ibal's clemency was politic. He would have lost many more men before
he finally overcame the desperate band, and he was by no means desirous
of exciting a deep feeling of hate among any of the tribes, just as
he was meditating withdrawing the greater portion of the army for his
enterprise against Rome. With the fall of Salamanca the resistance of
the Vacaei ceased, and Hannibal prepared to march back to Carthagena.

A storm, however, had gathered in his rear. Great numbers of the Vacaei
had sought refuge among the Olcades, who had been subdued the previous
autumn, and together they had included the whole of the fierce tribes
known as the Carpatans, who inhabited the country on the right bank of
the upper Tagus, to make common cause with them against the invaders. As
Hannibal approached their neighbourhood they took up their position on
the right bank of the river near Toledo. Here the stream is rapid and
difficult of passage, its bed being thickly studded with great boulders
brought down in time of flood from the mountains. The country on each
side of the river is sandy, free from forests or valleys, which would
cover the movements of an army.

The host gathered to oppose the Carthaginians were fully one hundred
thousand strong, and Hannibal saw at once that his force, weakened as it
was with its loss at Salamanca, and encumbered by the great train laden
with the booty they had gathered from the Vacaei, would have no chance
whatever in a battle with so vast a body. The enemy separated as he
approached the river, their object being evidently to fall upon his rear
when engaged in the difficult operation of crossing. The Carthaginians
moved in two heavy columns, one on each side of their baggage, and
Hannibal's orders were stringent that on no account should they engage
with the enemy.

The natives swarmed around the columns, hurling darts and javelins; but
the Carthaginians moved forward in solid order, replying only with
their arrows and slings, and contenting themselves with beating off the
attacks which the bolder of their foes made upon them. Night was falling
when they arrived on the bank of the river. The enemy then desisted from
their attack, believing that in the morning the Carthaginians would be
at their mercy, encumbered by their vast booty on one side and cut off
from retreat by a well nigh impassable river on the other.

As soon as the army reached the river Hannibal caused the tents of all
the officers to