“How long ago war that, Jim?” asked Jordan.

“Three thousand years,” was the reply.

“But they were fighters, them fellers?” said Jordan.

“Yes, great fighters,” said Sedgwick.

“And their hosses war thoroughbreds, every one?  Isn’t thet so, Jim?” said Jordan.

“They were great horses, indeed,” said Sedgwick.

“Powerful,” said Jordan, “good for fo’ mile heats, sho’?  And thet other chap, Nais, didn’t he settle round here somewhar?”

“You mean AEneas, Jordan.  It was in Virgil that we read that.  AEneas was of the family of that Priam who was king of Troy when the siege was on.  He got away in a ship and finally landed and settled in southern Italy, off here to our left, and the legend goes that his descendants founded Rome.”

“Yo’ don’t mean ter say he wur ther ’riginater uv ther Dagoes?” said Jordan.

“Well,” said Sedgwick, with a laugh, “you know at that time there were wild tribes in Italy.  Then there came in Greek colonies, and all races fused and assimilated, even as did the Romans and Sabines when the former captured a company of the women of the latter and made them their wives.  Out of it all arose the mighty Roman nation.”

“They inbred with mustangs, so ter speak,” said Jordan, “and these common Dagoes is whar they has bred back showin’ bad stock in ther dam.”

“May-be,” said Sedgwick.

“Half-breeds is no good, as a rule, but that Nais war a good one.”

“A good one, I guess,” said Sedgwick.

“He’s ther feller that Queen—­what’s her name?—­O, yes, Queen Dido got soft on?” queried Jordan.

“Yes, Queen Dido,” was the response.

“And she got looney-like when he cum away, and uv nights would go down on ther shore and watch for him to cum back?” said Jordan.

“So the legend has come down, and by the way,” added Sedgwick, “her country was on this sea also, farther east and south, off to the right.  It was called Carthage.”

“Say, Jim,” said Jordan, “them folks was a good deal like we is, after all, wuzn’t they?  They’d fight for most nuthin’; they’d get gone on wimmen; liked good hosses; they’d trade and work tryin’ ter get rich; and ef they hed hearn of a gold mine, they’d gone ter Arizony for it.”

“I guess you are right, Jordan,” said Sedgwick, “you always are.  The world changes its methods, but the original man is about what he has always been.”

“Wurn’t it from thet place Carthage that ther black feller cum what held ther Dagoes so level fur so long?” asked Jordan.

“Hannibal, do you mean?” asked Sedgwick.

“Ther same,” replied Jordan.

“Yes,” replied Sedgwick, “and a marvelous soldier and leader of men he was, to be sure.”

“Indeed, he wur; but say, Jim, what do yo’ calcerlate his pedigree wur?”

“Why, he came from a family of kings and fighting men,” answered Sedgwick.