368 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



On receiving news that the Britons had embark- 

 ed, the confederated troops of the Gauls began to 

 march to defend the mouth of the Seine. They 

 were ranged under the ftandards of their feveral 

 Chieftains : thefe confided of the ikins of the wolf, 

 the bear, the vulture, the eagle, or of fome other 

 mifchievous animal, fjfpended at the extremity of a 

 long pole. That of King Bardus, and of his iiland, 

 prefented the figure of a fliip, the fymbol of com- 

 merce. Cephas and I accompanied the King on this 

 expedition. In a few days, all the united force of 

 the Gauls was coUeded on the ihore of the Sea. 



Three opinions were ftarted, refpeding the 

 mode of defence. The firfl: was, to drive piles 

 along the coaft, to prevent the debarkation of the 

 Britons; a plan of eafy execution, confidering that 

 our numbers were inconceivable, and the forefts 

 at hand. The fécond was, to give them battle the 

 moment that they landed : the third, not to ex- 

 pofe the troops to the open attack of the advancing 

 enemy, but to aflault them when landed, and after 

 they were entangled in the woods and valleys. No 

 one of thefe opinions was followed up ; for dif- 

 cord prevailed among the Chieftains of Gaul. 

 Every one was for commanding, while no one was 

 difpofed to obey. While they were wafting time 

 in dehbcration, the enemy appeared, and dilem- 



barked. 



