He bored counter-mines beneath the path along which the wooden towers were to move, and when they were pushed forward they sank into the holes.
At last all recognised that the town was impregnable, unless a long terrace was raised to the same height as the walls, so as to enable them to fight on the same level.

The top of it should be paved so that the machines might be rolled along.

Then Carthage would find it quite impossible to resist.
The town was beginning to suffer from thirst.

The water which was worth two kesitahs the bath at the opening of the siege was now sold for a shekel of silver; the stores of meat and corn were also becoming exhausted; there was a dread of famine, and some even began to speak of useless mouths, which terrified every one.
From the square of Khamon to the temple of Melkarth the streets were cumbered with corpses; and, as it was the end of the summer, the combatants were annoyed by great black flies.

Old men carried off the wounded, and the devout continued the fictitious funerals for their relatives and friends who had died far away during the war.