“I don’t like the look of things,” he said in a low voice.  “The number of men in the village has trebled since we arrived, and they still keep coming in.  None of them show arms at present, but no doubt they are hidden close at hand.  I believe the chief is only keeping us in conversation till he considers that a sufficient force has arrived to make sure of us.”

“We can’t break it off now,” Malchus said, “and must take our chance.  It would not do to ensure a failure by showing suspicion.”

The chief examined the presents with great care and announced his satisfaction at them.  Then he entered upon the question of the land which he was to receive, inquired whether the towns were to be captured by the Carthaginians and handed over to him, or were to be captured by his forces.  When these points had been arranged, as it seemed, satisfactorily, he entered upon questions in dispute between himself and other chiefs of the mountain tribes.  Malchus said he had no instructions as to these points, which were new to him, but that in all questions between the chief and tribes hostile to Carthage, full satisfaction would be given him.  As to those between himself and other chiefs, who might also join against the Romans, if they elected to submit them to Hannibal for decision he would arbitrate between them.

At this moment a horn was blown outside.  A din of voices instantly arose, which was followed immediately afterwards by the clashing of weapons.  Malchus and his companion leaped to their feet and rushed from the hut.  They found that their men were attacked by a crowd of mountaineers.  In an instant they leaped on their horses, and drawing their swords joined in the fray.  The number of their foes was large, a great many men having come in since Trebon had last issued out.  The attack was a determined one.  Those next to the horsemen hewed at them with axes, those further back hurled darts and javelins, while others crept in among the horses and stabbed them from beneath with their long knives.

“We must get out of this or we are lost,” Trebon exclaimed, and, encouraging the men with his shouts, he strove to hew a way through the crowd to the gate, while Malchus faced some of the men round and covered the rear.  Several of the Carthaginians were already dismounted, owing to their horses being slain, and some of them were despatched before they could gain their feet.  Malchus shouted to the others to leap up behind their comrades.

By dint of desperate efforts Trebon and the soldiers with him cleared the way to the gate, but those behind were so hampered by the enemy that they were unable to follow.  The natives clung to their legs and strove to pull them off their horses, while a storm of blows was hurled upon them.  Trebon, seeing the danger of those behind, had turned, and in vain tried to cut his way back to them; but the number of the natives was too great.  Malchus seeing this shouted at the top of his voice: