he crew of the Roman ship beheld great troops of horsemen galloping
along the beach. They were squadrons of Numidians and Mauritanians,
waving their lances and uttering war cries as when charging in battle.

One horseman, with bronze armor and uncovered head, had called to them
to heave to. Advancing alone, he urged his horse into the channel,
approaching the ship until the waters rose to the animal's belly.

Actaeon recognized him.

"That is Hannibal," he said to the two legates standing beside him on
the poop, who were watching with astonishment the bellicose character of
their reception before they had even cast anchor in the port of
Saguntum.

Fresh squadrons continued to arrive, as if the news of the coming ship
had spread alarm through the camp, attracting all the troops to the
port. Behind the cavalry came the fierce Celtiberians at full speed, the
Balearic slingers, all the foot-soldiers, of diverse races who figured
in the besieging army.

Hannibal, even at the risk of drowning, pressed his horse forward into
the waters of the channel to make himself heard on the ship, and
ordering them to stop he held up his hand so imperiously that in an
instant the oars dropped motionless along the hull.

"Who are you? What do you want?" he asked in Greek.

Actaeon interpreted between the Romans and the Carthaginian chief.

"They are legates from Rome, coming to see you in the name of the
Republic."

"Who are you, speaking to me in a voice that I seem to know?"

He shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked keenly until he recognized
the Greek.

"Is it you, Actaeon? Always you, restless Athenian! I thought you were
within the city, yet you have managed to slip away to bring these men to
me. Well and good! Tell them it is too late. Why waste words? A
chieftain who lays siege to a city only receives ambassadors after he is
inside the walls."

The Greek repeated Hannibal's words to the Romans, translating their
replies.

"Listen, African!" said Actaeon to Hannibal. "The envoys from Rome remind
you of the friendship which they have contracted with Saguntum. In the
name of the Senate and the Roman people they call upon you to raise the
siege and to respect the city."

"Tell them that Saguntum has offended me, and that she was first in
declaring war by sacrificing my friends and by refusing to respect my
allies, the Turdetani."

"That is not true, Hannibal."

"Greek, repeat what I say to the Romans."

"The le