tensive, and the ships which were to convey the
expedition lay in deep water by the quays, so that the troops could
march on board. A great crowd of the populace had assembled to view the
embarkation. These were with difficulty kept from crowding the troops
and impeding their movement by a cordon of soldiers.

As the troops marched on to the quay they were formed up in parties by
the side of the ships which were to convey them. Very different was the
demeanour of the men of the different nationalities. The Libyans were
stern and silent, they were part of the contingent which their state
was bound to furnish to Carthage, and went unwillingly, cursing in their
hearts the power which tore them from their homes to fight in a war in
which they had neither concern nor interest.

Near them were a body of Garamantes, wrapped in the long bernous which
then as now was the garb of the children of the desert. Tall, swarthy
figures these, lissome and agile, with every muscle standing out clear
through the brown skin. Strange as must have been the scene to them,
there was no wonder expressed in the keen glances which they shot around
them from underneath their dark eyebrows. Silent and taciturn, scarce
a word was to be heard among them as they stood awaiting the orders to
embark; they were there unwillingly, and their hearts were far away in
the distant desert, but none the less would they be willing to fight
when the time came. Terrible foes these would be in a night attack,
with their stealthy tiger-like tread, their gleaming, vengeful eyes, and
their cruel mouths.

Very different were the band of Ethiopians from the distant Soudan, with
their cloaks of lion skin, and the gaudy feathers fastened in a fillet
round their heads. Their black faces were alive with merriment and
wonder--everything was new and extraordinary to them. The sea,
the ships, the mighty city, the gathered crowd, all excited their
astonishment, and their white teeth glistened as they chatted
incessantly with a very babel of laughter and noise.

Not less light hearted were the chosen band of young nobles grouped by
the general's ship. Their horses were held in ranks behind them for the
last time by their slaves, for in future they would have to attend to
them themselves, and as they gathered in groups they laughed and jested
over the last scandal in Carthage, the play which had been produced the
night before at the theatre, or the horse race which was to be run