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THE YOUNG CARTHAGINIAN, ^=5fflgF^ — ""r^^trfe^fe 88» MALCHUS BROUGHT BEFORE THE ROMAN GENERAL. ■■^ i BJHB^fe^'S*';,^ v^^m' i I 1 1 - i I « I 'i ' i i ■Tu.«^J ■*^~«Arf*' »il I ■ ■«■■■ I I MII . ,•■1.* L' . ! iix ■ iV^,> '.'k/vSKAL- T[TK YOUNG CAKTllAlilMAN A st()i;y of THK TIMKS OF HANNIBAL. HY (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. H777/ 7 H /■;/,!>; iri.LI'MiK lU.r>TRMlOS'S UV V. J »TAMLAM>, U.I. 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. n 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 t 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 „^_,_::^.^ 12 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. Ik 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, 14 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. 1 M a tnisi IMrATIENCE. 15 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 ;f " 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 u 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 i PRUDENT ADVICtt 17 )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 \] ' 18 THE (JOVERNMENT Of CAUTHAGE. i^ self down on liis couch, anil for a time forgot even the ap- proaching lion hunt in thelow 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. 19 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 4 sea to be wrested from her by her wiser and more far- seeinj' rival. ;: I >: j d l^ii V 20 THE EXPiEDITION. 11 K, 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. 21 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 in 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 2^ 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. ii ' 24 "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. $4 f THE UONS. as 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? 26 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 HH ^BBfl IRHHHMHHH n m^B&Ms&F'^^^^'Z^.::i^^^ HHHT?? -^s llJiiiH 1 p 1 ' _d ^^BoEBSSBr'M /Vnntm^^^^ 1 sBid UHKE^II^ H^B i^^mmnyjn ^*^^^fflif wmm l^jjiTLwa n^ i '"'^tijlft "Tr^S^rf^^i J /^'^^HBH ^HS^s -^ 1™ l^^^^cl ■m y^L^^' »yi Iw^ H H^^MS| M'^ IjS^^^^^S&^.lMr Slv j^^ ^^^^^^^sMti^ 2^y! mBwMB itH^^^ ^B n ^ 3» MALCHUS AT THE LION HUNT. AT BAY. 27 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." 23 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 haroached 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 10 A NIGHT SURPRISE. M 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. 31 ch had ho bar- id lou' II 32 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- M '■% I 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. 33 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 34 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 46 MOTHER AND SISTERS. i m m 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- I MALCHUS TAKEN DOWN. 47 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 : ! ,1, ' , 1 (339) D 1 '■! 50 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. 61 trade were the Roman galleys cruising in our bay. Point out tliat our conquests in Spain have alreai 56 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. 67 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!" i 'if 58 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. 69 lieaded by the butclicrs and tanners, an important and iiouerful boi)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. 63 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, t 1 ' *' "\ I \ I '< Isl U « .1: ii a LovkR^. Wi i m jiiiiH j 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.** 65 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) £ tm \\ I i (lili 66 HAN NO AT WORK. ■■.■ -t T' ; 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 (' , A SECRET TERROR. 67 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 ii i |j H '•.' ' i I ;■ (18 caLcon MunbKUEt). m i "i 1 m 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 bitng the working-classes, and unless they are put a stop to we can no longer expect assist£^nce from them, otscon's speech. 73 "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 I I ' if ' 1 ' I r^f i 74 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. 75 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 il i 4 I": I V'f ■ ■ I 76 "WHERE ARE YOU 001X0^* II 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. }l r le P I Ir 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 i^i hI m '1 m\ m *l ii ': I ;'; 78 (( IT WERE BETTER SO. II 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. 79 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 'i ;| * M I i 80 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. II 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 M l^'l ii^ 82 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. m 111 IS 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 •ill 111 |i 1 1 01 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-» 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 'I Mi IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I I^|2j8 |Z5 ut iU |2.2 1.25 III 1.4 1 1.6 .< 6" - ► Photographic Sciences Corporation N55 i^\ iV \ \ .V 23 WIST MAIN STREIT WMSTH.N.Y. MSSO (716)873-4503 . ^^" "-^ \ 86 A LEADER OF MEN. II |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. ST 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 < i'l i->l CIIAPTETl VI. A CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN. if i 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 1 A CAMPAIGN IN PROSPECT. 89 I 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 \\\ 1 I m r:i i>.i' i m. m II I '- r - 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. 91 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. i ;M 92 A BIVOUAa i 11 It 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 mi A HARD COUCH. 93 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 haing- 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^ N I- 1 ^ ■ iii 94 WOLVES. I ■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, abounert." "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- ir 1 ^!l 1 '! 1 1 1 ll \ 96 A DIFFICULT MARCH. I 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