"What made you dare to try and kill that child?" I said.
"I was under orders," he whined out; "Bodmilcar made me. He wanted to sacrifice to Moloch to secure his favour. I dared not disobey him; he has had me in his power all along. It is not I, it is Bodmilcar that has wronged you."
"O, that matters not," I answered. "Curses on Bodmilcar! Would you save your life? One way, one only way is open to you still."
The despicable Syrian prostrated himself till his face was on the earth, and groaned out:
"Spare me! spare my life! ask what you will! trample on my neck! make me your slave for ever! but spare my life!"
Chamai, who was standing beside me with a bandage on his forehead, turned his head away in disgust.
"Spare your life!" I repealed; "why, if I did my duty I should make your life a sacrifice this very minute to the souls of the brave heroes who have lost their lives through you!" And after a pause, I said: "But, listen to me! do what I require, and I will give you more than your life; when we are back at Gades, I will give you your liberty."
"O, I will do anything; but swear, swear that you will spare my life!" implored the abject wretch, still grovelling with his forehead in the dust.
"Yes, hearken!" I ejaculated. "By Ashtoreth! goddess of heaven, I swear it!"
Relieved of his immediate terror, the pusillanimous craven started to his feet, and in a tone quite brisk in contrast with his previous whinings began to ask what it was that I required him to do.