strong places.

The road by which the column was ascending wound along the face of
a precipice, and was so narrow that it was with difficulty that the
horses, snorting with fright, could be persuaded to proceed. The
natives, seeing the confusion which the fright of the animals created in
the column, at once took to the mountains, climbing up rugged precipices
which appeared to the Carthaginians absolutely inaccessible, and
presently made their appearance far up on the mountain side above the
column.

Here, sending up the most piercing yells, they began to roll rocks and
stones down upon the column. The confusion below became terrible. The
horses, alarmed by the strange wild cries, echoed and re-echoed a score
of times among the mountains, and struck by the falling stones, plunged
and struggled wildly to escape. Some tore along the path, precipitating
those in front of them over the precipice, others lost their footing,
and, dragging with them the carts to which they were attached, fell
into the valley below. All order was lost. Incapable of defence or of
movement the column appeared to be on the verge of destruction.

"Come, my men," Malchus exclaimed to his Arabs, "where these men can
climb we can follow them; the safety of the whole column is at stake."

Slinging their weapons behind them the scouts began to climb the crags.
Sure footed and hardy as they were, it was with the greatest difficulty
that they could make their way up. Many lost their footing, and rolling
down were dashed to pieces; but the great majority succeeded in climbing
the heights, and at once became engaged in desperate battle with the
natives.

Every narrow ledge and crag was the scene of a conflict. The natives
from the distant heights encouraged their companions with their shouts,
and for a time the confusion in the column below was heightened by the
combat which was proceeding far above them. Every stone dislodged by the
feet of the combatants thundered down upon them, and the falling bodies
of those hit by arrow or javelin came crushing down with a dull thud
among the mass.

At last the bravery and superior weapons of the Arabs prevailed. The
precipice was cleared of the natives, and as the uproar ceased and the
missiles ceased to fall, the column recovered its order, and again moved
forward until the whole army gained the top of the pass. Here Hannibal
took possession of a rough fort erected by the natives, captured several
villages,