The Punic army was soon encompassed by a terrible solitude.
The Carthaginians, who were furious, began to sack the provinces; they filled up the cisterns and fired the houses.

The sparks, being carried by the wind, were scattered far off, and whole forests were on fire on the mountains; they bordered the valleys with a crown of flames, and it was often necessary to wait in order to pass beyond them.

Then the soldiers resumed their march over the warm ashes in the full glare of the sun.
Sometimes they would see what looked like the eyes of a tiger cat gleaming in a bush by the side of the road.

This was a Barbarian crouching upon his heels, and smeared with dust, that he might not be distinguished from the colour of the foliage; or perhaps when passing along a ravine those on the wings would suddenly hear the rolling of stones, and raising their eyes would perceive a bare-footed man bounding along through the openings of the gorge.
Meanwhile Utica and Hippo-Zarytus were free since the Mercenaries were no longer besieging them.

Hamilcar commanded them to come to his assistance.