was missing, and
his body was yesterday found by his sons floating in the lagoon. He
had been strangled. His sons are as much overpowered with terror as by
grief, they believe that he has suffered for the part he took in rousing
the fishermen to declare for Hannibal a fortnight since, and they fear
lest the terrible vengeance of Hanno should next fall upon them.

"How it happened they know not. A man arrived late in the evening and
said that one of their father's best customers wanted a supply of fish
for a banquet he was to give next day, and that he wanted to speak
to him at once to arrange about the quantity and quality of fish he
required. Suspecting nothing the old man left at once, and was never
heard of afterwards. Next morning, seeing that he had not returned, one
of his sons went to the house to which he had been fetched, but found
that its owner knew nothing of the affair, and denied that he had sent
any message whatever to him. Fearing that something was wrong they
searched everywhere, but it was not until last night that his body was,
as I have told you, found.

"They are convinced that their father died in no private feud. He had
not, as far as they know, an enemy in the world. You may imagine how l
feel this; not only did I regard him as a friend, but I feel that it was
owing to his acting as I led him that he has come to his death."

"The tyrants!" Giscon exclaimed in a low voice. "But what can you do,
Malchus?"

"I am going to my father," Malchus replied, "to ask him to take the
matter up."

"What can he do?" Giscon said with a bitter laugh. "What can he prove?
Can he accuse our most noble body of judges, without a shadow of proof,
of making away with this unknown old fisherman. No, Malchus, if you are
in earnest to revenge your friend come with me, I will introduce you to
my friends, who are banded together against this tyranny, and who are
sworn to save Carthage. You are young, but you are brave and full of
ardour; you are a son of General Hamilcar, and my friends will gladly
receive you as one of us."

Malchus did not hesitate. That there would be danger in joining such
a body as Giscon spoke of he knew, but the young officer's talk during
their expedition had aroused in him a deep sense of the tyranny and
corruption which were sapping the power or his country, and this blow
which had struck him personally rendered him in a mood to adopt any
dangerous move.

"I will join you, Giscon," he sai