arrive and crush the besiegers at a blow. Some, in their
enthusiastic optimism, inclined to the marvelous, believing that, by a
miracle of the gods, the great deed would happen within a few hours, and
that as soon as day should dawn, at the very instant when Hannibal's
army had begun to invest Saguntum, a countless galaxy of sails would
appear on the blue of the Sucronian gulf--the fleet convoying the
invincible veterans of Rome.

Nearly the entire city was on the walls. The multitude crowded upon them
until many had to catch hold of the merlons to keep from falling.

Outside the ramparts darkness reigned absolute. The frogs that inhabited
the pools along the river were hushed as if terrified; the dogs that
wandered vagabond through the champaign barked ceaselessly; they sensed
the presence of hidden beings moving in the shadows surrounding the
city.

Obscurity augmented the anxious uncertainty of the watchers on the
walls. Suddenly a point of light pierced the darkness of the plain;
another and then another flash, in different places at a distance from
the city. They were torches guiding the steps of the approaching army.
Before the ruddy spot of light silhouettes of men and horses were seen
to pass. Far off on the hilltops gleamed bonfires, serving as signals to
straggling troops.

These lights exasperated the more impatient. Some of the younger men
could no longer remain inactive, and drawing their bows, began to shoot
their arrows. Promptly came response from out the darkness. A whistling
passed over the heads of the crowd, and from the houses near the wall
some tiles flew off with a crash. Sling-shots from the enemy!

Thus the night passed. When the cocks crowed announcing dawn a great
part of the multitude had fallen asleep, wearied with straining their
eyes into the darkness where buzzed the invisible foe.

When the sun rose the Saguntines saw Hannibal's entire army before their
walls, on the side toward the river. Actaeon, as he noted the location of
the troops, could not repress a smile.

"He well knows the lay of the land. His visit to the city has stood him
in good stead. Even in the dark he has chosen the only point from which
Saguntum can be attacked."

The whole side of the mountain was free of besiegers. His army had
encamped between the river and the lower part of the city, occupying the
orchards, the gardens of the villas, the beautiful section of which the
rich of Saguntum were so proud.

S