 Metellus followed and crossed the mountains into the desert, advancing to the river Muthul where the Numidians ambushed them.Through the capable leadership of Metellus, Marius and Rutilius Rufus the Romans won an indecisive victory at the Battle of the Muthul.Some time after the Battle of the Muthul, Metellus' agents and scouts located Jugurtha's army again and the Romans were able to catch up with the Numidians – who were not anticipating their arrival – and forced a battle.