Reprisals after such an outrage would be formidable.

It was necessary, therefore, to anticipate the vengeance of Carthage.

Conventions and harangues never ceased.

Every one spoke, no one was listened to; Spendius, usually so loquacious, shook his head at every proposal.
One evening he asked Matho carelessly whether there were not springs in the interior of the town.
"Not one!" replied Matho.
The next day Spendius drew him aside to the bank of the lake.
"Master!" said the former slave, "If your heart is dauntless, I will bring you into Carthage." "How ?" repeated the other, panting.
"Swear to execute all my commands and to follow me like a shadow!" Then Matho, raising his arm towards the planet of Chabar, exclaimed: "By Tanith, I swear!" Spendius resumed: "To-morrow after sunset you will wait for me at the foot of the aqueduct between the ninth and tenth arcades.

Bring with you an iron pick, a crestless helmet, and leathern sandals." The aqueduct of which he spoke crossed the entire isthmus obliquely,--a considerable work, afterwards enlarged by the Romans.