opted the line which he lays down as that followed
by Hannibal.

In regard to the general history of the expedition, and of the manners,
customs, religion, and politics of Carthage, I have followed M.
Hennebert in his most exhaustive and important work on the subject. I
think that when you have read to the end you will perceive that although
our sympathies may remain with Hannibal and the Carthaginians, it was
nevertheless for the good of the world that Rome was the conqueror in
the great struggle for empire. At the time the war began Carthage was
already corrupt to the core, and although she might have enslaved many
nations she would never have civilized them. Rome gave free institutions
to the people she conquered, she subdued but she never enslaved them,
but rather strove to plant her civilization among them and to raise them
to her own level. Carthage, on the contrary, was from the first a cruel
mistress to the people she conquered. Consequently while all the peoples
of Italy rallied round Rome in the days of her distress, the tribes
subject to Carthage rose in insurrection against her as soon as the
presence of a Roman army gave them a hope of escape from their bondage.

Had Carthage conquered Rome in the struggle she could never have
extended her power over the known world as Rome afterwards did, but
would have fallen to pieces again from the weakness of her institutions
and the corruption of her people. Thus then, although we may feel
sympathy for the failure and fate of the noble and chivalrous Hannibal
himself, we cannot regret that Rome came out conqueror in the strife,
and was left free to carry out her great work of civilization.

Yours sincerely,

G. A. Henty

CHAPTER I: THE CAMP IN THE DESERT

It is afternoon, but the sun's rays still pour down with great power
upon rock and sand. How great the heat has been at midday may be seen
by the quivering of the air as it rises from the ground and blurs all
distant objects. It is seen, too, in the attitudes and appearance of a
large body of soldiers encamped in a grove. Their arms are thrown aside,
the greater portion of their clothing has been dispensed with. Some
lie stretched on the ground in slumber, their faces protected from any
chance rays which may find their way through the foliage above by little
shelters composed of their clothing hung on two bows or javelins. Some,
lately awakened, are sitting up or leaning against the trunks of the
trees,