Chamai and Hanno began to contend for the right to kill Bodmilcar.
"Let me only get within reach of him!" cried Chamai.
"No, no," said Hanno, flushing with excitement; "he is my rival, and by my hand must he fall."
"Don't be simpletons, young men!" I interposed; "there is something better than wrangling for you to do now. Look to your duties. We will make for the sea."
Using every possible caution, we proceeded towards the river-mouth. The Ashtoreth took the middle of the channel, with the Adonibal on her right, and the Cabiros on her left. Every light had been extinguished, and it was with throbbing pulses that the men on board stood, ready armed, peering out into the darkness. Bichri had spread out his arrows within reach upon the deck, and was crouching down, his bow full strung; he was between Dionysos and Jonah. The trumpeter was armed with a huge hatchet in his girdle, and the little Phocian was provided with his bow and arrow ready for immediate use. Himilco, holding his cutlass and shield, took his post at the stern, directing the helmsman; Hannibal and Chamai placed themselves at the head of their own companies, and stood almost on tiptoe in their eagerness to get the first glimpse of the enemy.
Before the hour of sunrise we could hear the rushing of the water at the river-bar, and in the faint dawn could make out Bodmilcar's three ships blockading our exit The Melkarth was in the middle; the decks of all three being perfectly thronged by men in helmets. The shore was quite deserted.
"The stream is in our favour," I observed; "let us commence action with the fire-ships."
A number of planks loaded with combustibles was soon set afloat.
I did not wait long before ordering Jonah to sound the signal for attack: it was answered promptly by a challenge from the enemy; a volley of lances fell upon our deck; we discharged another volley in reply; and the battle had fairly commenced.