As the Roman galleys sailed along the coast, the British warriors with their horses and war chariots followed on land.
The war chariots of the British were very terrible. They were like light carts and held several men; one to drive the horses and the others to fight. On either side, from the centre of the wheels, swords stuck out. As the wheels went round these swords cut down, killed, or wounded every one who came within reach. The Britons trained their horses so well, that they would rush madly into battle or stand stock still in a moment. It was a fearful sight to see these war chariots charge an enemy.
After sailing along the coast a little way, Cæsar found a good place at which to land, and turned his vessels in-shore. But the great galleys required so much water in which to sail that they could not come quite close to land.
Seeing this, Cæsar told his soldiers to jump into the water. But the soldiers hesitated, for the Britons had rushed into the water to meet them and the Romans did not like the idea of fighting in the sea.
Although the Romans were very good soldiers, they were not such good sailors as might have been expected. They did not love the water as the Britons did.
These fierce 'barbarians,' as the Romans called the Britons, urging their horses into the waves, greeted the enemy with loud shouts. Every inch of the shore was known to them. They knew exactly where it was shallow and where it was deep, so they galloped through the water without fear.
Suddenly a brave Roman, when he saw how the soldiers hesitated, seized a standard and leaped overboard crying, 'Leap forth now, soldiers, if you will
