the facilities for commerce, the fertile country stretching away on
either hand; give her but a government strong, capable, and honest, a
people patriotic, brave, and devoted, and Carthage would long remain the
mistress of the world."

"Surely she may yet remain so," Adherbal exclaimed.

"I fear not," Hamilcar said gravely, shaking his head. "It seems to be
the fate of all nations, that as they grow in wealth so they lose their
manly virtues. With wealth comes corruption, indolence, a reluctance
to make sacrifices, and a weakening of the feeling of patriotism. Power
falls into the hands of the ignorant many. Instead of the destinies of
the country being swayed by the wisest and best, a fickle multitude,
swayed by interested demagogues, assumes the direction of affairs, and
the result is inevitable--wasted powers, gross mismanagement, final
ruin."

So saying Hamilcar set his horse in motion and, followed silently by
his companions, rode with a gloomy countenance after his little columns
towards the capital.

CHAPTER III: CARTHAGE

Carthage was at that time divided between two factions, the one led by
the relatives and friends of the great Hamilcar Barca and known as the
Barcine party. The other was led by Hanno, surnamed the Rich. This man
had been the rival of Hamilcar, and the victories and successes of the
latter had been neutralized by the losses and defeats entailed upon
the republic by the incapacity of the former. Hanno, however, had the
support of the greater part of the senate, of the judges, and of the
lower class, which he attached to himself by a lavish distribution of
his vast wealth, or by the common tie of wholesale corruption.

The Barcine party were very inferior in numbers, but they comprised
among them the energy, the military genius, and the patriotism of the
community. They advocated sweeping reforms, the purification of the
public service, the suppression of the corruption which was rampant in
every department, the fair administration of justice, the suppression of
the tyranny of the committee, the vigourous prosecution of the struggle
with Rome. They would have attached to Carthage the but half subdued
nations round her who now groaned under her yoke, ground down to the
dust by the enormous tribute necessitated by the extravagance of the
administration of the state, the corruption and wholesale peculation of
its officials.

Hamilcar Barca had been the founder of the party; in his abse