"By our holy God! captain, I could never have believed you capable of this," he blurted out.
"Yes, indeed, by all that's holy!" said Hannibal, finding his voice, "what have we done that merits treatment of this kind?"
"I am doing you no wrong," I answered; "friends we have been hitherto; friends let us part. You can surely ask no more than that I should remit you to your homes to pass the rest of your lives in ease and affluence."
"But why not return yourself?" they asked.
"I have invited you here, to tell you why. It is the resolve of myself and of the Sidonians that are with me to make a voyage of discovery. I have set my heart on finding out what lands there are, whether they be isles or continents, lying to the north. I am determined, if I can, to settle whether it be possible, by sailing round Tarshish to the west, to reach the Celtic shores. These are the problems that I seek to solve."
"And do you think," said Chamai, "that we shall be content to enjoy our repose while you are braving all the perils of the unknown sea? No, no; not quite so ungrateful as that!"
"Desert our colours in the middle of the fight? nay, that will never do," cried Hannibal: "return home, who will; my post is with you, captain."
Chamai echoed his words, and Abigail averred her intention of not being parted from her lover.
I was quite overcome by the attachment of my people, and grasped them all in turns by the hand.
"The gods reward your courage and fidelity," I exclaimed. "But surely some of you will wish to return? Aminocles, what say you? do you not want to take your son back to his home? And you, Chryseis, you will hardly think of facing the perils of the untried sea?"