The rest were injured, but not
irreparably. They were hauled up within the lines of the camp. He selected
the best mechanics out of the legions; he sent across to Labienus for
more, and directed him to build fresh transports in the yards at Boulogne.
The men worked night and day, and in little more than a week Caesar was
able to rejoin his troops and renew his march.
The object of the invasion had been rather to secure the quiet of Gaul
than the annexation of new subjects and further territory. But it could
not be obtained till the Romans had measured themselves against the
Britons, and had asserted their military superiority. The Britons had
already shown themselves a fearless race, who could not be despised. They
fought bravely from their cars and horses, retreated rapidly when
overmatched, and were found dangerous when pursued. Encouraged by the
report of the disaster to the fleet, Cassibelaunus, chief of the Cassi,
whose head-quarters were at St. Albans, had collected a considerable army
from both sides of the Thames, and was found in strength in Caesar's front
when he again began to move. They attacked his foraging parties. They set
on his flanking detachments. They left their cars, and fought on foot when
they could catch an advantage; and remounted and were swiftly out of the
reach of the heavily armed Roman infantry.
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