lic affairs; but they
so represented the matter to the two Carthaginian commissioners with the
army, that these had written home to say, that having inquired into the
affair they found that beyond a boyish imprudence in accompanying Giscon
to the place where the conspirators met, Malchus was not to blame in the
matter.

The narrow escape that he had had was a lesson which was not lost upon
Malchus. Hamilcar lectured him sternly, and pointed out to him that the
affairs of nations were not to be settled by the efforts of a handful of
enthusiasts, but that grievances, however great, could only be righted
when the people at large were determined that a change should be made.

"There would be neither order nor stability in affairs, Malchus, if
parties of desperate men of one party or another were ever striving for
change, for revolution would be met by counter revolution. The affairs
of nations march slowly; sudden changes are ever to be deprecated. If
every clique of men who chance to be supported by a temporary wave of
public opinion, were to introduce organic changes, there would be no
stability in affairs. Capital would be alarmed; the rich and powerful,
seeing their possessions threatened and their privileges attacked by the
action of the demagogues of the hour, would do as did our forefathers of
Tyre, when the whole of the aristocracy emigrated in a body to Carthage,
and Tyre received a blow from which she has never recovered."

For some time after this event Malchus had felt that he was in disgrace,
but his steadiness and good conduct in the campaign, and the excellent
reports which his officers gave of him, had restored him to favour; and
indeed his father and Hannibal both felt that a lad might well be led
away by an earnest enthusiast like Giscon.

The hunting party took with them a hundred Iberian soldiers used to the
mountains, together with six peasants acquainted with the country and
accustomed to the chase. They took several carts laden with tents, wine,
and provisions. Four days' journey from Carthagena took the party into
the heart of the mountains, and here, in a sheltered valley through
which ran a stream, they formed their camp.

They had good sport. Sometimes with dogs they tracked the bears to their
lair, sometimes the soldiers made a wide sweep in the hills, and, having
inclosed a considerable tract of forest, moved forward, shouting and
clashing their arms until they drove the animals inclosed dow