and it is
significant that when the Britons were at last seen, they "were
advancing to the river with their cavalry and chariots from the higher
ground." In other words, Caesar's march had brought him into the valley
of the Great Stour, where he not only found the water he sought, but
also the enemy, who had probably followed his march from the great
woods all the way.

[Illustration: ON THE STOUR NEAR CANTERBURY]

The spot at which Caesar struck the valley was, as we may be sure, that
above which the great earthwork stands, opposite Thannington. Here upon
the height was fought the first real battle of Rome upon our soil. It
was opened by the Britons who "began to annoy the Romans and to give
battle." But the Roman cavalry repulsed them so that they again sought
refuge in the woods where was their camp, "a place admirably fortified
by nature and by art ... all entrance to it being shut by a great
number of felled trees." But like all barbarians, the Britons were
undisciplined and preferred to fight in detached parties, and as
seemed good to each. Every now and then some of them rushed out of the
woods and fell upon the Romans, who continually were prevented from
storming the fort and forcing an entry. Much time was thus wasted
until the soldiers of the Seventh Legion, having formed a _testudo_
and thrown up a rampart against the British fort, took it, and drove
the Britons out of the woods, receiving in return a few, though only a
few, wounds. Thus the battle ended in the victory of our enemies and
our saviours. Caesar tells us that he forbade his men to pursue the
enemy for any great distance, because he was ignorant of the nature
of the country, and because, the day being far spent, he wished to
devote what remained of the daylight to the building of his camp.

Caesar speaks of this camp and rightly of course, as a thing of
importance. We know from his narrative, too, that it was occupied by
some fifteen thousand foot and seventeen hundred horse, with their
baggage and equipment for more than ten days. Where did it stand? It
must have been within reach of the river, for without plentiful water
no such army as Caesar encamped could have maintained itself for so
long a period as ten days; exactly where it was, however, we shall in
all probability never know.

Wherever it was, there Caesar spent the night, both he and his army,
sleeping soundly, we may be sure, after the sleepless and anxious
nights, one spent in th