There is a city not far distant, named Tigisis, then an unwalled place, but having a great spring at a place which was very closely shut in.  Althias therefore decided to take possession of this spring, reasoning that the enemy, compelled by thirst, would surely come there; for there is no other water at all close by.  Now it seemed to all upon considering the disparity of the armies that his plan was insane.  But the Moors came up feeling very much wearied and greatly oppressed by the heat in the summer weather, and naturally almost overcome by an intense thirst, and they made for the spring with a great rush, having no thought of meeting any obstacle.  But when they found the water held by the enemy, they all halted, at a loss what to do, the greatest part of their strength having been already expended because of their desire for water.  Iaudas therefore had a parley with Althias and agreed to give him the third part of the booty, on condition that the Moors should all drink.  But Althias was by no means willing to accept the proposal, but demanded that he fight with him in single combat for the booty.  And this challenge being accepted by Iaudas, it was agreed that if it so fell out that Althias was overcame, the Moors should drink.  And the whole Moorish army was rejoiced, being in good hope, since Althias was lean and not tall of body, while Iaudas was the finest and most warlike of all the Moors.  Now both of them were, as it happened, mounted.  And Iaudas hurled his spear first, but as it was coming toward him Althias succeeded with amazing skill in catching it with his right hand, thus filling Iaudas and the enemy with consternation.  And with his left hand he drew his bow instantly, for he was ambidextrous, and hit and killed the horse of Iaudas.  And as he fell, the Moors brought another horse for their commander, upon which Iaudas leaped and straightway fled; and the Moorish army followed him in complete disorder.  And Althias, by thus taking from them the captives and the whole of the booty, won a great name in consequence of this deed throughout all Libya.  Such, then, was the course of these events.

And Solomon, after delaying a short time in Carthage, led his army toward Mt.  Aurasium and Iaudas, alleging against him that, while the Roman army was occupied in Byzacium, he had plundered many of the places in Numidia.  And this was true.  Solomon was also urged on against Iaudas by the other commanders of the Moors, Massonas and Ortaias, because of their personal enmity; Massonas, because his father Mephanias, who was the father-in-law of Iaudas, had been treacherously slain by him, and Ortaias, because Iaudas, together with Mastinas, who ruled over the barbarians in Mauretania, had purposed to drive him and all the Moors whom he ruled from the land where they had dwelt from of old.  So the Roman army, under the leadership of Solomon, and those of the Moors who came into alliance with them, made their camp on the river Abigas, which flows