est, we will choose some spot near its centre and
erect huts there. If it were not for the peasants we might live here
for years, for all the Roman forces in Sardinia would be insufficient to
rout us out of these mountains; but unfortunately, as we shall have to
rob the peasants, they will act as guides to the Romans, and we shall be
obliged to keep a sharp lookout against surprise. If it gets too hot for
us we must make a night march across the plain to the mountains on the
eastern side. I heard at Caralis that the wild part there is very much
larger than it is on this side of the island, and it extends without a
break from the port right up to the north of the island."

Safe as he felt from pursuit Malchus posted four men as sentries, and
the rest of the band lay down to sleep, rejoicing in the thought that on
the morrow they should not be wakened to take their share in the labours
in the mine.

At daybreak all were on the move, and a deep spot having been found
in the stream, they indulged in the luxury of a bath. That done they
started on the march further into the heart of the forest. The hills
were of great height, with bare crags often beetling up among the trees
hundreds of feet, with deep valleys and rugged precipices. In crossing
one of these valleys Nessus suddenly lifted his hand.

"What is it?" Malchus asked.

"I heard a pig grunt," Nessus replied, "on our right there."

Malchus at once divided the band in two and told them to proceed as
quietly as possible along the lower slopes of the hill, leaving a man at
every fifteen paces.

When all had been posted, the ends of the line were to descend until
they met in the middle of the valley, thus forming a circle. A shout
was to tell the rest that this was done, and then all were to move down
until they met in the centre. One officer went with each party, Malchus
remained at the spot where he was standing. In ten minutes the signal
was heard, and then all moved forward, shouting as they went, and
keeping a sharp lookout between the trees to see that nothing passed
them. As the narrowing circle issued into the open ground at the bottom
of the valley there was a general shout of delight, for, huddled down
by a stream, grunting and screaming with fright, was a herd of forty
or fifty pigs, with a peasant, who appeared stupefied with alarm at the
sudden uproar.

On seeing the men burst out with their levelled spears from the wood,
the Sard gave a scream of ter