on the higher rocks, looked down upon this scene for a time
with the greatest anxiety and terror. He did not dare to descend
himself and mingle in the affray, for fear of increasing the
confusion. He soon found, however, that it was absolutely necessary
for him to interpose, and he came down as rapidly as possible, his
detachment with him. They descended by oblique and zigzag paths,
wherever they could get footing among the rocks, and attacked the
mountaineers with great fury. The result was, as he had feared, a
great increase at first of the confusion and the slaughter. The horses
were more and more terrified by the fresh energy of the combat, and by
the resounding of louder shouts and cries, which were made doubly
terrific by the echoes and reverberations of the mountains. They
crowded against each other, and fell, horses and men together, in
masses, over the cliffs to the rugged rocks below, where they lay in
confusion, some dead, and others dying, writhing helplessly in agony,
or vainly endeavoring to crawl away.

The mountaineers were, however, conquered and driven away at last, and
the pass was left clear. The Carthaginian column was restored to
order. The horses that had not fallen were calmed and quieted. The
baggage which had been thrown down was gathered up, and the wounded
men were placed on litters, rudely constructed on the spot, that they
might be borne on to a place of safety. In a short time all were ready
to move on, and the march was accordingly recommenced. There was no
further difficulty. The column advanced in a quiet and orderly manner
until they had passed the defile. At the extremity of it they came to
a spacious fort belonging to the natives. Hannibal took possession of
this fort, and paused for a little time there to rest and refresh his
men.

One of the greatest difficulties encountered by a general in
conducting an army through difficult and dangerous roads, is that of
providing food for them. An army can transport its own food only a
very little way. Men traveling over smooth roads can only carry
provisions for a few days, and where the roads are as difficult and
dangerous as the passes of the Alps, they can scarcely carry any. The
commander must, accordingly, find subsistence in the country through
which he is marching. Hannibal had, therefore, now not only to look
out for the safety of his men, but their food was exhausted, and he
must take immediate measures to secure a supply.

The