1And now, when everything was sufficiently prepared for the crossing, the enemy opposite were threatening them, holding the whole bank with horse and foot. 2To draw them away, he orders Hanno, son of Bomilcar, to go at the first watch of the night with part of the forces, chiefly Spaniards, a day's march upstream, and, as soon as he could, to cross the river as secretly as possible and lead his column round, so that, when the moment came, he might attack the enemy from behind. 4The Gauls who had been given to him as guides for this purpose inform him that about twenty-five miles upstream from there the river, flowing round a small island, offered a crossing where it divided, its channel being wider and therefore less deep.
5There timber was hastily cut and rafts built, on which horses and men and other loads were to be carried across. 5The Spaniards, without any trouble, threw their clothes into skins, and, lying on their shields placed on top of them, swam across the river themselves. 6The rest of the army too was taken across on rafts joined together, and, having pitched camp near the river, weary from the night march and the toil of the work, it is refreshed by a single day's rest, while their leader was intent on carrying out the plan at the right moment. 7On the following day, setting out, they signal by smoke, as had been agreed, that they had crossed and were not far away.
7When Hannibal learned this, so as not to miss the moment, he gives the signal for crossing. 8He already had the boats ready and fitted out, the infantry for themselves, the cavalry for the most part ships, because of the horses. 8The line of ships, crossing higher up to take the force of the current, provided calm water for the boats crossing below. 9A large part of the horses were towed swimming by reins from the sterns, apart from those which they had put on board saddled and bridled, so that they might be ready for use by the horsemen the moment they landed on the bank.