body　to　solid　stakes；　and　were　offered　food　at　the　point　of　the
  javelin。
  Autaritus　overwhelmed　them　with　invectives　as　he　inspected　them；　but
  being　quite　ignorant　of　his　language　they　made　no　reply；　and　the　Gaul
  from　time　to　time　threw　pebbles　at　their　faces　to　make　them　cry　out。
  The　next　day　a　sort　of　languor　took　possession　of　the　army。　Now　that
  their　anger　was　over　they　were　seized　with　anxiety。　Matho　was
  suffering　from　vague　melancholy。　It　seemed　to　him　that　Salammbo　had
  indirectly　been　insulted。　These　rich　men　were　a　kind　of　appendage　to
  her　person。　He　sat　down　in　the　night　on　the　edge　of　the　pit；　and
  recognised　in　their　groanings　something　of　the　voice　of　which　his
  heart　was　full。
  All；　however；　upbraided　the　Libyans；　who　alone　had　been　paid。　But
  while　national　antipathies　revived；　together　with　personal　hatreds；　it
  was　felt　that　it　would　be　perilous　to　give　way　to　them。　Reprisals
  after　such　an　outrage　would　be　formidable。　It　was　necessary；
  therefore；　to　anticipate　the　vengeance　of　Carthage。　Conventions　and
  harangues　never　ceased。　Every　one　spoke；　no　one　was　listened　to；
  Spendius；　usually　so　loquacious；　shook　his　head　at　every　proposal。
  One　evening　he　asked　Matho　carelessly　whether　there　were　not　springs
  in　the　interior　of　the　town。
  〃Not　one！〃　replied　Matho。
  The　next　day　Spendius　drew　him　aside　to　the　bank　of　the　lake。
  〃Master！〃　said　the　former　slave；　〃If　your　heart　is　dauntless；　I　will
  bring　you　into　Carthage。〃
  〃How？〃　repeated　the　other；　panting。
  〃Swear　to　execute　all　my　commands　and　to　follow　me　like　a　shadow！〃
  Then　Matho；　raising　his　arm　towards　the　planet　of　Chabar；　exclaimed：
  〃By　Tanith；　I　swear！〃
  Spendius　resumed：
  〃To…morrow　after　sunset　you　will　wait　for　me　at　the　foot　of　the
  aqueduct　between　the　ninth　and　tenth　arcades。　Bring　with　you　an　iron
  pick；　a　crestless　helmet；　and　leathern　sandals。〃
  The　aqueduct　of　which　he　spoke　crossed　the　entire　isthmus　obliquely；
  a　considerable　work；　afterwards　enlarged　by　the　Romans。　In　spite　of
  her　disdain　of　other　nations；　Carthage　had　awkwardly　borrowed　this
  novel　invention　from　them；　just　as　Rome　herself　had　built　Punic
  galleys；　and　five　rows　of　superposed　arches；　of　a　dumpy　kind　of
  architecture；　with　buttresses　at　their　foot　and　lions'　heads　at　the
  top；　reached　to　the　western　part　of　the　Acropolis；　where　they　sank
  beneath　the　town　to　incline　what　was　nearly　a　river　into　the　cisterns
  of　Megara。
  Spendius　met　Matho　here　at　the　hour　agreed　upon。　He　fastened　a　sort　of
  harpoon　to　the　end　of　a　cord　and　whirled　it　rapidly　like　a　sling；　the
  iron　instrument　caught　fast；　and　they　began　to　climb　up　the　wall；　the
  one　after　the　other。
  But　when　they　had　ascended　to　the　first　story　the　cramp　fell　back
  every　time　that　they　threw　it；　and　in　order　to　discover　some　fissure
  they　had　to　walk　along　the　edge　of　the　cornice。　At　every　row　of　arches
  they　found　that　it　became　narrower。　Then　the　cord　relaxed。　Several
  times　it　nearly　broke。
  At　last　they　reached　the　upper　platform。　Spendius　stooped　down　from
  time　to　time　to　feel　the　stones　with　his　hand。
  〃Here　it　is；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　begin！〃　And　leaning　on　the　pick　which
  Matho　had　brought　they　succeeded　in　dislodging　one　of　the　flagstones。
  In　the　distance　they　perceived　a　troop　of　horse…men　galloping　on
  horses　without　bridles。　Their　golden　bracelets　leaped　in　the　vague
  drapings　of　their　cloaks。　A　man　could　be　seen　in　front　crowned　with
  ostrich　feathers；　and　galloping　with　a　lance　in　each　hand。
  〃Narr'　Havas！〃　exclaimed　Matho。
  〃What　matter？〃　returned　Spendius；　and　he　leaped　into　the　hole　which
  they　had　just　made　by　removing　the　flagstone。
  Matho　at　his　command　tried　to　thrust　out　one　of　the　blocks。　But　he
  could　not　move　his　elbows　for　want　of　room。
  〃We　shall　return；〃　said　Spendius；　〃go　in　front。〃　Then　they　ventured
  into　the　channel　of　water。
  It　reached　to　their　waists。　Soon　they　staggered；　and　were　obliged　to
  swim。　Their　limbs　knocked　against　the　walls　of　the　narrow　duct。　The
  water　flowed　almost　immediately　beneath　the　stones　above；　and　their
  faces　were　torn　by　them。　Then　the　current　carried　them　away。　Their
  breasts　were　crushed　with　air　heavier　than　that　of　a　sepulchre；　and
  stretching　themselves　out　as　much　as　possible　with　their　heads　between
  their　arms　and　their　legs　close　together；　they　passed　like　arrows　into
  the　darkness；　choking；　gurgling；　and　almost　dead。　Suddenly　all　became
  black　before　them；　and　the　speed　of　the　waters　redoubled。　They　fell。
  When　they　came　to　the　surface　again；　they　remained　for　a　few　minutes
  extended　on　their　backs；　inhaling　the　air　delightfully。　Arcades；　one
  behind　another；　opened　up　amid　large　walls　separating　the　various
  basins。　All　were　filled；　and　the　water　stretched　in　a　single　sheet
  throughout　the　length　of　the　cisterns。　Through　the　air…holes　in　the
  cupolas　on　the　ceiling　there　fell　a　pale　brightness　which　spread　upon
  the　waves　discs；　as　it　were；　of　light；　while　the　darkness　round　about
  thickened　towards　the　walls　and　threw　them　back　to　an　indefinite
  distance。　The　slightest　sound　made　a　great　echo。
  Spendius　and　Matho　commenced　to　swim　again；　and　passing　through　the
  opening　of　the　arches；　traversed　several　chambers　in　succession。　Two
  other　rows　of　smaller　basins　extended　in　a　parallel　direction　on　each
  side。　They　lost　themselves；　they　turned；　and　came　back　again。　At　last
  something　offered　a　resistance　to　their　heels。　It　was　the　pavement　of
  the　gallery　that　ran　along　the　cisterns。
  Then；　advancing　with　great　precautions；　they　felt　along　the　wall　to
  find　an　outlet。　But　their　feet　slipped；　and　they　fell　into　the　great
  centre…basins。　They　had　to　climb　up　again；　and　there　they　fell　again。
  They　experienced　terrible　fatigue；　which　made　them　feel　as　if　all
  their　limbs　had　been　dissolved　in　the　water　while　swimming。　Their　eyes
  closed；　they　were　in　the　agonies　of　death。
  Spendius　struck　his　hand　against　the　bars　of　a　grating。　They　shook　it；
  it　gave　way；　and　they　found　themselves　on　the　steps　of　a　staircase。　A
  door　of　bronze　closed　it　above。　With　the　point　of　a　dagger　they　moved
  the　bar；　which　was　opened　from　without；　and　suddenly　the　pure　open　air
  surrounded　them。
  The　night　was　filled　with　silence；　and　the　sky　seemed　at　an
  extraordinary　height。　Clusters　of　trees　projected　over　the　long　lines
  of　walls。　The　whole　town　was　asleep。　The　fires　of　the　outposts　shone
  like　lost　stars。
  Spendius；　who　had　spent　three　years　in　the　ergastulum；　was　but
  imperfectly　acquainted　with　the　different　quarters。　Matho　conjectured
  that　to　reach　Hamilcar's　palace　they　ought　to　strike　to　the　left　and
  cross　the　Mappalian　district。
  〃No；〃　said　Spendius；　〃take　me　to　the　temple　of　Tanith。〃
  Matho　wished　to　speak。
  〃Remember！〃　said　the　former　slave；　and　raising　his　arm　he　showed　him
  the　glittering　planet　of　Chabar。
  Then　Matho　turned　in　silence　towards　the　Acropolis。
  They　crept　along　the　nopal　hedges　which　bordered　the　paths。　The　water
  trickled　from　their　limbs　upon　the　dust。　Their　damp　sandals　made　no
  noise；　Spendius；　with　eyes　that　flamed　more　than　torches；　searched　the
  bushes　at　every　step；and　he　walked　behind　Matho　with　his　hands
  resting　on　the　two　daggers　which　he　carried　on　his　arms；　and　which
  hung　from　below　the　armpit　by　a　leathern　band。
  CHAPTER　V
  TANITH
  After　leaving　the　gardens　Matho　and　Spendius　found　themselves　checked
  by　the　rampart　of　Megara。　But　they　discovered　a　breach　in　the　great
  wall　and　passed　through。
  The　ground　sloped　downwards；　forming　a　kind　of　very　broad　valley。　It
  was　an　exposed　place。
  〃Listen；〃　said　Spendius；　〃and　first　of　all　fear　nothing！　I　shall
  fulfil　my　promise〃
  He　stopped　abruptly；　and　seemed　to　reflect　as　though　searching　for
  words；〃Do　you　remember　that　time　at　sunrise　when　I　showed　Carthage
  to　you　on　Salammbo's　terrace？　We　were　strong　that　day；　but　you　would
  listen　to　nothing！〃　Then　in　a　grave　voice：　〃Master；　in　the　sanctuary
  of　Tanith　there　is　a　mysterious　veil；　which　fell　from　heaven　and　which
  covers　the　goddess。〃
  〃I　know；〃　said　Matho。
  Spendius　resumed：　〃It　is　itself　divine；　for　it　forms　part　of　her。　The
  gods　reside　where　their　images　are。　It　is　because　Carthage　possesses
  it　that　Carthage　is　powerful。〃　Then　leaning　over　to　his　ear：　〃I　have
  brought　you　with　me　to　carry　it　off！〃
  Matho　recoiled　in　horror。　〃Begone！　look　for　some　one　else！　I　will　not
  help　you　in　this　execrable　crime！〃
  〃But　Tanith　is　your　enemy；〃　retorted　Spendius；　〃she　is　persecuting　you
  and　you　are　dying　through　her　wrath。　You　will　be　revenged　upon　her。
  She　will　obey　you；　and　you　will　become　almost　immortal　and
  invincible。〃
  Matho　bent　his　head。　Spendius　continued：
  〃We　should　succumb；　the　army　would　be　annihilated　of　itself。　We　have
  neither　flight；　nor　succour；　nor　pardon　to　hope　for！　What　chastisement
  from　the　gods　can　you　be　afraid　of　since　you　will　have　t