already given his orders to the young officers. No response was
to be made to the fire of the arrows and javelins, but with spear,
sword, and battleaxe the troops were to fall upon the natives.

"Charge!" he shouted in a voice that was heard above the yells of
the barbarians. "Clear the wood of these lurking enemies, they
dare not face you. Sweep them before your path."

With an answering shout the three bodies of men sprang forward, each
in a different direction. In vain the natives poured in volleys
of arrows and javelins; many fell, more were wounded, but all who
could keep their feet rushed forward with fury upon their assailants.

The charge was irresistible. The natives, fighting each for himself,
were unable for a moment to withstand the torrent, and, vastly
superior in numbers as they were, were driven headlong before it.
When they reached the edge of the wood each of the bodies broke into
two. The Numidians had directed their course towards their horses,
which a party of their own men were still defending desperately
against the attacks of a large body of natives. Through these they
cut their way, and springing upon their steeds dashed out into the
plain, and sweeping round the grove fell upon the natives there,
and cut down the parties of men who emerged in confusion from
its shelter, unable to withstand the assaults of Hamilcar and his
infantry within.

The heavy infantry and the Iberians, when they gained the edge of
the wood, had swept to the right and left, cleared the edge of
the grove of their enemies until they met, then joining they again
plunged into the centre. Thus they traversed the wood in every