as large,
a great many men having come in since Trebon had last issued out. The
attack was a determined one. Those next to the horsemen hewed at them
with axes, those further back hurled darts and javelins, while others
crept in among the horses and stabbed them from beneath with their long
knives.

"We must get out of this or we are lost," Trebon exclaimed, and,
encouraging the men with his shouts, he strove to hew a way through the
crowd to the gate, while Malchus faced some of the men round and covered
the rear. Several of the Carthaginians were already dismounted, owing to
their horses being slain, and some of them were despatched before they
could gain their feet. Malchus shouted to the others to leap up behind
their comrades.

By dint of desperate efforts Trebon and the soldiers with him cleared
the way to the gate, but those behind were so hampered by the enemy that
they were unable to follow. The natives clung to their legs and strove
to pull them off their horses, while a storm of blows was hurled upon
them. Trebon, seeing the danger of those behind, had turned, and in vain
tried to cut his way back to them; but the number of the natives was too
great. Malchus seeing this shouted at the top of his voice:

"Fly, Trebon, you cannot help us, save those you can." Seeing that he
could render his friend no assistance, Trebon turned round and galloped
off with nine of the soldiers who had made their way with him to the
gate. Five had already fallen, and Malchus shouted to the other six to
throw down their arms and yield themselves as prisoners. This they did,
but two of them were killed before the villagers perceived they had
surrendered.

Malchus and the others were dragged from their horses, bound hand and
foot, and thrown into one of the huts. The natives shouted in triumph,
and yells of delight arose as the packages borne by the baggage animals
were examined, and the variety of rich presents, intended for the
various chiefs, divided among them.

Most of the captives were more or less severely wounded, and some of
the natives presently came into the hut and examined and bound up the
wounds.

"Keep up your spirits," Malchus said cheerfully, "it is evident they
don't intend to kill us. No doubt they are going to send us prisoners to
the Romans, and in that case we shall be exchanged sooner or later. At
any rate the Romans would not dare ill treat us, for Hannibal holds more
than a hundred prisoners in his han