nor
wait where they were for more certain intelligence. The praetors,
perceiving their minds disposed to mutiny, but concluding that their
violence would not be of long continuance, if those who had led them
on to such folly were removed, led the troops to Megara, whence they
themselves with a few horsemen proceeded to Herbessus, under the
expectation of having the city betrayed to them in the general
consternation; but being disappointed in this attempt, they resolved
to resort to force, and moved their camp from Megara on the following
day, in order to attack Herbessus with all their forces. Hippocrates
and Epicydes having formed the design of putting themselves into the
hands of the soldiers, who were for the most part accustomed to them,
and were now incensed at the report of the massacre of their comrades,
not so much as a safe measure on the first view of it as that it was
their only course, now that all hope was cut off, went out to meet the
army. It happened that the troops which marched in the van were six
hundred Cretans, who had been engaged in the service of Hieronymus
under their command, and were under obligation to Hannibal, having
been captured at the Trasimenus among the Roman auxiliaries, and
dismissed by him. Hippocrates and Epicydes, recognising them by their
standards and the fashion of their armour, held out olive branches,
and the fillets usually worn by suppliants, and implored them to
receive them into their ranks, protect them when received, and not
betray them to the Syracusans, by whom they themselves would soon be
delivered up to the Romans to be butchered.

31. But the Cretans with one accord called out to them to be of good
courage; that they would share every fortune with them. During this
conversation, the vanguard had halted, and the march was delayed; nor
had the cause of the delay as yet reached the generals. After the
report had spread that Hippocrates and Epicydes were there, and a
voice was heard through the whole army, which showed evidently that
the troops were pleased at their arrival, the praetors immediately
gallopped to the front, and earnestly asked "what was the meaning of
that violation of discipline, which the Cretans had committed in
holding conference with the enemy, and allowing them to mingle with
their ranks without the authority of the praetors." They ordered
Hippocrates to be seized and thrown into chains. On hearing which such
a clamour was raised, first by the C