The Adventures of Captain Mago

The Dorian could do no more: in vain he pointed to the smiling meadows and the shady forests of the island, and contrasted them with the abode upon the raging water of an angry sea; Chryseis maintained that the water had charms as many as the land. Unable to prevail with her, he made a final appeal to me; but finding me firm in my resolve to leave the girl unfettered in her choice, he gave a growl of anger, and without turning his head, remounted his chariot and drove rapidly away.

"Mine, henceforth," said Hanno to Chryseis, as he led her to the ship. "You are as a priestess of Ashtoreth, the guardian of us all!" and he drew her closer to his side.

The sail was soon hoisted, and the rowers settled to their seats. Leaving the shore, we made long tacks to get to windward, and in five hours had passed the northernmost extremity of Crete. In the course of the night we were coasting the rocky land upon the north of the lesser Cythera.

Two days' safe, though tedious, navigation brought us to the mouth of the Achelous, a stream which from the colour of its water is known to our sailors as the White River. We passed between the fertile and indented shore of the mainland, and the islands of Cythera, Zacynthus, and Cephallenia. In these navigable waters, where land is never out of sight, we perpetually came across Hellenic vessels of every size, engaged in a brisk trade not only in their own native productions, but also in the manufactures of the Phœnicians.

The sea was calm when we reached the mouth of the Achelous, but a fresh breeze sprung up from the north-east, which was just what we wanted to carry us to the Sicilian straits. It is usual, in order to break the length of the sea-passage, to follow the Hellenic coast as far as the island of Corcyra, but under the present favourable circumstances this would have been merely to waste time. We had an ample supply both of provisions and of fresh water; I therefore quite abandoned all thought of visiting the metropolis of the Hellenes, and determined to make with the wind across the open sea direct for the southern point of Italy. As we were passing along the channel that divides Cephallenia from the little island of Ithaca we fell in with a Sidonian galley and a couple of gaouls, and hailing them, we found that they were on their way home from the mouth of the Eridanus on the Iapygian Sea. Bodachmon, the captain of the galley, proposed that we should lay-to off Ithaca, so that we might send any commissions by him to Sidon. I availed myself of his offer, and went at once on board one of his gaouls. His cargo consisted of a small supply of gold, both in dust and nuggets, but principally of rock-crystal, which the people on the banks of the Eridanus obtain from those who reside on the mountains near its source. Bodachmon agreed to take some of my heavier merchandise for a part of his light freight, and to do anything he could to assist me after the loss we had sustained of our own gaoul through Bodmilcar's treachery. His indignation at Bodmilcar's conduct knew no bounds. Such an act of faithlessness, he said, had never happened within his experience; and he would take good care that not only should it come to King Hiram's ears, but that Bodmilcar should be denounced throughout Phœnicia, so that if the traitor should attempt to land anywhere either in Phœnicia, or in Chittim, or any other of her colonies, he should be visited with the punishment he so justly merited.

"But now," said Bodachmon, "let us proceed to business. What commodities have you to offer?"

I answered that I had just obtained goods in Crete, for which he would be sure to find a ready market either in Egypt or at home – copper, ox-hides, woollen cloth, and enormous goats' horns; I told him, moreover, that if he would visit Crete for himself, he would be able to purchase any number of young female slaves at the most reasonable rate.

He said that he thought he should act upon my advice, and that he was sure we should be able to make exchanges between ourselves which would satisfy us both. He proceeded to inquire whether I could let him have any wine, as his own supply had been exhausted six months ago, and that in his intercourse with the Iapyges and Umbrians he had had no opportunity of replenishing it.

Our own ships were well provisioned, and I was pleased to have the opportunity of inviting him with his two mates and pilots to come on board the Ashtoreth, and to partake of our fresh meat, onions, dried figs, cheese and wine. They all admired the completeness of our arrangements; and Bodachmon made an inspection of the goods that I proposed to barter, telling me that he should be able to pay a good price, if I would accept his rock-crystal.

All of a sudden Bodachmon exclaimed: "By Ashtoreth! I think I can give you a treat in return for your hospitality. In Corcyra I took up one of the Hellenes, whom I promised if I could that I would land in Crete. He is an old man and nearly blind, but he seems to know the history of all the world; neither Sanchoniathon, nor Elhanan the Israelite, could know it better. He sings the exploits of his country's gods and heroes, accompanying his singing on his lute; he has no other means of paying his passage. You shall hear him."

The venerable bard was sent for, and was soon conducted on board. He had a dignified bearing, and commanded an involuntary reverence. His long beard was very white, and he carried in his hand a lute made of tortoise-shell. His name was Homer.

Addressing us, he said:

"O Pheacians! ye sea-kings, who explore the marvels of the earth! may the divine gods protect your ships! My eyes are dim; no longer do I discern the meadows with their pasturing herds, nor the warriors with their dazzling armour; nay, scarce can I perceive the glorious beams of day. But the Muses from their blest abode, beside the Peneus, have endowed me with the gift of harmony and song, so that wherever I may go, I celebrate the achievements both of gods and men."

I handed the old man a cup of the choicest nectar, and, with invigorated spirit, he began to sing his songs. To me their meaning was barely intelligible; but Hanno, familiar with the Hellenic tongue, was perfectly enraptured, and made the venerable minstrel a present of his mantle, which was woven of the finest wool of Helbon, and exquisitely embroidered with flowers.

"Never have I heard anything to be compared with this," exclaimed the scribe; "in spite of their ignorance of trade and navigation, these people cannot be quite the barbarians we supposed."

Hannibal, who had hitherto looked on in silence, now observed:

"Once, when I was in the city of Our in Naharan, I came across an extraordinary man, of whom this wandering poet reminds me. He was an Egyptian, travelling about, and singing songs to his own lute, just like Homer here, but he was not so old, and the remarkable thing was that he had an ape with him that used to mimic all the events about which he sung. Now when Chryseis sings her war-songs, it is pleasant to listen, although one does not understand a word; her voice is itself a charm. But this old minstrel's songs are dull; he ought, I think, to have an ape with him, to act as an interpreter of what he sings."

Hanno sneered contemptuously, and said:

"Hannibal is wonderfully clever. I should fancy he could play the ape's part to perfection."

Not discerning the satire, Hannibal replied with the greatest gravity:

"I don't know about my being more clever than any of my people from Arvad; but I think that if I could understand the old man's tongue, I could perform for him better than an ape."

CHAPTER VIII

AN AFFAIR WITH THE PHOCIANS

Having entrusted Bodachmon with various commissions, and especially with the duty of delivering a letter from myself to King Hiram, I took my leave of him and his companions. In the afternoon, the breeze being favourable, we resumed our voyage to Italy. In order to pass between the islands of Cephallenia and Leucas, it was necessary to deviate somewhat to the north, after which we should have to steer nearly due east for the south of the great Iapygian gulf.

The Cabiros was about ten stadia ahead, and consequently so far in advance that she was lost to sight as she rounded the southern cape of Cephallenia; but she had hardly disappeared beyond the headland, when it struck me that I could hear her trumpet sounding signals of distress. Having sounded an alarm, I put my men in readiness for any emergency, and it was well I did so; for when we had rounded the promontory far enough to get her within view, we saw her not only surrounded by nearly twenty large boats of the Hellenes, but the object towards which some fifty other boats were making their way with the greatest speed.

The fact was, that while we had been coasting along the east of the island the enemy had made their way by the west, and thus the Cabiros, rounding the headland, had found herself unawares in an ambush, which, with her superior sailing power, it would have been quite easy to escape if there had been any previous warning. As it was, she was completely taken by surprise; and her tonnage being too light to allow her to carry a copper beak for attack, she could only avoid being boarded by the expedient of rapidly making her way round and round in a circle.

There was not a moment to be lost. The Dagon put on all speed and made her way direct towards the promiscuous cluster of boats that was coming up beyond, whilst I hastened to secure the rescue of the imperilled Cabiros.

The antagonists with which the Dagon had to contend did not appear to be of a very formidable character. A very cursory glance at the unmartial appearance of most of the crews, and at the cargoes, which consisted mainly of agricultural produce and implements, made it evident that we had come into collision with some convoy of emigrants. Hannibal had manifestly come to the same conclusion that there was nothing to cause him any alarm for I noticed that after having given his men a sign that there was no occasion to draw their bows, he made a considerable sweep to leeward, and then dashed furiously in upon the crowded craft.

But my more serious attention was demanded in another quarter. The adversaries that I had to face were less numerous, but far more formidable, being all armed men. It was in vain that I hurried forward with all the speed at my command; before I could get within two stadia of the Cabiros she was already boarded, and the deck of the gallant little ship was becoming the scene of a desperate struggle. From the midst of a whirl of lances I could distinguish Hamilcar, protecting himself with his shield in one hand, and dealing tremendous blows with his sword in the other; whilst Gisgo stood with his back supported by the top of the poop, and had just raised the battle-axe with which he had cloven the skull of one of his assailants. To prevent us from rendering any assistance, five or six large boats advanced towards us to obstruct our progress, and I could hear the shrill voices of the warriors on board chanting their exciting war-cry, "Io Pœan! Io Pœan!" A fine-built man, who seemed to be chief in command, was standing at the prow of the highest boat; he had a crested helmet; his shield and greaves were faced with copper, and he was brandishing his long lance like a maniac. I was about to point him out to Bichri, but he, ever on the alert, was already upon one knee with his arrow to his bow, watching his opportunity, and no sooner were we within range than the bowstring was up to his ear, the arrow whizzed through the air, and the chief, throwing both hands aloft, fell head foremost into the water.

"Now, men, now's your time!" I shouted; "down upon the savages! Down upon them! Quick!"

With a tremendous spurt, the Ashtoreth dashed violently into the boat, which sank instantly in an eddy of foam, our magnificent success setting us at liberty to concentrate our attention upon another boat which was harassing us on the right.

In their eagerness to be ready to climb up into our ship the crew of this boat had inconsiderately crowded altogether to one side. Knowing the unscientific build of the Hellenic boats, and how easily they are overturned when heavily laden, I tacked round suddenly to the opposite side, and putting on full speed, capsized it without the slightest difficulty.

But the need, meanwhile, was becoming more and more urgent that we should reach the Cabiros, although she was holding out with a vigorous defence. I had to manœuvre by taking a long semicircular sweep to get beyond the reach of the boats around me, but the delay had its advantage in giving Hannibal opportunity to arrange his men. He very judiciously placed the archers in the stern, and divided his remaining force into two companies; one of them under his own leadership to be prepared to follow him on to the deck of the Cabiros, the other to remain and protect their own ship from being boarded.

About the Dagon I had little or no anxiety. I could see that she was not only holding her own, but that by dashing backwards and forwards amongst the medley of boats around her, she was crushing or sinking all that she came athwart, and by discharging volleys of arrows and pots of combustibles, she succeeded in distressing the men on board to such a degree that we could hear their howlings of mingled rage and dismay.

Hannibal's instructions to his soldiers were very brief; telling those whom he left behind that they were to obey Chamai's orders, and that he trusted them to do their duty, he turned to those under his own command, and said:

"Soldiers! the fight before you is a fight hand-to-hand; no room for lances! Draw your swords, stand ready at the prow!"

I gave orders to the rowers to pull steadily ahead; but they had scarcely laid themselves out to their work, when we fouled two of the boats which had detached themselves from the others, and were endeavouring to get alongside of us.

"Quick! to the engines!" I cried; "and, archers, draw your bows!"

In an instant Bichri's men were at the scorpions, and a perfect torrent of stones, arrows, and combustibles, fell on either hand. Hannibal's men did not stir from their attitude of readiness, and Chamai kept his detachment grouped close around the mast, abiding the time for a charge to be ordered. Bichri's party laid aside their bows, and drew their knives and swords; and Jonah, laying his trumpet on the deck, armed himself with the ponderous handspike usually employed for heaving the anchor, and which two ordinary men could scarcely carry.

"Come on, Dodanim!" he shouted; "if you can afford a calf for a little shaking, perhaps you will pay better still if I lay this rod across your shoulders. I should like a few bullocks and a good skin of wine. I am quite ready to begin pounding away, like Samson at the mill."

The time for action had come, and I gave the word of command to push ahead, straight at the foe. A dash and a crash! and cries of mingled wrath and consternation rose from beneath our prow as it made its way in a vortex of foam. We rushed past the first boat, leaving it hopelessly far astern; we disabled a second that was designing an attack upon our starboard, and we capsized a third that was coming on our left; and when our men drew breath after their paroxysm of exertion we were within half a bowshot of the Cabiros. So close we were, that I could see Hamilcar with his head all bleeding, and Gisgo, with dishevelled hair, laying about him desperately with his hatchet, whilst a dozen sailors who had retreated to the stern, were making a vain effort to repel the invaders, who continued to make their way on board.

"Help! Mago, help!" shouted Hamilcar, imploringly, as he saw us drawing near.

"Cheer up, mate!" I replied; "we shall soon be with you."

I made a rapid survey of our position, and having instructed the helmsman to bear up hard to starboard, I called to the oarsmen:

"Now, men, once again, a good strong pull with might and main; then ship your oars, and we shall be right alongside!"

So vehemently did they put forth their strength that our prow was lifted high above the flood, and the impetus given to our speed was so great that another of the opposing boats was cut clean in two. In another minute we had gained the side of the Cabiros. Hannibal seized a rope and sprang upon the deck; and followed by his men was quickly in the midst of the mortal struggle.

I had no time to watch the issue of their intrepid venture. They had hardly left our deck when I was startled by the urgent voice of Hanno:

"Look, captain! they have us now!"

And turning round I was face to face with a throng of the Hellenes, who had not only brought their boats into close quarters with the Ashtoreth, but had forced their way on to her stern. Into the breast of the foremost man, who was rushing towards me with uplifted lance, I thrust my sword well-nigh to its hilt; and Hanno showed how well he had profited by the fencing lessons he had had on board; he parried a blow with his left hand, and almost in the same instant felled an opponent by driving his weapon into his shoulder with his right. Sometimes bending himself down, sometimes rearing himself to his fullest height, Chamai wielded his sword with the most extraordinary dexterity: three men set upon him at once; one of them soon reeled and fell heavily at his feet; a second, grasping his sides in agony, was seen to stagger back amongst his comrades; whilst the other, putting his head between his hands, cowered down to the ground, the blood trickling through his fingers.

Bichri also, single-handed, had to engage quite a little group of antagonists. It seemed a desperate fray; but, strange to tell, he got the better of them all, and retired triumphant, his blood-stained sword in one hand, his dagger in the other. Nor did good fortune fail Himilco; closely pressed as he was by his adversary, he succeeded in catching him by the throat, and, holding him back firmly against the mast, he thrust his sword into his heart.