ey found twenty Roman soldiers under an officer. The latter saluted
Malchus, and informed him that his orders were to escort them to the
port, and to see that they suffered no molestation or interference at
the hands of the natives on their march. Two days' journey took them to
Caralis, and in good order and with proud bearing they marched through
the Roman soldiers, who assembled in the streets to view so strange a
spectacle. Arrived at the port they embarked on board the ship prepared
for them, and there piled their arms on deck. A Roman officer received
them, and handed over, in accordance with the terms of the agreement,
the whole of the clothing and armour of which they had been deprived.
A guard of soldiers then marched on board, and an hour later the sails
were hoisted and the vessel started for her destination.

Anxiously Malchus and his companions gazed round the horizon in hopes
that some galleys of Capua or Carthage might appear in sight, although
indeed they had but small hopes of seeing them, for no Carthaginian ship
would be likely to be found so near the coast of Italy, except indeed if
bound with arms for the use of the insurgents in the northern mountains
of Sardinia. However, no sail appeared in sight until the ship entered
the mouth of the Tiber. As they ascended the river, and the walls and
towers of Rome were seen in the distance, the prisoners forgot their own
position in the interest excited by the appearance of the great rival of
Carthage.

At that time Rome possessed but little of the magnificence which
distinguished her buildings in the days of the emperors. Everything was
massive and plain, with but slight attempt at architectural adornment.
The temples of the gods rose in stately majesty above the mass of
buildings, but even these were far inferior in size and beauty to those
of Carthage, while the size of the city was small indeed in comparison
to the wide spreading extent of its African rival.

The vessel anchored in the stream until the officer in command landed
to report his arrival with the prisoners and to receive instructions.
An hour later he returned, the prisoners were landed and received by a
strong guard of spearmen at the water gate. The news had spread rapidly
through the city. A crowd of people thronged the streets, while at the
windows and on the roofs were gathered numbers of ladies of the upper
classes. A party of soldiers led the way, pushing back the crowd as they
advanc