ing them, and they were at once rowed to the ship, which
was lying at anchor half a mile from the shore in readiness for an early
start in the morning.

Although it seemed next to impossible that they could have been traced,
Malchus walked the deck restlessly until the morning, listening to every
sound, and it was not until the anchor was weighed, the sails hoisted,
and the vessel began to draw away from Carthage that he went into his
cabin. On the sixth day after leaving Carthage the ship entered the port
of Corinth.

There were several vessels there from Italian ports, but before
proceeding to arrange for a passage Malchus went to a shop and bought,
for himself and Nessus, such clothing and arms as would enable them to
pass without difficulty as fighting men belonging to one of the Latin
tribes. Then he made inquiries on the quay, and, finding that a small
Italian craft was to start that afternoon for Brundusium, he went on
board and accosted the captain.

"We want to cross to Italy," he said, "but we have our reasons for not
wishing to land at Brundusium, and would fain be put ashore at some
distance from the town. We are ready, of course, to pay extra for the
trouble."

The request did not seem strange to the captain. Malchus had spoken in
Greek, the language with which all who traded on the Mediterranean were
familiar. He supposed that they had in some way embroiled themselves
with the authorities at Brundusium, and had fled for awhile until the
matter blew over, and that they were now anxious to return to their
homes without passing through the town. He asked rather a high price for
putting them ashore in a boat as they wished, and Malchus haggled over
the sum for a considerable time, as a readiness to pay an exorbitant
price might have given rise to doubts in the captain's mind as to the
quality of his passengers. Once or twice he made as if he would go
ashore, and the captain at last abated his demands to a reasonable sum.

When this was settled Malchus went no more ashore, but remained on board
until the vessel sailed, as he feared that he might again be recognized
by some of the sailors of the Carthaginian vessels in port. The weather
was fair and the wind light, and on the second day after sailing
the vessel lay to in a bay a few miles from Brundusium. The boat was
lowered, and Malchus and his companions set on shore.

They had before embarking laid in a store of provisions not only for
a voyage, but f