numbers of bats could be seen flying up from the
openings to the reservoirs to seek food without, returning to their
hiding places when morning approached.

Malchus amused himself by thinking over the fury and astonishment of
Hanno and his colleagues on hearing that their prisoner had disappeared,
and he pictured to himself the hot search which was no doubt going on
throughout the citadel. He thought it improbable in the extreme that any
search would be made in the reservoir. Nessus would refasten the gate
after passing through it again, and the idea that he could be floating
on the subterranean lake could hardly occur to them.

Then he turned over in his mind the various devices by which it might
be possible to get beyond the walls of the citadel. The anxiety of
Hanno and those acting with him to prevent the manner in which they had
kidnapped and sentenced to death the messenger and kinsman of Hannibal
from becoming known in the city, would be so great that extraordinary
vigilance would be used to prevent any from leaving the citadel. The
guards on the walls would be greatly increased; none would be allowed to
pass the gate without the most rigourous examination; while every nook
and corner of the citadel, the temples, the barracks, storehouses, and
stables, would be searched again and again. Even should a search be made
in the reservoir, Malchus had little fear of discovery; for even should
a boat come towards the spot where he was lying, he would only have
to pass the raft round to the opposite side of the great pillar, some
twelve feet square, against which he was lying.

When the light faded out he again lay down to sleep. As before, he slept
soundly; for, however great the heat above, the air in the subterranean
chambers was always fresh and cool, and he could well bear the rugs
which Nessus had provided. The next day passed more slowly, for he had
less to think about. After the daylight had again faded he began to look
forward expectantly for the signal, although he knew that many hours
must still elapse before Nessus would be able to make his way to the
place of meeting.

So slowly did the hours pass, indeed, that he began at last to fear that
something must have happened--perhaps that Nessus had been in some way
recognized, and was now in the dungeons below the temple of Moloch.
At last, however, to his joy Malchus saw the distant light; it burned
steadily, and he at once set out to paddle towards it. He did