ea you will see, together with the daughters of the Hellenic
merchants, those of the citizens who cultivate the earth and who dress
in coarse cloth and let their beards grow to more closely resemble the
tribes of the interior."

"Yes, but the Greeks dominate everywhere, they are masters of
everything, they have taken possession of the life of the city."

"They are the wisest, the bravest; they have something almost divine
about them," said the shoemaker sententiously. "See if that is not true
of the one who is following us. He is poorly dressed; perhaps he has not
an obolus in his pocket for supper; perhaps he will sleep beneath the
open sky, and yet, it seems as if Zeus had come down from the heavens in
disguise to visit us."

The two artisans turned their gaze instinctively to look at the Greek,
and continued on their way. They had arrived near the huts which formed
an animated town around the port.

"There is another reason," said the leather-worker, "for the war which
divides us. It is not only the hatred between Greeks and Iberians, it is
because some want us to be friends of Rome and others of Carthage."

"We should not affiliate with either," said the shoemaker tersely.
"Tranquilly carrying on our commerce as in other times is the way in
which we should prosper best. I reproach the Greeks of Saguntum for
having allied us with Rome."

"Rome is the conqueror."

"Yes, but Rome is very far away, and the Carthaginians are almost at our
doors. Troops from New Carthage can come here by a few days' journey."

"Rome is our ally and she will protect us. Her legates, who leave
to-morrow, have put an end to our strifes, beheading the citizens who
disturbed the peace of the city."

"Yes, but those citizens were friends of Carthage and old-time proteges
of Hamilcar. Hannibal will not easily forget his father's friends."

"Bah! Carthage wants peace and wide commerce to enrich herself. Since
her defeat in Sicily she fears Rome."

"The senators may be afraid, but Hamilcar's son is very young, and, for
my part, I am afraid of these boys converted into chiefs, who forget
wine and love to dream only of glory."

The Greek could hear no more. The two artisans had disappeared among
the huts, and the echo of their argument was lost in the distance.

The stranger was alone in the unfamiliar port. The wharves were
deserted; lights began to glisten on the poops of the ships, and in the
distance, over the waters of the bay, r