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Timur then met with the leaders of the center two columns to explain the dilemma.  They too understood the emergency of the situation and said they would prepare the people.  When Timur returned to his camp, he and Donar discussed an idea he had.
    “I noticed,” said Timur, “that the settlement where we met the Semnones’ Chief was not fortified and only lightly defended.  No more than 50 men.  If we are attacked as I expect we will be, I want you to immediately dispatch 200 horsemen carrying 200 archers to the Chiefs hut.  Kill all the guards and mount the Chiefs head on a pole in the center of the settlement. I think this will deter future attacks.  If the Strike Force finds the camp too heavily reinforced, they are to abandon the mission and return.”
    “Select a leader for this mission who is smart, innovative, bold, and can get things done.  When it becomes known that we have killed the Chief, I think their Army will back off and leave us alone.  Meanwhile I want the leader of this force to discreetly scout out his route, staging area, and rally point after the attack.  He also needs to select his men carefully.  They must be like ghosts passing through the forest and then disappear as rapidly as they came.  Get on this right away.  This could be the key to our safe passage.”
    The four columns moved out of the fortified settlements on their respective routes and planned for the worst.  Fortunately, very quickly, the dense forest that enclosed the roads on each side opened up to reveal rolling hills and broad grassy meadows.  Some wagons drove off the roads and began going cross country.  The eastern most column was able to shrink to 20 miles (32km) in length versus the original 44 miles (70.8km).  There was now an abundance of fodder and the animals were permitted to graze freely around the wagons in the evenings.  At night, each 10 wagons circled and established guards to patrol the perimeter.  Despite the fact that everyone was on heightened alert, there was a sense of merriment among the circled wagons.  Food was shared with the Army and families were reunited for a few hours.  Comforting fires blazed.  The weather was in the 60s F (15.5C) and the rain held off.  Compared to the miserable 12 days crossing the sea of mud, the going was relatively easy.
    True to his reputation and wounded pride, the Semnones’ Chief did exactly what Timur expected.  He wanted to punish Timur and his people by attacking his columns and pillaging the wagons.  His undisciplined and unpredictable Army numbered only 20,000 troops and 1,000 archers, but they could, when concentrated against a weak point, inflict serious damage.
    His scouts had been busy even before Timur’s visit.  The Semnones” Chief knew the intended routes and composition of each column.  He did not know the disposition of the Teuton/Cimbri Army, but assumed they would be equally distributed among the four columns.  He was going to teach that arrogant and disrespectful Timur a lesson he would never forget.  He directed that his main attack force of 15,000 men hit the tail end of the eastern column that was separated from the other columns, while his remaining 5,000 harassed the western most column. He figured that two attacks would spread confusion among the Teutons as they tried to figure out where to send their Army to do the most good.
    Six days later, the Semnones’ struck.  It was poorly coordinated and ineffective.  The 5,000 attacked first and hit the lead 30 wagons of the western column.  The wagons were stretched out for miles, but quickly assembled and now offered three circles bristling with defenders.  Suddenly, it wasn’t such an easy target.  Nonetheless, the Semnones’ warriors fired countless arrows into the circles while their infantry approached the wagons.  The women and children huddled under the wagons for overhead protection during the arrow storm, but fled to the center when the infantry approached.