He was going
himself to scour Brabant and East Flanders as far as the Scheldt. In seven
days he promised to return, and meanwhile he gave Cicero strict directions
to keep the legion within the lines, and not to allow any of the men to
stray. It happened that after Caesar recrossed the Rhine two thousand
German horse had followed in bravado, and were then plundering between
Tongres and the river. Hearing that there was a rich booty in the camp,
that Caesar was away, and only a small party had been left to guard it,
they decided to try to take the place by a sudden stroke. Cicero, seeing
no sign of an enemy, had permitted his men to disperse in foraging
parties. The Germans were on them before they could recover their
entrenchments, and they had to form at a distance and defend themselves as
they could. The gates of the camp were open, and the enemy were actually
inside before the few maniples who were left there were able to collect
and resist them. Fortunately Sextius Bacillus, the same officer who had so
brilliantly distinguished himself in the battle with the Nervii, and had
since been badly wounded, was lying sick in his tent, where he had been
for five days, unable to touch food. Hearing the disturbance, Bacillus
sprang out, snatched a sword, rallied such men as he could find, and
checked the attack for a few minutes.
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