At any rate the Romans would not dare ill treat us, for Hannibal holds more than a hundred prisoners in his hands to every one they have taken." Three days passed, food was brought to the captives regularly, and their bonds were sufficiently relaxed for them to feed themselves.

At the end of that time they were ordered to rise and leave the hut.

Outside the chief with some forty of his followers were waiting them.

All were armed, and the prisoners being placed in their midst, the party started.
They proceeded by the same road by which Malchus had ridden to the village, and some miles were passed without incident, when, as they were passing through a narrow valley, a great number of rocks came bounding down the hillside, and at different points along it several Carthaginians appeared.

In these Malchus recognized at once the soldiers of his escort.