The mission is an important one, and its success should not be risked merely to defeat a body of tribesmen.

Go in your handsomest armour, and make as brave a show as you can, as my ambassador and kinsman.

Take twenty of the Carthaginian horse; they will impose more upon the barbarians than would the Libyans or Numidians.

Take your friend Trebon as their commander and a companion for yourself." In two hours Malchus and his escort were ready to start.

As their journey would be rapid they carried no stores with them, save three days' provisions, which each man carried at his saddlebow, and a bag containing a few feeds of corn for the horse.