yans or Numidians. Take your
friend Trebon as their commander and a companion for yourself."

In two hours Malchus and his escort were ready to start. As their
journey would be rapid they carried no stores with them, save three
days' provisions, which each man carried at his saddlebow, and a bag
containing a few feeds of corn for the horse. They took with them,
however, two baggage horses laden with arms, armour, garments, and other
presents for the chiefs.

They passed rapidly across the country, meeting with no hostile parties,
for the raids of Hannibal's light armed horse had so terrified
the people that the villages were for the most part deserted, the
inhabitants having sought refuge in the fortified towns. After two days'
brisk riding they arrived at the foot of the hills, and their progress
was now slower. The village of Ostragarth lay far up among them, and,
being ignorant of the direction, Malchus broke the troop up into parties
of four, and sent them up different valleys with orders to capture
the first native they came across, and oblige him either by threats or
promises to act as a guide to the stronghold of the chief.

"I sincerely trust that this barbarian is friendly, Malchus, for the
country looks wild and difficult in the extreme, and the forests which
clothe these hills are thick and tangled. On the plain we can laugh
at the natives, however numerous, and with twenty men I would charge a
thousand of them; but among these hills it is different, one cannot find
a level spot for a charge, and, if it comes to running, the mountaineers
are as fleet as a horse on the broken ground of their hills."

"I agree with you, Trebon, that it would go hard with us, and that the
utmost we could hope for would be a visit to Rome as captives. Still,
these chiefs all offered alliance to Hannibal as he went south, and the
success which has attended us should surely bind them to our interests.
They are ever willing to join the winning side, and so far fortune has
been wholly with us."

"That is so, Malchus, but then they see that the tribes of the plains
still hold aloof from us and pin their faith on Rome. They must know
that we are receiving no reinforcements to fill the gaps made in battle,
and may well fear to provoke the anger of Rome by taking part with us
before our success is, as they consider, absolutely secure."

"On the same grounds then, Trebon, they will be equally unwilling to
offend us by any hostility