves lowered by ropes, head-
foremost, it appearing absolutely im[)ossible for a man to
Btoop to work if lowered in the ordinary way.

The Carthaginians, altogether unaccustomed to work of
this nature, returned to their hats at night utterly exhausted,
cramped, and aching in eveiy limb. jMany had been cruelly
beaten for not performing the ta.sks assigned to them. All
were filled with a dull desj-uiring rage. In the evening a
ration of boiled beans, with a little native wine, was served
out to each, the quantity of the food being amp'e, it being
necessary to feed the slaves well to enable them to support
their fatigues.

After three days of this work five or six of the cai)tives
were so exhausted that they were unable to take their places
with the gang when ordered Tor work in the morning. They
were, however, compelled by blows to rise and take their
places with the rest. Two of them died during the
course of the day in their stifling working-places; another
succumbed during the night; seveial, too, were attacked by
the fever of the country. Malchus and his friends were full
of grief and rage at the sufferings of their men.

"Anything were better than this," Malchus said. "A
thousand times better to fall beneath the swords of the
Romans than to die like dogs in the holes beneath that hill!"

324

I'LANNING AN ESCAPE.

Ill

« !

m I

"I quite agree with you, Malchus," Halco, the other
off with the party, said, " and am ready to join you in
any plan of escape, however desperate."

"The difficulty is about arms," Trebon observed. "We
are so closely watched that it is out of the question to hope
that we should succeed in getting possession of any. The
tools are all left in the mines; and as the men work naked,
there is no possibility of their secreting any. The stores here
are always guarded by a sentry; and although we might
overpower him, the guard would arrive long before we could
break through the solid doors. Of course if we could get
the other slaves to join us, we might crush the guard even
with stones."

"That is out of the question," Malchus said. "In the
first place, they speak a strange language, quite different to
the Italians. Then, were we seen trying to converse with
any of them, suspicions might be roused; and even could
we get the majoiity to join us, there would be many who
would be only too glad to purchase their own freedom by
betraying the plo^- to the Komans. No, whatever we do
must be done by ourselves alone; and for arms we must
rely upon stones, and U[»on the stoutest stakes we can draw
out from our huts. The only time that we have free to
ourselves is the hour after work is over, when we are allowed
to go down to the stream to wash and to stroll about as we
will until the trumpet sounds to order us to retire to our
huts for the night.

" It is true that at that time the guards are particularly
vigilant, and that we are not allowed to gather into knots;
and an Italian slave I spoke to yesterday told me that he
dared not speak to me, for the place swarmed with spies, and
that any conversation between us would be sure to be re-
ported, and those engaged in it put to the hardest and

Alii

THE DETAILS ARRANGED.

325

the other
join you in

ved. "We
don to hope
• any. The
A'ork naked,
e stores here
h we might
ore we could
»ve could get
e guard even

id. "In the
e different to
converse with
d even could
30 many who
freedom by
atever we do
rms we must
we can draw
have free to
e are alloweel
I about fts we
retire to our

e particularly
;r into knots;

me that he
jith spies, and
lure to be rc-

hardeet and

crudest work. I propose, therefore, that to-morrow — for if
it is to be done, the sooner the better, before the men lose
all their strength — the men shall on their return from work
at once eat their rations; then each mr.n, hiding a short
stick under his garment and wrapi>ing a few heavy stones
in the corner of his robe, shall make his way up towards
the top of the hill above the mine.

" No two men must go together — all must wander as if
aimlessly among the huts. When they reach the ui)pi'r line
on that side and see me, let all rapidly close uj), and we
will make a sudden rush at the seuti ics above. They can-
not get more than five or six together in time to oppose us,
and we shall be able to beat them down with our stones.
Once through them, the heavy armed men will never be
able to overtake us till we reach the forest, which begins, I
believe, about half a mil^beyond the top."

The other two officers at once agreed to the plan ; and
when the camp was still ^lalchus crept cautiously from hut
to hut, telling his men of the plan that Lad been formed
and giving orders for the carrying of it out.

All assented cheerfully; for although the stronger were
now becoming accustomed to their work, and felt less ex-
hausted than they had done the first two days, there was
not one but felt that he would rather suffer death than
endure this terrible fate. Malchus imi)resst'd upon them
strongly that it was of the utmost consequence to possess
themselves of the arms of any Roman soldiers they might
overthrow, as they would to a great extent be compelled
to rely upon these to obtain food among the mountains.

Even the men who were most exhausted, and those
stricken with fever, seemed to gain strength at once at the
prospect of a struggle for liberty , and when the ganj; turned
out in the morning for work none lagged behind.

> I.

W-l

CHAPTER XX.

THE SARDINIAN FORESTS.

HE Carthaginians returned in the evening in
groups from the various scenes of their labour
and without delay consumed the provisions pro-
vided for them. Then one by one they saun-
tered away down towards the stream. Malchus was the last
to leave, and having seen that all Iws followers had preceded
him, he, too, crossed the stream, paused a moment at a
heap of d«^bris from the mine, and picking up three or four
pieces of rock about the size of his fist, rolled them in the
corner of his garment, and holding this in one hand moved
up the hill.

Here and there he paused a moment as if interested in
watching the groups of slaves eating their evening meal,
until at last he reached the upper line of little huts. Be-
tween these and the hill-top upon which the sentries stood
was a distance of about fifty yards, which was kej)t scrupu-
lously clear to enable them to watch the movements of any
man going beyond the huts. The sentries were some thirty
paces apart, so that, as Malchus calculated, not more than
four or five of them could assemble before he reached them,
if they did not previously perceive anything suspicious which
might put them on the alert.

Looking round him Malchus saw his followers scattered

THE ATTACK ON THE GUARDS.

327

vers scattereil

about among the slaves at a short distance. Standing
behind the shelter of the hut he raised his hand, and all
began to move towards him. As there was nothing in their
attire, which consisted of one long cloth wound round them,
to distinguish them from the other slaves, the movement
attracted no attention from the sentries, who were, from
their position, able to overlook the low huts.

AVhen he saw that all were close, ^lalchiis gave a shout
and dashed up the hill, followed by his comrades.

The nearest sentry, seeing a body of fifty men suddenly
rushing towards him, raised a shout, and his comrades from
either side ran towards him; bat so quickly was the move-
ment performed that but five had gathered when the Car-
thaginians reached them, although many others were running
towards the spot. The Carthaginians, when they came close
to their levelled spears, poured upon them a shower of heavy
stones, which knocked two of them down and so bruised and
battered the others that they went down at once when the
Carthaginians burst upon them.

The nearest Romans halted to await the arrival of their
comrades coming up behind them, and the Carthaginians,
seizing the swords, spears, and shields of their fallen foes,
dashed on at full speed. The Romans soon followed, but
with the weight of their weapons, armour, and helmets they
were speed ly distanced, and the fugitives reached the edge
of the forest in safety and dashed into its recesses.

After running for some distai. ce they halted, knowing
that the Romans would not think of pursuing except with a
large force. The forests which covered the mountains of
Sardinia were for the most part composed of evergreen oak,
with, in some places, a thick undergrowth of shrubs and
young trees. Through this the Carthaginians made their
way with some difficulty, until, just as it became dark, they

?;■!

328

AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

!-!

•i'^

reached the bottom of a valley comparatively free of trees
and throuEch which ran a clear stream.

" Here we will halt for the night," Malchus said; "there is
no fear of the Ivojiians pursuing at once, if indeed they do
so at all, for their chance of finding us in these mountains,
covered with hundreds of square miles of forests, is slight
indeed; however, we will at once provide ourselves with
weapons."

The five Itoman swords were put into requisition, and some
straight young saplings were felled, and their points being
sharpened they were converted into efficient spears, each
some fourteen feet long.

"It is well we have supped," Malchus said; "our break-
fast will depend on ourselves. To-morrow we must keep a
sharp look out for smoke rising through the trees; there are
sure to be numljcrs of charcoal burners in the forest, for
upon them the liomans depend for their fuel. One of the
first things to do is to obtain a coui)le of lighted brands.
A fire is essential for warmth among these hills, even putting
aside its Vises for cooking."

"Tiiat is when we have anything to cook," Halco said
laughingly.

"That is certainly essential," Malchus agreed; "but there
is sure to be plenty of wild-l>oar and deer among these
forests. We have onlv to find a vallev with a narrow
entrance, and post ourselves there and send all the men to
form a circle on the hills around it and drive them down to
us; besi«les, most likely we shall come across herds of goats
and pigs, which the villagers in the lower valleys will Fond up
to feeil on the acorns. I have no fear but we shall be able
to obtain })lenty of ri(;sh ; as to corn, we have only to make
a raid down into the plaiii, and when we have found out
something about the general lay of the country, the

A WELCOME SOUND.

329

" Halco said

hills and the extent of the forest, we will choose some spot
near its centre and erect huts there. If it were not for the
peasants we might live here for years, for all the Konian
forces in Sardinia Avould be insufficient to rout us out of
these mountains; but unfortunately, as we shall have to rob
the peasants, they will act as guides to the Romans, and we
shall be obliged to keep a sharp look-out against surprise.
If it gets too }>ot for us we must make a night march across
the plain to the mountains on the eastern side. I heard at
Caralis that the wild part there is very much larger than
it is on this side of the island, and it extends without
a break from the port right up to the north of the island."

Safe as he felt from pursuit Malchus posted four men as
sentries, and the rest of the band lay down to sleep, rejoic-
ing in the thought that on the morrow they should not be
wakened to take their share in the labours in the mine.

At daybreak all were on the move, and a deep spot
having been found in the stream, they indulged in the
luxury of a bath. That done they started on the march
further into the heart of the forest. The hills were of great
height, with bare crags often beetling up among the trees
hundreds of feet, with deep valleys and rugged precipices.
In crossing one of these val'eys Nessus suddenly lifted his
hand.

"What is it r' Malchus asked.

"I heard a pig grunt," Nessus replied, "on our right
there."

Malclms at once divided the band in two and told them to
proceed as quietly as pcssiljle along the lower slopes of the
hill, leaving a man at every fifteen paces.

When all had been posted, the ends of the line were to
descend until they met in the middle of the valley, thus
forming a circle. A shout was to tell the rest that this was

r ] I:

330

A CAPTURE.

(*'

h -»■

done, arid then all were to move down until they met in the
centre. One officer went with each partj', Malchus remained
at the spot where he was standing. In ten minutes the
signal was heard, and tlien all moved forward, shouting as
they went, and keeping a sliarp look-out between the trees
to see that nothing passed them. As the narrowing circle
issued into the open ground at the bottom of the valley there
was a general shout of delight, for, huddled down by a
stream, grunting an'! screiriiiijig with fright, was a herd of
forty or fifty pigs, with a peasant, who appeared stupefied
with alarm at the sudden uproar.

On seeing the men burst out with their levelled spears
from the wood, the Sard gt»'/e a scieam of terror ajid threw
himself upon his face AVhen the Carthaginians came up to
him Malchus stirred him with his foot, but he refused to
move; he then pricked him with the IJouum spear he held, and
the man leaped to his feet with a slumt. Malchus told him in
Italian that he was free to go, but that the swine must be
confiscated for the use of his followers. The num did not
understand his words, but, seeing by his gestures that he
was free to go, set off at the top of his speed, hardly be-
lieving that ho could liave eseaped with his life, and in no
way concerned at the loss of the herd. This was, indeed,
the property of various individuals in one of the villages at
the foot of the hillh — it beinp; then, as now, the custom for
several men owning s',\ ine to send them together under the
charge of a herdsman into the mountains, wh» ^^^ for months
together they live in a half-wild state on acorns and roots,
a villager going up occasionally with supplies of food for the
swineherd.

No sooner had the peasant disappeared than a shout from
one of the men some Tift} yards away called the attention of
Malchus. , \ .. .

Ki-

FIRE AND FOOD.

331

!y met in the
lus remained
minutes the
, sliouting as
een the trees
rowing circle
3 valley there
down by a
as a herd of
red stupefied

veiled spears

or aijd threw

IS came up to

lie refused to

r he held, and

IS told him in

vine must be

man did not

iires that he

(1, hardly be-

fe, and in no

was, indeed,

le villages at

e custom for

er under the

i^ for months

s and roots,

food for the

a shout from
attention of

" Here is the man's fire, my lord."

A joyous exclamation rose from the soldiers, for the
thought of all this meat and no means of cooking it wp.s
tantalizing everyone. Malchus hurried to the spot, where,
indeed, was a heap of still glowing embers. Some of the
men at once set to work to collect dried sticks, and in a few
minutes a great fire was blazing. One of the pigs was
slaughtered and cut up into rations, and in a short time each
man was cooking his portion stuck on a stick over the fire.

A smaller fire was lit for the use of the officers a short
distance away, and here Nessus prepared their share of the
food for Malchus and his two comi)anions. After the mc .i
the spears were improved by the points being hardened in
the fire. When they were in readiness to march two of the
men were told otf as fire-keei)ers, and each of these took
two blazing brands from the fire, which, as they walked,
they kept crossed before theui, the burning points keeping
each other alight. Even with one man there would be little
chance of losing the fire, but with two such a misfortune
could scarcely befall them.

A party of ten men took charge of the herd of swine, and
the whole then started for the point they intended to make
to in the heart of the mountains. Before the end of the
day a suitable camping-place was selected in a watered
valley. The men then set to work to cut down boughs and
erect arbours. Fires were lighted and another pig being
killed those who preferred it roasted his flesh over the fire,
while others boiled their portions, the Eoman shields being
utilized as pans.

"What do you think of doing, Malchus?" Halco asked
as they stretched themselves out on a grasoy bank by the
stream when they had finished their meal. " We are safe
here, and in these forests could defy the Eomans to find us

f
i'

'' L

i' :■ !

332

THE CHANCES OF THE FUTURE.

for months. Food wo can get from the villages at the foot
of the hills, and there must bo many swine in the forest
beside this herd which we have captured. The life will not
be an unpleasant one, but — " and he stopped.

"But you don't wish to end your days here," Malchus
put in for him, "nor do I. It is pleasant enough, but
every day we spend here is a waste of our lives, and with
Hannibal and our comrades combating the might of Kome
we cannot be content to live like members of the savage
tribes here. I have no doubt that we shall excite such
annoyance and alarm by our raids among the village? in the
plains that the Romans will ere long make a gref» effort to
capture us, and doubtless thoy will enlist the natives in
their search. Still, we may hope to escape them, and there
are abundant points among these mountains where we may
make a stand and inflict such heavy loss upon them, that
they will be glad to come to terms. All I would ask is
that they shall swear by their gods to treat us well and to
convey us as prisoners of war to Rome, there to remain
until exchanged. In Rome we could await the course
of events patiently. Hannibal may capture the city. The
senate, urged by the relatives of the mariy prisoners we have
taken, may agree to make an exchange, and we may see
chances of our making our escape. At anyrate we shall be
in the world and shall know what is going on."

" But could we not hold out and make them agree to give
us our freedom?"

" I do not think so," Malchus said. " It would be too much
for Roman pride to allow a handful of escaped prisoners to
defy them in that way, and even if the prefect of this island
were to agree to the terms, I do not believe that the senate
would ratify them. We had better not ask too much. For
myself I own to a longing to see Rome. As Carthage holds

UUif^

EsTABLtSMiNO POSTS.

back and will send no aid to Hannibal, I have very little
hope of ever entering it as a conqueror, and rather than
not see it at ail I would not mind entering it as a prisoner.
There are no mines to work there, and the Kouums, with so
vast a number of their own people in the hands of Hannibal,
would not dare to treat us with any cruelty or severity.

" Here it is different. No rumoGr of our fate will ever
reach Hannibal, and had every one of us died in those stitliug
mines he would never have been the wiser. "

The two officers both agreed with Malchus; as for the
soldieis, they were all too well pleased with their present
liberty and their escape from the bondage to give a thought
to the morrow. .

The next day Malchus and his companions explored
the hills of the neighbourhood, and chose several points
commanding the valleys by which their camp could be
approached, as look-out places. Trees were cleared away,
vistas cut, and wood piled in readiness for making bonfires,
and two sentries were placed at each of these posts, their
orders being to keep a vigilant look-out all over the country,
to light a fire instantly the approach of any enemy was
perceived, and then to descend to the camp to give par-
ticuiai-s as to his number and the direction of his march.

A few days later, leaving ten men at the camp with full in-
structions as to what to do in case of an alarm by the enemy,
Malchus set out with the rest of the party across the moun-
tains. The sun was their only guide as to the direction of
their course, and it was late in the afternoon before they
reached the crest of the easternmost hills and looked down
over the wide plain which divides the island into two
portions. Here they rested until the next morning, and
tlien, starting before daybreak, descended the slopes. They
made their way to a village of some size at the mouth of a

ti!

A SUCCESSFUL RAID.

valley, and were unnoticed until they entered it. Most of
the men were away in the fioUls; a few resisted, but were
speedily beaten down by the short heavy sticks which the
Carthaginians carried in addition to their spears.

Malchus had given strict orders that the latter weapons
were not to be used, that no life was to be taken, and that
no one was to be hurt or ill-used unless in the act of offering
resistance. For a few minutes the confusion was great,
"Women and children running about screaming in wild alarm.
They were, however, pacihed when they found that no
harm was intended.

On searching the village large stores of grain were dis-
covered and abundance of sacks were also found, and each
soldier filled one of these with as much grain as he could
conveniently carry. A number of other articles which would
be useful to them were also taken — cooking pots, wooden
platters, knives, and such arms as could be found. Laden
with these the Carthaginians set out on their return to camp.
Loaded as they were it was a long and toilsome journey,
and they would have had groat difficulty in finding their
way back, had not Malchus taken the precaution of leaving
four or five men at diflforcnt points with instructions to keep
fires of damp wood burning so that the smoke should act as
a guide. It was, however, late on the second day after
their leaving the villngo before they arrived in camp. Here
the men set to work to crush the grain between flat stones,
and soon a supply of rough cakes were baking in the embers.

A month passed away. Similar raids to the first were made
when the supplies became exhausted, and as at the second
village they visited they captured six donkeys, which helped
to carry up the burdens, the journeys were less fatiguing
than on the first occasion. One morning as the troop were
taking their breakfast a column of bright smoke rose from

A ROMAN COLUMN.

335

ono of the hill-tops. Tho men simultaneously leaped to
their feet.

"Finish your breakfast," Malchus said, "there will he
p]«»nty of time. Slay two more hogs and cut them up. Let
each man take three or four pounds of flesh and a supply of
meal."

Just as the preparations were concluded the two men from
the look-out arrived and reported that a large force was
winding along one of the valleys. There were now but six
of tho herd of swine left; these were driven into the forest.
The grain and other stores were also carried away and care-
fully hidden, and the band, who were now all well armed
with weapons taken in tho different raids on the villages,
marched away from their camp.

Malchus had already with his two comrades explored all
the valleys in the neighbourhood of tlie camp, and had fixed
upon various points for defence. One of these was on the
line by which the enemy were approaching. The valley
narrowed in until it was almost closed by perpendicular
rocks on either side. On the summit of these the Cartha-
ginians took their post. They could now clearly make out
the enemy; there were upwards of a thousand Roman troops,
and they were accompanied by fully five hundred natives.

When the head of the column approached the narrow path
of the valley the soldiers halted and the natives went on ahead
to reconnoitre. They reported that all seemed clear, and the
column then moved forward. When it reached the gorge
a shout WP" heard above and a shower of rocks fell from the
crags, crushing many of the Romans. Their commander at
once recalled the soldiers, and these then began to climb
the hillside, wherever the ground permitted their doing so.
After much labour they reached the crag from which they
had been assailed, but found it deserted.

33G

A M^SSAGfi.

»:tjJ

All day the Romans searched tlie woods, but without
success. The natives were sent foiward in strong parties.
Most of these returned unsuccessful, but two of tliem were
suddenly attacked by the Cartliaginians, and mart v were
s'« .ghtered.

For four days the Romans pursued their search in tlie
forest, but never once did they obtain a glimpse of the Cartha-
ginians save when, on several occasions, the latter appeared
suddenly in places inaccessible from below and hurled dov»n
rocks and stones upon them. The Sards had been attacked
several times, and were so disheartened by the losses iutlicted
upon them that they now refused to stir into the woods
unless accoini)anied by the Romans.

At the end of the fourth day, feeling it hopeless any longer
to pursue the fugitive band over these forest-covered moun-
tains, the Roman commander ordered the column to move
back towards it starting-place. He had los'o between forty
and fifty of his men and upwards of a hundred of the Sards
had been killed. Just as he reached the edge of the forest
he was overtaken by one of the natives.

" I have been a prisoner in the hands cf the Carthaginians,"
the man saicl> *' and their leader released me upon my taking
an oath to deliver a message to the general." The man was
at once brought before the officer.

"The leader of the escaped slaves bids me tell you," lie
said, ''that ^ad you ten times as many men with you it
wou) I be vain for you to attempt to capture them. You
searched, in these four days, but a few square miles of the
forest, and, although he was never half a mile away from
you, you did not succeed in capturing him. There are
hundreds of square miles, and, did he choose to elude you,
twenty thousand men might search in vain. He bids me
say that he roula hold out for years and harry all the

1 1"! •

A PARLEY.

337

villages of the plains; but he and his men do not care for
living the life of a mountain tribe, and he is ready to discuss
terms of surrender with you, and will meet you outside the
forest here with two men with him if you on your part will
be here with the same number at noon to-morrow. He took
before me a solemn oath that he will keep the truce
inviolate, and requires you to do the same. I have promised
to take back your answer."

The Roman commander was greatly vexed at his non-
success, and at the long-continued trouble which he saw
would arise from the presence of this determined band in
the mountains. They would probably bo joined by some
of the recently subdued tribes, and would be a thorn in the
side of the Roman force holding the island. He was, there-
fore, much relieved by this unexpected proposal.

" Return to him who sent you," he said, " and tell him
that I, Publius Manlius, commander of that portion of the
10th Legion here, do hereby swear before the gods that I
will hold the truce inviolate, and that I will meet him here
with two officers, as he proposes, at noon to-morrow."

At the appointed hour Malchus, with the two officers,
standing just inside the edge of the forest, saw the Roman
general advancing with two companions; they at once
went forward to meet them.

"I am come," Malchiis said, "to offer to surrender to you
on certain terms. I gave you my reasons in the message I
yesterday sent you. With my band here I could defy your
attempt . to capture me for years, but I do not cars to lead
the life of a mountain robber. Hannibal treats his captives
mercifully, and the treatment which was bestowed upon me
and my companions, who were not ^en taken in fair fight,
but were blown by a tempest into your port, was a disgrace
to Rome. My demand is this, that we shall be treated with

(339) Y

338

THE TERMS AGREED TO.

the respect due to brave men, that we be allowed to march
without guard or escort down to the port, where we will go
straight on board a vessel Micre prepared for us. We will then
lay down our arms and surrender as prisoners of ,var, under
the solemn agreement taken and signed by you and the gov-
ernor of the island, and approved and ratified by the senate
of Rome, that, in the first place, the garments and armour of
which we were deprived when captured, shall be restored
to Ufa, and that we shall then be conveyed in the ship to
Rome, there to remain as prisoners of war until exchanged,
being sent nowhere else, and suffering no pains or penalties
whatever for what has taken place on this island."

The Roman general was surprised and pleased with the
moderation of the demand. He had feared that Malchus
would have insisted upon being restored with hife companions
to the Carthaginian army in Italy. Such a proposition he
would have been unwilling to forward to Rome, for it would
have been a confession that all the Roman force in the
island was incapable of overcoming this hanlful of desperate
men, and he did not think that the demand if made would
have been agreed to by the senate. The present proposition
was vastly more acceptable. He could report without humi-
liation that the Carthaginian slaves had broken loose and
taken to the mountains, where there would be great difficulty
in pursuing them, and they w^ould serve as a nucleus round
which would assemble all the disaffected in the island; and
could recommend that, as they only demanded to be sent to
Rome as prisoners of war, instead of being kept in the island,
the terms should be agreed to. After a moment's delay,
therefore, he replied :

" I agree to your terms, sir, as far as I am concerned, and
own they appear to me as moderate and reasonable. I will
draw out a document, setting them forth and my acceptance

DOWN TO THE SEA.

339

ed to march
■e we will go
We will then
»{ 7/ar, under
and the gov-
)y the senate
nd armour of
[ be restored
I the ship to
il exchanged,
s or penalties
nd."

ased with the
that Malchus
ife companions
)roposition he
e, for it would
force in the
il of desperate
if made would
nt proposition
without humi-
ken loose and
jreat difficulty
nucleus round
16 island; and
Il to be sent to
|t in the island,
ment's delay,

[oncerned, and
Inable. I will
Imy acceptance

of them, and will send it at once to the prefect, praying him
to sign it, and to forward it to Eome for the approval of the
senate. Pending an answer I trust that you will abstain
from any further attacks upon the villages."

" It may be a fortnight before the answer returns," Mal-
chus replied; "but if you will send up to this point a supply
of cattle and flour sufficient for our Avants till the answer
comes, 1 will promise to abstain from all further action."

To this the Roman readily agreed, and for a fortnight
Malchus and his friends amused themselves by hunting deer
and wild-boar among the mountains. After a week had
passed a man had been sent each day to the spot agreed upon
to see if any answer had been received from Home. It was
nearly three weeks before he brought a message to Malchus
that the terms had been accepted, and that the Koman
com:aander would meet him there on the following day with
the document. The interview took place as arranged, and
the Roman handed to Malchus the document agreeing to the
terms proposed, signed by himself and the prefect, and
ratified by the senate. He said that if Malchus with his
party would descend into the road on the following morning
three miles below Metalla they would find an escort of
Roman soldiers awaiting them, and that a vessel would be
ready at the port for them to embark upon their arrival.

Next day, accordingly, Malchus with his companions left
the forest, and marched down to the valley in military order.
At the appointed spot they found twenty Roman soldiers
under an officer. The latter saluted Malchus, and informed
him that his orders were to escort them to the port, and to
see that they suffered no molestation or interference at the
hands of the natives on their march. Two days' journey
took them to Caralis, and in good order and with proud
bearing they marched through the Roman soldiers, who

..ii.SMli-Ji.U'..*-f.-

ijil^

340

ROME.

• i,.'

assombled in tho streets to view so strange a spectacle.
Arrived at the port they enibarlaMl on hoard the ship pre-
partid for them, and tliere pih'd their arms on deck. A
Ivoman ollicer received them, and handed over, in accordance
with the terms of tlie agreement, tlie whole of the clothing
and armonr of wliith they had been deprived. A gnanl of
soldiers then marched on hoard, ami an hour later the sails
were hoisted and tlie vessel started for lier destination.

Anxiously iSlalchus and his companions gazed round the
horizon in hopes that some galleys of Ca[)ua or Carthage
might appear in sight, altliougli imleed they had but small
hopes of seeing them, for no Carthaginian ship would be
likely to be found so near the coast of Italy, excei)t indeed if
bound with arms for tlie use of the insurgents in the northern
mountains of Sardiniiu However, no sail api)eared in sight
until the ship entereil the nunith of the Tiber. As they
ascended the river, and the walls and towers of Rome were
seen in the distance, the prisoners forgot their own position
in the interest excited by the appearance of the great rival
of Carthage.

At that time Kome possessed but little of the magnificence
which distinguisheil her buildings in the days of the emperors.
Everything was massive and ])lain, with but slight attempt
at architectural adornment. The temples of the gods rose
in stately majesty above the mass of buildings, but even these
were far inferior in size and beauty to those of Carthage,
while the size of the city was small indeed in comparison to
the wide-spreading extent of its African rival.

The vessel anchored in the stream until the officer in
command landed to report his arrival with the prisoners
and to receive instructions. An hour later he returned, the
prisoners were landed and received by a strong guard of
spearmen at the water-gate. The news had spread rapidly

THROUGH THE STREETS.

341

through the city. A crowd of people thronged the streets,
.vhile at the windows and on the roofs were gathered num-
bers of ladies of the upper classes. A party of soldiers led
the way, i)ushing back the crowd as they advanced. A line
of spearmen marciied on either side of the captives, and a
strong guard brought up the rear to prevent the crowd from
pressing in there. ^lalchus walked at the head of the
prisoners, followed by his oflicers, after whom came the
soldiers walking two and two.

There was no air of dejo-tion in the bearing of the captives,
and they faced the regards of the hostile crowd with the air
rather of conquerors tiian of j)risoners. They remembered
that it was but by accident that they hud fallen into the
hands of the Romans, that in the battle-field they had proved
themselves over and over again more than a match for the
soldiers of Kome, and that it was the walls of the city alone
which had ])revented their marching through her streets as
triumphant conquerors. •

It \vas no novel sight in Rome for Carthaginian prisoners
to march through the streets, for in the previous campaigns
large numbers of Carthaginians had been captured; but since
Hannibal crossed the Alps and carried his victorious army
through Italy, scarce a prisoner had been brought to Rome,
while tens of thousands of Romans had fallen into the hands
of Hannibal. The lower class of the population of Rome
were at all times rough and brutal, and the captives were
assailed with shouts of exultation, with groans and menaces,
and with bitter curses by those whose friends and relatives
had fallen in the wars.

The better classes at the windows and from the house-tops
abstained from any demonstration, but watched the captives
as they passed with a critical eye, and with expressions of
admiration at their fearless bearing and haughty mien.

342

A LADY S FANCY.

"Truly, that youth who marches at their head might
pose for a Carthaginian Apollo, Sempronius," a Roman
matron said as she sat at the balcony of a large mansion at
the entrance to the Forum. " I have seldom seen a finer
face. See what strength his limbs show, although he walks
as lightly as a girl. I have a fancy to have him as a slave;
he would look well to walk behind me and carry my mantle
when I go abroad. See to it, Sempronius; as your father is the
military praetor, you can manage this for me without trouble."

"I will do my best, Lady Flavia," the young Roman said;
"but there may be difficulties."

"What difficulties?" Flavia demanded imperious'y. "I
suppose the Carthaginians will as usual be handed over as
slaves; and who should have a better right to choose one
among them than I, whose husban'^1- Tiberius Gracchus, is
Consul of Rome?"

" None, assuredly," Sempronius replied. " It was only be-
cause, as I hear, that youth is a cousin of Hannibal himself,
and, young as he is, the captain of his body-guard, and I
thought that my father might intend to confine him in the
prison for better security."

Flavia waved her hand imperiously.

" When did you ever hear of a slave escaping from Rome,
Sempronius? Are not the walls high and strong, and the
sentries numerous? And even did they pass these, would not
the badge of slavery betray them at once to the first who
met them without, and they would be captured and brought
back? No, I have set my mind upon having him as a slave.
He will go well with that Gaulish maiden whom Postumius
sent me from the banks of the Po last autumn. I like my
slaves to be as handsome as my other surroundings, and I
see no reason why I should be baulked of my fancy."

"I will do my best to carry out your wishes, Lady Flavia,"

A DILEMMA.

343

Sempronius replied deferentially, for the wife of the consul
was an important personage in Kome. Her family was one
of the most noble and powerful in the city, and she herself
— wealthy, luxurious, and strong-willed — was regarded as a
leader of society at Rome.

Sempronius deemed it essential for his future advancement
to keep on good terms with her. At the same time he was
ill-pleased at this last fancy of hers. In the first place, he
was a suitor for the hand of her daughter Julia. In the
second, he greatly admired the northern beauty of the Gaulish
slave girl whom she had spoken of, and had fully intended
that when Flavia became tired of her — and her fancies seldom
lasted long — he would get his mother to offer to exchange a
horse, or a hawk, or something else upon which Flavia might
set her mind, for the slave girl. lu which case she would,
of course, be in his power. He did not, therefore, approve
of Flavia's intention of introducing this handsome young
Carthaginian as a slave into her household. It vvas true that
he was but a slave at present, but he was a Carthaginian
noble of rank as high as that of Flavia.

That he was brave was certain, or he would not be the
captain of Hannibal's body-guard Julia was fully as cap-
ricious as her mother, and might take as warm a fancy for
Malchus ."IS Flavia had done, while, now the idea of setting
this Gaulish girl and the Carthaginian together had seized
Flavia, it would render more distant the time when the
Roman lady might be reasonably expected to tire of the
girl. However, he felt that Flavia's wishes must be carried
out; whatever the danger might be, it was less serious than
the certainty of losing that lady's favour unless he humoured
her whims.

His family was far less distinguished than hers, and her
approval of his suit with Julia was an unexpected piece of

«i

; ' m

illli

344

MALCHUS ALLOTTED tO FLA VI A.

good fortune which he owed, as he knew, principally to the
fact that Gracchus wished to marry his daughter to Julius
Marcius, who had deei)ly ofl'ended Flavia by an outspoken
expression of opinion, that the Roman ladios mmgltid too
much in public atiairs, and that they ought to be content
to stay at home and rule their households and slaves.

He knrv thfit Ue /ould have nodifficuU^ witii Ins father.
ITv prat ■' wj.,v uKSb anxious that his son should make an
alliance vitr '^.;> ■ ouse of Gracchus, and it was the custom
that such pn^oneri ken in war, as were not sacrificed to
the gods, should be given as slaves to the nobles. As yet
the great contests in the arena, which cost the lives of such
vast numbers of prisoners taken in war, were not instituted.
Occasional combats, indeed, took place, but these were on
a small scale, and were regarded rather as a sacrifice to Mars
than as an amusement for the people.

Sempronius accordingly took his way moodily home. The
praetor had just returned, having seen Malchus and the
officers lodged in prison, while the men were set to work
on the fortifications. Sempronius stated Flavia's request.
The prsetor looked doubtful.

" I had intended," he said, " to have kept the officers in
prison until the senate decided what should be done with
them; but, of course, if Flavia has set her mind on it I must
strain a point. After all there is no special reason why the
prisoners should be treated differently to others. Of course
I cannot send the leader of the party to Flavia and let the
others remain in prison. As there are two of them I will
send them as presents to two of the principal families
in Eome, so that if any question arises upon the subject I
shall at once have powerful defenders; at any rate, it will
not do to offend Flavia."

MalchuSj as he was led through the streets of Eomo, had

A COMPARISON.

345

been making comparisons by no means to the favour of
Cartl)age. The greater sini^ !icity of dress, the absence of
the luxury which was so unbridled at Carthago, the plain-
ness of the aichitec are of the hou?e.s, the fnu; and manly
bearing of the citizens, all i '.a pressed him. Rough as was
the crowd who jeered and hooted Iiim and his companions,
uhere M'as a power and a vi^i :r inioiig them which was alto-
gether lackinc; at home. Lnder the intiuence of excite-
ment the populace there was cai)ul)]e of rising and assert-
ing themselves, but their general demean^ t was that of
subservience to the wealthy and i)o\verful.

The tyranny of the senate weighed C; tht people, the
numerous secret denunciations and ai ^'s Inspired each
man with a mistrust of his neighhoiir, for Jioae could say
that he was safe from the action of & ?* enemies. The
Romans, on the other hand, w ere no respecters of persons.
Every ^ree citizen deemed hi:nsolf the equal of the best; the
plebeians held their own against the patricians, and could
always return one of the consuls, generally selecting the
man who had most distinguished himself by his hostility
to the patricians.

The tribunes, whose power in Rome was nearly equal to
that of the consuls, were almost always the representatives
and champions of the plebeians, and their power balanced
that of the senate, which was entirely in the interests of
the aristocracy. Malchus wus rt'flecting over these things
in the prison, when the door of his cell opened and Sem-
pronius, accompanied by two soldiers, entered. Tb.e former
addressed him in Greek.

"Follow me," he said. "You iiave been appointed by
my father, the praetor Caius, to be the domestic slave of the
Lady Flavia Gracchus, until such time as the senate may
determine upon your fate."

346

SLAVERY IN ROMB.

a t

As Carthage also enslaved prisoners taken in war Malclius
showed no surprise, although he would have preferred labour-
ing upon the fortifications with his men to domestic slavery,
however light the latter might be. "Without a comment,
then, he rose and accomiianied Sempronius from his prison.

Domestic slavery in Rome was not as a whole a severe
fate. The masters, indeed, had the power of life and death
over their slaves, they could Hog and ill-use them as they
chose; but as a rule they treated them well and kindly.

The Romans were essentially a domestic people, kind to
their wives, and aHcetionatc, although sometimes strict, with
their children. The slaves were treated as the other ser-
vants; and, indeed, with scarce an exception, all servants
were slaves. The rule was easy and the labour by no means
hard. Favourite slaves were raised to positions of trust
and confidence, they frequently amassed considerable sunu.
of money, and were often granted their freedom after iaitl
ful services.

•^^

ill

var MalchuB
rred labour-
istic slavery,
a comment,
1 his prison,
olo a severe
e and death
lem as they
. kindly,
pie, kind to
s strict, with
le other ser-
all servn»its
by no means
ons of trust
lerable snnu.
a after fuitl^

CHAPTER XXI.

THE GAULISH SLAVE.

^..

N arriving at the mansion of Gracchus, Sempro-
niiis led Malclius to the apartment occupied by
Flavia, Her face lighted with satisfaction.
" You have done well, my Sempronius," she
said; " I shall not forget your ready gratification of my wish.
So this is the young Carthaginian? My friends will all
envy me at having so handsome a youth to attend upon me.
Do you speak our tongue?" she asked graciously.

"A few words only," Malchus answered. " I speak Greek."

"It is tiresome," Flavia said, addressing Sempronius,
"that I do not know that language; but Julia has been
taught it. Tell him, Sempronius, that his duties will be
easy. He will accompany me when I walk abroad, and will
stand behind me at table, and will have charge of my pets.
The young lion cub that Tiberius procured for me is getting
troublesome and needs a firm hand over him; he nearly
killed one of the slaves yesterday."

Sempronius translated Flavia's speech to Malchus.

"I shall dress him," Flavia said, "in white and gold; he
will look charming in it."

" It is hardly the dress for a slave," Sempronius ventured
to object.

" I suppose I can dress him as I please. Lesbia, the wife

348

A ROMAN LADYS PETS.

'II

of Einilius, dresses her houseliold slaves in blue and silver,
and I suppose I have as much ri^lit us she has to indulge
my fancies."

"Certainly, Lady Flavia," Scripronius said reverentially.
"I only thouglit that such favours shown to the Carthaginian
might make the other slaves jealous."

I'lavia made no answe?', but waved her fan to Senipronius
in token of disnn'ssal. The young Konian, inwardly cursing
her haughty airs, took hi.i leave at once, and Flavia handed
Malchus over to the charge of the chief of the household,
with strict directions as to the dress which was to bo
obtained for him, and with orders to give the animals into
his charge.

Malchus followed the man, congratulating himself that if
he must serve as a slave, at least he could hardly have found
an easier situation. The pets consisted of some bright birds
from the East, a Persian greyhound, several cats, a young
bear, and a half-grown lion. Of these the lion alone was
fastened up, in consequence of his attack upon the slave on
the previous da}'.

Malchus was fond of animals, and at once advanced boldly
to the lion. The animal crouched as if for a spring, but the
steady gaze of Malchus speedily changed its intention, and,
advancing to the full length of its chain, it rubbed itself
against him like a great cat. Malchus stroked its side, and
then, going to a fountain, filled a flat vessel with water and
placed it before it. The lion lapped the water eagerly.
Since its assault upon the slave who usually attended to
it, none of the others had ventured to approach it. They
had, indeed, thrown it food, but had neglected to supply it
with water.

" We shall get on well together, old fellow," Malchus said.
" We are both African captives, and ought to be friends."

JULIA.

di9

Finding from the other slaves that until the previous day
the animal had heen accu.stomed to run about the house
freely and to lie in Flavia's room, Malchus at once unfas-
tened the chain and for some time playt'd with the lion,
which appeared gentle antl good-tempered. As the master
of the household soon informed the others of the orders
he had receiving respecting Malchus, the shives saw that
the newcomer was lil<ely, for h time at least, to stand very
high in the favour of their capricious mistress, and therefore
strove in every way to gain his good-will.

Presently Malchus was sent for again, and found Julia
sitting on the couch by tlie si.le of her mother, and he
at once acknowledged to himself that he had seldom seen a
fairer woman. She was tall, and her figure was full and
well proportioned. Her glossy hair was wound in a coil at
the back of her head, lier neck and arms were bare, and she
wore a garment of light green silk, and embroidered with
gold stripes along the bottom, reaching down to her knees,
while beneath it a petticoat of Tyriun purple reached nearly
to the ground.

*' Is he not good-looking, Julia?" Flavia asked. "There
is not a slave in Rome like him. Lesbia and Fulvia will be
green with envy,"

Julia made no i'eply, but sat examining the face of Mal-
chus with as much composure as if he had been a statue.
He had bowed on entering, as he would have done in the
prt once of Carthaginian ladies, and now stood composedly
awaiting Flavia's orders.

"Abk him, Julia, if it is true that he is a cousin of Han-
nibal and the captain of his guard. Such a youtlj aa he is,
I can hardly believe it; and yet how stroni; and sinewy
are his limbs, and he has an air of command in his face.
He interests me, this slave."

350

THE GAULISH SL/vVB.

Julia asked in Greek the questions which her mother had
dictated.

"Ask him now, Julia," Flavia said when her daughter
had translated the answer, "how he came to bo captured."

Malchus recounted the story of his being blown by a gale
into the Roman ports ; then, on her own account, Julia in-
quired whether he had been present at the various battles
of the campaign. Af ;er an hour's conversation Malchus was
dismissed. In passing through the hall beyond he came
suddenly upon a female who issued from one of the female
apartm.ents. They gave a simultaneous cry of astonishment.

" Clotilde !" Malchus exclaimed, "you here, and a captive?"

"Alas! yes," the girl replied. "I was brought here three
months since."

" I have heard nothing of you all," Malchus said, " since
your father returned with his contingent after the battle of
Trasimene. We knew that Postumius with his legion was
harrying Cisalpine Gaul, but no particular has reached us."

" My father is slain," the girl said. " He and the tribe
were defeated. The next day the Romans attacked the
village. We, the women and the old men, defended it till
the last. ? ly two sisters were killed. I was taken prisoner
and sent hither as a present to Flavia by Postumius. I have
been wishing to die, but now, since you are here, I shall be
content to live even as a Roman slave."

While they were speaking they had been standing with
their hands clasped. Malchus, looking down into her face,
over which the tears were now streaming as she recalled
the sad events at home, wondered at the change which
eighteen months had wrought in it. Then she was a girl,
now she was a beautiful woman — the fai .'est he had ever seen,
Malchus thought, with her light brown hair with a gleam
of gold, her deep gray eyes, and tender, sensitive mouth.

Ml ' i

A GREAT STROKE OF FORTUNE.

351

"And your mother T' he asked.

" She was with my father in the battle, and was left for
dead on the field; but I heard from a captive, taken a month
after I was, that she had survived, and was with the remnant
of the tribe in the well-nigh inaccessible fastnesses at the
head of the Orcus."

" We had best meet as strangers," Malchus said. " It
were well that none suspect we have met before. I shall
not stay here long if I am not exchanged. I shall try to
escape whatever be the risks, and if you will accompany me
I will not go alone."

"You know I will, Malchus," Clotilde answered frankly.
"^Vhenever you give the word I am ready, whatever the risk
is. I should break my heart were I left here alone again."

A footstep was heard approaching, and Clotilde, dropping
Malchus's hands, fled away into the inner apartments, while
Malchus walked quietly on to the part of the house appro-
priated to the slaves. The next day, having assumed his
new garments, and having had a light gold ring, as a badge
of servitude, fastened round his neck, Malchus accompanied
Flavia and her dau<diter on a series of visits to their friends.

The meeting with Clotilde had delighted as muc.i as it
had surprised Malchus. The figure of the Gaulish maiden
had been often before his eyes during his long night watches.
When he was with her last he ha<l resolved that when he
next journeyed north he would ask her hand of the chief,
and sino his journey to Carthage his tlioughts had still
more often reverted to her. The lop^hing which he now felt
for Carthage had converted what was, when he was staying
with Allobrigius, little more than an idea, into a fixed
determination that he would cut himself loose altogethei
from corrupt and degenerate Carthage, and settle among the
Gauls. That he should find Clotilde a captive in Kome had

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352

CLOTILDE MAKES A DISCOVERY.

never entered his wildest imagination, and he now blessed,
fis a piece of the greatest good fortune, the chance which had
thrown him into the hands of the Komans, and brought him
into the very house where Clotilde was a slave. Had it not
been for that he would never again have heard of her.
When he returned to her ruined home he would have found
that she had been carried away by the lioman conquerors,
but of her after fate no word could ever have reached him.

Some weeks passed, but no mode of escape presented itself
to his mind. Occasionally for a few moments he saw
Clotilde alone, antl the}'^ were often together in Flavia's
apartment, for the Koman lady was proud of showing off
to her friends her two slaves, both models of their respective
races.

Julia had at first been cold and hard to Malchus, but
gradually her manner had changed, and she now spoke kindly
and condescendingly to him, and would sometimes sit look-
ing at him from under her dark eyebrows with an expression
which Malchus altogether failed to interpret. Clotilde was
more ciear-siii-hted. One dav meetin<^ Malchus alone in the
atrium she said to him: "Malchus, do you know that
I fear Julia is learning to love you. I see it in her face,
in the glance of her eye, in the softening of that full mouth
of hers."

" You are dreaming, little Clotilde," Malchus said laugh-
ing-

"I am not," she said firmly; "I tell you she loves you."

" Impossible ! " Maichus said incredulously. " The haughty
Juliii, the fairest of the Koman maidens, fall in love with
a slave! You are dreaming, Clotilde."

"But you are not a common slave, Malchus, you are a
Carthaginian noble and the cousin of Hannibal. You are
her equal in all respects."

"YOU HAVE NEVER SAIt> SO."

353

iw blessed,
which had
-ought him
Had it not
,rd of her.
have found
conquerors,
iched him.
;ented itself
its he saw
in Flavia's
showhig off
ir respective

lalchus, but
spoke kindly
mcs sit look-
,n expression
Clotilde was
alone in the
know that
in her face,
full mouth

said laugh-
loves you."
The haughty

n love with

3, you ard a
11. You are

" Save for this gold collar," Malchus said, touching the
badge of slavery lightly.

"Are you sure you do not love her in return, Malchus 1
She is very beautiful."

"Is she?" Malchus said carelessly. " Were she fifty times
more beautiful it would make no difference to me, for,
as you know as well as I do, I love some one else."

Clotilde flushed to the brow. " You have never said so,"
she said softly.

"What occasion to say so when you know it? You have
always known it, ever since the day when we went over
the bridge together."

" But I am no fit mate for you," she said. " Even when
my father was alive and the tribe unbroken, what were we
that I should wed a great Carthaginian noble? Now the
tribe is broken, I am only a Roman slave."

" Have you anything else to observe?" Malchus said quietly.

" Yes, a great deal more," she went on urgently. " How
could you present your wife, an ignorant Gaulish girl, to your
relatives, the haughty dames of Carthage? They would look
down upon me and despise me."

"Clotilde, you are betraying yourself," Malchus said smiling,
" for you have evidently thought the matter over in every
light. No," he said detaining her, as, with an exclamation
of shame, she would have fled away, "you must not go.
You knew that I loved you, and for every time you have
thought of me, be it ever so often, I have thought of you a
score. You knew that I loved you and intended to ask your
hand from your father. As for the dames of Carthage, I
think not of carrying you there ; but if you will wed me I
will settle down for life among your people."

A footstep was heard approaching. Malchus pressed
Clotilde for a moment against his breast, and then he was

(339) z

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354

A STRTTGGLE.

alone. The new-comer was Sempronius. He was still a
frequent visitor, but he was conscious that he had lately
lost rather tlian gained ground in the good graces of Julia.
Averse as he had been from the lirst to tlie introduction of
Malchus into the household, he was not long in discovering
the ref.son for the change in Julia, and the dislike he had
from the first felt of ]\lalchus had deepened to a feeling of
bitter hatred.

" Slave," he said haughtily, " tell your mistress that 1 am
here."

" I am not your slave," Malchus said calmly, " and shall
not obey your orders when addressed in such a tone."

"Insolent hound," the young Koman exclaimed, "I will
chastise you," and he struck Malchus with his stick. In an
instant the latter s])rang upon him, struck him to the giound,
and wrenching the stall' from his hand laid it heavily across
him. At that moment Flavia, followed by her daughter,
hurried in at the sound of the struggle. "Malchus," she
exclaimed, "what means this?"

"It means," Sempronius said rising livid with passion,
"that your slave has struck me — me, a Ifoman patrician.
I will lodge a complaint against him, and the penalty, you
know, is death."

" He struck me first, Lad}' Flavia,'" Malchus said quietly,
" because I would not do his behests when he spoke to me
as a dog."

" If you struck my slave, Sempronius," Flavia said coldly,
" I blame him not that he returned the blow. Although a
prisoner of war, he is, as you well know, of a rank in Carthage
superior to your own, and I wonder not that, if you struck
hiir. he struck you in return. You know that you had no
right to touch my slave, and if you now take any steps against
him I warn yo"i Uiat you will never enter this house again."

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ik»M«<. ■'•lati'

"BUT HE HAS STRUCK ME."

355

" Nor will I over speak a word to you," Julia added.

"But ho has struck oie," Sempronius said furiously; "he
has knocked me down and beaten mo."

" Apparently you brought it upon yourself," Flavia said.
" None but ourselves know what has happened ; therefore,
neither shame nor disgrace can arise from it. My advice
to you is, go home now and remain there until those marks
of the stick have died out; it will be easy for you to assign
an excuse. If you follow the matter up, I will proclaim
among my friends how I found you here grovelling on the
ground while you were beaten. What will then be said of
your manliness? Already the repeated excuses which have
served you from abstaining to join the armies in the
field have been a matter for much comment. You best
know whether it would improve your position were it
known that you had been beaten by a slave. Why, you
would be a jest among young Romans." i

Sempronius stood irresolute. His last liopes of winning
Julia were annihilated by what had happened. The tone of
contempt in which both mother and daughter had spoken
sufficiently indicated their feelings, and fo a moment he
hesitated whether he would not take what i enge he could
by denouncing Malchus. But the thou,ii d was speedily
put aside. He had been wrong in striking the domestic
slave of another; but the fact that Male! s had been first
attacked, and the whole influence of the !:• use of Gracchus,
its relations, friends, and clients exerted a his behalf, would
hardly suffice to save him. Still the revenge would be
bought dearly in the future hostility of Flavia and her
friends, and in the exposure of his own humiliating attitude.
He, therefore, with a great effort subdued all signs of anger
and said:

" Lady Flavia, your wish has always been law to me, and

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356

J'REPARINO FOR ESCAPE.

I would rather that anything should happen than that 1
should lose your favour and patronage, therefore, I am
willing to forget what has happened, the more so as I own
that I acted wrongly in striking your slave. I trust that
after this apology you will continue to be the kindly friend
I have always found you."

" Certainly, Sempronius," Flavia said graciously, " and I
shall not forget your ready acquiescence in my wishes."

It was the more easy for Sempronius to yield, inasmuch
as Malchus had, after stating that he had been first struck,
quietly left the apartment. For some little time things went
on as before. Malchus was now at home in Rome. As a slave
of one of the most powerful families, as was indicated by the
badge he wore on his dress, he was able, when his services
were not required, to wander at will in the city. He made
the circuit of the walls, marked the spots which were least
frequented and where an escape would be most easily made;
and, having selected a spot most remote from the busy
quarter of the town, he purchased a long rope, and carrying
it there concealed it under some stones close to one of the
flights of steps by which access was obtained to the summit
of the wall.

The difficulty was not how to escape from Rome, for that,
now that he had so much freedom of movement, was easy,
but how to proceed when he had once gained the open
country. For himself he had little doubt that he should be
able to make his way through tlie ten itories of the allies of
Rome, but the difficulty of travelling witli Clotilde would be
much greater.

" Clotilde," he said one day, " set your wits to work and
try and think of some disguise in which you might pass
with me. I have already prepared for getting beyond the
walls; but the pursuit after us will be hot, and until we reach

I .

SEMPRONIUS WATCHES.

357

the Carthaginian lines eveiy man's hand will be against
us."

"I have thought of it, Malclius; the only thiyg that I can
see is for me to stain my skin and dye my hair and go as a
peasant boy."

"That is what I, too, have thought of, Clotilde. The
disguise would be a poor one, for the roundness of your arms
and the colour of your eyes would betray you at once to any-
one who looked closely at you. However, as I can see no
better way, I will get the garments and some for myself to
match, and some stuff' for staining the skin and hair,"

The next day Malchus bought the clothes and dye and
managed to bring them into the house unobserved, and to
give to Clotii i those intended for her.

The lion, under the influence of !'*■ iiingled firmness and
kindness of Malchus, had now rec(,vered his docility, and
followed him about t!ie house like a great dog, sleeping
stretched out on a mat by the side of his couch.

Sempronius continued his visits. Malcluis was seldom
present when he was with Flavia, but Clotilde was gener-
ally in the room. It was now the height of summer, and
her duty w^as to stand behind her mistress with a large fan,
with which she kept up a gentle current of air o\ er Flavia's
head and drove off' the troublesome flies. Sometimes she
had to continue doing so for hours, wliile Flavia chatted
with her friends.

Sem})ronius was biding his time. The two slaves were still
high in Fluvia's favour, but he was in hopes that something
might occur which would render her willing to ])art with
them. He watched Julia narrowly whenever Malchus entered
the room, and became more and moi-e convinced that she
had taken a strong fanc} for the Carthaginian slave, and the
idea occurred to him that by exciting her jealousy he might

•,ii

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I'i!

358 "DID YOU KNOW THE SLAVE MALCHUS?'*

succeed in obtaining his object. So careful were Malchus
and Clotilde that he had no idea whatever that any under-
standing existed between them. This, however, mattered but
little; nothing was more likely than that these two hand-
some slaves should fall in love with each other, and he
determined to suggest the idea to Julia.

Accordingly one day when he was sitting beside her, while
Flavia was talking with some other visitors, he remarked
carelessly, " Your mother's two slaves, the Carthaginian and
the Gaul, would m?.kt a handsome couple."

He saw a flush of anger in Julia's face. For a moment she
did not reply, and then said in a tone of indifference:

** Yes, they are each v/ell-favoured in their way."

"Methinks the idea has occurred to them," Sempronius
said. " I have seen them glance at each other, and doubt
not that when beyond your presence they do not confine
themselves to looks."

Julia was silent, but Sempronius saw, in the tightly com-
pressed lips and the lowering brow with which she looked
froia one to the other, that the shaft had told

"1 'lave wondered sometimes," he said, "in an idle moment,
whether they ever met before. The Carthaginians were for
some time among the Cisalpine Gauls, and the girl was, you
have told mo, the daughter of a chief there; they may well
have met."

Julia made no reply, and Sempronius, feeling that he had
said enough, began to talk on othor subjects. Julia scarcely
answered him, and at last impatiently waved him away.
She sat silent and abstracted until the last of the visitors
had left, then she rose from her seat and walked quietly up
to her mother and said abruptly to Clotilde, who was
standing behind her mistress : " Did you know the slave
Malchus before you met here'i"

THE RIVALS.

359

The suddenness of the question sent the blood up into
the cheeks of the Gaulish maiden, and Julia felt at once
that the hints of Senipronius were fully justified.

*' Yes," Clotilde answered (|uietly, " I met him when, with
Hanrii])al, he came down from the Alps into our country."

"Why did you not say so before?" Julia asked passion-
ately. "Mother, the slaves have been deceiving us."

"Julia," Flavia said in surprise, "why this heat? What
matters it to us whether they have met before?"

Julia did not pay any attention, but stood with angry
eyes waiting for Clotilde's answer.

" I did not know, Lady Julia," the girl said quietly, "that
the affairs of )our slaves were of any intere.'^t to you. We
recognized each other when we first met. Long ago now,
when we were both in a difTerent position — "

"And when you loved each other?" Julia said in a tone
of concentrated passion.

"And when we loved each other," Clotilde repeated,
her head thrown back now, and her bearing as proud and
haughty as that of Julia.

" You hear that, mother? you hear this comedy that these
slaves have been playing under your nose? Send them both
to the whipping-post."

" My dear JuHa," Flavia exclaimed, more and more sur-
prised at her anger, "what harm has been done? You
astonish me. Clotilde, j'ou can retire. What means all
this, Julia?" she went on more severely when they were
alone; "why all this strange passion because two slaves,
who by some chance have met each other before, are lovers?
What is this Gaulish girl, what is this Carthaginian slave, to
you?"

" I love him, mother!" Julia said passionately.

"You!" Flavia exclaimed in angry surprise; "you, Julia,

" 9 " *•' "

360

"YOU ARE MAD, GIRL."

of tho house of Graccl.us, love a slave! You are mad, girl,
and shameless."

" I say so vvitliout shame," Julia rej)lied, "and wliy should
I not? lie is a noble of Carthage, though now a prisoner
of war. What if my father is a consuH Malchus is the
cousin of Ilaiuiihal, who is a greater man than Koine has
ever yet seen. Why should I not wed him?"

" In tho first place, it seems, Julia," Flavia said gravely,
" because he loves someone else. In the second place, be-
cause, as I hear, he is likely to be exchaiigcid very shortly for
a prajtor taken jtrisoner at Cannie, and will soon be fight-
ing against us. In the third place, because all Home would
be scandalized were a Ivoman maiden of the patrician order,
and of the house of Gracchus, to marry one of the invaders
of her country. Go to, Julia, I blush for you! So this is
the reason why of late you have behaved so coldly to Som-
pronius. Shauie on you, daughter! What would your
fatiier say, did he, on his return from the field, hear of your
doings? Go to your cluuuber, and do not let me see you
again till you can tell me that you have purged this madness
from your veins."

Without a word Julia turned and left the room. Parental
discii»line was strong in Rome, and none dare disobey a
parent's command, and although Julia had far more liberty
and license than most unmarried Konum girls, she did not
dare to answer her mother when she sjjoke in such a tone.

Flavia sat for some time in thought, then she sent for
Malchus. He had alreatly exchanged a few woids with Clo-
tilde, and was therefore pre})ared for her questions.

"Malcims, is it true that you love my Gaulish slave
girl?"

" It is true," Malchus replied quietly. " When we met
in Gaul, two years since, she was the daughter of a chief, I

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"WOULD YOU MARRY HKR NOWl"

361

a noble of Carthage. I loved her ; but we were both young,
and with so great a war in hand it was not a time to speak
of marriage."

"Would you marry her nowl"

"Not as a slave," Malclms replied; "when I marry her
it shall be before the faee of all men — I as a noble of Car-
thage, .she as a noble (laulish maiden."

"Hannibal is treatim; for vour exchani'e now," Flavia
said. "Tliere are <litlieulties in the way, for, as you know,
the senate have refused to allow its citizens who surrender
to be ransomed or exchani^ed; but the friends of the pra?tor
Publius are ])owerful, and are l)rini;iiig all their intlueiiee to
bear to obtain the exehange of their kinsman, whom Hainii-
bal has offered for you. 1 will gladly use wliat intluence I
and my family possess to aid tliem. I knew when you eame
to me that, as a prisoner of war, it was likely that you might
be e.\ changed."

" Vou have been very kind, my T^ady Flavia," MaMuis
said, "and I esteem myself most fortunate in having fallen
into such hands. Since you know now how it is with me
and Clotilde, I can ask you at once to let me ransom her of
you. Any sum that you like to name I will bind myself,
on my return to the Carthaginian camp, to pay for
her."

•' I will think it over," Flavia said graciously. " Clotilde
is useful to me, but I can dispense with her services, and
will ask you no exoil)itant amount for her. If the negotia-
tions for your exchange come to aught, you may rely upon
it that she shall go hence with you."

With an expression of deej) gratitude Malihus retired.
Flavia, in thus acceding to the wishes of MaUlius, was
inrtuenced by several motives. She was sincerely ::.hocked
at Julia's conduct, and was most dcsirctus of getting both

I}'

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362

FLAVIAS MOTIVES.

Malchus and ClotiKlc away, for she knew that her daugliter
was headstrong as slie was passionnti', and tlie presence of
Clotikle in the house wouM, even were Maldms absent, ho
a source of strife and bitterness between lierself and her
daugliter.

In the second place, it would be a i)rctty story to tell her
friends, and she should he able to takt^ credit to herself for
her magnanimity in parting with her favourite attendant.
Lastly, in the jjresent state of allairs it nn'ght possil)ly
happen that it would be of no sliuht advantage to have a
friend possessed of great powei* and influence in the Cartha-
ginian camp. Her husband might be captured in fight —
it was not beyond the bounds of po.ssii)ility that Kome
itself might fall into the hands of the Carthaginians. It
was, therefore, well worth while making a friend of a man
wlio was a near relation of Hannibal.

For some days Julia kept her own ai)artment. All the
household knew that something had gone wrong, though
none were aware of the cause. A general feeling of uneasi-
ness existed, for Julia had from a child in her fits of temper
been harsh with her slaves, venting her temper by cruelly
beating and pinching them. Many a slave had been flogged
by her orders at such a time, for her mother, although her-
self an easy mistress, seldom interfered with her caprices,
and all that she did was good in the eyes of her father.

At the end of the week Flavia told Malchus that the
negotiations for his release had been broken off, the Koman
senate remaining inflexible in the resolve that Komans who
surrendered to the enemy should not be exchanged. Malchus
was much disappointed, as it had seemed that the time of
his release was near ; however, he had still his former plan
of escape to fall back upon.

A day or two later Julia sent a slave with a message to

JULIAS I'HOPOSAL

3G3

SemproniuR, and in the afternoon sallied out with a confi-
dential attendant, who always ai'conii>aiiii'd her when she
went abroad. In the Foriun she met Senipronius, who
saluted her.

" Sempronius," she said, coming at once to the purpose,
"will you do me a favour] '

"I would do anything to oblige you, Lady Julia, as you
know."

"That is the language of courtesy," Julia said shortly; "I
mean would you be re;idy to run some risk]"

"Certainly," ScmiJronius answered readily.

" You will do it the more readily, })erhaps," Julia said,
"inasmuch as it will uratifv ^■our reven-^e. You have reason
to hate Malchus, the Carthaginian slave."

Sempronius noihled.

"Your suspicion was true, he loves the (Jaulish slave;
they have been ({Uestioned and have confes:^ed it. I want
them separated."

"But how?" Sempronius asked, rejoicing inwardly at
finding that Julia's wishes agreed so nearlv with his own.

"I want her carried off," Julia said shortly. "When once
you have got her you can do with her as you will; make
her your slave, kill her, do as you like with her, that is
nothing to me — all I want is that she shall go. I suppose
you have some place where you could take her]"

"Yes," Sempronius said, "I have a small estate among
the Alban Hills where she »\ould be safe enough from
searchers; but how to get her there? She never goes out
except with Lady Flrvia,"

"She must be taken from the house," Julia said shortly,
" pretty slaves have been carried off before now, and no sus-
picion need light upon you. You might find some place in
the city to hide her for a few days, and then boldly carry

364

"I WILL DO IT."

V-

u ■

her throuL,'h the gates in a litter. None will think of ques-
tioning you."

"Tlie wijitli of Lady Flavia would bo terrible," Sempro-
nius said doubtfully.

"My mother would be furious at first," Julia said coldly;
"but get her a new plaything, a monkey or a Nubian slave
boy, and she will soon forget all about the matter."

" Ihit how do you propose it should be done J" Scmpronius
asked.

"My slave shall withdraw all the bolts of the back
entrance to the house," dulia said; "do you be there at two
in the morning, when all will be sound asl('e[); bring with
you a couple of barefooted slaves. My woman will be at
the door and will guide you to the chamber where the girl
sleeps; you have only to gag h«'r and carry her (juietly off."

Sempronius stood for a moment in doubt. The enterprise
was certainly feasible. Wild adventures of this kind were
not unconnnon among the dissolute young Komans, and
Semi)ronius saw at once that were he detected »Iulia's influ-
ence would prevent her mother taking the matter up hotly.
Julia guessed his thoughts.

" If you are found out," she said, " I will take the blame
upon myself, and tell my mother that you were acting solely
at my recjuest."

"I will do it, Julia," he agreed; "to-night at two o'clock
I will be at the back-door with two slaves whom I can trust.
I will liave a place jjrcpaied to which I can take the girl till
it is safe to carry her from the city."

1 1

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LION.

AliCHUS was sleeping soundly tluat night when
he was awakened by a low angry sound from
the lion. He looked up, an<l saw l»y the faint
light of a lamp which burned in the hall, from
which the niche-like bed chambers of the principal slaves
opened, that the animal had risen to its feet. Knowing
that, docile as it was with tiiose it knew, the lion objected to
strangers, the thought occurred to him that some midnight
thief had entered the house for the purpose of robbery.
Malchus took his staff and sallied out, the lion walking
beside him.

He traversed the hall and went from room to room until
he entered the i)ortion of the house inhabited by Flavia and
the female slaves. Here he would have hesitated, but the
lion continued its way, crouching as it walked, with its tail
beating its sides with short (piick strokes.

There was no one in the principal apartment. He entered
the corridor, from which as he knew issued the bed-
chambers of the slaves. Here he stopped in sudden surprise
at seeini; a woman holdin*' a liiiht, while two men were
issuing from one of the apartments bearing between them a
body wrapped up in a cloak. Sempronius stood by the men
directing their movements. The face of the person carried

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366

SRMrilONIUS IS KILLED.

was invisible, but the liglit of the lamp fell upon a mass of
golden brown hair, and iMalchus knew at onco that it was
Clotilde who was being carried off.

Malchus sprang forward an(i with a blow of his staff
levelled one of the slaves to the ground; Scmpronius with
a furious exclamation drew his sword and rushed at him,
while the other slave, dropping his burden, closed with
Malchus and threw his arms around him. For a moment
Malchus felt powerless, but before Sempronius could strike
there was a deep roar, a dark body sjirang forward and
hurled itself upon him, levelling him to the ground with a
crushing blow of its paw, and then seized him by the
shoulder and shook him violently. The slave who held Mal-
chus loosed his hold and fled with a cry of atlright, the female
slave dropped the light and fled also. Clotilde had by this
time gained her feet.

"Quick, love!" Malchus said; "seize your disguise and
join me at the back gate. Sempronius is killed; I will join
you as quickly as I can."

By this time the household was alarmed, the shout of
Malchus and the roar of the lion had aroused everyone,
and the slaves soon came hurrying with lights to the spot.
Malchus checked them as they came running out.

"Fetch the net," he said. The net in question had been
procured after the lion had before made an attack upon the
slave, but had not since been required.

Malchus dared not ai)proach the creature now, for though
he was not afraid for himself, it was now furious, and might,
if disturbed, rush among the others and do terrible destruc-
tion before it could be secured. The net was quickly
brought, and Malchus, with three of the most resolute of
the slaves, advanced and threw it over the lion, which was
lying upon the prostrate body of Sempronius. It sprang to

"WHAT CAN IT ALL MEANI"

367

its feet, hut the net was roiiiul it, and in its struggle to
escape it fell on its side. Another twist of the net and it
was hel[»lcssly incli)sed ; the fimr men lifted the ends and
carried it away. Cutting a portion of the net Malchus
placed the massive iron collar attached to the chain round
its neck and then left it, savin<' to the others:

"We can cut the rest «»f the net oti" it afterwards."

lie then hurrieil hack to the scene of the struggle. Flavia
was already there.

"What is all this, Malcljus?" she asked. "Here I find
Seinpronius dead and one of his slaves senseless heside him;
they tell me when he first arrived you were here."

"I know nothing of it, huly," Mahhus re])lied, "save thai
the lion aroused me hy growling, and thinking that rohhers
might liavo entereil the house, I arose and searche<l it and
came upon three men. One I levelieil to the ground with
my stafT; douhtless he is oidy stunned and will he ahle to
tell you more when he recovers. I gia[)pled with another,
and while cn'CJii'etl in astruirgle with him the third attacked
me with a sword, and would have slain me had not the lion
sprang upon liim and felled him. The other man then fled
— this is all I know about it."

" What can it all mean ?" Flavia said. " What could Sem-
pronius with two slaves be doing in my house after midnight?
It is a grave outrage, and there will be a terrible scandal in
Rome to-morrow — the son of a prtetor and a friend of the
house!"

She then ordered the slaves to raise the body of Sem-
pronius and carry it lo a couch, and to send at once for a
leech. She also bade them throw water on the slave and
bring him to consciousness, and then to bring him before
her to be questioned.

"Where is my daughter?" she said suddenly; "has she

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368

THE SLAVE CONFESSES.

not 1)cetj rousod by all this Rtiii" One of the female slaves
stole into Julia's apartriiont, and returned saying that her
mistress was sound ash'ep on her couch.

An expression of douht crossed Flavia's face, hut she only
said, "Do not disturh her," and then thou,L;ht fully returned
to her room. It was not until an hour later that tlie prisoner
was sufficiently recovered to be brought before Flavia. IIo
had already heard that his master was killed, and, knowing
that concealment would be useless, he threw himself on the
ground before Flavia, and owned that he and another slave
had been brought by ISempronius to carry oU' a slave
girl.

Acting on his instructions they had thrust a kerchief
into her mouth, and wrapi)ed a cloak round her, and were
carrying her off when a man rushed at him, and he sup})osed
struck him, for he remembered nothing more. He then with
many tears implored mercy, on the ground that he was acting
but on his master's orders. At this moment the pra-tor
himself arrived, Flavia having sent for him immediately she
had ascertained that Sempronius was dead. He was con-
fused and bewildered at the suddenness of his loss.

"I thought at first," F'lavia said, "that he must have been
engaged in some wild scheme to carry off Julia, though why
he should do so I could not imagine, seeing that he had my
approval of his wooing; but Julia is asleep, not having been
awakened by the noise of the sciiiUe. It must have been
one of the slave girls."

"Ah!" she exclaimed suddenly. " I did not see Clotilde."
She struck a bell, and her attendant entered.

" Go," she said, " and summon Clotilde here."

In a few minutes the slave returned, saying that Clotilde
was not to be found.

"She may have been carried off by the other slave,"

tXAVlA's COUNSKLS.

369

Fkvia siiul; "hut Malclius was there, and would have pur-
sued. Fetch him here."

But Mulclni-s too was found to l)e niissins;.

"They must have Hed togetlior," Flavia said. "There
was an understanding between them. l)ouhth'ss Malchus
feared that tliis all'air with your son miglit cau^e him to be
taken away from liere. Perhaps it is best so, and I trust that
tliey may get away, thougli 1 fear there is Uttle cliance, since
no slaves are allowed to leave the city without a pass, and
even did they succeed in gaining the ojten country they would
bo arrested and brought l)ack by the tirst person who met
them. But that is not the (juestion for tln5 present.

" What think 3 ou, my friend, what aie we to do in this
terrible business?"

"1 know not," the pra-tor said with a groan.

"The honour of both our families is concerned," Flavia
said calmly. "Your son has been found in my house at
night and slain by my lion. All the world knows that he
was a suitor for Julia's hand. There's but one thing to bo
done; the matter must be kept secret. It would not do to try
and remove Sempronius to-night, for the litter might be
stopped by the watch; it must be taken boldly away in day-
light. Send four slaves whom you can trust, and order them
to be silent on pain of death. I will tell my household that
if a word is breathed of what has taken place to-night, I Mill
liand whoever disobeys me over to the executioners. When
you have got your son's body home you can spread a
rumour that he is sick of the fever. There will be no
difficulty in bribing the leech. Then in a few days you
will give out that he is dead, and none will ^'^ any the
wiser."

The praitcw agreed that this was the best plan that could
be adopted, and it was carried out in due course, and so well

(330) , 2 A

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370

MOTIIKR AND DAUGIITKR.

was the secret kept that no one in Rome ever doubted that
Scmproiiius had fallen a victim to fever.

Julia's anger in the niorninji?, wlien she heard that the
Gaulish slave girl and the Carthaj^inian were nnssing, was
great, and she hunied to her niuther's room to demand that
a hue and cry should be at once made for them, and a re-
ward offered for their apprehension. She had, when in-
formed of t!ie scenes which had taken place in the night,
and of the death of Sempronius, expressed great astonish-
ment and horror, and indeed the news that her accomplice
had been killed had really shocked her. The sentiment,
however, had faded to insigniticanoo in the anger which she
felt when, as the narrative continued, she heard of the
escape of the two slaves.

A stormy scene took place between her and her mother,
Julia boldly avowing that she was the author of the scheme
which had had so fatal a termination. P'lavia, in her in-
dignation at her daughter's conduct, sent her away at once
to a small summer retreat belonging to her in the hills, and
there she was kept for some months in strict seclusion under
the watchful guardianship of some old and trusted slaves.

Malchus, having seen the lion fastened up, had seized the
bundle containing his disguise, and hurried away to the
gate where Clotilde was awaiting him.

** How long you have been !" she said with a gasp of relief.

"I could not get away until the lion was secured," he
said, " for I should have been instantly missed. Now we
will be off at once." Both had thrown large dark cloaks
over their garments, and they now hurried along through
the deserted streets, occasionally drawing aside into by-lanes
as they heard the tramp of the city watch.

At last, after half an hour's walking, they reached the
wall. Malchus knew the exact spot where he had hidden

I . J

loubted that

rd that the
[uisgin^, was
leniund that
1), and a re-
I, when in-
1 the night,
at astonisli-
• accompli CO
I seiitinieiit,
r which slie
)nrd of the

her motlier,
the scheme
, ill lier in-
vay at once
10 hills, and
usion under
;d slavcjj.
I seized the
way to the

sp of relief,
jcured," he
Now we
lark cloaks
ig through
to by-lanes

jached the
lad hidden

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3Sd

MALCHUS AND CLOTILDE ESCAPE FROM ROME.

BFA'OND THE WALLS.

371

ROME.

the rope, and liad no difTioulty in finding it. They mounted
the steps and stood on tlie hattlrnients. The sentries were
far ajtart, for no enemy was in the neighbourhood of Konie.
Malchus fastene<l the rope round Clotilde, and hnvered her
down over the hattlenients. When he found that she liad
reached tlie ground he made fast tlie end of the ro{)e and
slid down till he stood beside her. They proceeded with
the utmost caution until at some distance from t\w walls;
and then shaped their course UMtil, after a long walk, they
came down upon the Tiber below tlie city.

Day had by this time broken, and Makhus bade Clotilde
enter a little wood to change her garments and dye her skin.
He then proceeded to do the same, and rolling up the clothes
he had taken off, hid them under a bush. Clotilde soon
joined him again. She wore the diess of a peasant boy, con-
sisting of a tunic of rough doth reaching to her knees. Her
limbs, face, and neck were dyed a sunny brown, and her hair,
which was cut quite short, was blackened. Dyes were largely
in use by Koman ladies, and jMalchus had had no ditliculty
in procuring those necessary for their disguises.

" I don't think anyone would sus^iect you, Clotilde," he
said; " even I should pass you without notice. What a pity
you have had to part with all your sunny hair!"

*' It will soon grow again," she said; " and now, Malchus,
do not let us waste a moment. I am in terror while those
dark walls are in sight."

"We shall soon leave them behind," Malchus said en-
couragingly. "There are plenty of fishermen's boats moored
along the bank here, ^^'e shall soon leave liome behind us."

They stepj)ed into a boat, loosened the moorings, and
pushed off, and ^lalchus, getting out the oai's, rowed steadily
down the river until they neared its mouth. Then they
landed, pushed the boat into the stream again, lest, if it

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37i

CAPITA.

were found fastened up, it might give a clue to atiy who
were in pursuit of them, and then struck off into the country.
After traveUing some miles they turned into a wood, where
they lay down for several hours, and did not resume their
course until nightfall.

Malchus had, before starting, entered the kitchen, and
had filled a bag with cold meat, oatmeal cakes, and other
food, and this, when examined, proved ample for four days'
supply, and he had, therefore, no occasion to enter the
villages to buy provisions. They kept by the sea- shore
until they neared Terracina, and then took to the hills, and
skirted these until they had left the state of Latium. They
kept along at the foot of the great range which forms the
backbone of Italy, and so passing along Sanmium, came down
upon the Volturnus, having thus avoided the Koman army,
which lay between Capua and Rome.

Their journey had been a rough one, for, by the winding
road they had followed along the mountains, the distance
they traversed was over one hundred miles. The fatigue
had been great, and it was well that Clotilde had had a
Gaulish training. After their provisions were exhausted
they had subsisted upon corn which they gathered in the
patches of cultivated ground near the mountain villages, and
upon fruits which they picked in the woods.

Twice, too, they had come upon herds of half wild goats in
the mountains, and Malchus had succeeded in knocking
down a kid with a stone. They had not made very long
journeys, resting always for a few hours in the heat of the
day, and it was ten days after they had left Rome before,
from an eminence, they saw the walls of Capua.

" How can I go in like this?" Clotilde exclaimed in a sud-
den fit of shyness.

**\Ve will wait until it is dusk," Malchus said; "the dye

A JOYOUS SURPRISE.

373

is fast wearing off, and your arms are strangely white for a
peasant girl's. I will take you straight to Hannibal's palace,
and you will soon be fitted out gorgeously. There are spoils
enough stored up to clothe all the women of Rome."

They sat down in the shade of a clump of trees, and
waited till the heat of the day was i)ast ; then they rose and
walked on until, after darkness had fallen, they entered the
town of Capua. They had no difficulty in discovering the
palace where Hannibal was lodged. They were stopped at
the entrance by the guards, who gave a cry of suri)rise and
pleasure when Malchus revealed himself. At first they
could hardly credit that, in the dark skinned peasant, their
own commander stood before them, and as the news spread
rapidly the officers of the corjis ran down and saluted him
with a joyous greeting. While this was going on Clotildo
shrank back out of the crowd.

As soon as he could extricate himself from his comrades,
Malchus joined her, and led her to Hannibal, who, hearing
the unusual stir, was issuing from his apartnu'iit to see what
had occasioned it. The sliouts of "Louli live Malchus!"
which rose from the soldiers informed him of what h«ad
happened, and he at once recognized his kinsman in the
figure advancing to meet him.

"My dear Malchus," he exclaimed, "this is a joyous sur-
prise. I have been in vain endeavouring to get you out of
the hands of the I.'onians, but they were obstinate in refus-
ing an*excliange; but knowing your idroitness, 1 have never
given up ho[)es of seeing you aj)i)eyr some day among us.
But whom have you here?" he asked as he re-entered his
room accompanied by Malchus and his companion.

"This is Clotilde, daughter of Allobrigius, the chief of the
Orcan tribe," Malchus replied, "and my affianced wife. Her
father has been defeated and killed by Postumius, and she was

374

CLOTILDE IN GOOD HANDS.

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carried as a slave to Rome. There good fortune and the gods
threw us togctlicr, and I have managed to bring lier with me."

" I remember yon, of course," Hannibal said to the girl,
" and that I joked my young kinsman about you. This is
well, indeed; but we must see at once about providing you
with proper garments. There are no females in my palace,
but I will send at once for Chalcus, who is now captain of
my guard, and who has married here in Capua, and beg
him to bring hither his wife; she will I am sure take charge
of you, and furnish you with garments."

Clotilde was soon handed over to the care of the Italian
lady, and Malchus then [(rocceded to relate to Hannibal the
various incidents which had occurred since he had sailed
from Capua for Sardinia. He learned in return that the
mission of Mago to Carthage had b^en unsuccessful. He had
brought over a small reinforcement of cavalry and elephants,
which had landed in Bnittium and had safely joined the
army; but this only rej)aired a few of the many gaps made
by the war, and was useless to enable Hannibal to carry
out his great puipose.

"Hanno's inHuence was too strong," Hannibal said, "and
I foresee that sooner or later the end must come. I may
hold out for years here in Southern Italy, but unless Car-
thage rises from her lethargy, I must finally be overpowered."

"It seems to me," Malchus said, "that the only hope is
in rousing the Gauls to invade Italy from the north."

" I know nothing of what is passing there," Hannibal said;
"but it is clear from the disaster which has befallen our
friends the Orcans that the Romans are more than holding
their own north of the Apennines. Still, if a diversion could
be made it would be useful. I suppose you are desirous of
taking your bride back to her tribe."

"Such is my wish, certainly," Malchus said. "As I have

HANNIBAL AGREES TO MALCIIUSS PLANS.

375

told you, Hannil)al, I have made up my mind nevor to re-
turn to Cartha'j:e. It is hateful to me. Her tame submission
to the intolerable tyranny of Hanno and his faction, her
sufferance of the corruption which reigns in every depart-
ment, her base ingratitude to you and the army which have
done and suflered so much, the lethargy wliich she betrays
when dangers are thickening and her fall and destruction
are becoming more and more sure, have sickened me of her.
I have resolved, as I have told you, to cast her off, and
to live and die among the Gauls — a life rough and simple,
but at least free."

" But it seems that the Gauls have again been subjected
to Rome," Hannibal said.

*' On this side of the Alps," Malchus replied, " but beyond
are great tribes who have never as yet heard of Rome. It is
to then, that Clotilde's mother belongs, and we have settled
that we will first try and find her mother and persuade her
to go Avith us, and that if she is dead we will journey alone
until we join her tiibe in Germany. But before I go I will,
if it be possible, try and rouse the Gauls to make another
effort for freedom by acting in concert, by driving out the
Romans and invading Italy. You will, I trust, Hannibal, not
oppose my plans."

"Assuredly not, Malchus; I sympathize with you, and
were I younger and without ties and responsibilities would
fain do the same. It is a sacrifice, no doubt, to give up
civilization and to begin life anew, but it is what our
colonists are always doing. At anyrate it is freedom —
freedom from the corruption, the intrigue, the sloth, and
the littleness of a decaying power like that of Carthage.
You will be happy at least in having your wife with you,
while the gods only know when I shall see the face of my
beloved Imilce.

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376

MALCHUS AND CLOTILDE.

" Yes, Malchiis, follow your own devices. Carthage, when
she flung you in prison and would have put you to a dis-
graceful death, forfeited all further claim ui)on you. Voti
have rendered her great services, you have risked your life
over and over again in her cause, you have repaid tenfold
the d(d»t which you incurred when she gave you hirth. Vou
are free now to carry your sword where you will. I shall
deeply regret your loss, ])ut your father has gone and many
another true friend of mine, and it is hut one more in the
list of those I have lost. Follow your own wishes, and live
in that freedom which you will never attain in the service of
Carthage."

The next day the marriage of Malchus and Clotilde took
place. Hannibal himself joined their hands and prayed the
gods to bless their union. Three weeks later Hannibal
arranged that a body of a hundred Carthaginian horse should
accom})any Malchus to the north, where he would endeavour
to raise the Gaulish tiibes. They were to cross into Aj)ulia,
to travel up the east coast until past the ranges of the
Apennines, and then make their way across the plains to
the Alps. A dozen officers accomi)anied him; these were to
aid him in his negotiations with the chiefs, and in organizing
the new forces, should his cfi'orts be successful.

To the great joy of Malchus, on the very evening before
he started Nessus arrivetl m the camp. He had, when
Malchus was at Kome, been employed witli the other
Carthaginian soldiers on the fortifications. JVIalchus had
once or twice seen him as, with the others, he was marched
from the prison to the walls, and had exchanged a few words
with him. He had told him that he intended to escape, but
could not say when lie should tind an opportunity to do so;
but that if at any time a month passed without his seeing
him, Nessus would know that he had gone.

THE ESCAPE OF NESSUS.

377

The extra rigour with wUkh the prisoners were guarded
nad led Ncssus to suspect that a prisoner had escaped, and
a month having parsed without his seeing Malchus, he
determined on malving an attempt at Hig!it. So rigorous
was the watcii tiiat tliere was no possii)iiitv t)f this hring done
secretly, and, therefore, one (hiy when tlicy were employed
in repairing the foundations of the wail outside the city
Nessus seized the oi>p()rtuiu"ty, when tho attention of the
guards was for a mouient directed in another (piarter, to
start at the top of his speed. He had chosen tlie hottest
hour of tiie day for the attempt, when few people weie
about, and the peasants had left the fields for an hour's sleep
under the sha<le of trees.

The Koman guard had started in pursuit, but Xessus had
not overrated his powers. Gradually he left them behind
him, and, nuiking straight for the Tiber, i)lunged in and
swam the river. He had followed the right bank up to the
lulls, and on tho second evening after fitarting made his
app'^arance at Capua. Wliei^. he hear<l the plans of Malchus
he announced, as a matter of course, that he should accom-
pany him. Malchus i)ointed out that, with the rewards and
spoils he had obtained, he had now sufficient money to
become a man of importance among his own people. Nessus
quietly waived the remark aside as if it were wholly unworthy
of consideration.

The cavalry who were to accompany Malchus were light-
armed Numidians, whose speed would enable them to distance
any bodies of the enemy they might meet on their way.
With them were thirty led horses, some of them carrying a
large sum of money, which Hannibal had directed should be
paid to Malchus from the treasury, as his share, as an officer
of high rank, of the captured booty. The rest of the horses
were laden with costly arms, robes of honour, and money as

378

A LAST FAREWELU

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presents for the Gaulish cliicfs. These also were furnished
from the almndunt spoils which had fallen into the hands of
the Carthaginians.

Ilannihal directed Malchus that, in the event of his failing
in his mission, he was not to trouble to send these things
back, but was to retain them to win the triendship and good-
will of the chiefs of the country to which he proi)osed to
journey. The next morning Malchus took an allectionato
farewell of the general and his old comrades, and then, with
Clotilde riding by his side — for the women of the Gauls were
as well skilled as the men in the management of horses — he
started at the head of his party. He followed the route
marked out for him without an}' adventure of importance.
He had one or *.wo skirmishes with parties of tribesmen
allied with Rome, but .is movements were too rai)id for
any force sufHcient to oi)pose his passage being collected.

After ascending the sea-coast the troop skirted the northern
slopes of the Ai)ennines, passing close to the battle-tield of
Trebia, and crossing the i'o by a ford, ascended the banks
of the Orcus, and reached Clotilde's native village. A few
ruins alone marke<l wherc.it had stood. Malchus halted there
and despatched scouts far up the valley. These succeeded
in finding a native, who infoinied them that IJrunilda with
the remains of the tribe were living in the forests far up, on
the slopes. The scouts delivered to them the message with
which they w'ere charged: that Clotilde and Malchus, with a
Carthaginian force, were at Orca. The following evening
Brunilda and her followers came into camp.

Deep was the joy of the mother and daughter. The former
had long since given up all hope of ever hearing of Clotilde
again, and had devoted her life to vengeance on the Romans.
From her fastness in the mountain she had from time to
time led her followers down, and carried fire and sword over

■^H:

THE OAl'I-S DISIIEAUTKNED.

379

the fields and plantations of the Koman colonists, retiring
rapidly before the garrisons could sully from the towns and
fall upon her. Slie wis n-joiced to Hnd that her child had
found a husl)and and protector in the young Carthaginian,
still more rejoiced when she found that the litter had deter-
mined upon throwing in his lot with the (Jauls.

All that night mother and daughter sat talking over the
events which had h ppeued since they parted. Hrunilda
could give Midchus hut little encouragement for the mission
on which he had come. The legion of I'ostumius had indeed
l)een defeated and nearly destroyed in a rising wliich had
taken place early in the spring; but fresli troops had airived,
dissensions had, as usual, broken out among the chiefs, many
of them had again sul)niitted to the KouKins, and the rest had
been defeated and crusiied. I'>runildu tliou'jiht that there
was little hope at present of then' again taking uj) arms.

For some weeks Malchus attempted to carry out Hannibal's
instructions; he and his lieutenants, accompanied by small
parties of horse, rode through the country and visited all
the chiefs of Cisalpine (Jaul. but the spirit of the people
was broken. The successes they had gained had never been
more than partial, the Itoman garrison towns had always
defied all their eiiorts, and sooner or later tlie lioman legions
swept down across the Apennines and cairied all before them.

In vain Malchus told them of the victories that Hannibal
had won, that Southern Italy was in his hands, and the Roman
dominion tottering. In reply they pointed to the garrisons
and the legion, and said that, were Home in a sore strait, she
would recall her legion for her own defence, and no arguments
that Malchus could use could move them to lay aside their
own differences and to unite in another eflort for freedom.
AVinter was now at hand. Malchus remained in the moun.
tains with the Orcans until spring came, and then renewed

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380

IN TIIR OERMAN FORESTS.

Ills cfTorts with nr) greater success tlian before. Then lie
«lisiiiissc<l the Carthagiiiiaiis, witli a letter giving Hannibal
an account of all he hiid done, ami ba<le them find their way
back to Capua by the loail by which they had come.

lirunilda had joyfully agreed to his proposal that they
should cross the Al[)s and join her kir.snien in Germany, an«l
the remnant of the tribe willingly consented to accompany
them. Accordingly in the month of May tlicy set out, and
journeying north made tlieir way along the shore of the
lake now called the Lago di Guarda, and, crossing by the
pass of the Tientino, came down on the northern side of the
Alps, and, after journeying for some weeks among the great
forests which covered the country, reached the part inhabited
by the tribe of the Cherusci, to which Brunilda belonged.

Here they were hospitably receive«l. I'runilda's family
were among the noblest of the tribe, and the rich presents
which the aiiiido resources of Malchus enabled him to distri-
bute among all Mie chiefs, at once raised him to a position of
high rank and consideration among them. Although accept-
ing the life of barbarism Malchus was not prepared to give
up all the usages of civilization. He built a house, which,
although it would have been but a small structure in Car-
thage, was regarded with admiration and wonder by the
Gauls. Here he introduced the usages and customs of
civilization. The walls, indeed, instead of being hung with
silk and tajiestry, were coveretl with the skins of stags,
bears, and other animals slain in the chase; but these were
warmer and better suited for the rigour of the climate in
winter than silks would have been. The wealth, know-
ledge, and tact of Malchus gained him an immense influence
in the tribe, and in time he was elected the chief of that
portion of it dwelling near hiui. He did not succeed in
getting his followers to abandon their own modes of life, but

KfeWn fnoM ttALY.

len he
iimibal
jir way

it tliey
iiy, and
nnitany
ut, and
of the
by the
e of the
lie great
ihabited
)nged.
5 family
presents
to distii-
sition of
J accept-
to give
p, which,
in Car-
by tlje
Itonis of
ing with
fi stags,
;se were
Inate in
know-
hthience
I of that
Icced in
life, but

he introduced among them many of the customs of civiliza-
tion, and persuaded them to adopt the military formation in
use amonx the Cartliaiiinians. It was with some reluctance
that they submitted to this; but so com[)lL'te was the victory
which they obtained over a rival tribe, upon their Hrst en-
counter when led by Malchus and his able lieutenant Nessus,
that he had no ditliculty in future on this score.

The advantages, indeed, of fighting in solid formation,
instead of the irregular order in which each man fought for
himself, were so overwhelming, that the tribe rai)idly in-
creased in power ami importance, and became one of the
leading peoples in that part of Germany. Above all, Malchus
inculcated them with a deep hatred of Kome, and warned
them that when the time came, as it assuredly would do,
that the Romans would cross tlie Alps and attempt the con-
quest of the country, it behoved the (jerman tribes to lay
aside all their disputes and to join in a common resistance
against the enemy.

From time to time rumours, brought by parties of Cis-
alpine Gauls, who, like the Orcans, fled across the Alps to
escape the tyranny of Rome, reached Malchus. For years
the news came that no great battle had been fought, that
Hannibal was still in the south of Italy defying all the efforts
of the Romans to dislodge him.

It was not until the thirteenth year after Hannibal had
crossed the Alps that any considerable reinforcement was
sent to aid the Carthaginian general. Then his brother
Hasdrubal, having raised an army in Spain and Southern
Gaul, crossed the Alps to join him. But he was met, as he
marched south, by the consuls Livius and Nero with an army
greatly superior to his own, and was crushed by them on the
river Metaurus, the Spanish and Ligurian troops being anni-
hilated and Hasdrubal himself killed.

' • .1

r.:

•J

• i

M.-

;,^i;

382

THE END OF THE WAR.

For four years longer Hainiibal niaiiitainoj his position
in the south of Italy. No ussi.staiico whatever reached
hiia from Cartha;^'e, l)iit alone aim unaided ho carried on
the unc(|ual war with Home until, in 204 U.c, Scipio landed
witii a lioman force within a few miles of Carthago, cap-
tured Utica, d(!feated two Carthagijiian armies with great
slaughter, and blockaded Carthage. Then the city recalled
the general and the army whom they had so grossly neglected
and betrayed.

Hannil)al succeeded in safely embarking his army and in
sailing to Carthage; but so small was the remnant of the
force which remained to him, that when he attempted to
give battle to Scii»io he was defeated, and Carthage was
forced to make peace on terms which left her for the
future at the mercy of Kome. She was to give up all her
ships of war excei)t ten, and all her elephants, to restore all
Roman prisoners, to engage in no war out of Africa, and
none in Africa exce}>t with the consent of Rome, to restore to
Massinissa, a prince of Numidia who had joined Rome, his
kingtlom, to pay a contribution of twt) hundred talents a
year for fifty years, and to give a hundred hostages between
the ages of fourteen and thirty, to be selected by the Roman
general.

These terms left Carthage at the mercy of Rome, and
when the latter, confident in her power, entered upon the
third Punic war, the overthrow and the destruction of her
rival were a comparatively easy task for her. Hannibal
lived nineteen years .after his return to Carthage. For eight
years he strove to rectify the administration, to reform
abuses, and to raise and improve the state; but his exposure
of the gross abuses of the public service united against him
the faction which had so long profited by them, and, in B.C.
196, the great patriot and general was driven into exile.

THE FATK OF IIANNinAI^

383

lie thon ropairc*! to the court of Antioclms, Kin:^ of Syria,
wlio was at that time eii^'ai^cd in a war a^'ainst K'oiiie; but
tliat monarch would not follow tlio a<lvic(« he gave him, and
was in consequence defcati'd at Magnesia, and was forcetl
to sue for peace and to accept the terms the Romans imposed,
one of which was tha^ llaiinihal should bo delivered into
their han<ls.

IIainiil)al, being warned in time, left Syria and went to
liithynia. IJut Rome could not be easy so long as her great
enemy lived, and nnulo a demand uiton Trusjas, King of
IJithynia, for his surrender. lie was al)0ut to coniply with
the re(pU3st when Hannibal put an end to his life, dying
r.t the ago of sixty-four.

No rumour of this event ever reached ^^alcllus, but be
beard, fifteen years after he had passed into Germany, that
Hanniljal had at last retired from Italy, a!ul ba<l been
defeated at Zama, and that Carthage had been o])liged to
submit to conditions which placed her at the mercy of Komo.
iSIalchus rejoiced more than ever at the choice he had made.
His sons were now growing up, and he spared no etlorts to
instil in them a hatred and distrust of Rome, to teach them
the tactics of war, and to fill their minds with noble and
lofty thoughts.

Nessus had followed the example of his lord and had
married a Gaulish maiden, and ho was now a sub-chief in
tha tribe. Malchus and Clotilde lived to a great age, and
the former never once regretted the choice he had made.
From afar ho heard of the ever-growing power of Rome,
and warned his grandsons, as he had warned his sons, against
her, and begged them to impress upon their descendants in
turn the counsels he had given them. The injunction was
observed, and the time came when Arminius m direct de-
scendant of Malchus, then the leader of the Cherusci,

A bfeSdfeMbAMt bf MALC'iiCH.

: I KT

assembled the German tribes and fell uijon the legions of
Varus, inflicting upon them a defeat as crusiiing and terrible
as the Romans had ever suflfered at the hands of Hannibal
himself, and checking for once and all the ctlbrts of the
Romans to subdue the free people of Germany.

THE ENIX

1 1

;*i).5

! 'ii-

!TI

tlic legions of

; and terrible

of Hannibal

^ttorts of the