They, therefore, started in the direction which the Romans had taken until, after two hours' slow walking, they came upon the bed of a stream in which were some boulders sufficiently large for the purpose.
The rings were now pushed down again to the ankles, and Nessus wound round them strips of cloth until he had formed a pad between the iron and the skin to lessen the jar of the blow, then he placed the link of the chain near to the leg upon the edge of the boulder, and, drawing his sharp heavy sword, struck with all his force upon the iron.
A deep notch was made; again and again he repeated the blow, until the link was cut through, then, with some difficulty, he forced the two ends apart until the shackle of the ring would pass between them.

The operation was repeated on the other chain, and then Malchus was free, save for the two iron rings around his ankles.

The work had taken upwards of an hour, and when it was done they started at a rapid walk in the direction taken by the column.

They had no fear now of the natives, for should any come upon them they would take them for two Roman soldiers who had strayed behind the army.
Scipio made a long day's march, and it was not until nightfall that his army halted.

Malchus and his companion made a long detour round the camp and continued their way for some hours, then they left the track that the army would follow, and, after walking for about a mile, lay down among some bushes and were soon asleep.
In the morning they agreed that before proceeding further it was absolutely necessary to obtain some food.