1After this flight Jugurtha, now losing confidence in his fortunes even more deeply, came with the deserters and part of his cavalry into the wilderness, and then to Thala, a large and wealthy town, where most of his treasure was and the lavish establishment for his sons' upbringing. 2When Metellus learned of this, although he knew that between Thala and the nearest river, over a space of fifty miles, the country was dry and desolate, yet in the hope of finishing the war if he could take that town, he set about surmounting all its hardships and even conquering nature. 3So he ordered all the pack animals to be relieved of their loads except grain for ten days, and that only skins and other vessels suited for water should be carried.
4Besides this he gathered from the fields as many domesticated beasts as he could and loaded on them vessels of every kind, though mostly wooden ones collected from the huts of the Numidians; 4in addition he ordered the neighbouring peoples, who had surrendered to Metellus after the king's flight, each to bring as much water as he could; 5he told them in advance the day and place where they were to be at hand; 5he himself loaded the animals from the river which, as I said above, was the nearest water to the town: thus equipped he set out for Thala. 7Then, when they had come to the place he had appointed to the Numidians, and the camp had been pitched and fortified, so great a fall of rain is said to have come suddenly from the sky that this alone was more than enough for the army.
8Besides, supplies were more plentiful than hoped, because the Numidians, like most people who have newly surrendered, had exerted themselves in their duties. 9But the soldiers, out of religious feeling, preferred to use the rain water, and this added much to their spirits, for they believed that they were in the care of the immortal gods. 9Then on the following day, contrary to Jugurtha's expectation, they arrived at Thala. 9The townspeople, who had believed themselves protected by the harshness of the terrain, though stunned by this great and unusual event, prepared for war none the less vigorously; 9our men did the same.