phants, which
had landed in Bruttium and had safely joined the army; but this only
repaired a few of the many gaps made by the war, and was useless to
enable Hannibal to carry out his great purpose.

"Hanno's influence was too strong," Hannibal said, "and I foresee that
sooner or later the end must come. I may hold out for years here in
Southern Italy, but unless Carthage rises from her lethargy, I must
finally be overpowered."

"It seems to me," Malchus said, "that the only hope is in rousing the
Gauls to invade Italy from the north."

"I know nothing of what is passing there," Hannibal said; "but it is
clear from the disaster which has befallen our friends the Orcans that
the Romans are more than holding their own north of the Apennines.
Still, if a diversion could be made it would be useful. I suppose you
are desirous of taking your bride back to her tribe."

"Such is my wish, certainly," Malchus said. "As I have told you,
Hannibal, I have made up my mind never to return to Carthage. It is
hateful to me. Her tame submission to the intolerable tyranny of Hanno
and his faction, her sufferance of the corruption which reigns in every
department, her base ingratitude to you and the army which have done
and suffered so much, the lethargy which she betrays when dangers are
thickening and her fall and destruction are becoming more and more sure,
have sickened me of her. I have resolved, as I have told you, to cast
her off, and to live and die among the Gauls--a life rough and simple,
but at least free."

"But it seems that the Gauls have again been subjected to Rome,"
Hannibal said.

"On this side of the Alps," Malchus replied, "but beyond are great
tribes who have never as yet heard of Rome. It is to them that
Clotilde's mother belongs, and we have settled that we will first try
and find her mother and persuade her to go with us, and that if she
is dead we will journey alone until we join her tribe in Germany. But
before I go I will, if it be possible, try and rouse the Gauls to make
another effort for freedom by acting in concert, by driving out the
Romans and invading Italy. You will, I trust, Hannibal, not oppose my
plans."

"Assuredly not, Malchus; I sympathize with you, and were I younger
and without ties and responsibilities would fain do the same. It is a
sacrifice, no doubt, to give up civilization and to begin life anew,
but it is what our colonists are always doing. At any rate it is
freedom--freedom fro