r. He was one of the leading
Carthaginian generals. He occupied a very prominent position, both on
account of his rank, and wealth, and high family connections at
Carthage, and also on account of the great military energy which he
displayed in the command of the armies abroad. He carried on the wars
which the Carthaginians waged in Africa and in Spain after the
conclusion of the war with the Romans, and he longed to commence
hostilities with the Romans again.

At one time, when Hannibal was about nine years of age, Hamilcar was
preparing to set off on an expedition into Spain, and, as was usual in
those days, he was celebrating the occasion with games, and
spectacles, and various religious ceremonies. It has been the custom
in all ages of the world, when nations go to war with each other, for
each side to take measures for propitiating the favor of Heaven.
Christian nations at the present day do it by prayers offered in each
country for the success of their own arms. Heathen nations do it by
sacrifices, libations, and offerings. Hamilcar had made arrangements
for such sacrifices, and the priests were offering them in the
presence of the whole assembled army.

Young Hannibal, then about nine years of age, was present. He was a
boy of great spirit and energy, and he entered with much enthusiasm
into the scene. He wanted to go to Spain himself with the army, and he
came to his father and began to urge his request. His father could not
consent to this. He was too young to endure the privations and
fatigues of such an enterprise. However, his father brought him to one
of the altars, in the presence of the other officers of the army, and
made him lay his hand upon the consecrated victim, and swear that, as
soon as he was old enough, and had it in his power, he would make war
upon the Romans. This was done, no doubt, in part to amuse young
Hannibal's mind, and to relieve his disappointment in not being able
to go to war at that time, by promising him a great and mighty enemy
to fight at some future day. Hannibal remembered it, and longed for
the time to come when he could go to war against the _Romans_.

Hamilcar bade his son farewell and embarked for Spain. He was at
liberty to extend his conquests there in all directions west of the
River Iberus, a river which the reader will find upon the map, flowing
southeast into the Mediterranean Sea. Its name, Iberus, has been
gradually changed, in modern times, to Ebro. By the trea