Accordingly, though he might, as I have said, have been at peace, he took his way to Mount Herminium and ordered the dwellers on it to move into the plain, pretendedly that they might not rush down from their strongholds and plunder, but really because he well knew that they would never do what he asked, and that as a result he should get a cause for war.  This also happened.  After these men, then, had taken up arms he proceeded to draw them on.  When some of the neighbors, fearing that he would betake himself against them too, carried off their children and wives and most valuable possessions out of the way across the Dorius, he first occupied their cities, where these measures were being taken, and next joined battle with the men themselves.  They put their flocks in front of them, so that the Romans might scatter to seize the cattle, whereupon they would attack them.  But Caesar, neglecting the quadrupeds, took the men by surprise and conquered them. [-53-] Meanwhile he learned that the inhabitants of Herminium had withdrawn and were intending to ambuscade him as he returned.  So for the time being he returned by another road, but again made an attempt upon them in which he was victorious and pursued them in flight to the ocean.  When, however, they abandoned the mainland and crossed over to an island, he stayed where he was, for his supply of boats was not large.  He did put together some rafts, by means of which he sent on a part of his army, and lost numerous men.  The person in command of them had advanced to a breakwater which was near the island and had disembarked the troops with a view to their crossing over on foot, when he was forced off by the flood tide and put out to sea, leaving them in the lurch.  All of them died bravely defending themselves save Publius Scaefius, the only one to survive.  Deprived of his shield and wounded in many places he leaped into the water and escaped by swimming.  These events occurred all at one time.  Later, Caesar sent for boats from Gades, crossed over to the island with his whole army and overcame the dwellers there without a blow, as they were in poor condition from lack of food.  Thence he sailed along to Brigantium, a city of Gallaecia, alarmed the people (who had never before seen a vessel) by the breakers which his approach to land caused, and subjugated them.

[-54-] On accomplishing this he thought he had gained a sufficient means of access to the consulship and set out hastily, even before his successor arrived, to the elections.  He decided to seek the position even before asking for a triumph, since it was not possible to hold a festival beforehand.  He was refused the triumph, for Cato opposed him with might and main.  However, he let that go, hoping to perform many more and greater exploits and celebrate corresponding triumphs, if elected consul.  Besides the omens previously recited, on which, he at all times greatly prided himself, was the fact that a horse of his had been born with clefts in the hoofs of its front feet,