The company guarding the pass also saw the lights and thought that they were moving toward the mountains. Thinking their comrades would be in danger, they deserted their post and ran to give them help.
Hannibal’s soldiers at once seized the forsaken exit, and the Carthaginian army passed out of the defile unharmed.
Before morning dawned Fabius discovered how he had been outwitted by Hannibal. Yet fearing lest his men should fall into an ambush if he sent them in pursuit of the enemy before it was light, he still kept his army idle in camp.
When it was daylight it was too late to do the Carthaginians much harm, although the Dictator ordered his army to attack them in the rear.
CHAPTER LXII
FABIUS WINS TWO VICTORIES
Rome was not long in hearing how Hannibal had tricked the Dictator, and the people were roused to fury because Fabius had allowed their great enemy to escape.
Now it was necessary at this time for Fabius to leave the army and return to Rome to celebrate a religious rite.
Minucius was left in command of the legions during the absence of the Dictator. Before he left, Fabius bade the young officer on no pretext to risk a battle while he was away.
But no sooner had the Dictator gone, than Minucius, hearing that a large body of the enemy had left their camp in search of forage, fell upon a company of those that were left behind. He killed many of them, and retreated without losing any of his own men.