CHAPTER II.
AT SICCA Two days afterwards the Mercenaries left Carthage.
They had each received a piece of gold on the condition that they should go into camp at Sicca, and they had been told with all sorts of caresses: "You are the saviours of Carthage! But you would starve it if you remained there; it would become insolvent.

Withdraw! The Republic will be grateful to you later for all this condescension.

We are going to levy taxes immediately; your pay shall be in full, and galleys shall be equipped to take you back to your native lands." They did not know how to reply to all this talk.

These men, accustomed as they were to war, were wearied by residence in a town; there was difficulty in convincing them, and the people mounted the walls to see them go away.
They defiled through the street of Khamon, and the Cirta gate, pell-mell, archers with hoplites, captains with soldiers, Lusitanians with Greeks.

They marched with a bold step, rattling their heavy cothurni on the paving stones.