Bichri replied:
"Here we are, both of us; and I only wish old Judge Gebal was with us; he would have got us out of this dilemma."
"What do you mean?" I said. "I don't understand what good the monkey could do. Anyhow, we must now help ourselves; and that doesn't seem a very easy business."
"If Hamilcar and Hasdrubal do not come to our rescue, I shall think them the vilest cowards on the face of the earth," said Hannibal.
"Ah, you must not judge too hastily," I answered; "I do not doubt but that they will do all in their power, but it is only too likely they have been attacked, and are in the same plight as ourselves. Besides, I hardly see how they are to get across that causeway."
"No difficulty there," said the general, warming into enthusiasm; "archers, right and left; fighting men in a column, four abreast; sound your trumpets and——"
He stopped abruptly; the clang of a trumpet had caught his ears.
"They come! they come!" cried Chamai, all excitement; "The Lord of hosts be with them!"
Another blast.
Hannibal continued to expatiate very scientifically about columns of four and columns of eight, and bewailed his fate that he was not in command; Bichri, less calm, fancied himself at the head of his troop.