and enjoined them to march as noiselessly as possible until the
semicircle was completed and the beat began in earnest.

The troops were to be divided into groups of eight, in order to be
able to repel the attacks of any beasts which might try to break
through the line. When the two columns had marched away right and
left towards the hills, the attendants of the elephants and baggage
animals were ordered to remove them into the centre of the groves.
The footmen who remained were divided into two parties of equal
strength. The general with Malchus remained in the grove in which
his tent was fixed with one of these parties, while Adherbal and
Giscon with the others took up their station in the larger grove.

"Do you think the lions are sure to make for these groves?" Malchus
asked his father as, with a bundle of javelins lying by his side,
his bow in his hand, and a quiver of arrows hung from his belt in
readiness, he took his place at the edge of the trees.

"There can be no certainty of it, Malchus; but it seems likely that
the lions, when driven out of their refuges among the hills, will
make for these groves, which will seem to offer them a shelter
from their pursuers. The fires here will have informed them of
our presence last night; but as all is still and dark now they may
suppose that the groves are deserted. In any case our horses are
in readiness among the trees close at hand, and if the lions take
to the plains we must mount and join the Numidians in the chase."

"I would rather meet them here on foot, father."

"Yes, there is more excitement, because there is more danger in