Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/84

 “I see before me,” he said, sternly, “Roman arms and Roman bodies, but not one Roman man.”

“General,” called out one of the soldiers, “we regret that we fled.”

“I will not pardon you," said he, “until you are victorious. To-morrow you will face the enemy again, and the news of your victory will reach Rome as soon as the news of your defeat.”

Then, turning to the master of the stores, he added:

“Give these runaways barley.”

So they had barley for supper, while the rest of the army had wheat.

Early next morning a red cloth was hung over the general's tent. That was the signal for battle. The men who ate barley took the front rank. That was where they wished to be posted.

Hannibal's elephants advanced in a terrible line. A Roman thrust his spear at one of these beasts. It retreated, and the rest of the elephants followed. The troops of Carthage were thrown into confusion. The Romans—barley first, wheat behind—charged with fury. Hannibal was beaten.

For the fifth time Marcellus was chosen consul of Rome. It was the last time; he was soon to die.

Very eagerly he sought to meet Hannibal again, to win one great and final victory. At length his