It is hopeless for me to try to escape.
You will do me more good by remaining hid and trying to free me from their hands afterwards." So saying, and without drawing his sword, Malchus quietly advanced towards the natives, who were rushing down towards him with loud shouts.
Flight or resistance would be, as he had at once seen, hopeless, and it was only by present submission he could hope to save his life.
The natives were a portion of the force which had opposed Hannibal's landing, and had already killed several Carthaginians who had, like Malchus, struggled to the bank after being upset in the passage.

Seeing that he attempted neither to fly nor to defend himself, they rushed upon him tumultuously, stripped him of his arms and armour, and dragged him before their leader.

The latter briefly ordered him to be brought along, and the party continued their hurried march, fearing that the Carthaginian horse might at any moment pursue them.

For the rest of the afternoon they marched without a halt, but at nightfall stopped in a wood.
No fires were lit, for they knew not how close the Carthaginians might be behind them.

Malchus was bound hand and foot and thrown down in their midst.