et, at the
beginning of night embarked 800 men in some small swift boats, with the
intention that they should row with all their strength up stream for
some distance, and then land and destroy all they could find with fire
and sword.

5. After he had made this arrangement, the barbarians were seen at
daybreak on the tops of the mountains, on which our soldiers were led
with speed to the higher ground; and when no enemy was found there
(since the barbarians, divining their plan, immediately retreated to a
distance), presently large volumes of smoke were seen, which indicated
that our men had broken into the enemy's territory, and were laying it
waste.

6. This event broke the spirit of the Germans, who, deserting the
ambuscades which they had laid for our men in narrow defiles full of
lurking-places, they fled across the river Maine to carry aid to their
countrymen.

7. For, as is often the case in times of uncertainty and difficulty,
they were panic-stricken by the incursion of our cavalry on the one
side, and the sudden attacks of our infantry, conveyed in boats, on the
other; and therefore, relying on their knowledge of the country, they
sought safety in the rapidity of their flight; and, as their retreat
left the motions of our troops free, we plundered the wealthy farms of
their crops and their cattle, sparing no one. And having carried off a
number of prisoners, we set fire to, and burnt to the ground all their
houses, which in that district were built more carefully than usual, in
the Roman fashion.

8. And when we had penetrated a distance of ten miles, till we came near
a wood terrible from the denseness of its shade, our army halted for a
while, and stayed its advance, having learnt from information given by a
deserter that a number of enemies were concealed in some subterranean
passages and caverns with many entrances in the neighbourhood, ready to
sally forth when a favourable opportunity should appear.

9. Nevertheless our men presently ventured to advance in full
confidence, and found the roads blockaded by oaks, ashes, and pines, of
great size, cut down and laid together. And so they retreated with
caution, perceiving that it was impossible to advance except by long and
rugged defiles; though they could hardly restrain their indignation at
being compelled to do so.

10. The weather too became very severe, so that they were enveloped in
all kinds of toil and danger to no purpose (forasmuch as it was