you also might die, and to your death, Hannibal, I cannot
be resigned. You should live long like a god. I knew that you sleep
alone in your tent; that, to better conceal your movements you keep no
guards to watch while you slumber, and I felt the need of doing
something for you, of spending the night leaning on my lance near your
couch to prevent the treachery of an enemy."

"What madness!" exclaimed the African, laughing.

"Hannibal," said the beautiful Amazon gravely, "remember Hasdrubal, the
husband of your sister. The dagger of a slave was enough to put an end
to him."

"Hasdrubal was doomed to die," said the chieftain, with the conviction
of fatalism. "The fate of Carthage demanded his death. It was necessary
that Hasdrubal should succumb to make way for Hannibal. But Hannibal has
no one to replace him, and he shall live even though he were to sleep
surrounded by enemies. My sleep is light and my arm is sure; he who
slips into the tent of Hannibal enters his tomb."

Asbyte contemplated with loving admiration the young hero, who had flung
down his bow, and while he spoke of his strength he raised his powerful
arms, and the moon enlarged their shadow in such wise that as they moved
he seemed to embrace the camp, the city, the whole valley, like a
supernatural being.

The Amazon drew near leaning her lance against the trunk of a tree. On
laying down her weapon she seemed to throw off her warlike mien, and she
approached Hannibal with feminine sweetness, gazing upon him with the
moist, timid eyes of the antelopes that frisk about the oases of her
native land.

"Besides," she murmured, "I came because I needed to be near you. To
guard your sleep gives me indescribable joy. I feel the delight of an
exalting sacrifice in keeping vigil over you when you know it not. I
never have an opportunity to speak with you. By day I see you on
horseback among the Carthaginians with their golden armor, who flock
around you; on foot directing those who push the engines of war, helping
them, often, to excite their enthusiasm; but I see you always from afar,
as a chieftain, as a hero, never as a man. Do you remember those days in
the citadel of New Carthage when I had just arrived from Africa with the
reinforcements which caused you to utter shouts of enthusiasm?"

"Asbyte! Asbyte!" murmured Hannibal, repelling her with a movement of
his arms, as if the recollection annoyed him.

"Do not be angry, Hannibal; listen to me. I must