on
the following day. As to the desperate work on which they were to be
engaged--for it was whispered that Hannibal had in preparation some
mighty enterprise--it troubled them not at all, nor the thought that
many of them might never look on Carthage again. In their hearts perhaps
some of them, like Malchus, were thinking sadly of the partings they had
just gone through with those they loved, but no signs of such thoughts
were apparent in their faces or conversation.

Presently a blast of trumpets sounded, and the babel of voices was
hushed as if by magic. The soldiers fell into military order, and stood
motionless. Then Hamilcar walked along the quays inspecting carefully
each group, asking questions of the captains of the ships as to their
store of provisions and water, receiving from the officers charged with
that duty the lists of the war machines and stores which were stored
away in the hulls; and, having assured himself that everything was in
order, he gave the signal to his trumpeter, who again blew a long and
piercing blast.

The work of embarkation at once commenced. The infantry were soon on
board, but the operation of shipping the horses of the cavalry took
longer. Half of these were stored away in the hold of the general's
ship, the rest in another vessel. When the troops were all on board
the soldiers who had kept back the crowd were withdrawn, and the
Carthaginians thronged down on to the quay. A small space was still kept
clear on the wharf by whose side the admiral's ship was lying, and here
was gathered a throng of the aristocracy of the city to see the last of
their sons and relatives of the guard.

Having seen their horses safely stowed below the young men crowded to
the side of the ship to exchange adieus with their friends. The parting
was a brief one, for the wind was fair, and the general anxious to be
well out of the bay before nightfall. Therefore the signal was hoisted.
Numbers of slaves seized the hawsers of the ships and towed them along
through the narrow passage which connected the docks with the sea. A
shout of adieu rose from the crowd, the sails were hoisted, and the
fleet proceeded on its way.

The arrangements for the comfort of the troops at sea were simple and
primitive. Each man shifted for himself. The whole space below was
occupied by cargo or horses. The troops lived and slept on deck. Here,
on wide flat stones, they cooked their meals, whiled away the day by
games of chanc