When he had cast aside his extremely heavy cloak, he remained clad in a lynx skin, which was fastened about his waist, and he rested his little naked feet, which were all white with dust, resolutely upon the pavement.

But he no doubt divined that important matters were under discussion, for he stood motionless, with one hand behind his back, his chin lowered, and a finger in his mouth.
At last Hamilcar attracted Salammbo with a sign and said to her in a low voice: "You will keep him with you, you understand! No one, even though belonging to the house, must know of his existence!" Then, behind the door, he again asked Iddibal whether he was quite sure that they had not been noticed.
"No!" said the slave, "the streets were empty." As the war filled all the provinces he had feared for his master's son.
Then, not knowing where to hide him, he had come along the coasts in a sloop, and for three days Iddibal had been tacking about in the gulf and watching the ramparts.

At last, that evening, as the environs of Khamon seemed to be deserted, he had passed briskly through the channel and landed near the arsenal, the entrance to the harbour being free.
But soon the Barbarians posted an immense raft in front of it in order to prevent the Carthaginians from coming out.

They were again rearing the wooden towers, and the terrace was rising at the same time.
Outside communications were cut off and an intolerable famine set in.
The besieged killed all the dogs, all the mules, all the asses, and then the fifteen elephants which the Suffet had brought back.

The lions of the temple of Moloch had become ferocious, and the hierodules no longer durst approach them.