The fishing was a great success. Several good hauls were made; and before daylight the boat returned, and the men retired to their well-earned rest.
In good time next morning the natives whom we had seen the previous evening, came with a considerable increase in their number, and one of them swam boldly out from the shore, and was received on board the Ashtoreth. He was a man that might be regarded as a fair type of the Siculians; tall, with a low forehead, thin nose and lips, beardless chin, and copper-coloured complexion. He addressed us in the Latin tongue, and was eager to tell us that the Latins were now in possession of the eastern portion of the island, and were the bitterest enemies of the Siculians. I replied that I was a Phœnician, and that Italian Latins, or Italian Samnites, Umbrians, or Sabellians were all the same to me; what I wanted was coral, sulphur, and lava; and if the Siculians could bring me these, they should have a liberal price in return. He replied:
"We are subjects of King Morgesh, who will only permit us to transact business inland. Come with us to yonder mountains; we have plenty of the commodities you want. There we may make our exchanges."
The persistency with which he urged our going on shore with our goods aroused my suspicions; but without exhibiting any sign of mistrust I pretended to acquiesce in his proposal, and at once proceeded to land my bales of merchandise and sixty armed men, taking the precaution, moreover, of placing all my archers on board the Cabiros, which, with her machines ready for action, was moored within a few cubits of the shore.
"What need to bring so many men?" asked the Siculian, when we had landed; "we can carry your packages to the mountains."
When I replied that I did not intend to go inland at all, and that if they wanted to effect any bartering with us they must bring their own merchandise down to the beach, the man was evidently very much disconcerted, and went away to consult his companions. While he was absent, I availed myself of the opportunity of replenishing all our water-casks from the copious brook that flowed into the bay.
On the man's return, he was accompanied by two of his colleagues.
"Do not be afraid of the fatigue of ascending the mountain," they urged; "we will not only convey your property, but we will carry all of you too, if you like. Only come."
And with repeated solicitations, they assured me I should be pleased with the bargains I should be able to make.