BATTLE OF THE METAURUS. 117
tle, though he had not judged it expedient to attack them in their
lines. And now, on hearing that the Romans offered battle, he
also drew up his men, and advanced toward them. No spy or
deserter had informed him of Nero's arrival, nor had he received
any direct information that he had more than his old enemies to
deal with. But as he rode forward to reconnoiter the Roman
line, he thought that their numbers seemed to have increased, and
that the armor of some of them was unusually dull and stained.
He noticed, also, that the horses of some of the cavalry appeared
to be rough and out of condition, as if they had just come from
a succession of forced marches. So also, though, owing to the
precaution of Livius, the Roman camp showed no change of size,
it had not escaped the quick ear of the Carthaginian general that
the trumpet which gave the signal to the Roman legions sounded
that morning once oftener than usual, as if directing the troops
of some additional superior officer. Hasdrubal, from his Spanish
campaigns, was well acquainted with all the sounds and signals
of Roman war, and from all that he heard and saw, he felt
convinced that both the Roman consuls were before him. In
doubt and difficulty as to what might have taken place between
the armies of the south, and probably hoping that Hannibal also
was approaching, Hasdrubal determined to avoid an encounter
with the combined Roman forces, and to endeavor to retreat upon
Insubrian Gaul, where he would be in a friendly country, and
could endeavor to re-open his communication with his brother.
He therefore led his troops back into their camp; and as the
Romans did not venture on an assault upon his intrenchments,
and Hasdrubal did not choose to commence his retreat in their
sight, the day passed away in inaction. At the first watch of
the night, Hasdrubal led his men silently out of their camp, and
moved northward toward the Metaurus, in the hope of placing
that river between himself and the Romans before his retreat
was discovered. His guides betrayed him; and having purposely
led him away from the part of the river that was fordable, they
made their escape in the dark, and left Hasdrubal and his army
wandering in confusion along the steep bank, and seeking in vain
for a spot where the stream could be safely crossed. At last
they halted; and when day dawned on them, Hasdrubal found
that great numbers of his men, in their fatigue and impatience,
had lost all discipline and subordination, and that many of his
