that he broke his fast until the day's work was over. When he ate
it would be sitting on horseback, or as he walked about seeing to
the needs of the soldiers.

At night he slept among them, lying on a lion skin without covering.
He was indifferent to heat and cold, and in the heaviest tempest
of wind and rain would ride bareheaded among his troops, apparently
unconscious of the tempest against which he was struggling. So far
as was known he was without a vice. He seldom touched wine. His
morals were irreproachable. He never gave way to anger. His patience
under trials and difficulties of all sorts was illimitable.

In the midst of the greatest trials and dangers he preserved his
cheerfulness, and had ever an encouraging word for his soldiers.
Various as were the nationalities of the troops who followed
him, constrained as most of them had been to enter the service of
Carthage, so great was their love and admiration for their commander
that they were ready to suffer all hardships, to dare all dangers
for his sake. It was his personal influence, and that alone,
which welded this army, composed of men of various nationalities
and tribes, into one whole, and enabled it to perform the greatest
military exploits in the world's history, and for years to sustain
a terrible struggle against the whole power of Rome.



CHAPTER VI: A CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN


Among the young officers who had followed Hannibal on board were