midnight
Upon this Malchus was laid , four men lifted it on their shoulders , the others fell in round it as a guard , and the party then proceeded through quiet streets towards the citadel . The hour was late and but few people were about . Any who paused for a moment to look at the little procession , shrank away hastily on hearing the dreaded words , `` In the name of the republic , '' uttered by the leader of the party . The citizens of Carthage were too well accustomed to midnight arrests to give the matter further thought , save a momentary wonder as to who was the last victim of the tyrants of the city , and to indulge , perhaps , in a secret malediction upon them . Malchus had from the first no doubt as to his destination , and when he felt a sudden change in the angle at which the stretcher was carried , knew that he was being taken up the steep ascent to Byrsa . He heard presently the challenge of a sentry , then there was a pause as the gates were opened , then he was carried forward for awhile , there was another stop , and the litter was lowered to the ground , his cords were unfastened , and he was commanded to rise . It needed but a glance upwards to tell him where he was .