ger. He did not dare, therefore, to trust to the result of the
discussion in the senate, but determined to fly.

He had a small castle or tower on the coast, about one hundred and
fifty miles southeast of Carthage. He sent there by an express,
ordering a vessel to be ready to take him to sea. He also made
arrangements to have horsemen ready at one of the gates of the city at
nightfall. During the day he appeared freely in the public streets,
walking with an unconcerned air, as if his mind was at ease, and
giving to the Roman embassadors, who were watching his movements, the
impression that he was not meditating an escape. Toward the close of
the day, however, after walking leisurely home, he immediately made
preparations for his journey. As soon as it was dark he went to the
gate of the city, mounted the horse which was provided for him, and
fled across the country to his castle. Here he found the vessel ready
which he had ordered. He embarked, and put to sea.

There is a small island called Cercina at a little distance from the
coast. Hannibal reached this island on the same day that he left his
tower. There was a harbor here, where merchant ships were accustomed
to come in. He found several Phoenician vessels in the port, some
bound to Carthage. Hannibal's arrival produced a strong sensation
here, and, to account for his appearance among them, he said he was
going on an embassy from the Carthaginian government to Tyre.

He was now afraid that some of these vessels that were about setting
sail for Carthage might carry the news back of his having being seen
at Cercina, and, to prevent this, he contrived, with his
characteristic cunning, the following plan. He sent around to all the
ship-masters in the port, inviting them to a great entertainment which
he was to give, and asked, at the same time, that they would lend him
the main-sails of their ships, to make a great awning with, to shelter
the guests from the dews of the night. The ship-masters, eager to
witness and enjoy the convivial scene which Hannibal's proposal
promised them, accepted the invitation, and ordered their main-sails
to be taken down. Of course, this confined all their vessels to port.
In the evening, the company assembled under the vast tent, made by the
main-sails, on the shore. Hannibal met them, and remained with them
for a time. In the course of the night, however, when they were all in
the midst of their carousing, he stole away, embarked on bo