to fall an easy prey to Rome.

"The end probably will not come in my time, it may come in yours, but
come it certainly and surely will. A nation which can place a mere
handful of its own citizens in the line of battle voluntarily dooms
herself to destruction."

"Whether it comes in my time or not," Malchus said, "I will be no sharer
in the fate of Carthage. I have done with her; and if I do not fall in
the battlefield I will, when the war is over, seek a refuge among the
Gauls, where, if the life is rough, it is at least free and independent,
where courage and manliness and honour count for much, and where the
enervating influence of wealth is as yet unknown. Such is my firm
resolution."

"I say nothing to dissuade you, Malchus," the old man replied, "such are
the natural sentiments of your age; and methinks, were my own time to
come over again, I too would choose such a life in preference to an
existence in the polluted atmosphere of ungrateful Carthage. And now,
will you stop here with me, or will you return to the place where you
are staying? I need not say how gladly I would have you here, but
I cannot answer certainly for your safety. Every movement of those
belonging to our party is watched by Hanno, and I doubt not that he has
his spies among my slaves and servants.

"Therefore deem me not inhospitable if I say that it were better for you
to remain in hiding where you are. Let your follower come nightly to me
for instructions; let him enter the gate and remain in the garden near
it. I will come down and see him; his visits, were they known, would
excite suspicion. Bid him on his return watch closely to see that he is
not followed, and tell him to go by devious windings and to mix in the
thickest crowds in order to throw any one who may be following off his
track before he rejoins you. I trust to be able to arrange for a ship
in the course of three or four days. Come again and see me before you
leave. Here is a bag of gold; you will need it to reward those who have
assisted in your escape."

Malchus at once agreed that it would be better for him to return to his
abode among the Arabs, and thanking Manon for his kindness he returned
with Nessus, who had been waiting without.

As they walked along Malchus briefly related to his follower the
substance of his interview with Manon. Suddenly Nessus stopped and
listened, and then resumed his walk.

"I think we are followed, my lord," he said, "one of Hanno's spi