he was aware of the name and rank of his
passenger, and Malchus, as he watched the wide expanse of sea, broken
only by a few distant sails, was too intent upon the mission with which
he was charged to give the matter another moment's thought.

The wind fell light and it was not until the evening of the eighth day
after leaving Corinth that Carthage, with the citadel of Byrsa rising
above it, could be distinguished. The ship was moving but slowly through
the water, and the captain said that unless a change took place they
would not make port until late the next morning. Malchus retired to his
couch feeling sorry that the period of rest and tranquillity was at an
end, and that he was now about to embark in a difficult struggle, which,
though he felt its importance, was altogether alien to his taste and
disposition.

He had not even the satisfaction that he should see his mother and
sister, for news had come a short time before he sailed that their
position was so uncomfortable at Carthage that they had left for Spain,
to take up their abode there with Adherbal and Anna. His mother was,
he heard, completely broken down in health by grief for the loss of his
father.

He was wakened in the night by the splash of the anchor and the running
out of he cable through the hawse hole, and supposed that the breeze
must have sprung up a little, and that they had anchored at the entrance
to the harbour. He soon went off to sleep again, but was presently
aroused by what seemed to him the sound of a short struggle followed by
another splash; he dreamingly wondered what it could be and then went
off to sleep again. When he awoke it was daylight. Somewhat surprised at
the non-appearance of Nessus, who usually came into his cabin the first
thing in the morning to call him, he soon attired himself.

On going to the door of his cabin he was surprised to find it fastened
without. He knocked loudly against it to attract attention, but almost
immediately found himself in darkness. Going to the porthole to discover
the cause of this sudden change, he found that a sack had been stuffed
into it, and immediately afterwards the sound of hammering told him that
a plank was being nailed over this outside to keep it in its place.

The truth washed across him--he was a prisoner. Drawing his sword he
flung himself with all his force against the door, but this had been so
securely fastened without that it did not yield in the slightest to
his efforts