m the corruption, the intrigue, the sloth, and the
littleness of a decaying power like that of Carthage. You will be happy
at least in having your wife with you, while the gods only know when I
shall see the face of my beloved Imilce.

"Yes, Malchus, follow your own devices. Carthage, when she flung you
in prison and would have put you to a disgraceful death, forfeited all
further claim upon you. You have rendered her great services, you have
risked your life over and over again in her cause, you have repaid
tenfold the debt which you incurred when she gave you birth. You are
free now to carry your sword where you will. I shall deeply regret your
loss, but your father has gone and many another true friend of mine,
and it is but one more in the list of those I have lost. Follow your
own wishes, and live in that freedom which you will never attain in the
service of Carthage."

The next day the marriage of Malchus and Clotilde took place. Hannibal
himself joined their hands and prayed the gods to bless their
union. Three weeks later Hannibal arranged that a body of a hundred
Carthaginian horse should accompany Malchus to the north, where he would
endeavour to raise the Gaulish tribes. They were to cross into Apulia,
to travel up the east coast until past the ranges of the Apennines,
and then make their way across the plains to the Alps. A dozen officers
accompanied him; these were to aid him in his negotiations with
the chiefs, and in organizing the new forces, should his efforts be
successful.

To the great joy of Malchus, on the very evening before he started
Nessus arrived in the camp. He had, when Malchus was at Rome, been
employed with the other Carthaginian soldiers on the fortifications.
Malchus had once or twice seen him as, with the others, he was marched
from the prison to the walls, and had exchanged a few words with him.
He had told him that he intended to escape, but could not say when he
should find an opportunity to do so; but that if at any time a month
passed without his seeing him, Nessus would know that he had gone.

The extra rigour with which the prisoners were guarded had led Nessus to
suspect that a prisoner had escaped, and a month having passed without
his seeing Malchus, he determined on making an attempt at flight. So
rigourous was the watch that there was no possibility of this being done
secretly, and, therefore, one day when they were employed in repairing
the foundations of the wall outsi