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such presents as you may choose for him and the others. You can promise

them large grants of the land of the tribes aiding the Romans, together

with a share in the plunder of the cities. I leave you quite free. In

those respects you will be guided by what you see they want; but any

promises you may make I will ratify. As to men I should not take a large

escort. Force will, of course, be of no avail, and the appearance of

a large number of troops might alarm them at once. Twenty men will be

sufficient for dignity, and as a protection against any small bodies of

the hostile tribesmen you may meet on your way; but have no frays if you

can avoid it. The mission is an important one, and its success

should not be risked merely to defeat a body of tribesmen. Go in your

handsomest armour, and make as brave a show as you can, as my ambassador

and kinsman. Take twenty of the Carthaginian horse; they will impose

more upon the barbarians than would the Libyans or Numidians. Take your

friend Trebon as their commander and a companion for yourself."

In two hours Malchus and his escort were ready to start. As their

journey would be rapid they carried no stores with them, save three

days' provisions, which each man carried at his saddlebow, and a bag

containing a few feeds of corn for the horse. They took with them,

however, two baggage horses laden with arms, armour, garments, and other

presents for the chiefs.

They passed rapidly across the country, meeting with no hostile parties,

for the raids of Hannibal's light armed horse had so terrified

the people that the villages were for the most part deserted, the

inhabitants having sought refuge in the fortified towns. After two days'

brisk riding they arrived at the foot of the hills, and their progress

was now slower. The village of Ostragarth lay far up among them, and,

being ignorant of the direction, Malchus broke the troop up into parties

of four, and sent them up different valleys with orders to capture

the first native they came across, and oblige him either by threats or

promises to act as a guide to the stronghold of the chief.

"I sincerely trust that this barbarian is friendly, Malchus, for the

country looks wild and difficult in the extreme, and the forests which

clothe these hills are thick and tangled. On the plain we can laugh

at the natives, however numerous, and with twenty men I would charge a

thousand of them; but among these hills it is different, one cannot find

a level spot for a charge, and, if it comes to running, the mountaineers

are as fleet as a horse on the broken ground of their hills."

"I agree with you, Trebon, that it would go hard with us, and that the

utmost we could hope for would be a visit to Rome as captives. Still,

these chiefs all offered alliance to Hannibal as he went south, and the

success which has attended us should surely bind them to our interests.

They are ever willing to join the winning side, and so far fortune has

been wholly with us."

"That is so, Malchus, but then they see that the tribes of the plains

still hold aloof from us and pin their faith on Rome. They must know

that we are receiving no reinforcements to fill the gaps made in battle,

and may well fear to provoke the anger of Rome by taking part with us

before our success is, as they consider, absolutely secure."

"On the same grounds then, Trebon, they will be equally unwilling to

offend us by any hostility until the scale is decidedly weighed down

against us. Hannibal's anger might be as terrible as that of the

Romans."

"There is something in that, Malchus, but not so much as you think. If

Rome wins, Rome will have ample time and ample power, with the aid of

all her native allies, to punish any who may have declared against

her. On the other hand, should Carthage triumph, they may consider it

probable that we should sack and burn Rome and then retire, or that if

we remain there will be so much to arrange, so many tribes in the plains

to subjugate and pacify, that we shall be little likely to undertake

expeditions in the mountains. Therefore, you see, prudent men would

decide for Rome. Could we have marched straight on after the victory at

Lake Trasimene and have captured Rome, all these mountain tribes would

have taken the opportunity to pour down into the plains to plunder and

slay under the pretence of being our allies."

It was not until nightfall that the five parties returned to the spot

where they had left their leaders. Three of them had been entirely

unsuccessful, but the other two had each brought in a native. These men

looked sullen and obstinate, and it was not until Malchus had ordered a

halter to be placed round their necks and threatened them with instant

death that they consented to act as guides.

A vigilant watch was kept over them all night, and at daybreak next

morning the party started. For some miles they rode along at the foot

of the mountains, and then entered a valley up which a little used track

ran. The men upon being questioned intimated that it was several hours'

journey to the village of the chief of whom they were in search.

This, indeed, proved to be the case, for it was not till the afternoon,

after many hours' weary journey up gorges and through mountain valleys,

that they arrived within sight of the village of Ostragarth. It was

situated on one side of the valley, and consisted of huts surrounded

by a rough stone wall of such height that only the tops of the circular

roofs were visible above it. A loud shrill cry was heard as they came in

sight, a cow horn was blown in the village, and instantly men could be

seen running in. Others, engaged in tending flocks of goats high up on

the mountain side, left their charges and began to hurry down.

CHAPTER XV: A MOUNTAIN TRIBE

"It is a petty place for a chief of any power," Trebon said.

"Yes," Malchus agreed, "but I fancy these hill tribes are broken up into

a very large number of small villages in isolated valleys, only uniting

when the order of the chief calls upon them to defend the mountains

against an invader, or to make a simultaneous raid upon the plains."

As they neared the village several persons were seen to issue out from

the gate, and among these was a small and elderly man, evidently

the chief of the party. His white hair descended to his waist; a boy

standing behind him carried his bow and several javelins. The rest of

the men appeared to be unarmed.

"He is a crafty looking old fellow," Malchus said as he alighted and

advanced towards the chief, "but I suppose he has made up his mind to

receive us as friends, at any rate for the present.

"I come, chief, as an ambassador from the Carthaginian general. When we

passed south he received messengers from you, saying that you were

ready to enter into an alliance with him. To this he agreed, and sent

presents. Since then you have done nothing, although he has sent to you

urging you to aid him by making an attack on the tribes allied to Rome.

In every battle which he has fought with the Romans he has defeated them

with great slaughter; but, owing to the aid which they have received

from the tribes in alliance with them, they are enabled continually to

put fresh armies in the field. Therefore it is that he has sent me to

you and to the other chiefs of the tribes inhabiting the mountains, to

urge you to descend with your forces into the plains, and so oblige the

tribes there to turn their attention to their own defence rather than to

the sending of assistance to Rome. He has sent by my hands many valuable

presents, and has authorized me to promise you, in his name, such lands

as you may wish to obtain beyond the foot of the hills. He promises you,

also, a share in the booty taken at the sack of the Italian cities."

"Will you please to enter," the chief said, speaking a patois of Latin

which Malchus found it difficult to understand. "We will then discuss

the matters concerning which you speak."

So saying he led the way through the gates to a hut somewhat larger than

the rest.

"Do you enter with me, Trebon, but let your men remain in their saddle,

and hold our horses in readiness for us to mount speedily if there be

need. I doubt the friendliness of this old fellow and his people."

Upon entering the hut Malchus observed at once that the walls were

covered with hangings which were new and fresh, and he detected some

costly armour half hidden in a corner.

"The Romans have been here before us," he muttered to his companion;

"the question is, how high have they bid for his support."

The chief took his seat on a roughly carved chair, and seats were

brought in for his visitors. He began by asking an account of the state

of affairs in the plains. Malchus answered him truthfully, except that

he exaggerated a little the effects that the Carthaginian victories

had produced among the natives. The chief asked many questions, and was

evidently by some means well informed on the subject. He then expressed

a desire to see the presents which they had brought him. Trebon went out

and returned with two soldiers bearing them.

"I don't like the look of things," he said in a low voice. "The number

of men in the village has trebled since we arrived, and they still keep

coming in. None of them show arms at present, but no doubt they

are hidden close at hand. I believe the chief is only keeping us in

conversation till he considers that a sufficient force has arrived to

make sure of us."

"We can't break it off now," Malchus said, "and must take our chance. It

would not do to ensure a failure by showing suspicion."

The chief examined the presents with great care and announced his

satisfaction at them. Then he entered upon the question of the land

which he was to receive, inquired whether the towns were to be captured

by the Carthaginians and handed over to him, or were to be captured

by his forces. When these points had been arranged, as it seemed,

satisfactorily, he entered upon questions in dispute between himself and

other chiefs of the mountain tribes. Malchus said he had no instructions

as to these points, which were new to him, but that in all questions

between the chief and tribes hostile to Carthage, full satisfaction

would be given him. As to those between himself and other chiefs, who

might also join against the Romans, if they elected to submit them to

Hannibal for decision he would arbitrate between them.

At this moment a horn was blown outside. A din of voices instantly

arose, which was followed immediately afterwards by the clashing of

weapons. Malchus and his companion leaped to their feet and rushed

from the hut. They found that their men were attacked by a crowd of

mountaineers. In an instant they leaped on their horses, and drawing

their swords joined in the fray. The number of their foes was large,

a great many men having come in since Trebon had last issued out. The

attack was a determined one. Those next to the horsemen hewed at them

with axes, those further back hurled darts and javelins, while others

crept in among the horses and stabbed them from beneath with their long

knives.

"We must get out of this or we are lost," Trebon exclaimed, and,

encouraging the men with his shouts, he strove to hew a way through the

crowd to the gate, while Malchus faced some of the men round and covered

the rear. Several of the Carthaginians were already dismounted, owing to

their horses being slain, and some of them were despatched before they

could gain their feet. Malchus shouted to the others to leap up behind

their comrades.

By dint of desperate efforts Trebon and the soldiers with him cleared

the way to the gate, but those behind were so hampered by the enemy that

they were unable to follow. The natives clung to their legs and strove

to pull them off their horses, while a storm of blows was hurled upon

them. Trebon, seeing the danger of those behind, had turned, and in vain

tried to cut his way back to them; but the number of the natives was too

great. Malchus seeing this shouted at the top of his voice:

"Fly, Trebon, you cannot help us, save those you can." Seeing that he

could render his friend no assistance, Trebon turned round and galloped

off with nine of the soldiers who had made their way with him to the

gate. Five had already fallen, and Malchus shouted to the other six to

throw down their arms and yield themselves as prisoners. This they did,

but two of them were killed before the villagers perceived they had

surrendered.

Malchus and the others were dragged from their horses, bound hand and

foot, and thrown into one of the huts. The natives shouted in triumph,

and yells of delight arose as the packages borne by the baggage animals

were examined, and the variety of rich presents, intended for the

various chiefs, divided among them.

Most of the captives were more or less severely wounded, and some of

the natives presently came into the hut and examined and bound up the

wounds.

"Keep up your spirits," Malchus said cheerfully, "it is evident they

don't intend to kill us. No doubt they are going to send us prisoners to

the Romans, and in that case we shall be exchanged sooner or later. At

any rate the Romans would not dare ill treat us, for Hannibal holds more

than a hundred prisoners in his hands to every one they have taken."

Three days passed, food was brought to the captives regularly, and their

bonds were sufficiently relaxed for them to feed themselves. At the end

of that time they were ordered to rise and leave the hut. Outside the

chief with some forty of his followers were waiting them. All were

armed, and the prisoners being placed in their midst, the party started.

They proceeded by the same road by which Malchus had ridden to the

village, and some miles were passed without incident, when, as they were

passing through a narrow valley, a great number of rocks came

bounding down the hillside, and at different points along it several