"Answer _me_ for that, Theron! Defend yourself, butcher of Hercules! Kill me if you can; I am Hannibal!" The priest turned and beheld a warrior, his face covered by his shield, his sword held in tierce, advancing with amazing agility, circling around him like a tiger attacking an elephant and seeking by his greater mobility to spring upon him at a defenceless point. The battle had ceased; the Saguntines fell back toward the city. The besieging cavalry charged close up to the walls, leaving the two combatants alone on the field. A few soldiers sluggishly approached, and stood still some distance away, intimidated by the superstitious terror which the giant inspired. Theron did not falter on finding himself alone. Hannibal! It was Hannibal the great warrior, who was now to fight with him absolutely alone! This singular duel, in view of the whole city looking on from the walls, seemed arranged by his god! He was to rid Saguntum of her direst enemy! Hercules had reserved this glory for him; and smiling with satisfaction he raised the mace, striding straight toward the African. Hannibal eluded him, stepping backward, springing aside with feline agility, evading the encounter, until at last the priest was weary and wished to end the struggle before new combatants should arrive. He steadied himself on his colossal legs and hurled the club at Hannibal. The enormous tree trunk tore through the air, while Hannibal, seeing it coming, sprang aside. It grazed his shield with a thundering clang, and fell far away amid a cloud of dust. The African bent his knees at the shock, but recovered himself, and flinging away his broken shield rushed at Theron with lifted sword. The priest of Hercules, finding himself disarmed, experienced a momentary qualm; he knew fear, believing himself in the presence of a superior being against whom his strength could not avail, and turning his back on Hannibal he fled toward Saguntum. The people on the walls seeing his peril called to him. Some drew their bows to stop Hannibal with their arrows, but they dared not shoot for fear of wounding Theron. The Saguntines breathed hard at seeing their Hercules flee, pursued by the warrior who was heading him off so that he should not reach the city. The giant being heavy and muscular, ran with difficulty over the ground strewn as it was with dead and with the litter of the fight. He stumbled over a shield; his knees bent; he arose again; but this time completely nude. The lion skin had fallen from his shoulders, and lay among the wrack of battle.