covered a large portion of the mountain side, they were unable to tell;
nor, as not a single star could be seen, had they any indication of the
direction which they should take. Retiring then for some little distance
among the trees, they lay down and were soon asleep.

When the first dawn of day appeared they were on their way again, and
soon found that the trees under which they had slept formed part of the
forest. Through occasional openings, formed by trees which had fallen
from age or tempest, they obtained a view of the surrounding country,
and were enabled to form an idea where lay the camp which they had left
two days before.

They had not proceeded far when they heard in the distance behind them
the shouting of men and the barking of dogs, and knew that the
enemy were upon their track. They ran now at the top of their speed,
convinced, however, that the natives, who would have to follow the
track, could not travel as fast as they did. Suddenly Malchus stopped.

"Listen!" he said. They paused, and far down the hillside heard the
distant sound of a horn. "Those must be our men," Malchus exclaimed,
"they are searching for us still; Hannibal must have allowed them to
stay behind when the army proceeded on its way."

In another half hour the horn sounded close at hand and they were
speedily among a body of Malchus' own followers, who received them with
shouts of delight. The men were utterly worn out, for they had searched
continuously day and night from the time they had missed their leader,
sometimes high up among the hills, sometimes among the lower valleys.
The party which he met comprised but a fourth of the band, for they had
divided into four parties, the better to range the country.

They were now ascending the hills again at a distance of two miles
apart, and messengers were at once sent off to the other bodies to
inform them that Malchus had returned. Malchus quickly recounted to his
men the story of what had befallen them, and then bade them lie down to
rest while he and Nessus kept watch.

The natives who had been in pursuit did not make their appearance,
having doubtless heard the horn which told of the approach of a body of
the Carthaginians. In two hours the whole of the band were collected,
and after a few hours' halt, to enable the men to recover from their
long fatigue and sleeplessness, Malchus put himself at their head
and they marched away to join the main body of their army, which they