“Fly, Trebon, you cannot help us, save those you can.”  Seeing that he could render his friend no assistance, Trebon turned round and galloped off with nine of the soldiers who had made their way with him to the gate.  Five had already fallen, and Malchus shouted to the other six to throw down their arms and yield themselves as prisoners.  This they did, but two of them were killed before the villagers perceived they had surrendered.

Malchus and the others were dragged from their horses, bound hand and foot, and thrown into one of the huts.  The natives shouted in triumph, and yells of delight arose as the packages borne by the baggage animals were examined, and the variety of rich presents, intended for the various chiefs, divided among them.

Most of the captives were more or less severely wounded, and some of the natives presently came into the hut and examined and bound up the wounds.

“Keep up your spirits,” Malchus said cheerfully, “it is evident they don’t intend to kill us.  No doubt they are going to send us prisoners to the Romans, and in that case we shall be exchanged sooner or later.  At any rate the Romans would not dare ill treat us, for Hannibal holds more than a hundred prisoners in his hands to every one they have taken.”

Three days passed, food was brought to the captives regularly, and their bonds were sufficiently relaxed for them to feed themselves.  At the end of that time they were ordered to rise and leave the hut.  Outside the chief with some forty of his followers were waiting them.  All were armed, and the prisoners being placed in their midst, the party started.

They proceeded by the same road by which Malchus had ridden to the village, and some miles were passed without incident, when, as they were passing through a narrow valley, a great number of rocks came bounding down the hillside, and at different points along it several Carthaginians appeared.  In these Malchus recognized at once the soldiers of his escort.  One of these shouted out: 

“Surrender, or you are all dead men.  A strong force surrounds you on both sides, and my officers, whom you see, will give orders to their men, who will loose such an avalanche of rocks that you will all be swept away.”

“It is only the men who escaped us,” the chief cried; “push forward at once.”

But the instant the movement began the Carthaginians all shouted orders, and a great number of rocks came bounding down, proving that they were obeyed by an invisible army.  Several of the mountaineers were crushed by the stones, and the old chief, struck by a great rock in the chest, fell dead.  A Carthaginian standing next to Malchus was also slain.

The tribesmen gave a cry of terror.  Hand to hand they were ready to fight valiantly, but this destruction by an unseen foe terrified them.  The Carthaginian leader raised his hand, and the descent of the stones ceased.