who was sent out of the city by night clandestinely, through the intervals between the guards, related to the consul what had been done, and what had been agreed upon to be done.  At the first watch, Fabius, on a signal given to those who were in the citadel, and those who had the custody of the harbour went himself round the harbour, and took up a position of concealment, on the side of the city which faced the east.  Then the trumpets began to sound at once from the citadel, the harbour, and the ships which had been brought to the shore from the open sea, and a shout was purposely raised, accompanied with the greatest confusion, in whatever quarter there was the least danger.  Meanwhile, the consul kept the men in silence.  Democrates, therefore, who had formerly commanded the fleet, and happened to be in command in the quarter, seeing that all was quiet around him, while other parts of the city resounded with such a din that sometimes shout like that of a captured city was raised, and fearing loss while he hesitated, the consul should make some attack and advance his standards, led his party over to the citadel, from which the most alarming noise proceeded.  Fabius, concluding that the guard was withdrawn, both from the time which had elapsed and from the silence which prevailed, for not a voice met the ear from a quarter where a little while ago the noise and bustle of men resounded, rousing and calling each other to arms, ordered the ladders to be carried to that part of the wall where the person who had contrived the plot for betraying the city, had informed him that the Bruttian cohort kept guard.  The wall was first captured in that quarter, the Bruttians aiding and receiving the Romans; and here they got over into the city:  after which the nearest gate was broken open in order that the troops might enter in a large body.  Then raising a shout, they proceeded to the forum, where they arrived much about daybreak, without meeting a single armed man; and drew upon themselves the attention of all the troops in every quarter, which were fighting at the citadel and at the harbour.

16.  A battle was fought in the entrance of the forum, with greater impetuosity than perseverance.  The Tarentines were not equal to the Romans in spirit, in their arms, in tactics, in activity or strength of body.  Accordingly, having just discharged their javelins, they turned their backs almost before they had joined battle, and escaped in different directions through the streets of the city, with which they were acquainted, to their own houses and those of their friends.  Two of their leaders, Nico and Democrates, fell while fighting bravely.  Philomenus, who was the author of the plot for betraying the city to Hannibal, rode away from the battle at full speed.  Shortly after, his horse, which was loose and straying through the city, was recognised, but his body could not be found any where.  It was generally believed that he had pitched headlong from his horse into an