rustrated, and the fairest chance
which Carthage ever had of fighting out the quarrel with her rival would
have been destroyed. Truly it has been a marvellous escape, and it seems
to me that the gods themselves must have inspired Malchus to act as he
did on such slight grounds as seeing two Carthaginians of the guard in
company with three or four natives at a late hour of the evening."

"What do you think will be best to do with the traitors who have plotted
against your life, Hannibal? Shall we try and execute them here, or send
them to Carthage to be dealt with?"

Hannibal did not answer for a minute.

"I think, Hamilcar, the best plan will be to keep silent altogether as
to the danger I have run. The army would be furious but would at the
same time be dispirited were it known in Carthage that two of her nobles
had been executed for an attempt on my life. It would only cause a fresh
outbreak of animosity and an even deadlier feud than before between
Hanno's friends and ours. Therefore, I say, let the men taken tonight be
executed in the morning without question asked, and let no word be said
by them or by us that they were bribed by Carthaginians. All in the
palace now know that a party of natives have broken in, and will guess
that my life was their object; there is no need that they should know
more. As to the two men, I will call them before me tomorrow, with none
but you present, and will let them know that I am aware that they are
the authors of this attempt, and will bid them resign their places in
the guard and return at once to Carthage."

"It grieves me that they should go unpunished," Hamilcar said; "but
doubtless your plan is the wisest."

"Then," Hannibal said, rising, "we will to bed again. Malchus, acquaint
Trebon of our determination that silence is to be kept; tell him that I
shall bear him in mind, and not forget his share in this night's work.
As for you, Malchus, henceforth you are more than my cousin; you have
saved my life, and I shall never forget it. I shall tell Imilce in the
morning of the danger which has passed, for it is sure to come to her
ears, and she will know better than I do how to thank you."

Accordingly in the morning Hannibal's orders were carried out; the
twelve natives taken prisoners were beheaded without any of the usual
tortures which would have been inflicted upon a similar occasion.
No less than fourteen others had been killed in the fight. The two
Carthaginian nobles