"The marches will be long and tiresome.

Their country lies somewhat to the northwest of the great plateau in the centre of Iberia.

We shall have to ascend the mountains on this side, to cross the plateau, to follow the rivers which flow to the great ocean." The Vacaei, in fact, dwelt in the lands bordered by the upper Duero, their country comprising a portion of old Castille, Leon, and the Basque provinces.

The journey would indeed be a long and difficult one; and Hannibal was undertaking the expedition not only to punish the turbulent Vacaei, who had attacked some of the tribes which had submitted to Carthage, but to accustom the troops to fatigues and hardships, and to prepare them for the great expedition which he had in view.

No time was indeed lost, for as soon as the troops were landed they were formed up and at once started on their march.
"This is more than we bargained for," Trebon, a young guardsman whose place in the ranks was next to Malchus, said to him.