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One of the Consuls meanwhile wished to depose Jugurtha and make a young prince King of Numidia.
When Jugurtha heard this he did not hesitate to order his slave to go at once to put his rival to death.
Such a deed was more than Rome could tolerate, and Jugurtha found it necessary to escape from the city.
The Senate saw that the war in Africa must be carried on. But to do so with any hope of success it was necessary to find a general who would scorn to take a bribe.
In the summer of 109 B.C. such a man was found in the Consul Metellus, who was now sent to Numidia as commander of the army. With him, as his lieutenant or legate, he took Gaius Marius, of whose boyhood I must tell you.
