“Finish your breakfast,” Malchus said, “there will be plenty of time.  Slay two more hogs and cut them up.  Let each man take three or four pounds of flesh and a supply of meal.”

Just as the preparations were concluded the two men from the lookout arrived and reported that a large force was winding along one of the valleys.  There were now but six of the herd of swine left —­ these were driven into the forest.  The grain and other stores were also carried away and carefully hidden, and the band, who were now all well armed with weapons taken in the different raids on the villages, marched away from their camp.

Malchus had already with his two comrades explored all the valleys in the neighbourhood of the camp, and had fixed upon various points for defence.  One of these was on the line by which the enemy were approaching.  The valley narrowed in until it was almost closed by perpendicular rocks on either side.  On the summit of these the Carthaginians took their post.  They could now clearly make out the enemy; there were upwards of a thousand Roman troops, and they were accompanied by fully five hundred natives.

When the head of the column approached the narrow path of the valley the soldiers halted and the natives went on ahead to reconnoitre.  They reported that all seemed clear, and the column then moved forward.  When it reached the gorge a shout was heard above and a shower of rocks fell from the crags, crushing many of the Romans.  Their commander at once recalled the soldiers, and these then began to climb the hillside, wherever the ground permitted their doing so.  After much labour they reached the crag from which they had been assailed, but found it deserted.

All day the Romans searched the woods, but without success.  The natives were sent forward in strong parties.  Most of these returned unsuccessful, but two of them were suddenly attacked by the Carthaginians, and many were slaughtered.

For four days the Romans pursued their search in the forest, but never once did they obtain a glimpse of the Carthaginians save when, on several occasions, the latter appeared suddenly in places inaccessible from below and hurled down rocks and stones upon them.  The Sards had been attacked several times, and were so disheartened by the losses inflicted upon them that they now refused to stir into the woods unless accompanied by the Romans.

At the end of the fourth day, feeling it hopeless any longer to pursue the fugitive band over these forest covered mountains, the Roman commander ordered the column to move back towards its starting place.  He had lost between forty and fifty of his men and upwards of a hundred of the Sards had been killed.  Just as he reached the edge of the forest he was overtaken by one of the natives.

“I have been a prisoner in the hands of the Carthaginians,” the man said, “and their leader released me upon my taking an oath to deliver a message to the general.”  The man was at once brought before the officer.