and silver came from Spain, because then, you know, people wouldn't
be able to pay a good price for fish, and there would be bad times
for you fishermen. But that is not the worst of it. The Romans
are so alarmed by our progress in Spain that they are glad to keep
friends with us, but if we were driven out from there they would
soon be at war again. You and your sons would be pressed for
the ships of war, and like enough you might see the Roman fleets
hovering on our coasts and picking up our fishing boats."

"By Astarte," the fisherman exclaimed, "but that would be serious,
indeed; and you say all this will happen unless Hannibal remains
as general in Spain?"

"That is so," Malchus nodded.

"Then I tell you what, my boys," the fisherman said, rising and
rubbing his hands, "we must put our oars into this business. You
hear what my lord Malchus tells us. Get up, there is work to be
done. Now, sir, what is the best way to stop this affair you tell
us of? If it's got to be done we will do it, and I think I can
answer for three or four thousand fishing hands here who ain't
going to stand by any more than I am and see the bread taken out
of their mouths. They know old Calcon, and will listen to what he
says. I will set about it at once."

"That is just what I want," Malchus said. "I want you and your sons
to go about among the fishermen and tell them what is proposed
to be done, and how ruinous it will be for them. You know how fond
of fishermen I am, and how sorry I should be to see them injured.
You stir them up for the next three or four days, and get them to