1The Romans unexpectedly noticed a great cloud of dust; 1for the ground, planted with orchards, cut off their view. 1And at first they thought that the dry earth was being stirred up by the wind; afterwards, when they saw that it remained steady and, as the battle line moved, came nearer and nearer, they understood the situation, hurriedly took up arms, and took their stand in front of the camp, as they were ordered. 2Then, when they came closer, both sides charged with a great shout. 3The Numidians held out only as long as they thought there was help in their elephants; after they saw that these were entangled in the branches of the trees and, thus separated, were being surrounded, they took to flight, and most of them, throwing away their arms, got away unharmed with the help of the hill or of the night, which was now coming on.
4Four elephants were captured, all the rest, forty in number, were killed. 5But the Romans, although they were weary from the march, the work of making camp and the battle, and were in high spirits, nevertheless, because Metellus was delaying longer than expected, went out to meet him in battle order and on the alert; 6for the cunning of the Numidians allowed no slackness or relaxation. 7And at first, in the darkness of the night, when they were not far from one another, the noise made each think that enemies were approaching, and they caused fear and confusion in each other at the same moment; 7and a pitiful disaster was almost committed through ignorance, had not horsemen sent ahead by both sides found out the truth.
8So fear suddenly changed to joy: the soldiers joyfully called out to one another, told of what had been done and heard it told, and each praised his own brave deeds to the skies. 8For so it is with human affairs: in victory even cowards may boast, while defeat disparages even the brave.