should assume the dignity of king, holding the power over Carthage and the rest of Libya.  And after settling these matters he returned to the Roman camp, which they had made entirely in front of the circuit-wall, distributing among themselves the guarding of each gate.  And the barbarians not long afterwards proceeded straight for Carthage in great haste, and they made camp and remained in the place called Decimum.[67] And departing from there on the following day, they were moving forward.  But some of the Roman army encountered them, and engaging with them unexpectedly, slew a small number of the Moors.  But these were straightway called back by Gontharis, who rebuked them for acting with reckless daring and for being willing to give the Romans foreknowledge of the danger into which they were thrown.

But in the meantime Areobindus sent to Coutzinas secretly and began to treat with him with regard to turning traitor.  And Coutzinas promised him that, as soon as they should begin the action, he would turn against Antalas and the Moors of Byzacium.  For the Moors keep faith neither with any other men nor with each other.  This Areobindus reported to Gontharis.  And he, wishing to frustrate the enterprise by having it postponed, advised Areobindus by no means to have faith in Coutzinas, unless he should receive from him his children as hostages.  So Areobindus and Coutzinas, constantly sending secret messages to each other, were busying themselves with the plot against Antalas.  And Gontharis sent Ulitheus once more and made known to Antalas what was being done.  And he decided not to make any charges against Coutzinas nor did he allow him to know that he had discovered the plot, nor indeed did he disclose anything of what had been agreed upon by himself and Gontharis.  But though enemies and hostile at heart to one another, they were arrayed together with treacherous intent, and each of them was marching with the other against his own particular friend.  With such purposes Coutzinas and Antalas were leading the Moorish army against Carthage.  And Gontharis was intending to kill Areobindus, but, in order to avoid the appearance of aiming at sole power, he wished to do this secretly in battle, in order that it might seem that the plot had been made by others against the general, and that he had been compelled by the Roman army to assume command over Libya.  Accordingly he circumvented Areobindus by deceit, and persuaded him to go out against the enemy and engage with them, now that they had already come close to Carthage.  He decided, therefore, that on the following day he would lead the whole army against the enemy at sunrise.  But Areobindus, being very inexperienced in this matter and reluctant besides, kept holding back for no good reason.  For while considering how he should put on his equipment of arms and armour, and making the other preparations for the sally, he wasted the greatest part of the day.  He accordingly put off the engagement to the following day and remained quiet.  But Gontharis, suspecting that he had hesitated purposely, as being aware of what was being done, decided openly to accomplish the murder of the general and make his attempt at the tyranny.