ake every sacrifice, to endure, to suffer, to fight to the
death for their beloved leader. His troops were mercenaries--that is,
they fought for pay in a cause which in no way concerned them--but
personal affection for their general supplied in them the place of the
patriotism which inspires modern soldiers, and transformed these semi
barbarous tribesmen into troops fit to cope with the trained legionaries
of Rome.

Hannibal was far in advance of any of the generals of his time in all
matters of organization. His commissariat was as perfect as that of
modern armies. It was its duty to collect grain from the country through
which the army marched, to form magazines, to collect and drive with the
troops herds of cattle, to take over the provisions and booty brought
in by foraging parties, and, to see to the daily distribution of rations
among the various divisions.

Along the line of communication depots were formed, where provisions,
clothing, and arms were stored in readiness for use, and from which the
whole army could, in case of necessity, be supplied with fresh clothing
and shoes. A band of surgeons accompanied the army, at the head of whom
was Synhalus, one of the most celebrated physicians of the time. So
perfect were the arrangements that it is said that throughout the
long campaign in Italy not a single day passed but that the troops,
elephants, and animals of all descriptions accompanying the army
received their daily rations of food.

CHAPTER X: BESET

During the winter Hannibal made every preparation to ensure the
tranquillity of Spain while he was absent. In order to lessen the number
of possible enemies there he raised a body of twelve hundred horse and
fourteen thousand infantry from among the most turbulent tribes, and
sent them across to Africa to serve as garrisons in Carthage and other
points, while an equal number of African troops were brought over to
garrison Spain, of which Hasdrubal, Hannibal's brother, was to have the
government during his absence.

Hanno, an able general, was to command the force which was to be left in
southern Gaul to keep open the communications between the Pyrenees and
the Alps, while the youngest brother, Mago, a youth of about the same
age as Malchus, was to accompany him to Italy. Hannibal's wife and a
child which had been born in the preceding spring, were sent by ship to
Carthage.

In the early spring the march commenced, the army following the coast
line un