or their journey across the country, as the slight
knowledge which Malchus had of the Latin tongue would have betrayed him
at once were he obliged to enter a town or village to purchase food.
Carrying the provisions in bundles they made for the mountains, and
after three days' journey reached without interruption or adventure
the camp of Hannibal. He was still lying in his intrenched camp near
Geronium. The Roman army was as before watching him at a short distance
off.

Malchus at once sought the tent of the general, whose surprise at seeing
him enter was great, for he had not expected that he would return until
the spring. Malchus gave him an account of all that had taken place
since he left him. Hannibal was indignant in the extreme at Hanno having
ventured to arrest and condemn his ambassador. When he learned the
result of the interview with Manon, and heard how completely the hostile
faction were the masters of Carthage, he agreed that the counsels of
the old nobleman were wise, and that Malchus could have done no good,
whereas he would have exposed himself to almost certain death, by
endeavouring further to carry out the mission with which he had been
charged.

"Manon knows what is best, and, no doubt, a premature attempt to excite
the populace to force Hanno into sending the reinforcements we so much
need would have not only failed, but would have injured our cause. He
and his friends will doubtless work quietly to prepare the public mind,
and I trust that ere very long some decisive victory will give them the
opportunity for exciting a great demonstration on our behalf."

The remainder of the winter passed quietly. Malchus resumed his post as
the commander of Hannibal's bodyguard, but his duties were very light.
The greater part of his time was spent in accompanying Hannibal in his
visits to the camps of the soldiers, where nothing was left undone which
could add to the comfort and contentment of the troops. There is no
stronger evidence of the popularity of Hannibal and of the influence
which he exercised over his troops than the fact that the army under
him, composed, as it was, of men of so many nationalities, for the most
part originally compelled against their will to enter the service
of Carthage, maintained their discipline unshaken, not only by the
hardships and sacrifices of the campaigns, but through the long periods
of enforced idleness in their winter quarters.

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