ly
as he used to drop down on the porticos of the Forum in the old days of
peace.

On the steps of the temple the Elders were stabbing themselves in their
breasts with a dagger. Before breathing his last, each passed the weapon
on to his nearest companion, and they died trying to maintain
themselves erect in their chairs of state. Groups of women caught up
torches lighted at the great fire, and scattered like furious bacchantes
throughout Saguntum, setting fire to doors, and flinging burning brands
upon the wooden roofs.

Suddenly from the direction of the citadel where the attacks of the
besiegers had been concentrated, arose an appalling commotion, as if
half a mountain had toppled over. The walls had been abandoned by the
defenders who had gathered in the Forum, and a tower which the
Carthaginians had undermined some days before had fallen. A cohort of
Hannibal's army, seeing the city destitute of the usual outposts and
guards, rushed through the breach, and made a signal for Hannibal to
enter with his hosts.

"Come on! come on!" shouted Sonnica with a hoarse voice. "This is our
last night! I will not die in the fire! I choose to die fighting! I want
blood!"

She flew from the Forum like a Fury, followed by Actaeon who ran beside
her calling her name, trying to gain a look from her. But the beautiful
Greek woman was insensible in her rage, as if she had at her side
someone she had never seen before. They were followed by a discordant
crowd, armed citizens, women brandishing knives and darts, naked youths
with no other defense than a spear. They poured out like a stampeded
herd, their bronze corselets and their helmets with broken crests
shimmering in the firelight, their weapons dyed in blood, and displaying
through the tatters of their clothing emaciated limbs which seemed to
dance in their loose skin, dried and wrinkled by hunger.

They passed out of Saguntum on the lower side, marching in the glare of
the burning city straight upon the camp of the besieger.

A cohort of Celtiberians hurrying toward Saguntum was routed, put in
disorder, harried by this troop of desperate beings who ran with lowered
head, striking blindly at everything before them. Farther on they
encountered other troops who advanced in battle form to meet the sally,
and they collided with the line of shields, unable to stand in a
struggle hand to hand.

The Saguntines, debilitated by the long siege, their strength exhausted
by hunger and