ure
long privation of sleep and food. For the last few years he had been
in command of the cavalry, and had distinguished himself for personal
bravery, as well as by his talents as a leader.

Hannibal resolved to begin the inevitable struggle with Rome at once.
He therefore laid siege to Saguntum, a Spanish town allied to Rome. In
eight months the place was compelled to capitulate (219).

When Rome demanded satisfaction of Carthage for this insult, and
declared herself ready for war, the Carthaginians accepted the
challenge, and the Second Punic War began in 218.

CHAPTER XIV. THE SECOND PUNIC WAR.--FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE PYRENEES TO
THE BATTLE OF CANNAE. (218-216.)

In the spring of 218 Hannibal started from Carthago Nova to invade
Italy. His army consisted of 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 37
elephants. His march to the Pyrenees occupied two months, owing to the
opposition of the Spanish allies of Rome. Hannibal now sent back a
part of his troops, retaining 50,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry, all
veterans. With these he crossed the mountains, and marched along the
coast by Narbo (Narbonne) and Nemansus (Nimes), through the Celtic
territory, with little opposition. The last of July found him on
the banks of the Rhone, opposite Avenio (Avignon). The Romans were
astonished at the rapidity of his movements.

The Consuls of the year were SCIPIO and SEMPRONIUS. The former had been
in Northern Italy, leisurely collecting forces to attack Hannibal in
Spain; the latter was in Sicily, making preparations to invade Africa.
Scipio set sail for Spain, touching at Massilia near the end of June.
Learning there for the first time that Hannibal had already left
Spain, he hoped to intercept him on the Rhone. The Celtic tribes of the
neighborhood were won over to his side. Troops collected from these were
stationed along the river, but Scipio's main army remained at Massilia.
It was Hannibal's policy to cross the river before Scipio arrived with
his troops. He obtained all the boats possible, and constructed numerous
rafts to transport his main body of troops. A detachment of soldiers
was sent up the river with orders to cross at the first available place,
and, returning on the opposite bank, to surprise the Celtic forces in
the rear. The plan succeeded. The Celts fled in confusion, and the
road to the Alps was opened. Thus Scipio was outgeneralled in the very
beginning.

His course now should have been to return to N