Les aventures du Capitaine Magon. English
Page 5
CHAPTER III.
CHAMAI RECOGNISED BY THE ATTENDANT OF THE SLAVE.
In order to clear the White Cape in the south-west, I took an obliquecourse across the bay, on the north of which stands the city of Tyre.From White Cape[28] I should sight the distant promontory of MountCarmel, and avoiding the deep waters of the bay to the north of thispoint, I should double it and coast along direct to Joppa.
[28] Now Ras-el-Abiad.
The _Cabiros_ was quite capable of making 1300 stadia[29] intwenty-four hours; but the gaoul, which was always in ordinaryweather worked by sails and was now heavily laden, could not attainthat speed; neither could the galleys. I succeeded in accomplishing arate of 1000 stadia in the twenty-four hours, so that in about threehours after our departure we had rounded White Cape, and holding onby a south-west course, by nightfall had lost sight of land. Towardsmidnight Himilco roused me with the announcement that we were offMount Carmel. I could just discern its bluff peak standing out in themoonlight, and gave instructions that our course should be changedto the south; at the same time I took the precaution to signal tothe _Melkarth_ to clew up her sail and use her oars, because we wereagain approaching the shore. A brisk breeze in the morning broughtus in sight of the low, level coast of Palestine, and before noon werecognised Joppa by its elevated towers and surrounding groves ofpalms and wild fig-trees.
[29] That is, 32½ geographical miles, the rate given by Herodotus.
After passing the mouth of a river which empties itself about fortystadia north of the port, the _Cabiros_ neared the shore, while the_Melkarth_ and the two galleys, owing to the shallowness of thewater, were brought to anchor at about a stadium and a half away.
The harbour of Joppa is insignificant, and has neither basins norpiers; scattered about the beach are a few cabins and dilapidatedhovels, in the midst of which rises the small fortress of rubblebuilt by King David when he opened traffic with the Phœnicians,and made Joppa the port whither the firs and cedars hewn down inLebanon were brought on floats. A large Phœnician barque, anda miserable Egyptian craft, with a goose as its figure-head, werestranded in the mud below the beach, and on the beach itself were afew wretched boats belonging to the Jewish fishermen.
Taking Hanno and Hannibal with me, I went on shore in one of mysmall boats, for the purpose of paying a visit to the governor incommand of the little garrison that occupied the fortress. Before,however, we had gone far, we saw the governor himself coming to meetus, followed by about fifteen men armed with swords, lances, andsquare shields. They wore linen girdles, fastened at the side by astrap, which was finished off at the end with a cut and polishedflint. Their heads were bare, but their hair was arranged in a lotof little tresses; upon their feet and legs were long laced gaiters,and a panther's skin, according to Jewish habit, was thrown acrosstheir shoulders. The captain alone was distinguished by a cuirass,which was of copper, and badly made. As soon as I was within a fewpaces of him I stopped and made him my salute, a courtesy which heacknowledged, giving me to understand that he was already aware Icame as an envoy from King Hiram.
MY SALUTE. _To face page 45._]
"Peace be with you!" he said. "Having been informed of your arrival,I have come to offer you the escort to Jerusalem which you require.But now, I beg you, come to the fortress and partake of whathospitality we have it in our power to give."
We were pleased at our reception, and followed our host to thevaulted gate of the tower that overhung the fortress. He conducted usto a lofty chamber overlooking the sea, and made his servants spreada carpet over the floor, that was but roughly paved. The walls ofthe room were of the coarsest rubble and perfectly bare, the entirebuilding being of the most meagre construction. Water, bread, driedfigs, and cheese was the simple fare that was set before us, towhich, however, there was added some very palatable wine, which theJews, since their conquest of Syria, had been able to procure fromHelbon.
While the repast was being prepared we interchanged mutual inquiriesabout ourselves and our respective kings, but the meal was no soonerready than the Jewish commandant set us the example of eating bycramming his mouth chockfull of cheese.
Presently, as he observed me throwing glances round the room, he said:
"Ah, yes, you are thinking that we have not your Phœnician skillin building! We lack your taste and finish. But, remember, we havenot your wealth nor your materials. However, you must recollect thatthis is only a poor straggling village; patience! and you shall seeour populous cities, as well as our fertile country, before you reachJerusalem."
"The land of Judah," said Hannibal, "is not unknown to me. I havetraversed it already, and can bear witness to its richness andfertility; truly it is a land of olives, dates, and corn and wine.And not only are you husbandmen, you are proud of being warriors.Every nation has its own pursuit. We men of Tyre and Sidon forthe most part are sailors full of ardour, and merchants full ofenterprise: but yet I think we may boast of our warriors, too: Arvad,for instance, need not be ashamed of the generals she can show."
"True enough," rejoined the other, as his eye rested with involuntaryadmiration on Hannibal's arms and cuirass, "and no doubt Phœniciansoldiers are well equipped."
"I can tell you," said Hannibal, "something that may perhaps surpriseyou. In spite of your keeping no standing army, and of your neveradmitting strangers into your service, I have myself served underyour king. It happened in this way: when I was very young I was takento the town of Cana, in the heritage of the sons of Asher; I grew upas a child of the tribe, and eventually, at the regular age, I wasenlisted into your army."
The Jewish captain was delighted; he rose and embraced Hannibal, andin token of their friendship they partook of a cup of wine, which wasafterwards passed on to Hanno and myself. "I belong," he said, "tothe tribe of Judah, through whose inheritance we shall have to passas we go to Jerusalem. The King is maintaining some troops at his ownexpense, and I am one of the captains of twenty. My mission here isto await your arrival; the requisite horses and asses are providedfor your journey, and you may start whenever it suits your wishes;this very evening, if you choose."
"Impossible to-night," I answered; "I cannot be absent from the shipsuntil I have returned and made all things ready. To-morrow, however,I shall be prepared."
As there seemed time at our disposal, he inquired whether he mightnot be permitted to visit our ships, suggesting that as we werePhœnicians, we might probably have commodities to offer that theymight be glad to purchase.
I explained that being in the royal service we were not carrying anygoods for commercial transactions, but had only such articles onboard as we hoped to barter for the provisions that we might requireon our way.
"In that case," he said, "I may perchance further your designs; wehave flocks of goats, and we have balm and olives in abundance. Iwill serve you in any way I can. I am Chamai, the son of Rehaiah; myfather is well known throughout the country."
I acquiesced in his wish of visiting our ships, and he followed medown after a very short interval.
During my absence the sailors had been displaying on the beach thefew articles that they had brought for their own private benefit,and were driving a briskish trade with the fishermen and shepherdsthat had gathered round them. On board the _Melkarth_ some of thebarter-goods were already unpacked, and Hanno was not long in drawingup a list of such things as I was ready to part with, and such asI was anxious to procure in exchange. The additions to my store ofwhich I was in especial need were ten measures of grain, two measuresof oil, a barrel of olives, half a measure of balm, six baskets ofdried figs, six baskets of dates, and fifty cheeses; and I furtherinstructed Bodmilcar, who superintended the exchanges, to purchasesome sheep and kids, in order that our men should be adequatelysupplied with fresh meat until our arrival in Egypt. Other supplieswould be requisite; but for these I reckoned upon the generosity ofKing David, and upon what I should be able to buy at Jerusalem.
Chamai expressed his great delight at the order and arrangement
ofour ships; and as almost everything presented some feature of noveltyto him, he could hardly find words to describe his admiration. Thediscipline of the crews and the completeness of the rigging seemedequally to fill him with surprise. He accepted my invitation toremain to supper; and as we were all seated on the poop of the_Ashtoreth_, he gave a deep sigh, and exclaimed:
"How glorious your long voyages are! How glorious to be ableto obtain the wealth that the Great Sea can give! Here, in ourmountains, we are as ignorant as goats. From time to time we mayplunder a few villages, but our chiefs always get the lion's share ofthe prey, which, after all, is meagre enough compared with what yougain by commerce."
I reminded him how that there was something more to charm anadventurer on the seas than merely getting wealth; there was theadvantage of seeing the wonders of the world.
"Ah, yes," he assented. "I have heard your Phœnician merchantstell of enormous serpents, and of fishes fifty cubits long. I havelistened to their tales of valleys full of precious stones, and mineswith inexhaustible stores of silver and of gold. I know, too, thatthey relate wonderful stories about giants, and about mountains thatbelch forth fire and smoke."
"No doubt," I said, "you must allow a little for exaggeration intravellers' tales; but beyond a question there are strange sights fortravellers to see."
"And do you not," he asked, "occasionally have to fight? I have hadsome experience in fighting; I have slain Moabites and Philistineswith my own hand. I could fight again; and if you are likely to haveany more fighting I should like to go with you. Could you not takeme?"
Hannibal laid his hand upon Chamai's shoulder, and said: "Look here,captain. If you are in earnest, perhaps that might be done. I wantforty recruits as archers. Would it be in your power to get them forus?"
"Yes, yes!" he cried eagerly, adding his accustomed oath, "in thename of El, the Lord of hosts."
"Get them then," I said; "and if they are forty sturdy fellows, fitfor soldiers, you shall have the command of them, under Hannibal." Ifurther delighted him by promising him a new cuirass, and a Chalybeandagger with an ivory handle.
"Long live the King!" he cried, in an ecstasy of joy; and Hannibalrubbed his hands with glee at the prospect of so successfullyrecruiting the number of his troops, saying that now they might facethe world and conquer kingdoms.
"Whatever kingdoms I conquer," broke in Hanno, "I shall sellforthwith, subjects and all; I shall put them up to auction to thehighest bidder, and shall purchase my palace with the proceeds. You,Himilco, shall be appointed cup-bearer. 'When the goat is gardener,the goat-skins are taken care of;' you know the proverb."
"But instead of talking about _your_ feast," said Himilco, drily, "wemay as well proceed to enjoy our own;" and he moved towards the tableon which the supper had now been laid.
We had hardly commenced our repast, when a sailor came from Bodmilcarto announce that he had completed all his purchases. I inquired whythe captain himself did not come to join our party. The man said thathe could give no other reason than that he believed Bodmilcar hadinvited the eunuch to supper with him on board the _Melkarth_.
Hanno turned pale.
"That rascally eunuch, I fear, is manœuvring some mischief," Isaid, when the sailor had left us; "however, let us hope that thewomen are not in the plot."
Hanno was on the point of hurrying off immediately to the cabin, whenthe door opened, and the waiting-maid made her appearance, followedby her mistress, closely veiled.
"Never fear, captain," said the maid, smiling; "the hawk may fly, butthe doves do not follow."
"Did he tell you to follow him?" I asked angrily.
"He did not insist upon it," replied the girl; "and we preferredremaining here; we had no taste for taking up our quarters on thatbig black ship."
I told her that she had only done right, and that I should reprimandHazael most severely if he made the slightest attempt at removingthem from my immediate supervision. She then made a request, to whichI willingly acceded, that they might enjoy a stroll in the fresh airupon the deck; but before she turned away, Chamai, who had hithertobeen engrossed in some military discussion with Hannibal, caughtsight of her face, and suddenly starting to his feet, exclaimed:
"Abigail, you here!"
"Chamai, is it you?" she answered; and in an instant they weregrasping each other's hands; and gazing in each other's eyes, theywept aloud.
As soon as Chamai had recovered his composure, he asked her by whatstrange chance it happened that she was on board a Phœnicianvessel.
"Did you not know," she asked in return, "that the Philistines camedown on Guedor, our native village, and carried me off to Askelon,and afterwards sold me to the Tyrians?"
"No," he said; "all this is new to me. I was away in the north,fighting against the King of Zobah, and since that time, have notbeen home."
It did not take Abigail long to regain all her wonted cheerfulnessand vivacity; and she went on to tell how she had been purchasedby the King of Tyre, and was now on her way to Egypt in attendanceupon the Ionian lady, whom King Hiram had bought at the same time asherself, and whom he was now sending as a present to Pharaoh.
Chamai, in his turn, informed her that he was to be allowed toaccompany us in our expedition, but was loud in expressing hisregret that the voyage to Egypt would be so quickly over; he couldhave wished, he said, that it would take as long as his forefathers'wandering in the wilderness.
Touched by the incident of this mutual recognition, I invited thegirl to sit down for a little while amongst us; and requested Hanno,who was acquainted with the Ionian dialect, to ask the lady to do thesame. With a graceful obeisance, she took her seat on a cushion thatwas placed for her.
The evening meal proceeded pleasantly enough. Abigail and Chamaientertained us with the story of their attachment, relating how inthe days of their early childhood they had tended goats together intheir native pastures. I could not refrain from expressing my sorrowthat they had met to be parted again so soon.
"But perhaps," said Abigail, "Pharaoh will not want to keep me; ofsuch as I am, King Pharaoh must have thousands. My mistress here issent for him; but me, surely, he will send back again."
Chamai clenched his strong fists, and gave an appealing look at me;but I could give him no further consolation than by remarking that itwas very probable the company of the waiting-woman was only requiredfor the lady during the voyage.
"Apart from that," said Hannibal, "she would be lonely and desolateenough. Little is the trouble that the eunuch Hazael puts himself tofor the sake of entertaining her."
Meanwhile, Hanno and the Ionian lady had entered into a conversationso close, and apparently so confidential, that it gave me a feelingof uneasiness; and in order to interrupt it, I took the opportunity,while the wine-cups were being replenished, of asking Hanno whether,as he had a reputation for playing the psaltery, he could notpersuade the lady to allow him to accompany her while she sung oneof the songs of her country. She had some slight acquaintance withPhœnician, and answered for herself that she should have muchpleasure in singing as I wished.
Hanno fetched his psaltery, and as soon as it was tuned, thecaptive damsel turned back her veil and revealed a countenance ofpeculiar beauty. She was dressed as a Phœnician, in a purple robeembroidered with silver, and wore a necklace composed of three rowsof gold beads and gold ornaments of elaborate design. Her head wasbare, and her hair was arranged in the fashion of her own country,turned back from the forehead and secured in the middle. We sat insilence, as though riveted by a spectacle of surpassing beauty.
THE IONIAN COMMENCED ONE OF THE SONGS OF HER NATIVE LAND. _To face page 52._]
As soon as my slave had attached the earthenware lamps to thesupports that were ready for them in the ship's side, the Ionian,in a rich harmonious voice, commenced one of the songs of hernative land. I cannot profess to be familiar with the Ionic tongue,but in the course of my wanderings I had gained sufficientacquaintance with it to be aware that the verses which she sung werein ce
lebration of the wars made long, long ago by her countrymen, theAchæans, against Priam and the city of Troy. Ever and again, as hervoice rose in thrilling sweetness, Chamai's eyes could be noticedflashing with emotion, and Hannibal's fingers seemed to be feelingfor the hilt of his sword; and even those who could not comprehendthe meaning of the words were all enraptured by the melody of thesong and the bewitching loveliness of the singer. When she hadfinished, she rose and retired with a step stately as that with whichAshtoreth might move along the floods.
Immediately after she had gone, Hanno moved to the ship's side, wherehe stood for a considerable time gazing moodily into the water. Imissed his merry voice from our party, and going up to him asked himwhat was the matter.
"Nothing but what will soon pass away," he replied.
"Take my advice," I said, "and let nothing be told Bodmilcar aboutwhat has transpired this evening. I neither trust him nor the eunuch."
"Let Bodmilcar do as he pleases," replied Hanno, quickly. "For mypart, I shall abide by the promise I have made. What I want now is toget to Tarshish, and to find adventures to divert me. I think I shallbe a good sailor yet, captain;" and his tone brightened as he spoke.I shook him heartily by the hand. Somehow or other I felt myselfevery day to be drawn closer to the youth.
When I rejoined the others I found Chamai on the point of returningto shore.
"Good-night, Chamai," said I; "we meet again in the morning."
"Good-night, captain; good-night all;" and as soon as he was in theboat he shouted, "Good-night, Abigail, my charming dove!"
"Good-night, my pretty lamb!" responded Abigail, saucily, as shelooked forth from the interior of her cabin.
At this very moment the eunuch arrived. "The fellow has good lungs,"he sneered, as he passed; "but I question whether King Pharaoh wouldbe best pleased to know that his slaves had been displayed to all theworld."
"No, nor if he should learn that they have been entertained by aship's captain and his scribe," put in Bodmilcar, contemptuouslykicking aside Hanno's psaltery, which had been accidentally left uponthe cushion that had been occupied by the Ionian.
"Your proceedings displease _me_;" I began, in a tone of reproof; butBodmilcar interrupted me by saying sharply: "Hazael has the King'sauthority for placing the slaves wherever he thinks best."
This was too exasperating. It was intolerable that a Syrian eunuch,himself a mere slave, should presume to set up his authority over me,a free man and a captain of a Sidonian fleet, and I stared steadilyat Bodmilcar, as if he could hardly be aware of what he said; but heonly returned my gaze with a look of defiance.
He proceeded in a haughty tone: "This Ionian damsel was once mine,but she was stolen from me by men who sold her to the King. The Kingsends her to King Pharaoh as a present, and I shall do my duty to theKing by preventing his present from falling into the hands of yourscribe."
I answered firmly: "In all these matters I alone am judge. On thesevessels my authority in all things is supreme, and woe to any one whoquestions it."
"Well spoken!" cried Hannibal. "Discipline and obedience for ever!"
"I shall do _this_, then," he began, with a voice half-choked withrage; but I took him up coolly and decisively: "You will do what Iorder; you will go back to your ship and look after your sailors. Ishall be away five days."
He retreated slowly towards the boat, muttering threats and oaths ashe went, but to these I did not pay the slightest heed.
When he was gone, Hazael said: "And now I shall go and chastise thatgirl."
I laid my hand upon his shoulder to deter him; but he shook himselffree, and was about to open the cabin-door, when the powerful graspof Hannibal was upon him, so that he was twisted completely round.
"How?--how now?" he stammered out, looking first at me and then atHannibal, who still retained a firm hold upon him. I folded my armsand looked steadily at him.
"Listen!" I said; "listen to me. The rule of a Phœnician ship isthis: whoever defies the captain's orders is tied to a rope from theyard-arm and dipped three times in the water. Do you understand me?"
Quivering with fear, the eunuch only bowed his head in assent.
"Remember it then," I added; "and remember, too, another rule: whenany one curses another he is fastened tight to that mast and flogged;five-and-twenty lashes. Do you understand?"
He bent his head again.
"And don't forget," I said, "that Abigail has a busy tongue, and thatI have sharp ears. Now, Hannibal, let him go."
Hazael made his way to his cabin without a word. Hannibal could notsuppress his glee. He exclaimed: "Bravo! captain! all right! no gooddoing things by halves; mutiny in a ship is as bad as rebellion in acamp."
Early next morning I sent for Bodmilcar.
"Bodmilcar," said I, "you are an old Phœnician mariner and oughtto be trusted, but I am afraid the influence of that eunuch hasturned your head. He will not be long with us; and when he takeshis women ashore, I hope you will be yourself again: but meanwhileyou must give me your word that you will not be promoting furtherdiscord."
He attempted to deny that he had in any way fostered discord, but Iwas not to be put off; I insisted upon the promise being distinctlygiven, and when he had yielded and made me the promise I required, Isaid to him:
"Now, attend to my instructions. You will remain here in commandof the vessels, while I am gone to Jerusalem. Hanno and Hannibalwill accompany me, but Hasdrubal, Hamilcar and Himilco will remainwith you, and you will be under the protection of the soldiers. Wewill make it our business to get provisions in the interior of thecountry, so that you will have nothing to concern yourself about inthe way of purchases."
"And what becomes of the two women?" he inquired.
"That is my affair," I answered; "I shall see that they are providedfor on shore. But we are off at once; so look to your duty. Farewell!"
I directed Hanno and Hannibal to get into the boat, and ordered myslave, with two sailors carrying the baggage, to accompany them. AsHanno passed Bodmilcar, I noticed that the latter scowled and spatupon the ground. Hanno merely shrugged his shoulders.
Before I took my own place in the boat, I saw the women and theeunuch safely on board the other boat, and told two sailors to gowith them, and take on shore all that they might require. Hazaeltried to invent some pretext for remaining behind; he would lookafter the baggage, he said, but on hearing me cry out, "No, no," heembarked without further remonstrance.
Everything being ready, I gave the word for starting, and the twoboats moved off. Bodmilcar stood upon the poop watching us gloomily,whilst Himilco, who was by his side, bade us good-bye with a friendlycheer.
A very few strokes of the oar brought us to land; Chamai had beenimpatiently awaiting our arrival, and hastened to assist Abigailfrom the boat. We made our way straight to the village, which liesin a grove of wild fig-trees, about two bowshots from the fortress,and is provided with a good cistern. In front of the house thatseemed by far the most important in the place, there were tied twohorses and about a dozen asses. The horses were well caparisoned withembroidered bridles, and had their heads decked out with scarletnetwork, trimmed with little bells and parti-coloured rosettes,their tails being tied up with scarlet bands. The asses' manes andtails, according to a general custom, were dyed with henna, and theseanimals, like the horses, were all well harnessed.
"This," said Chamai, "is the house of Bichri; he is one of the menthat I propose getting to join you on your voyage. He is young andstrong, and skilful in the use alike of his bow, his sword, and hisshield. He has been a vine-dresser on the mountains, and has learntthe art of making wine."
Bichri himself at this moment came forward to give us his greeting;he was accompanied by another man with a young woman.
"This is Barzillai, one of my captains of ten," said Chamai,introducing him to me; "and this is his wife, Milcah; she is thesister of our friend Bichri here, and is famous for the honey-cakesshe makes."
Hannibal sugg
ested that Barzillai and his wife should join us on ourexpedition, but Chamai explained that nothing would induce them to goto sea.
I next proceeded to make arrangements for lodging the two womenduring my absence. I found that they could either be accommodated inthe tower, or that they could be received into Bichri's house, wherethey would be near enough to Barzillai to have the companionship ofhis wife, and the protection of his men-at-arms. At first Chamai wasdisposed to murmur when he learnt that Abigail was not to accompanyus to Jerusalem; but when he understood that it was my wish thatshe and her mistress should remain together where they were, heacquiesced without another word of disapprobation. To Barzillai Igive the strictest injunctions to allow no one, except the eunuch, tosee the Ionian lady on any pretence whatever, and he struck his handupon the hilt of his sword as a guarantee that he would be faithfulto his trust.
"And where am I to lodge?" asked the eunuch.
"Wherever you may choose," I answered; "in Bichri's house, if youlike."
"In my house!" cried Bichri; "a Syrian of Zobah in my house! No, no,captain, by your leave, I'd rather not. It cannot be."
"Why not?" yelped out the eunuch; "are we Syrians not as good as you?"
"No; Syrians are slaves: our King conquered you at Zobah and Damascusboth; you are fleas, dead dogs!"
"True," chimed in Chamai; "the Philistines of Gaza and Askelon arefoes worth conquering, but as to Syrians, I could spit a dozen ofthem on my lance and carry them across my shoulder."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Hannibal; "Chamai dearly loves a joke; he will makegood sport for us along our way."
To Barzillai's inquiries whether the women were ever to be allowed togo out, I replied that Abigail, since she belonged to the country,might occasionally take a walk in company with Milcah, but that theIonian must not be allowed to leave the house until my return. Theyengaged to make the lady's time pass agreeably, and Milcah undertookto initiate her into the art of making cakes and other delicacies.
Having thus satisfactorily made our preliminary arrangements, weentered the house to partake of some refreshment before our departure.
In order to ensure that the guard should be sufficiently strong,Barzillai had offered to find quarters in the village for fifteenof our men in addition to his own. Hannibal accordingly sent tothe ships for fifteen archers to come on shore, and I took theopportunity of sending by the same messenger to Hamilcar and thosewho were with him, to inform them what I had done by way of puttingan effectual check upon any scheme that Bodmilcar and the eunuchmight concert between them.
The eunuch had declined joining our meal, and had returned sulkily tothe ships. Milcah conducted the Ionian to her apartment, but soonreappeared, bringing a supply of her renowned honey-cakes, three forevery guest. So engrossed, however, were Abigail and Chamai with eachother's society, that they forgot all about taking their own shares,which Hannibal was nothing loath to eat for them.
Bichri went out first to see that the horses and asses were inreadiness, and we followed him as soon as we had taken our leave ofBarzillai and Milcah. The parting between the young lovers, it needscarcely be said, was somewhat protracted. Thoroughbred Sidonian asI was, more accustomed to the rolling of a ship than the curvetingsof a steed, I declined mounting the high-spirited horse which the Jewoffered me, feeling that I should be more at my ease upon a pacificsteady-going ass. By my directions Hanno had made a present to ourhost of a piece of scarlet cloth; to his wife I had given a pair ofsilver earrings, with which she was extremely delighted; and we haddistributed a number of earthenware dolls and toys to the childrenwho crawled about or clambered on our knees. Chamai (who had donnedhis new cuirass and bestowed his old one upon Barzillai), detainedus by running back a dozen times upon some frivolous pretext,which ill disguised his real design of saying good-bye once moreto his sweetheart, but at last made up his mind to mount the horsewhich Hanno, as well as myself, had refused to ride. Hannibal hadalready mounted the other horse, and was exhibiting his skill as anequestrian, by cantering about us. Of the asses, four were laden withour baggage; Hanno, the two sailors, and my own slave, got upon theothers; and Bichri, with his strong mountaineer's stride, marched onahead of the caravan to pioneer the way.