Having quickly collected an army by their punishments, he sends
Lucterius, one of the
Cadurci, a man the utmost daring, with part of his forces, into the territory of the
Ruteni; and marches in person into the country of the
Bituriges. On his arrival, the
Bituriges send embassadors to the
Aedui, under whose protection they were, to solicit aid in order that they might more easily resist the forces of the enemy. The
Aedui, by the advice of the lieutenants whom
Caesar had left with the army, send supplies of horse and foot to succor the
Bituriges. When they came to the river
Loire , which separates the
Bituriges from the
Aedui, they delayed a few days there, and, not daring to pass the river, return home, and send back word to the lieutenants that they had returned through fear of the treachery of the
Bituriges, who, they ascertained, had formed this design, that if the
Aedui should cross the river, the
Bituriges on the one side, and the
Arverni on the other, should surround them. Whether they did this for the reason which they alleged to the lieutenants, or influenced by treachery, we think that we ought not to state as certain, because we have no proof. On their departure, the
Bituriges immediately unite themselves to the
Arverni.
