Sicily, and under those circumstances sailed to the island, encountering no opposition. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 43^7] HE DISCOVERED THE MAMERTINES AT THE HARBOR:  HANNO HAD BEFORE BECOME SUSPICIOUS OF THEIR MOVEMENTS AND HAD ESTABLISHED HIMSELF IN THE ACROPOLIS, WHICH HE WAS GUARDING.  THE ROMAN LEADER ACCORDINGLY CONVENED AN ASSEMBLY AND AFTER SOME CONVERSATION WITH THEM PERSUADED THEM TO SEND FOR HANNO.  THE LATTER REFUSED TO COME DOWN, but filled with a subsequent fear that the Mamertines might allege injustice on his part and revolt he did enter the assembly.  After many words had been spoken to no purpose by both sides, one of the Romans seized him and, with the approval of the Mamertines, threw him into prison.

Thus, under compulsion, Hanno left Messana entirely.  The Carthaginians disciplined him and sent a herald to the Romans bidding them leave Messana and depart from all of Sicily by a given day; they also set an army in motion.  Since the Romans paid no heed, they put to death the mercenaries serving with them who were from Italy, and made an assault upon Messana, Hiero accompanying them.  Then for a season they besieged the city and kept guard over the strait, to prevent any troops or provisions being conveyed to the foe.  The consul was informed of this when he was already quite close at hand, and found a number of Carthaginians disposed at various points in and about the harbor under pretence of carrying on trade.  In order to get safe across the strait he resorted to deception and did succeed in anchoring off Sicily by night.  His point of approach was not far from the camp of Hiero and he joined battle without delay, thinking that his appearance in force would be most likely to inspire the enemy with fear.  When they came out to withstand the attack, the Roman cavalry was worsted but the heavy-armed infantry prevailed.  Hiero retired temporarily to the mountains and later to Syracuse.

When Hiero had retired, the Mamertines took courage because of the presence of Claudius.  He therefore assailed the Carthaginians, who were now isolated, and their rampart, which was situated on a kind of peninsula.  For on the one side the sea enclosed it and on the other some marshes, difficult to traverse.  At the neck of this peninsula, the only entrance and a very narrow one, a cross wall had been built.  In an attempt to carry this point by force the Romans fared badly and withdrew under a shower of weapons. [Sidenote:  FRAG. 43^9] THE LIBYANS THEN TOOK COURAGE AND SALLIED OUT, PURSUING THE FUGITIVES, AS THEY THOUGHT THEM, BEYOND THE NARROW STRIP OF LAND.  THEREUPON THE ROMANS WHEELED, ROUTED THEM, AND KILLED A NUMBER, SO THAT THEY DID NOT ISSUE FROM THE CAMP AGAIN,—­AT LEAST SO LONG AS CLAUDIUS WAS IN MESSANA.  He, however, not daring to attack the approach in force, left a detachment behind in Messana and turned his steps toward Syracuse and Hiero.  He personally superintended the assault upon the city, and now and then the inhabitants would come out to