t in which he had
written. They announced to the people that a victory had been won, and
ordered the consular election to take place as usual, at the same time
issuing orders to all parts of the Roman dominion for the enrolment of
fresh troops.

Hannibal attempted to surprise Piacenza, but Scipio issued out with his
cavalry and inflicted a check upon him, Hannibal himself being slightly
wounded. The Carthaginians then marched away and stormed the town of
Vicumve, and during their absence the two consuls evacuated Piacenza
and marched south. Scipio led his portion of the little army to Ariminum
(Rimini), Sempronius took his command to Arretium (Mezzo), where they
both speedily received reinforcements. Hannibal made an attempt to cross
the Apennines, but the snow lay deep among the mountains, and, unable to
effect his purpose, he fell back again to winter in the plain.

In the meantime Cneius Servilius Geminus and Caius Flaminius had been
elected consuls. Flaminius succeeded Sempronius in command of the Roman
army at Arretium, while Geminus took the command of that at Rimini.
Between these consuls, as was usually the case in Rome, a bitter
jealousy existed. Geminus was the nominee of the aristocratic party,
while Flaminius was the idol of the populace, and, as has often been
the case in war, this rivalry between two generals possessing equal
authority wrought great evil to the armies they commanded.

CHAPTER XIV: THE BATTLE OF LAKE TRASIMENE

The battle of Trebia cost Malchus the loss of his father. It was against
the portion of the force headed by Hamilcar that the Romans, who cut
their way through the circle of foes which Hannibal had thrown round
them, flung themselves. Hamilcar had in vain attempted to stem the
torrent. Surrounded by his bravest officers, he had cast himself in the
way of the Roman legion; but nothing could withstand the rush of the
heavy armed spearmen, who, knowing that all was lost, and that their
only hope was in cutting their way through the Carthaginians, pressed
forward, shoulder to shoulder, and swept aside the opposition of
their more lightly armed foes. Hamilcar and most of his officers fell,
striving to the last to stem the current.

It was a grievous blow to Malchus, when, as he was exulting in the great
victory which had been gained, the news came to him that his father had
fallen. Hamilcar was very dear to him. He had been his companion and his
friend, his guide and adviser. H