Hamilcar at last returned to Salammbo, and unfastened Hannibal's cords.
The child in exasperation bit his hand until the blood came. He repelled
him with a caress.
To make him remain quiet Salammbo tried to frighten him with Lamia, a
Cyrenian ogress.
"But where is she?" he asked.
He was told that brigands were coming to put him into prison. "Let them
come," he rejoined, "and I will kill them!"
Then Hamilcar told him the frightful truth. But he fell into a passion
with his father, contending that he was quite able to annihilate the
whole people, since he was the master of Carthage.
At last, exhausted by his exertions and anger, he fell into a wild
sleep. He spoke in his dreams, his back leaning against a scarlet
cushion; his head was thrown back somewhat, and his little arm,
outstretched from his body, lay quite straight in an attitude of
command.
When the night had grown dark Hamilcar lifted him up gently, and,
without a torch, went down the galley staircase. As he passed through
the mercantile house he took up a basket of grapes and a flagon of pure
water; the child awoke before the statue of Aletes in the vault of gems,
and he smiled--like the other--on his father's arm at the brilliant
lights which surrounded him.
Hamilcar felt quite sure that his son could not be taken from him.
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