The most hipped of all the party was Himilco; not that the sturdy pilot had more dread than the rest of mists and frosts, but because he was much disconcerted at the rapid diminution in our stock of wine.
"Ah me!" he would sigh, as each goat-skin was drained; "another gone! we shall have nothing but water with which to greet the advent of spring. Ah, yes! it is time we were back again in Phœnicia; it would do one good to see the vines on the hill-side of Berytos."
In his forebodings Himilco found a genuine sympathiser in Hannibal, who (although I should not like to say that there was one amongst us who would not be sorry for all our wine to be exhausted) was the only one who openly shared the regret of our thirsty pilot.
At length the days grew longer and brighter, and the sea, which had been almost always angry and restless, settled down into something of a calm. Our new ship was finished. We launched it on our feast of navigation, and not only did the Cymri come to assist, but in honour of the occasion their priests and priestesses stripped themselves of their clothes, and stained their bodies with blue and black paint. In the evening we had a banquet of fish, venison, barley, and some of the esculents of the country. We also finished the last drop of our wine.
"Let us drink to our prosperous return," said Himilco.
"It is much too soon to speak about that," I rejoined; "our voyage as yet is far from its end."
Every one looked at me in bewilderment; it had never occurred to them that we could be bound elsewhere than for Sidon. Chamai asked whether we were going to have a little further benefit of "the lungs of the sea."
"You are perfectly at liberty to go home," I answered him. "This new ship has been built, and I am quite prepared to let her return with her cargo and as many of you as are no longer disposed to encounter the cold and mists."
Chamai started to his feet, and said impulsively:
"Surely, captain, you did not suppose I was in earnest; you cannot believe I was thinking of leaving you. I profess I do not like this chill and dreary climate; but you may rely on this, wherever you go, I shall go also."