sleepers　looked　like　corpses。
  Then　the　Carthaginians；　reflecting　upon　the　cause　of　their　disasters；
  remembered　that　they　had　not　dispatched　to　Phoenicia　the　annual
  offering　due　to　Tyrian　Melkarth；　and　a　great　terror　came　upon　them。
  The　gods　were　indignant　with　the　Republic；　and　were；　no　doubt；　about
  to　prosecute　their　vengeance。
  They　were　considered　as　cruel　masters；　who　were　appeased　with
  supplications　and　allowed　themselves　to　be　bribed　with　presents。　All
  were　feeble　in　comparison　with　Moloch　the　Devourer。　The　existence；　the
  very　flesh　of　men；　belonged　to　him；　and　hence　in　order　to　preserve　it；
  the　Carthaginians　used　to　offer　up　a　portion　of　it　to　him；　which
  calmed　his　fury。　Children　were　burned　on　the　forehead；　or　on　the　nape
  of　the　neck；　with　woollen　wicks；　and　as　this　mode　of　satisfying　Baal
  brought　in　much　money　to　the　priests；　they　failed　not　to　recommend　it
  as　being　easier　and　more　pleasant。
  This　time；　however；　the　Republic　itself　was　at　stake。　But　as　every
  profit　must　be　purchased　by　some　loss；　and　as　every　transaction　was
  regulated　according　to　the　needs　of　the　weaker　and　the　demands　of　the
  stronger；　there　was　no　pain　great　enough　for　the　god；　since　he
  delighted　in　such　as　was　of　the　most　horrible　description；　and　all
  were　now　at　his　mercy。　He　must　accordingly　be　fully　gratified。
  Precedents　showed　that　in　this　way　the　scourge　would　be　made　to
  disappear。　Moreover；　it　was　believed　that　an　immolation　by　fire　would
  purify　Carthage。　The　ferocity　of　the　people　was　predisposed　towards
  it。　The　choice；　too；　must　fall　exclusively　upon　the　families　of　the
  great。
  The　Ancients　assembled。　The　sitting　was　a　long　one。　Hanno　had　come　to
  it。　As　he　was　now　unable　to　sit　he　remained　lying　down　near　the　door；
  half　hidden　among　the　fringes　of　the　lofty　tapestry；　and　when　the
  pontiff　of　Moloch　asked　them　whether　they　would　consent　to　surrender
  their　children；　his　voice　suddenly　broke　forth　from　the　shadow　like
  the　roaring　of　a　genius　in　the　depths　of　a　cavern。　He　regretted；　he
  said；　that　he　had　none　of　his　own　blood　to　give；　and　he　gazed　at
  Hamilcar；　who　faced　him　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall。　The　Suffet　was
  so　much　disconcerted　by　this　look　that　it　made　him　lower　his　eyes。　All
  successively　bent　their　heads　in　approval；　and　in　accordance　with　the
  rites　he　had　to　reply　to　the　high　priest：　〃Yes；　be　it　so。〃　Then　the
  Ancients　decreed　the　sacrifice　in　traditional　circumlocution；because
  there　are　things　more　troublesome　to　say　than　to　perform。
  The　decision　was　almost　immediately　known　in　Carthage；　and
  lamentations　resounded。　The　cries　of　women　might　everywhere　be　heard；
  their　husbands　consoled　them；　or　railed　at　them　with　remonstrances。
  But　three　hours　afterwards　extraordinary　tidings　were　spread　abroad：
  the　Suffet　had　discovered　springs　at　the　foot　of　the　cliff。　There　was
  a　rush　to　the　place。　Water　might　be　seen　in　holes　dug　in　the　sand；　and
  some　were　already　lying　flat　on　the　ground　and　drinking。
  Hamilcar　did　not　himself　know　whether　it　was　by　the　determination　of
  the　gods　or　through　the　vague　recollection　of　a　revelation　which　his
  father　had　once　made　to　him；　but　on　leaving　the　Ancients　he　had　gone
  down　to　the　shore　and　had　begun　to　dig　the　gravel　with　his　slaves。
  He　gave　clothing；　boots；　and　wine。　He　gave　all　the　rest　of　the　corn
  that　he　was　keeping　by　him。　He　even　let　the　crowd　enter　his　palace；
  and　he　opened　kitchens；　stores；　and　all　the　rooms；Salammbo's　alone
  excepted。　He　announced　that　six　thousand　Gaulish　Mercenaries　were
  coming；　and　that　the　king　of　Macedonia　was　sending　soldiers。
  But　on　the　second　day　the　springs　diminished；　and　on　the　evening　of
  the　third　they　were　completely　dried　up。　Then　the　decree　of　the
  Ancients　passed　everywhere　from　lip　to　lip；　and　the　priests　of　Moloch
  began　their　task。
  Men　in　black　robes　presented　themselves　in　the　houses。　In　many
  instances　the　owners　had　deserted　them　under　pretence　of　some
  business；　or　of　some　dainty　that　they　were　going　to　buy；　and　the
  servants　of　Moloch　came　and　took　the　children　away。　Others　themselves
  surrendered　them　stupidly。　Then　they　were　brought　to　the　temple　of
  Tanith；　where　the　priestesses　were　charged　with　their　amusement　and
  support　until　the　solemn　day。
  They　visited　Hamilcar　suddenly　and　found　him　in　his　gardens。
  〃Barca！　we　come　for　that　that　you　know　ofyour　son！〃　They　added　that
  some　people　had　met　him　one　evening　during　the　previous　moon　in　the
  centre　of　the　Mappalian　district　being　led　by　an　old　man。
  He　was　as　though　suffocated　at　first。　But　speedily　understanding　that
  any　denial　would　be　in　vain；　Hamilcar　bowed；　and　he　brought　them　into
  the　commercial　house。　Some　slaves　who　had　run　up　at　a　sign　kept　watch
  all　round　about　it。
  He　entered　Salammbo's　room　in　a　state　of　distraction。　He　seized
  Hannibal　with　one　hand；　snatched　up　the　cord　of　a　trailing　garment
  with　the　other；　tied　his　feet　and　hands　with　it；　thrust　the　end　into
  his　mouth　to　form　a　gag；　and　hid　him　under　the　bed　of　the　ox…hides　by
  letting　an　ample　drapery　fall　to　the　ground。
  Afterwards　he　walked　about　from　right　to　left；　raised　his　arms；
  wheeled　round；　bit　his　lips。　Then　he　stood　still　with　staring　eyelids；
  and　panted　as　though　he　were　about　to　die。
  But　he　clapped　his　hands　three　times。　Giddenem　appeared。
  〃Listen！〃　he　said；　〃go　and　take　from　among　the　slaves　a　male　child
  from　eight　to　nine　years　of　age；　with　black　hair　and　swelling
  forehead！　Bring　him　here！　make　haste！〃
  Giddenem　soon　entered　again；　bringing　forward　a　young　boy。
  He　was　a　miserable　child；　at　once　lean　and　bloated；　his　skin　looked
  greyish；　like　the　infected　rag　hanging　to　his　sides；　his　head　was　sunk
  between　his　shoulders；　and　with　the　back　of　his　hand　he　was　rubbing
  his　eyes；　which　were　filled　with　flies。
  How　could　he　ever　be　confounded　with　Hannibal！　and　there　was　no　time
  to　choose　another。　Hamilcar　looked　at　Giddenem；　he　felt　inclined　to
  strangle　him。
  〃Begone！〃　he　cried；　and　the　master　of　the　slaves　fled。
  The　misfortune　which　he　had　so　long　dreaded　was　therefore　come；　and
  with　extravagant　efforts　he　strove　to　discover　whether　there　was　not
  some　mode；　some　means　to　escape　it。
  Abdalonim　suddenly　spoke　from　behind　the　door。　The　Suffet　was　being
  asked　for。　The　servants　of　Moloch　were　growing　impatient。
  Hamilcar　repressed　a　cry　as　though　a　red　hot　iron　had　burnt　him；　and
  he　began　anew　to　pace　the　room　like　one　distraught。　Then　he　sank　down
  beside　the　balustrade；　and；　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　pressed　his
  forehead　into　his　shut　fists。
  The　porphyry　basin　still　contained　a　little　clear　water　for　Salammbo's
  ablutions。　In　spite　of　his　repugnance　and　all　his　pride；　the　Suffet
  dipped　the　child　into　it；　and；　like　a　slave　merchant；　began　to　wash
  him　and　rub　him　with　strigils　and　red　earth。　Then　he　took　two　purple
  squares　from　the　receptacles　round　the　wall；　placed　one　on　his　breast
  and　the　other　on　his　back；　and　joined　them　together　on　the　collar
  bones　with　two　diamond　clasps。　He　poured　perfume　upon　his　head；　passed
  an　electrum　necklace　around　his　neck；　and　put　on　him　sandals　with
  heels　of　pearl；sandals　belonging　to　his　own　daughter！　But　he　stamped
  with　shame　and　vexation；　Salammbo；　who　busied　herself　in　helping　him；
  was　as　pale　as　he。　The　child；　dazzled　by　such　splendour；　smiled　and；
  growing　bold　even；　was　beginning　to　clap　his　hands　and　jump；　when
  Hamilcar　took　him　away。
  He　held　him　firmly　by　the　arm　as　though　he　were　afraid　of　losing　him；
  and　the　child；　who　was　hurt；　wept　a　little　as　he　ran　beside　him。
  When　on　a　level　with　the　ergastulum；　under　a　palm　tree；　a　voice　was
  raised；　a　mournful　and　supplicant　voice。　It　murmured：　〃Master！　oh！
  master！〃
  Hamilcar　turned　and　beside　him　perceived　a　man　of　abject　appearance；
  one　of　the　wretches　who　led　a　haphazard　existence　in　the　household。
  〃What　do　you　want？〃　said　the　Suffet。
  The　slave；　who　trembled　horribly；　stammered：
  〃I　am　his　father！〃
  Hamilcar　walked　on；　the　other　followed　him　with　stooping　loins；　bent
  hams；　and　head　thrust　forward。　His　face　was　convulsed　with　unspeakable
  anguish；　and　he　was　choking　with　suppressed　sobs；　so　eager　was　he　at
  once　to　question　him；　and　to　cry：　〃Mercy！〃
  At　last　he　ventured　to　touch　him　lightly　with　one　finger　on　the　elbow。
  〃Are　you　going　to？〃　He　had　not　the　strength　to　finish；　and　Hamilcar
  stopped　quite　amazed　at　such　grief。
  He　had　never　thoughtso　immense　was　the　abyss　separating　them　from
  each　otherthat　there　could　be　anything　in　common　between　them。　It
  even　appeared　to　him　a　sort　of　outrage；　an　encroachment　upon　his　own
  privileges。　He　replied　with　a　look　colder　and　heavier　than　an
  executioner's　axe；　the　slave　swooned　and　fell　in　the　dust　at　his　feet。
  Hamilcar　strode　across　him。
  The　three　black…robed　men　were　waiting　in　the　great　hall；　and　standing
  against　the　stone　disc。　Immediately　he　tore　his　garments；　and　rolled
  upon　the　pavemen