Description
The Young Carthaginian
CHAPTER I: THE CAMP IN THE DESERT
It is afternoon, but the sun’s rays still pour down with great power
upon rock and sand. How great the heat has been at midday may be seen
by the quivering of the air as it rises from the ground and blurs all
distant objects. It is seen, too, in the attitudes and appearance of a
large body of soldiers encamped in a grove. Their arms are thrown aside,
the greater portion of their clothing has been dispensed with. Some
lie stretched on the ground in slumber, their faces protected from any
chance rays which may find their way through the foliage above by little
shelters composed of their clothing hung on two bows or javelins. Some,
lately awakened, are sitting up or leaning against the trunks of the
trees, but scarce one has energy to move.
The day has indeed been a hot one even for the southern edge of the
Libyan desert. The cream coloured oxen stand with their heads down,
lazily whisking away with their tails the flies that torment them. The
horses standing near suffer more; the lather stands on their sides,
their flanks heave, and from time to time they stretch out their
extended nostrils in the direction from which, when the sun sinks a
little lower, the breeze will begin to blow.
The occupants of the grove are men of varied races, and, although there
is no attempt at military order, it is clear at once that they are
divided into three parties. One is composed of men more swarthy than
the others. They are lithe and active in figure, inured to hardship,
accustomed to the burning sun. Light shields hang against the trees with
bows and gaily painted quivers full of arrows, and near each man are
three or four light short javelins. They wear round caps of metal, with
a band of the skin of the lion or other wild
Product ID: 9781776795253
Sku: 9781776795253
