[Footnote 26:  A.  Atilius Calatinus once more.]

[Footnote 27:  [See previous footnote.]]

[Sidenote:  B.C. 248 (a.u. 506)] VIII, 16.—­The next year Gaius Aurelius and Publius Servilius took office and spent their time in harrying Lilybaeum and Drepanum, in keeping the Carthaginians off the land, and in devastating the region that was in alliance with them.  Carthalo undertook many different kinds of enterprises against them, but, as he accomplished nothing, he started for Italy with the object of thus attracting the consuls to that country or, in any case, of injuring the district and capturing cities.  Yet he made no headway even there and on learning that the praetor urbanus was approaching sailed back to Sicily.  His mercenaries now rebelled about a question of pay, whereupon he put numbers ashore on desert islands and left them there, and sent many more off to Carthage.  When the rest heard this, they became indignant and were on the point of an uprising.  Hamilcar, Carthalo’s successor, cut down numbers of them one night and had numerous others drowned.  In the meantime the Romans had concluded a perpetual friendship with Hiero and they furthermore remitted all the dues which they were accustomed to receive from him annually.

[Sidenote:  B.C. 247 (a.u. 507)] Next year the Romans officially refrained from naval warfare because of their misfortunes and expenses, but some private individuals asked for ships on condition of restoring the vessels but appropriating any booty gained; and among other injuries that they inflicted upon the enemy they sailed to Hippo, a Libyan city, and there burned to ashes all the boats and many of the buildings.  The natives put chains across the mouth of their harbor and the invaders found themselves encompassed but saved themselves by cleverness and good fortune.  They made a quick dash at the chains, and just as the beaks of the ships were about to catch in them the members of the crew went back to the stern, and so the prows being lightened cleared the chains:  and again, by their making a rush into the prows, the sterns of the vessels were lifted high enough in the air.  Thus they effected their escape, and later near Panhormus they conquered the Carthaginians with these ships.

Of the consuls Metellus Caecilius was in the vicinity of Lilybaeum, and Numerius Fabius was investing Drepanum, with additional designs upon the islet of Pelias.  As this had been seized earlier by the Carthaginians, he sent soldiers by night who killed the garrison and took possession of the island.  Learning this Hamilcar at dawn attacked the party that had crossed to it.  Fabius not being able to ward them off led an assault upon Drepanum that he might either capture the city while deserted or bring back Hamilcar from the island.  One of these objects was accomplished, for Hamilcar in fear retired within the fortifications.  So Fabius occupied Pelias, and by filling in the strait