Chapter Twenty-Three
On the afternoon of the second day, black smoke rose from beyond the Volcae camp. Upon seeing the signal, Hannibal sent his scouts through the camp, giving the order for attack.
Amidst the shouting of battle cries and clanging of weapons upon shields, hundreds of soldiers launched their boats, while men on horseback leapt into the river.
Hannibal stood in the bow of the lead boat, waving his sword and shouting to his men.
The Volcae pounded their shields and brandished their weapons in defiance as they crowded the opposite riverbank, ready for battle.
“Hold your fire,” Sarge told his soldiers, “until our people are almost within enemy arrow range, then take out the archers.” He walked along behind his line of soldiers, who were lying prone just above the riverbank
