48.
Caesar, approving of his motives, although he was
disappointed in his expectation of three legions, and reduced to two, yet placed
his only hopes of the common safety in dispatch. He goes into the territories of
the Nervii by long marches. There he learns from some prisoners
what things are going on in the camp of Cicero, and in
how great jeopardy the affair is. Then with great rewards he induces a certain
man of the Gallic horse to convey a letter to Cicero. This he sends written in Greek
characters, lest the letter being intercepted, our measures should be discovered
by the enemy. He directs him, if he should be unable to enter, to throw his
spear with the letter fastened to the thong, inside the fortifications of the
camp. He writes in the letter, that he having set out with his legions, will
quickly be there: he entreats him to maintain his ancient valor. The Gaul apprehending danger, throws his spear as he has been directed.
Is by chance stuck in a tower, and, not being observed by our men for two days,
was seen by a certain soldier on the third day: when taken down, it was carried
to Cicero. He, after perusing it, reads it out in an
assembly of the soldiers, and fills all with the greatest joy. Then the smoke of
the fires was seen in the distance, a circumstance which banished all doubt of
the arrival of the legions.
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