Hannibal owed the enthusiasm by which he was regarded by his troops.  His strength and skill were far superior to those of any man in his army.  His food was as simple as that of his soldiers, he was capable of going for days without eating, and it was seldom that he broke his fast until the day’s work was over.  When he ate it would be sitting on horseback, or as he walked about seeing to the needs of the soldiers.

At night he slept among them, lying on a lion skin without covering.  He was indifferent to heat and cold, and in the heaviest tempest of wind and rain would ride bareheaded among his troops, apparently unconscious of the tempest against which he was struggling.  So far as was known he was without a vice.  He seldom touched wine.  His morals were irreproachable.  He never gave way to anger.  His patience under trials and difficulties of all sorts was illimitable.

In the midst of the greatest trials and dangers he preserved his cheerfulness, and had ever an encouraging word for his soldiers.  Various as were the nationalities of the troops who followed him, constrained as most of them had been to enter the service of Carthage, so great was their love and admiration for their commander that they were ready to suffer all hardships, to dare all dangers for his sake.  It was his personal influence, and that alone, which welded this army, composed of men of various nationalities and tribes, into one whole, and enabled it to perform the greatest military exploits in the world’s history, and for years to sustain a terrible struggle against the whole power of Rome.

CHAPTER VI:  A CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN

Among the young officers who had followed Hannibal on board were some who had left Carthage only a few months before and were known to Malchus.  From them he learned with delight that the troops would take the field at once.

“We are going on a campaign against the Vacaei,” one of them said.  “The army marched out two days since.  Hannibal has been waiting here for your arrival, for a fast sailing ship which started a few hours after you brought the news that you were on your way, and you will set off to join the rest without delay.  It is going to be a hard campaign.”

“Where is the country of the Vacaei?” Malchus asked.

“A long way off,” the other replied.  “The marches will be long and tiresome.  Their country lies somewhat to the northwest of the great plateau in the centre of Iberia.  We shall have to ascend the mountains on this side, to cross the plateau, to follow the rivers which flow to the great ocean.”

The Vacaei, in fact, dwelt in the lands bordered by the upper Duero, their country comprising a portion of old Castille, Leon, and the Basque provinces.  The journey would indeed be a long and difficult one; and Hannibal was undertaking the expedition not only to punish the turbulent Vacaei, who had attacked some of the tribes which had submitted to Carthage, but to accustom the troops to fatigues and hardships, and to prepare them for the great expedition which he had in view.  No time was indeed lost, for as soon as the troops were landed they were formed up and at once started on their march.