d. From this first raft they proceeded to a
second, which was built in the same form, but only a hundred feet long,
and fastened to the former by chains that were easily loosened. The female
elephants were put upon the first raft, and the males followed after; and
when they were got upon the second raft, it was loosened from the first,
and, by the help of small boats, towed to the opposite shore. After this,
it was sent back to fetch those which were behind. Some fell into the
water, but they at last got safe to shore, and not a single elephant was
drowned.

_The March after the Battle of the Rhone._--The two Roman consuls had, in
the beginning of the spring, set out for their respective provinces;(739)
P. Scipio for Spain with sixty ships, two Roman legions, fourteen thousand
foot, and twelve hundred horse of the allies; Tiberius Sempronius for
Sicily, with a hundred and sixty ships, two legions, sixteen thousand
foot, and eighteen hundred horse of the allies. The Roman legion
consisted, at that time, of four thousand foot and three hundred horse.
Sempronius had made extraordinary preparations at Lilybaeum, a seaport town
in Sicily, with the design of crossing over directly into Africa. Scipio
was equally confident that he should find Hannibal still in Spain, and
make that country the seat of war. But he was greatly astonished, when, on
his arrival at Marseilles, advice was brought him, that Hannibal was upon
the banks of the Rhone, and preparing to cross it. He then detached three
hundred horse, to view the posture of the enemy; and Hannibal detached
five hundred Numidian horse for the same purpose; during which, some of
his soldiers were employed in wafting over the elephants.

At the same time he gave audience, in the presence of his whole army, to
one of the princes of that part of Gaul which is situated near the Po, who
assured him, by an interpreter, in the name of his subjects, that his
arrival was impatiently expected; that the Gauls were ready to join him,
and march against the Romans, and he himself offered to conduct his army
through places where they should meet with a plentiful supply of
provisions. When the prince was withdrawn, Hannibal, in a speech to his
troops, magnified extremely this deputation from the Gauls; extolled, with
just praises, the bravery which his forces had shown hitherto; and
exhorted them to sustain, to the last, their reputation and glory. The
soldiers inspired with fresh ardour and