第 6 页

place where it is well that no one should make more enemies than he can

help. A secret foe in the council or among the judges is enough to ruin

the strongest. You know how many have been crucified or pressed to death

without a shadow of pretext, save that they had foes. I would not see

you other than your father's son; you will belong, of course, to the

Barcine party, but there is no occasion to draw enmity and hate upon

yourself before you are in a position to do real service to the cause.

And now ride off with you; I know all our words are falling on deaf

ears, and that willful lads will go their own way."

A few minutes later and Malchus was on his way back to the club. On his

arrival there he found that the sitting of the inner council was not

yet finished. The building was thronged with the adherents of the party

waiting to ascertain what course was determined upon. He presently

came across Adherbal and Giscon. The former, as usual, was gay, light

hearted, and disposed to view matters in a humorous light; Giscon was

stern and moody.

"So, here you are again, Malchus," Adherbal said. "I thought you would

soon be back. I am glad you have come, for Giscon here grows monotonous

as a companion. Nature in making him forgot to give him that spice of

humour which is to existence what seasoning is to meat. I am ready to

fight if it comes to fighting, to orate if talking is necessary, and

to do anything else which may be within the limits of my powers, but I

can't for the life of me take matters as if the existence of the state

depended on me alone. I have already heard that all is well with you at

home. I shall ride out there and see your mother when this business is

over. What they can find to talk about so long I can't make out.

"The question is a simple one, surely. Will it be better for Carthage at

large, and our party in particular, for Hannibal to stay at the head

of the army in Spain, or to come home and bring the influence of his

popularity and reputation to bear upon the populace? There is the

question put in a nutshell, and if they can't decide upon it let them

toss up. There is virtue, I am ready to maintain, in an appeal to dame

Fortune.

"Look round now, Malchus, is it not amusing to study men's characters.

Look at little Philene going about among the groups, standing on tiptoe

to whisper into the ear first of one and then of another. He prides

himself on his knowledge of affairs, and in his heart believes that

he is shamefully wronged inasmuch as he is not already on the secret

committee.

"Look at Bomilca leaning against that pillar and lazily pulling his

mustache, an easygoing giant, who looks upon the whole thing as a

nuisance, but who, if he received orders from the conclave, would put

himself at the head of the Libyans, and would march to storm Hanno's

house, and to slaughter his Nubian guard without a question.

"Look at Magon's face of importance as he walks about without speaking

to anyone. He is trying to convey to all the impression that he knows

perfectly well what is going on inside, and could if he chose tell

you what the decision will be. There is Carthalon, who is thinking at

present, I warrant, more of the match which he has made of his Arab

steed against that of his comrade Phano, than of the matter in hand.

But see, there is a stir, the curtains are drawing aside at last, the

meeting is over."

As he spoke the heavy curtains which shut off an inner room from the

hall were drawn aside, and the council of the Syssite came out. Each

was speedily surrounded by a group of the members of his own family, or

those who specially looked up to him as a leader. Malchus and the two

young officers were among those who gathered round Hamilcar.

"It has been decided," the general said, "that Hannibal shall be

retained in his command. Therefore, now let all set to work, each in his

own sphere. The populace must be stirred up. We have a small majority

in the council, but the middle class, the men who will vote, are with

Hanno. Some have been bought with his gold, some of the weak fools dream

that Carthage can be great simply as a trading power without army

or navy, and think only of the present advantage they would gain by

remission of taxation. It is these we have to fear, and we must operate

upon them by means of the populace.

"If the people gather in the streets and shout for Hannibal, these

cowards will hesitate. They are accessible only in their moneybags, and

rather than risk a riot they would vote for the destruction of Moloch's

temple. Giscon and Adherbal, do you go to the barracks, get as many

of your comrades together as are of our way of thinking, talk to the

soldiers of the glories of Hamilcar Barca, of the rich booty they won

under him, of the glory of their arms when he led them, tell them that

in Hannibal they have their old commander revived, and that Hanno and

his companions seek only to have him removed, because they fear that the

luster of his deeds will overshadow them.

"Urge that he is the elect of the army of Spain, that the voice of the

soldiers has acclaimed him, and that the troops here should join their

voices to those of their comrades in Spain. They too may ere long have

to take share in the war, and would it not be far better for them to be

led by a soldier like Hannibal than by Hanno, whose incapacity has been

proved a score of times, and who is solely chosen because he is rich,

and because he has pandered to the fat traders and lazy shopkeepers?

"Do you, Stryphex, go to the weavers' quarter; you have influence there.

Work upon the men, point out to them how, since Hamilcar and Hasdrubal

have conquered Spain, and the gold and silver from the mines have poured

into Carthage, their trade has flourished. Before that gold was scarce

known in the city, none could purchase their choice productions, their

wages would scarce keep the wolf from the door. Show them that under

Hanno disaster will be sure to befall our arms, that the Iberians will

reconquer their soil, that the mines will be lost, and we shall have to

return to the leather money of twenty years back."

So one by one Hamilcar despatched the groups round him on various

missions, until Malchus alone remained.

"You, Malchus, can, as you suggested, go down to the port; ask the

sailors and fishermen what will become of their trade were the Roman

galleys cruising in our bay. Point out that our conquests in Spain have

already caused the greatest alarm in Rome, and that under Hannibal our

arms will so flourish that Rome will be glad to come to terms with us,

and to leave us free to trade with the world.

"Point out how great is the trade and commerce which Carthagena has

already produced. Ask them if they are willing that all this shall be

hazarded, in order that Hanno may gratify his personal ambition, and

his creatures may wring the last penny from the over taxed people of

Carthage. Don't try too much, my boy. Get together a knot of men whom

you know; prime them with argument, and send them among their fellows.

Tell them to work day and night, and that you will see that their time

is well paid. Find out if there are any men who have special influence

with their fellows, and secure them on our side. Promise them what they

will; the Syssite will spend money like water to carry its object. Be

discreet, Malchus; when you have lit the fire, and see that it is well

on its way, withdraw quietly."

Malchus hurried off, and in half an hour was down by the port. Through

the densely packed district which lay behind the lofty warehouses

crammed with goods brought by sea from all parts of the world, he made

his way until he reached the abode of a fisherman, in whose boat he

often put to sea.

The old man, with three or four grownup sons, was reclining on a pile of

rushes.

"Welcome back, my lord Malchus," he said; "glad am I to see you safely

returned. We have often talked of you, me and my sons, and wondered when

you would again go out for a night's fishing with us. You have come back

at the right time. The tunny are just entering the bay, and in another

week we shall have rare sport."

"I shall be glad, indeed, of another sail with you," Malchus said; "but

at present I have other matters in hand. Hanno and his friends have

determined to oppose the appointment of Hannibal to the army in Spain."

The fisherman gave a grunt, which signified that the matter was one of

which he knew nothing, and which affected him not in the slightest.

"Don't you see the importance of this?" Malchus said. "If Hannibal

doesn't get the command our troops will be beaten, and we shall lose all

our trade with Spain." The fisherman still appeared apathetic.

"My sons have all taken to fishing," he said indifferently, "and it

matters nothing to them whether we lose the trade of Spain or not."

"But it would make a difference," Malchus said, "if no more gold and

silver came from Spain, because then, you know, people wouldn't be

able to pay a good price for fish, and there would be bad times for you

fishermen. But that is not the worst of it. The Romans are so alarmed by

our progress in Spain that they are glad to keep friends with us, but if

we were driven out from there they would soon be at war again. You and

your sons would be pressed for the ships of war, and like enough you

might see the Roman fleets hovering on our coasts and picking up our

fishing boats."

"By Astarte," the fisherman exclaimed, "but that would be serious,

indeed; and you say all this will happen unless Hannibal remains as

general in Spain?"

"That is so," Malchus nodded.

"Then I tell you what, my boys," the fisherman said, rising and rubbing

his hands, "we must put our oars into this business. You hear what my

lord Malchus tells us. Get up, there is work to be done. Now, sir, what

is the best way to stop this affair you tell us of? If it's got to be

done we will do it, and I think I can answer for three or four thousand

fishing hands here who ain't going to stand by any more than I am and

see the bread taken out of their mouths. They know old Calcon, and will

listen to what he says. I will set about it at once."

"That is just what I want," Malchus said. "I want you and your sons to

go about among the fishermen and tell them what is proposed to be done,

and how ruinous it will be for them. You know how fond of fishermen I

am, and how sorry I should be to see them injured. You stir them up for

the next three or four days, and get them to boiling point. I will let

you know when the time comes. There are other trades who will be injured

by this business, and when the time comes you fishermen with your oars

in your hands must join the others and go through the streets shouting

'Hannibal for general! Down with Hanno and the tax gatherers!'"

"Down with the tax gatherers is a good cry," the old fisherman said.

"They take one fish of every four I bring in, and always choose the

finest. Don't you be afraid, sir; we will be there, oars and all, when

you give the word."

"And now I want you to tell me the names of a few men who have influence

among the sailors of the mercantile ships, and among those who load and

discharge the cargoes; their interest is threatened as well as yours. I

am commissioned to pay handsomely all who do their best for the cause,

and I promise you that you and your sons shall earn as much in four

days' work as in a month's toiling on the sea. The Barcine Club is known

to be the true friend of Carthage, the opponent of those who grind down

the people, and it will spare no money to see that this matter is well

carried out."

The fisherman at once went round with Malchus to the abodes of several

men regarded as authorities by the sailors and stevedores. With these,

partly by argument, but much more by the promises of handsome pay for

their exertions, Malchus established an understanding, and paved the way

for a popular agitation among the working classes of the waterside in

favour of Hannibal.

CHAPTER IV: A POPULAR RISING

Day after day Malchus went down to the port. His father was well pleased

with his report of what he had done and provided him with ample funds

for paying earnest money to his various agents, as a proof that their

exertions would be well rewarded. He soon had the satisfaction of seeing

that the agitation was growing.

Work was neglected, the sailors and labourers collected on the quays and

talked among themselves, or listened to orators of their own class, who

told them of the dangers which threatened their trade from the hatred of

Hanno and his friends the tax collectors for Hannibal, whose father and

brother-in-law had done such great things for Carthage by conquering

Spain and adding to her commerce by the establishment of Carthagena and

other ports. Were they going to stand tamely by and see trade ruined,

and their families starving, that the tyrants who wrung from them the

taxes should fatten at ease?

Such was the tenor of the orations delivered by scores of men to their

comrades on the quays. A calm observer might have noticed a certain

sameness about the speeches, and might have come to the conclusion that

the orators had received their instructions from the same person, but

this passed unnoticed by the sailors and workmen, who were soon roused

into fury by the exhortations of the speakers. They knew nothing either

of Hannibal or of Hanno, but they did know that they were ground down

to the earth with taxation, and that the conquest of Spain and the trade

that had arisen had been of enormous benefit to them. It was, then,

enough to tell them that this trade was threatened, and that it was

threatened in the interest of the tyrants of Carthage, for them to enter

heart and soul into the cause.

During these four days the Barcine Club was like the headquarters of