It was to no purpose that they did not adore the stars; if a constellation were fatal or helpful, sacrifices were offered to it; an unknown amulet found by chance at a moment of peril became a divinity; or it might be a name and nothing more, which would be repeated without any attempt to understand its meaning.

But after pillaging temples, and seeing numbers of nations and slaughters, many ultimately ceased to believe in anything but destiny and death;--and every evening these would fall asleep with the placidity of wild beasts.
Spendius had spit upon the images of Jupiter Olympius; nevertheless he dreaded to speak aloud in the dark, nor did he fail every day to put on his right boot first.
He reared a long quadrangular terrace in front of Utica, but in proportion as it ascended the rampart was also heightened, and what was thrown down by the one side was almost immediately raised again by the other.

Spendius took care of his men; he dreamed of plans and strove to recall the stratagems which he had heard described in his travels.

But why did Narr' Havas not return?
There was nothing but anxiety.
Hanno had at last concluded his preparations.

One night when there was no moon he transported his elephants and soldiers on rafts across the Gulf of Carthage.