Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/474

 442 HISTORY OF 3REECE. After a period of rejoicing, for his recent victories bj land an well as by sea, Agathokles passed over to Africa, where he found his son, with the army at TunSs in great despondency and pri- vation, and almost mutiny for want of pay. They still amounted to GOOO Grecian mercenaries, 6000 Gauls, Samnites, and Tyr- rhenians — 1500 cavalry — and no less than 6000 (if the number be correct) Libyan war-chariots. There were also a numerous body of Libyan allies ; faitliless time-servers, watching for tl e turn of fortune. The Carthaginians, occupying strong camps in the vicinity of Tunes, and abundantly supplied, awaited patiently the destroying effects of privation and suffering on their enemies. So desperate was the position of Agathokles, that he was com- pelled to go forth and fight. Having tried in vain to draw the Carthaginians down into the plain, he at length attacked them •in the full strength of their entrenchments. But in spite of the most strenuous efforts, his troops were repulsed with great slaughter, and driven back to their camp.i The night succeeding this battle was a scone of disorder and panic in both camps ; even in that of the victorious Carthagini- ans. The latter, according to the ordinances of their religion, eager to return their heartfelt thanks to the gods for this great victor}', sacrificed to them as a choice offering the handsomest prisoners captured.^ During this process, the tent or tabernacle consecrated to the gods, close to the altar as well as to the gen- eral's tent, accidentally took fire. The tents being formed by mere wooden posts, connected by a thatch of hay or straw both on roof and sides, — the fire spread rapidly, and the entire camp was burnt, together with many soldiers who tried to arrest the conflagration. So distracting was the terror occasioned by this catastrophe, that the whole Carthagmian army for the time dis- persed ; and Agathokles, had he been prepared, might have dc- sti'oyed them. But it happened that at the same hour, his own ' Diodor. xx. 64 ; Justin, xxii. 8. '' Diodor. XX. 65. See an incident somewhat similar (Herod, vii. 180) — the Persians, in the invasion of Greece by Xerxes, sacrificed the handsomest Pirecian prisoner whom they captured on board the first prize-ship that fell ■;nto their hands.