ious to admit such a
treacherous horde into his army. He treated them with great
consideration and kindness, and dismissed them with presents, that
they might all go to their respective homes, charging them to exert
their influence in his favor among the tribes to which they severally
belonged.

Hannibal's soldiers, too, were very much encouraged by the
commencement they had made. The army made immediate preparations for
crossing the river. Some of the soldiers built rafts, others went up
the stream in search of places to ford. Some swam across. They could
adopt these or any other modes in safety, for the Romans made no stand
on the opposite bank to oppose them, but moved rapidly on, as fast as
Scipio could be carried. His wounds began to inflame, and were
extremely painful.

In fact, the Romans were dismayed at the danger which now threatened
them. As soon as news of these events reached the city, the
authorities there sent a dispatch immediately to Sicily to recall the
other consul. His name was Sempronius. It will be recollected that,
when the lots were cast between him and Scipio, it fell to Scipio to
proceed to Spain, with a view to arresting Hannibal's march, while
Sempronius went to Sicily and Africa. The object of this movement was
to threaten and attack the Carthaginians at home, in order to distract
their attention and prevent their sending any fresh forces to aid
Hannibal, and, perhaps, even to compel them to recall him from Italy
to defend their own capital. But now that Hannibal had not only passed
the Alps, but had also crossed the Po, and was marching toward
Rome--Scipio himself disabled, and his army flying before him--they
were obliged at once to abandon the plan of threatening Carthage. They
sent with all dispatch an order to Sempronius to hasten home and
assist in the defense of Rome.

Sempronius was a man of a very prompt and impetuous character, with
great confidence in his own powers, and very ready for action. He came
immediately into Italy, recruited new soldiers for the army, put
himself at the head of his forces, and marched northward to join
Scipio in the valley of the Po. Scipio was suffering great pain from
his wounds, and could do but little toward directing the operations of
the army. He had slowly retreated before Hannibal, the fever and pain
of his wounds being greatly exasperated by the motion of traveling. In
this manner he arrived at the Trebia, a small stream flowing northward
i