But the desertion of their allies made it appear safer to fly than stay.

Attanes, prince of the Turdetani, began this revolt; he deserted at the head of a numerous band of his countrymen.

Then two fortified towns, together with their garrisons, were delivered up by their praefects to the Romans.

And, lest the evil should spread more widely, now that the disposition to revolt from the Carthaginians had evinced itself in one instance, Hasdrubal decamped during the silence of the ensuing night.
16.

The troops in the outposts having brought word, as soon as it was light, that the enemy had departed, Scipio, despatching his cavalry in advance, ordered the army to move forward; and so rapidly were they led, that had they directly followed the track of the fugitives, they would certainly have overtaken them; but they trusted to the report of their guides, that there was a shorter cut to the river Baetis, where they might attack them while crossing it.