life and gaiety of the place,
for Hannibal had, before starting on his campaign in the spring, married
Imilce, the daughter of Castalius, a Spaniard of noble blood, and his
household was kept up with a lavish magnificence, worthy alike of his
position as virtual monarch of Spain and of his vast private wealth.
Fetes were given constantly for the amusement of the people. At these
there were prizes for horse and foot racing, and the Numidian cavalry
astonished the populace by the manner in which they maneuvered their
steeds; bowmen and slingers entered the lists for prizes of value given
by the general; and the elephants exhibited proof of their docility and
training.

In the bay there were races between the galleys and triremes, and
emulation was encouraged among the troops by large money prizes to the
companies who maneuvered with the greatest precision and activity. For
the nobles there were banquets and entertainments of music. The rising
greatness of Carthagena had attracted to her musicians and artists from
all parts of the Mediterranean. Snake charmers from the far Soudan and
jugglers from the distant East exhibited their skill. Poets recited
their verses, and bards sung their lays before the wealth and beauty of
Carthagena. Hannibal, anxious at once to please his young wife and
to increase his popularity, spared no pains or expense in these
entertainments.

Gay as they were Malchus longed for a more stirring life, and with five
or six of his comrades obtained leave of absence for a month, to go on
a hunting expedition in the mountains. He had heard, when upon the
campaign, the issue of the plot in which he had been so nearly engaged.
It had failed. On the very eve of execution one of the subordinates had
turned traitor, and Giscon and the whole of those engaged in it had been
arrested and put to a cruel death.

Malchus himself had been denounced, as his name was found upon the list
of the conspirators, and an order had been sent to Hannibal that he
should be carried back a prisoner to Carthage. Hannibal had called the
lad before him, and had inquired of him the circumstances of the case.
Malchus explained that he had been to their meeting but once, being
taken there by Giscon, and being in entire ignorance of the objects of
the plot, and that he had refused when he discovered them to proceed
in the matter. Hannibal and Hamilcar blamed him severely for allowing
himself at his age to be mixed up in any way in pub