as the two walls were of equal height,
almost every dart took effect. Thus ended this campaign.

During the winter quarters, Scipio endeavoured to overpower the enemy's
troops without the city,(902) who very much harassed the convoys that
brought his provisions, and protected such as were sent to the besieged.
For this purpose he attacked a neighbouring fort, called Nepheris, where
they used to shelter themselves. In the last action, above seventy
thousand of the enemy, as well soldiers as peasants, who had been
enlisted, were cut to pieces; and the fort was carried with great
difficulty, after sustaining a siege of two and twenty days. The seizure
of this fort was followed by the surrender of almost all the strong-holds
in Africa; and contributed very much to the taking of Carthage itself,
into which, from that time, it was almost impossible to bring any
provisions.

(M145) Early in the spring, Scipio attacked, at one and the same time, the
harbour called Cothon, and the citadel.(903) Having possessed himself of
the wall which surrounded this port, he threw himself into the great
square of the city that was near it, from whence was an ascent to the
citadel, up three streets, on each side of which were houses, from the
tops whereof a shower of darts was discharged upon the Romans, who were
obliged, before they could advance farther, to force the houses they came
first to, and post themselves in them, in order to dislodge from thence
the enemy who fought from the neighbouring houses. The combat, which was
carried on from the tops, and in every part of the houses, continued six
days, during which a dreadful slaughter was made. To clear the streets,
and make way for the troops, the Romans dragged aside, with hooks, the
bodies of such of the inhabitants as had been slain, or precipitated
headlong from the houses, and threw them into pits, the greatest part of
them being still alive and panting. In this toil, which lasted six days
and as many nights, the soldiers were relieved from time to time by fresh
ones, without which they would have been quite spent. Scipio was the only
person who did not take a wink of sleep all this time; giving orders in
all places, and scarce allowing himself leisure to take the least
refreshment.

There was every reason to believe, that the siege would last much longer,
and occasion a great effusion of blood.(904) But on the seventh day, there
appeared a company of men in the posture and habit o