Ab urbe condita

Just as twilight was setting in, when they had reached a spot from which their camp and Aquilonia were both visible, a noise of shouting from both quarters made them call a halt.

Then in the direction of their camp, which had been set on fire by the Romans, flames sheeting up far and wide, a more certain indication of disaster, stopped them from going any further.

They threw themselves down just where they were under arms, and passed a restless night waiting for and dreading the day.

When it began to grew light, whilst they were still uncertain what direction to take, they were espied by the cavalry who had gone in pursuit of the Samnites in their nocturnal retreat from Aquilonia. The whole body were plainly discernible, with no entrenchments to protect them, no outposts on guard.