Agathocles started to help. He was instantly confronted by another person who darted from behind a great olive-tree. But the General had drawn his sword. The villain, though armed with a dagger, dared not venture the encounter. He turned to flee; but the weapon of Agathocles was through his body.
Dion stood a moment over the beggar he had felled.
"What madness is this?" he asked.
"Kill the wretch," cried Agathocles.
"Nay, father, my sword would not drink such foul blood."
They tied the wrists of the living man with the stout cords of his beggar's basket.
"Why this assault?" asked Dion. "Were you mad with hunger?"
"Aye, hunger for you," replied the man.
"Who are you?" asked Dion.
"The scar on your forehead knows me, if you do not. But for the man you have just buried, you had never had tongue to ask who I am."