In an hour the grating was removed and the rope lowered.  Malchus fastened it under his arms, knotting it in front, and then whispered to Nessus that he was ready.  The Arab drew him slowly and steadily up until his head was in the entrance of the narrow passage.  Malchus had grasped the rope as high as possible above his head and hung by his hands, thereby drawing the shoulders upwards, and reducing their width as much as possible.  He then managed to swing himself so that his body was diagonally across the opening, and when thus placed he found to his joy that the passage was large enough for him to pass through without much difficulty.

Slowly and steadily Nessus drew him up until his shoulders were above the level of the ground, when Malchus, placing his hands on the pavement, sprang noiselessly out.  The grating was replaced, and without a word being spoken they glided from the temple.  Not a word was said until they had gone some little distance.

“You have saved my life again, Nessus,” Malchus said, laying his hand upon his shoulder.  “Another twelve hours and it would have been too late.  I was to have been put to death in the morning.”

Nessus gave a fierce exclamation and placed his hand on his knife.

“Had they slain my lord,” he said, “I would have avenged you.  I would have dogged your enemies night and day till, one by one, my knife should have found its way to their hearts!”

“Have you found a hiding place, Nessus?”

“There is but one place of safety, my lord, that I can think of.  I have talked it over with two or three faithful friends, and they agree that so rigid will be the search that it will be well nigh impossible for anyone within the walls of the citadel to escape detection.  The spies of Hanno are everywhere, and men fear within these walls even to whisper what they think.  At any rate, no more secure hiding place could be found than that which we have decided upon.”

“And where is that, Nessus?”

“It is in the reservoirs.  With four water skins and some planks we have prepared a raft.  My two friends are waiting for us at one of the entrances.  They will have fitted the raft together, and all will be in readiness.  They are not likely to search for you there.”

“The idea is excellent, Nessus.”

The reservoirs of Carthage were of enormous extent, and some of these remain to this day and are the wonder and admiration of travellers.  They were subterranean, and were cut from the solid rock, the stone extracted from them being used for the walls of the buildings of the city.  Pillars were left at intervals to support the roof, and it was calculated that these underground lakes —­ for they were no less —­ contained sufficient water to supply the wants of the great city for at least six months.  These vast storing places for water were an absolute necessity in a climate like that of Northern Africa, where the rain falls but seldom.  Without them, indeed, Carthage would have been at the mercy of the first army which laid siege to it.