CHAPTER XV: A MOUNTAIN TRIBE.
"It is a petty place for a chief of any power," Trebon said.
"Yes," Malchus agreed, "but I fancy these hill tribes are broken up into a very large number of small villages in isolated valleys, only uniting when the order of the chief calls upon them to defend the mountains against an invader, or to make a simultaneous raid upon the plains." As they neared the village several persons were seen to issue out from the gate, and among these was a small and elderly man, evidently the chief of the party.

His white hair descended to his waist; a boy standing behind him carried his bow and several javelins.

The rest of the men appeared to be unarmed.
"He is a crafty looking old fellow," Malchus said as he alighted and advanced towards the chief, "but I suppose he has made up his mind to receive us as friends, at any rate for the present.
"I come, chief, as an ambassador from the Carthaginian general.

When we passed south he received messengers from you, saying that you were ready to enter into an alliance with him.

To this he agreed, and sent presents.