is army outside the city.

"You find all this greatly changed, eh, Actaeon?"

"I see that your troops have not been idle while you were off punishing
the rebels in Celtiberia."

"Maherbal, my chief of cavalry, is an excellent aide. When I returned he
showed me two of the walls of Saguntum destroyed, and a part of the
city in our power. Do you see that citadel near the Acropolis, inside
the walled district? Well, that is ours. The catapults, which you can
see from here, shoot into Saguntum, which has become reduced to half its
former size--and they still dream of defending themselves! They still
hope for auxiliaries from Rome! Stubborn brutes! They have constructed a
line of walls for the third time, and thus they have gone on losing
ground and persisting in the defense until nothing is left to them but
the Forum, where I shall knife every man, woman, and child whom I find
alive--O, proud and indomitable city! I will make you my slave!"

The African turned to his old-time companion and changed the
conversation.

"Your eyes are opened at last, and you have come to me. Are you going to
follow me with enthusiasm? Will you join me in that series of
enterprises of which I spoke to you one day at sunrise here on this very
road? Perhaps you will become a king because of having followed
Hannibal, as did Ptolemy following Alexander. Are you resolved?"

Actaeon hesitated a moment before replying, and Hannibal read indecision
in his eyes--the desire to deceive.

"Do not lie, Greek; lies are for enemies, or for preserving life. I am
your friend, and I have promised to respect your safety. Can it be that
you do not mean to follow me?"

"Well, of a truth, I do not," said the Greek with resolution. "I wish to
return to the city, and if you truly have affection for the companion of
your youth, let me go."

"But you will perish inside that city! Do not expect mercy if we force
our entrance through the breach!"

"I shall die," said the Athenian simply, "but there, inside those walls,
are men who received me as a compatriot when I was wandering hungry over
the world; there is a woman who took me in when I was poor, and gave me
love and riches. They sent me to Rome that I might bring them a word of
hope, and I must return, even though it be only to give them sorrow and
pain. What does it matter if you set me free? To-morrow perhaps you can
kill me. I shall be one more mouth to feed, and surely hunger must reign
in Saguntum. Perh