the
cavalry, on the other hand, were free to use their weapons, and the
weight and impetus of their charge was alone sufficient to sweep the
Spanish from their footing into deep water.

Many were drowned, many more cut down, and the rest driven in disorder
back across the river. But fresh hordes had now arrived; Hannibal
sounded the retreat, and the cavalry retired as the Spaniards again
threw themselves into the stream. As the confused mass poured across the
ford the two divisions of infantry fell upon them, while the arrows
of the archers swept the struggling mass. Without order or discipline,
bewildered at this attack by a foe whom they had regarded as flying, the
Spaniards were driven back across the river, the Carthaginians crossing
in their rear.

The flying Iberians scattered terror among their comrades still flocking
down to the bank, and as the Carthaginian infantry in solid column fell
upon them, a panic seized the whole host and they scattered over the
plain. The Carthaginian cavalry followed close behind the infantry, and
at once dashed forward among the broken masses, until the Spanish army,
lately so confident of victory, was but a broken mass of panic stricken
fugitives.

The victory of Toledo was followed at once by the submission of the
whole of the tribes of Spain south of the Ebro, and Hannibal, having
seen that the country was everywhere pacified, marched back with his
army to Carthagena to pass the winter there (220-219 B.C.).

CHAPTER VII: A WOLF HUNT

The summer's work had been a hard one and the young soldiers of the
Carthaginian cavalry rejoiced when they marched into Carthagena again,
with the prospect of four months' rest and gaiety. When in the field
their discipline was as strict and their work as hard as that of the
other corps, but, whereas, when they went into winter quarters, the rest
of the army were placed under tents or huts, this corps d'elite were for
the time their own masters.

Two or three times a week they drilled and exercised their horses, but
with these exceptions they were free to do as they chose. Scarce one
but had relations or friends in Carthagena with whom they took up their
abode, and those who were not so fortunate found a home at the great
military club, of which, ranking as they did with the officers of other
corps, they were all members.

Hamilcar and Malchus had rooms assigned to them in the splendid mansion
of Hannibal, which was the centre of the