The Young Carthaginian: A Story of The Times of Hannibal

  CHAPTER XVI: IN THE DUNGEONS OF CARTHAGE

  Fabius, after the escape of Hannibal from the trap in which he believedhe had caught him, followed him into Apulia, and encamped on high groundin his neighbourhood intending to continue the same waiting tactics.He was, however, soon afterwards recalled to Rome to consult with thesenate on matters connected with the army. He left Minucius in command,with strict orders that he should on no account suffer himself to beenticed into a battle. Minucius moved forward to within five miles ofGeronium, and then encamped upon a spur of the hills.

  Hannibal, aware that Fabius had left, hoped to be able to tempt theimpatient Minucius to an action. He accordingly drew nearer to theRomans and encamped upon a hill three miles from their position.

  Another hill lay about halfway between the two armies. Hannibal occupiedthis during the night with two thousand of his light troops, butnext day Minucius attacked the position, drove off its defenders, andencamped there with his whole army. For some days Hannibal kept hisforce united in his intrenchments, feeling sure that Minucius wouldattack him. The latter, however, strictly obeyed the orders of Fabiusand remained inactive.

  It was all important to the Carthaginians to collect an ample supply offood before winter set in, and Hannibal, finding that the Romans wouldnot attack him, was compelled to resume foraging expeditions. Two-thirdsof the army were despatched in various directions in strong bodies,while the rest remained to guard the intrenchment.

  This was the opportunity for which Minucius had been waiting. He at oncedespatched the whole of his cavalry to attack the foraging parties,and with his infantry he advanced to the attack of the weakly defendedCarthaginian camp. For a time Hannibal had the greatest difficulty inresisting the assault of the Romans; but at last a body of four thousandof the foragers, who had beaten off the Roman cavalry and made their wayinto Geronium, came out to his support, and the Romans retired.

  Hannibal, seeing the energy which Minucius had displayed, fell back tohis old camp near Geronium, and Minucius at once occupied the positionwhich he had vacated. The partial success of Minucius enabled the partyin Rome who had long been discontented with the waiting tactics ofFabius to make a fresh attack upon his policy, and Minucius was nowraised to an equal rank with Fabius.

  Minucius, elated with his elevation, proposed to Fabius either thatthey should command the whole army on alternate days, or each shouldpermanently command one-half. Fabius chose the latter alternative, forhe felt certain that the impetuosity of his colleague would sooner orlater get him into trouble with such an adversary as Hannibal, andthat it was better to risk the destruction of half the army than of thewhole.

  Minucius withdrew the troops allotted to him, and encamped in the plainsat a distance of a mile and a half from Fabius. Hannibal resolved atonce to take advantage of the change, and to tempt the Romans to attackhim by occupying a hill which lay about halfway between the camp ofMinucius and Geronium.

  The plain which surrounded the hill was level and destitute of wood, butHannibal on a careful examination found that there were several hollowsin which troops could be concealed, and in these during the night heposted five thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry. The positionoccupied by them was such that they would be able to take the Romans inflank and rear should they advance against the hill. Having made thesedispositions he sent forward a body of light troops in the morningto occupy the hill. Minucius immediately despatched his light troops,supported by cavalry, to drive them from it. Hannibal reinforced hisCarthaginians by small bodies of troops, and the fight was obstinatelymaintained until Minucius, whose blood was now up, marched towards thehill with his legions in order of battle.

  Hannibal on his side advanced with the remains of his troops, and thebattle became fierce and general, until Hannibal gave the signal tohis troops in ambush, who rushed out and charged the Romans in rear andflank. Their destruction would have been as complete and terrible asthat which had befallen the army of Sempronius at the Trebia, had notFabius moved forward with his troops to save the broken legions ofMinucius.

  Fabius now offered battle, but Hannibal, well content with the heavyblow which he had struck, and the great loss which he had inflicted uponthe command of Minucius, fell back to his camp. Minucius acknowledgedthat Fabius had saved his army from total destruction, and at onceresigned his command into his hands, and reverted to his former positionunder him. Both armies then went into winter quarters.

  Malchus had not been present at the fighting near Geronium. Two daysafter Hannibal broke through the Roman positions round the plains ofCampania he intrusted Malchus with an important commission. Commandingthe bodyguard of the general, and being closely related to him, Malchuswas greatly in Hannibal's confidence, and was indeed on the same footingwith Mago, Hannibal's brother, and two or three other of his mosttrusted generals. Gathered in the general's tent on the previousevening, these had agreed with their leader that final success could notbe looked for in their enterprise unless reinforcements were receivedfrom Carthage.

  It was now a year since they had emerged from the Alps on to the plainsof Northern Italy. They had annihilated two Roman armies, had marchedalmost unopposed through some of the richest provinces of Italy, and yetthey were no nearer the great object of their enterprise than they werewhen they crossed the Alps.

  Some of the Cisalpine Gauls had joined them, but even in the plainsnorth of the Apennines the majority of the tribes had remained firm totheir alliance with the Romans, while south of that range of mountainsthe inhabitants had in every case shown themselves bitterly hostile.Everywhere on the approach of the Carthaginians they had retiredto their walled towns, which Hannibal had neither the time nor thenecessary machines to besiege.

  Although Rome had lost two armies she had already equipped and placed inthe field a third force superior in number to that of the Carthaginians;her army in Spain had not been drawn upon; her legion north of theApennines was operating against the revolted tribes; other legions werein course of being raised and equipped, and Rome would take the fieldin the spring with an army greatly superior in strength to that ofCarthage. Victorious as Hannibal had been in battle, the army which hadstruggled through the Alps had in the year which had elapsed, greatlydiminished in numbers. Trebia and Trasimene had both lessened theirstrength, but their losses had been much heavier in the terriblemarch across the Apennines in the spring, and by fevers subsequentlycontracted from the pestiferous malaria of the marshes in the summer.In point of numbers the gaps had been filled up by the contingentsfurnished by their Gaulish allies. But the loss of all the elephants,of a great number of the cavalry, and of the Carthaginian troops, whoformed the backbone of the army, was not to be replaced.

  "Malchus," Hannibal said, "you know what we were speaking ofyesterday evening. It is absolutely necessary that we should receivereinforcements. If Carthage aids me I regard victory as certain. Twoor three campaigns like the last would alike break down the strength ofRome, and will detach her allies from her.

  "The Latins and the other Italian tribes, when they find that Rome ispowerless to protect them, that their flocks and herds, their crops andpossessions are at our mercy, will at length become weary of supportingher cause, and will cast in their lot with us; but if the strife is tobe continued, Carthage must make an effort--must rouse herself from thelethargy in which she appears to be sunk. It is impossible for me toleave the army, nor can I well spare Mago. The cavalry are devoted tohim, and losing him would be like losing my right hand; yet it is clearthat someone must go to Carthage who can speak in my name, and canrepresent the true situation here.

  "Will you undertake the mission? It is one of great danger. In the firstplace you will have to make your way by sea to Greece, and thence takeship for Carthage. When you arrive there you will be bitterly opposed byHanno and his faction, who are now all powerful, and it may be that yourmission may cost you your life; for not only do these men hate me andall connected with me, but, like most demagogues, they place theirown selfish aims and end
s, the advantage of their own faction, and thefurtherance of their own schemes far above the general welfare of thestate, the loss of all the colonies of Carthage, and the destructionof her imperial power. The loss of national prestige and honour are tothese men as nothing in comparison with the question whether they canretain their places and emoluments as rulers of Carthage.

  "Rome is divided as we are, her patricians and plebeians are everbitterly opposed to each other; but at present patriotism rises aboveparty, and both sink their disputes when the national cause is atstake. The time will doubtless come--that is, unless we cut her courseshort--that as Rome increases in wealth and in luxury she will sufferfrom the like evils that are destroying Carthage. Party exigencies willrise above patriotic considerations, and Rome will fall to pieces unlessshe finds some man strong and vigourous enough to grasp the whole powerof the state, to silence the chattering of the politicians, and to ruleher with a rod of iron. But I am wandering from my subject. Will youundertake this mission?"

  "I will," Malchus replied firmly, "if you think me worthy of it. Ihave no eloquence as a speaker, and know nothing of the arts of thepolitician."

  "There will be plenty of our friends there who will be able to haranguethe multitude," Hannibal replied. "It is your presence there as therepresentative of the army, as my kinsman, and as the son of the generalwho did such good service to the state that will profit our cause.

  "It is your mission to tell Carthage that now is her time or never; thatRome already totters from the blows I have struck her, and that anotherblow only is requisite to stretch her in the dust. A mighty effort isneeded to overthrow once for all our great rival.

  "Sacrifices will be needed, and great ones, to obtain the object, butRome once fallen the future of Carthage is secure. What is needed isthat Carthage should obtain and keep the command of the sea for twoyears, that at least twenty-five thousand men should be sent over in thespring, and as many in the spring following. With such reinforcements Iwill undertake to destroy absolutely the power of Rome. Tomorrow I willfurnish you with letters to our friends at home, giving full details asto the course they should pursue and particulars of our needs.

  "A party of horse shall accompany you to the coast, with a score of menused to navigation. There you will seize a ship and sail for Corinth,whence you will have no difficulty in obtaining passage to Carthage."

  After nightfall the next day Malchus started, taking Nessus with him ashis attendant and companion. The party travelled all night, and in themorning the long line of the sea was visible from the summits of thehills they were crossing. They waited for some hours to rest and refreshtheir horses, and then, continuing their journey, came down in theafternoon upon a little port at the mouth of the river Biferno. Sounexpected was their approach that the inhabitants had not time to shuttheir gates, and the troops entered the town without resistance, thepeople all flying to their houses.

  Malchus at once proclaimed that the Carthaginians came as friends, andwould, if, unmolested, injure no one; but if any armed attempt was madeagainst them they would sack and destroy the town. Two or three vesselswere lying in the port; Malchus took possession of the largest, and,putting his party of seamen on board her, ordered the crew to sailfor Corinth. The horsemen were to remain in the town until the vesselreturned, when, with the party on board her, they would at once rejoinHannibal.

  The wind was favourable, and the next morning the mountains of Greecewere in sight, and in the afternoon they entered the port of Corinth.The anchor was dropped at a short distance from the shore, the smallboat was lowered, and Malchus, accompanied by Nessus, was rowed ashoreby two of his own men. These then returned on board the ship, which atonce weighed anchor and set sail on her return.

  Corinth was a large and busy port, and the arrival and departure ofthe little vessel from Italy passed altogether unnoticed, and withoutattracting any particular attention Malchus and his companion made theirway along the wharves. The trade of Corinth was large and flourishing,and the scene reminded Malchus of that with which he was so familiarin Carthage. Ships of many nationalities were ranged along the quays.Galleys from Tyre and Cyprus, from Syria and Egypt, from Carthage andItaly, were all assembled in this neutral port.

  Corinth was, like Carthage, essentially a trading community; and whilethe power and glory of the rival cities of the Peloponnesus were rapidlyfailing Corinth was rising in rank, and was now the first city ofGreece. Malchus had no difficulty in finding a Carthaginian tradingship. He was amply supplied with money, and soon struck a bargain thatthe captain should, without waiting to take in further cargo, at oncesail for Carthage.

  The captain was much surprised at the appearance in Corinth of a youngCarthaginian evidently of high rank, but he was too well satisfied atthe bargain he had made to ask any questions. An hour later the mooringropes were cast off, and the vessel, spreading her sails, started on hervoyage. The weather was warm and pleasant, and Malchus, stretched on acouch spread on the poop, greatly enjoyed the rest and quiet, after thelong months which had been spent in almost incessant activity. Upon thefollowing day Nessus approached him.

  "My lord Malchus," he said, "there are some on board the ship who knowyou. I have overheard the men talking together, and it seems that oneof them recognized you as having been in the habit of going out with afisherman who lived next door to him at Carthage."

  "It matters not," Malchus said indifferently; "I have no particularmotive in concealing my name, though it would have been as well thatI should be able to meet my friends in Carthage and consult with thembefore my arrival there was generally known. However, before I leave theship I can distribute some money among the crew, and tell them that forcertain reasons of state I do not wish them to mention on shore that Ihave been a passenger."

  Had Malchus been aware that the ship in which he had taken passage wasone of the great fleet of traders owned by Hanno, he would have regardedthe discovery of his personality by the sailors in a more serious light;as it was, he thought no more of the matter. No change in the mannerof the captain showed that he was aware of the name and rank of hispassenger, and Malchus, as he watched the wide expanse of sea, brokenonly by a few distant sails, was too intent upon the mission with whichhe was charged to give the matter another moment's thought.

  The wind fell light and it was not until the evening of the eighth dayafter leaving Corinth that Carthage, with the citadel of Byrsa risingabove it, could be distinguished. The ship was moving but slowly throughthe water, and the captain said that unless a change took place theywould not make port until late the next morning. Malchus retired to hiscouch feeling sorry that the period of rest and tranquillity was at anend, and that he was now about to embark in a difficult struggle, which,though he felt its importance, was altogether alien to his taste anddisposition.

  He had not even the satisfaction that he should see his mother andsister, for news had come a short time before he sailed that theirposition was so uncomfortable at Carthage that they had left for Spain,to take up their abode there with Adherbal and Anna. His mother was,he heard, completely broken down in health by grief for the loss of hisfather.

  He was wakened in the night by the splash of the anchor and the runningout of he cable through the hawse hole, and supposed that the breezemust have sprung up a little, and that they had anchored at the entranceto the harbour. He soon went off to sleep again, but was presentlyaroused by what seemed to him the sound of a short struggle followed byanother splash; he dreamingly wondered what it could be and then wentoff to sleep again. When he awoke it was daylight. Somewhat surprised atthe non-appearance of Nessus, who usually came into his cabin the firstthing in the morning to call him, he soon attired himself.

  On going to the door of his cabin he was surprised to find it fastenedwithout. He knocked loudly against it to attract attention, but almostimmediately found himself in darkness. Going to the porthole to discoverthe cause of this sudden change, he found that a sack had been stuffedinto it, and immediately afterwards the sound of ha
mmering told him thata plank was being nailed over this outside to keep it in its place.

  The truth washed across him--he was a prisoner. Drawing his sword heflung himself with all his force against the door, but this had been sosecurely fastened without that it did not yield in the slightest tohis efforts. After several vain efforts he abandoned the attempt, andsitting down endeavoured to realize the position. He soon arrived atsomething like the truth: the trading interests of Carthage were whollyat the disposal of Hanno and his party, and he doubted not that, havingbeen recognized, the captain had determined to detain him as a prisoneruntil he communicated to Hanno the fact of his arrival, and receivedinstructions from him as to whether Malchus was to be allowed to land.

  Malchus recalled the sounds he had heard in the night, and utteredan exclamation of grief and anger as he concluded that his faithfulfollower had been attacked and doubtless killed and thrown overboard. Atpresent he was powerless to do anything, and with his sword grasped inhis hand he lay on the couch in readiness to start up and fight his wayout, as soon as he heard those without undoing the fastenings of thedoor.

  The day passed slowly. He could hear voices without and footsteps on thedeck of the poop overhead, but no one came near him; and after a timehis watchfulness relaxed, as he made up his mind that his captors,whatever their intentions might be, would not attempt to carry them outuntil after nightfall. At last he heard a moving of the heavy articleswhich had been piled against the door; he sprang to his feet, the dooropened two or three inches, and a voice said:

  "In the name of the republic I declare you to be my prisoner."

  "I warn you I shall resist," Malchus exclaimed. "I am Malchus, the sonof Hamilcar, late a general of the republic, and I come to Carthage on amission from Hannibal. Whatever complaint the state may have against meI am ready to answer at the proper time, and shall not fail to appearwhen called upon; but at present I have Hannibal's mission to discharge,and those who interfere with me are traitors to the republic, whomsoeverthey may be, and I will defend myself until the last."

  "Open the door and seize him," a voice exclaimed.

  As the door was opened Malchus sprang forward, but the lights of severallanterns showed a dozen men with levelled spears standing in front ofthe cabin.

  "I surrender," he said, seeing that against such a force as thisresistance would be vain, "but in the name of Hannibal I protest againstthis interference with the messenger whom he has sent to explain, in hisname, to the senate the situation in Italy."

  So saying Malchus laid down his shield and sword, took off his helmet,and walked quietly from the cabin. At an order from their superior fourof the men laid down their weapons and seized him. In a minute he wasbound hand and foot, a gag was forced into his mouth, a cloak thrownover his head, and he was roughly thrown into a large boat alongside theship.

  Short as was the time which he had at liberty, Malchus had thrown aglance over the bulwarks of each side of the ship, and perceived thatany resistance would have been useless, for far away lay the lights ofCarthage; and it was evident that the vessel had made little progresssince he had retired to rest on the previous evening. Had she beeninside the harbour he had intended to spring overboard at once and totrust to escape by swimming.

  The person in command of the party which had seized Malchus took hisplace at the helm of the boat, and his twelve agents seated themselvesat the oars and rowed away towards Carthage. The town was nearly eightmiles away, and they were two hours before they arrived there. The placewhere they landed was at some distance from the busy part of the port.Two men were waiting for them there with a stretcher. Upon this Malchuswas laid, four men lifted it on their shoulders, the others fell inround it as a guard, and the party then proceeded through quiet streetstowards the citadel.

  The hour was late and but few people were about. Any who paused for amoment to look at the little procession, shrank away hastily on hearingthe dreaded words, "In the name of the republic," uttered by the leaderof the party. The citizens of Carthage were too well accustomed tomidnight arrests to give the matter further thought, save a momentarywonder as to who was the last victim of the tyrants of the city, and toindulge, perhaps, in a secret malediction upon them. Malchus had fromthe first no doubt as to his destination, and when he felt a suddenchange in the angle at which the stretcher was carried, knew that he wasbeing taken up the steep ascent to Byrsa.

  He heard presently the challenge of a sentry, then there was a pause asthe gates were opened, then he was carried forward for awhile, there wasanother stop, and the litter was lowered to the ground, his cords wereunfastened, and he was commanded to rise. It needed but a glance upwardsto tell him where he was. Above him towered the dark mass of thetemple of Moloch, facing him was a small door known to every citizen ofCarthage as leading to the dungeons under the temple.

  Brave as he was, Malchus could not resist a shudder as he entered theportal, accompanied by four of his guards and preceded by a jailer.No questions were asked by the latter, and doubtless the coming of theprisoner had been expected and prepared for. The way lay down a longflight of steps and through several passages, all hewn in the solidrock. They passed many closed doors, until at last they turned into onewhich stood open. The gag was then removed from Malchus' mouth, the doorwas closed behind him, he heard the bolts fastened, and then remainedalone in perfect darkness.

  Malchus felt round the walls of his cell and found that it was about sixfeet square. In one corner was a bundle of straw, and, spreading thisout, he threw himself upon it and bitterly meditated over the positioninto which he had fallen. His own situation was desperate enough. He washelpless in the hands of Hanno. The friends and partisans of Hannibalwere ignorant of his coming, and he could hope for no help from them. Hehad little doubt as to what his fate would be; he would be put to deathin some cruel way, and Hannibal, his relatives, and friends would neverknow what had become of him from the moment when he left the Italianvessel in the port of Corinth.

  But hopeless as was his own situation, Malchus thought more of Hannibaland his brave companions in arms than of himself. The manner in whichhe had been kidnapped by the agents of Hanno, showed how determined wasthat demagogue to prevent the true state of things which prevailed inItaly from becoming known to the people of Carthage. In order to securetheir own triumph, he and his party were willing to sacrifice Hannibaland his army, and to involve Carthage in the most terrible disasters.

  At last Malchus slept. When he awoke a faint light was streaming downinto his cell. In the centre of the room was an opening of about a footsquare, above which a sort of chimney extended twenty feet up throughthe solid rock to the surface, where it was covered with an irongrating. Malchus knew where he was. Along each side of the great templeextended a row of these gratings level with the floor, and every citizenknew that it was through these apertures that light and air reached theprisoners in the cells below. Sometimes groans and cries were heard torise, but those who were near would hurry from the spot, for theyknew that the spies of the law were ever on the watch, and that to besuspected of entering into communication with the prisoners would besufficient to ensure condemnation and death.

  It was the sight of these gratings, and the thought of the dismal cellsbelow, which had increased the aversion which Malchus had felt as a boyto enter the bloodstained temple, little as he had dreamed that the daywould come when he himself would be lying a prisoner in one of them. Heknew that it was useless for him to attempt by shouting to inform hisfriends in the city of his presence there. The narrowness of the airpassage and the closeness of the grating above deadened and confused thevoice, unless to a person standing immediately above the opening, andas the visitors to the temple carefully avoided the vicinity of thegratings, it would be but a waste of breath to attempt to call theirattention.

  As to escape it was out of the question. The cell was cut in the solidrock. The door was of enormous strength, and even could that have beenovercome, there were many others which would have to be passed befor
e hecould arrive at the entrance to the dungeon.

  In a short time a Numidian entered, bearing some bread and a pitcherof water. Malchus addressed him; but the negro opened his mouth, andMalchus saw that his tongue had been cut out, perhaps in childhood,perhaps as a punishment for a crime; but more probably the man was aslave captured in war, who had been mutilated to render him a safe anduseful instrument of the officers of the law.

  Three hours later the door again opened, and two men appeared. Theyordered Malchus to follow them, and led him through a number ofmeandering passages, until at last, opening a door, they ushered himinto a large chamber. This was lighted by torches. At a table in thecentre of the room were seated seven figures. In the one seated in achair very slightly above the others Malchus at once recognized Hanno.His companions were all leading men of his faction.

  "Malchus, son of Hamilcar," Hanno said, "what have you to say why youthus secretly come to Carthage?"

  "I come not secretly," Malchus replied, "I come hither as the messengerof Hannibal to the senate. I am charged by him to lay before themthe exact situation in Italy, to tell them how much he has alreadyaccomplished, and what yet remains to be done, and to explain to themthe need there is that reinforcements should be despatched to him tocarry out his great designs for the annihilation of the power of Rome. Icome not in secret. I passed in a ship from Italy to Corinth, and thereat once hired a vessel to convey me hither."

  "As we are members of the senate," Hanno said, "you can deliver yourmessage to us."

  "I fear that it will go no further," Malchus replied. "The fact thatI have been thus secretly seized and carried here, shows how far it isyour wish that the people of Carthage should know my message. Still, aseven in your breasts all patriotism may not yet be dead, and as mywords may move you yet to do something to enable Hannibal to save therepublic, I will give you the message he sent me to deliver to thesenate."

  A murmur of angry surprise arose from the seven men at the bold wordsand the defiant bearing of their prisoner.

  "How dare you thus address your judges?" Hanno exclaimed.

  "Judges!" Malchus repeated scornfully, "executioners, you should say.Think you that I know not that my death is resolved on? Even if youwould you dare not free a noble of Carthage, a son of a general who haslost his life in her service, a cousin of the great Hannibal, after youhave thus treacherously seized and thrown him into a dungeon. Cowed asthe people of Carthage are by your tyranny, corrupted as they areby your gold, this lawless act of oppression would rouse them toresistance. No, Hanno, it is because I know that my doom is sealed Ithus fearlessly defy you and your creatures."

  Malchus then proceeded to deliver the message of Hannibal to the senate.He showed the exact situation of affairs in Italy, urged that if thereinforcements asked for were sent, the success of the arms of Carthageand the final defeat and humiliation of Rome were assured; while, on theother hand, if Hannibal were left unaided, his army must in time dwindleaway until too feeble to resist the assaults of the Romans and theirallies. He warned his hearers that if this catastrophe should comeabout, Rome, flushed with victory, smarting under the defeats andhumiliation which Hannibal had inflicted upon them, would in turn becomethe aggressor, and would inflict upon Carthage a blow similar to thatwith which Rome had been menaced by Hannibal.

  Hanno and his companions listened in silence. Malchus for a time forgothis own position and the character of the men he addressed, and pleadedwith an earnestness and passion such as he would have used had he beenaddressing the whole senate. When he had finished, Hanno without a wordmotioned to the jailers, and these, placing themselves one on each sideof Malchus, led him back to his cell.