this sort, and under his direction the Hellenes set cheerily to work
to make temporary bridges wherever they were required. In many places
fallen trunks of date-palms lay ready to hand, and where these did not
suffice, others were quickly felled.

All soldiers under the age of thirty years were ordered to the work, in
order that it might be carried through as fast as possible. Clearchus
himself acted as overseer, moving about briskly among the soldiers
with a staff in the right hand and a spear in the left, and whenever
he saw a man loitering over his task, he did not hesitate to give him
a beating. Although he was more than fifty years old, he laboured with
his own hands with the utmost diligence, and this example was followed
by many other of the older men.

At last the toil was over, and the Hellenes reached some villages where
a little money could buy food in abundance. Inexhaustible seemed the
immense stores of corn, dates, and palm-wine, as well as of a kind of
acid drink made also from the date-palm, which they found in these
villages. The food, moreover, was as good as it was plentiful. Dates
better than any that the Hellenes had ever eaten at home were here food
for slaves; those put aside for the masters were of immense size and
exquisite flavour. Delicious too was the sweet juice of the date-palm,
but unhappily it was apt to give head-ache.

[Illustration: COIN OF A SATRAP, PROBABLY TISSAPHERNES.]

In this district the Hellene army encamped, together with their
Barbarian allies. For two days they heard nothing of the enemy, but
on the third day Tissaphernes arrived, with a brother-in-law of the
Great King and three other Persian noblemen, attended by many slaves.
Tissaphernes demanded an interview with the Hellene generals, and when
they had presented themselves, he began to address them in a friendly
manner, by means of an interpreter who understood both Persian and
Hellene speech.

‘You know,’ said Tissaphernes, ‘that I am the nearest neighbour of your
country, and as I see that you are now in great straits, I am anxious
to obtain the permission of the Great King to conduct you to your
homes in safety. By so doing I hope not only to gain your gratitude,
but also that of all Hellas. The King knows and values the services I
have rendered him. I was the first to bring him news of the revolt of
Cyrus, and the only one who did not fly before you in the battle. He
has promised me therefore to grant my request on your behalf, but at
the same time he desires me to ask you for what reason you have taken
the field against him. As your friend I advise you to be careful in
giving your answer, that I may not fail in my endeavour to help you.’

After conferring with the other generals, Clearchus answered, ‘We knew
not that Cyrus intended to lead us against the Great King. But when
he who had shown us much kindness was in need of our help, we should
have been shamed before gods and men had we then deserted him. Cyrus is
now dead, and we have no further quarrel with the King, nor any wish
to injure his subjects. If we are allowed to go on our way in peace,
we will return quietly to our home, and for any kindness that we may
receive we shall prove ourselves grateful. But if we are treated as
enemies, then by the help of the gods, we shall know how to defend our
lives.’

With this answer Tissaphernes professed himself satisfied, and he rode
away, saying, ‘Let there be a truce between us until I come again.’

Three days afterwards he again made his appearance. ‘It was far from
easy,’ he said, ‘to dispose the King in your favour, but at last I
have succeeded, and we are ready to conclude a treaty with you to this
effect:--You are to be allowed to pass through the King’s dominions in
peace, and where there is food to be bought you shall be supplied with
it in exchange for your money; where they refuse to sell it, you can
take what you require. On your side, you must swear that you will act
the part of friends and not enemies towards the people of the countries
through which you march.’

These conditions having been agreed to, Tissaphernes and the Persian
nobles gave their right hands to the generals and captains of the
Hellenes, and all swore by the most sacred oaths that they would
faithfully keep the treaty. Then Tissaphernes departed, saying, ‘I
shall very soon bring my army to escort you on your way to Hellas,
whilst I return myself to my own province.’

XIX

THE DEFECTION OF ARIÆUS

But although Tissaphernes had promised to return very shortly, day
after day went by, and still he did not come.

Meanwhile there was constant communication between the King’s troops
and those of Ariæus, who had sworn to be the faithful friends and
allies of the Hellenes, and who were encamped beside them among the
Babylonian villages. The brothers and other relations of the general
rode over to see him, and in like manner all the troops of Ariæus,
down to the humblest private soldier, received and returned the visits
of their friends in the King’s army, which was encamped at no great
distance.

All this was for a purpose, and for the same purpose Tissaphernes
continued to delay his coming. The King’s party were anxious to sow
dissension between the allies, in order that the Hellenes might be
utterly without friends. To this end, promises of free pardon to all
subjects of the Great King who would now return to their duty, were
diligently circulated, and Tissaphernes was careful to put off his
coming, so that the Persians of the King’s army might have time to
alienate Ariæus and his men from their former friends.

The Hellenes could not but perceive that the tone of their allies was
changing rapidly, and many of them warned Clearchus that there was
something wrong. ‘Why do we remain here?’ they asked him. ‘Do we not
know that the King wishes above all things to destroy us? To him it
would be unendurable that we should reach home in safety, and boast
that we, a handful of Hellenes, have defeated the Great King in the
very heart of his empire, and have then escaped out of his hands after
defying him openly. He pretends just now to be inclined for peace, but
he is only waiting until all his forces are assembled, and then he will
put forth his whole power to crush us.’

Clearchus saw the danger of their position, but it seemed to him that
to go forward was even more perilous than to stay still. ‘If we fold up
our tents and depart,’ he said, ‘the King may say that we have broken
the treaty, and declared war against him. Who will then give us guides
to lead us through this unknown land? What other rivers may lie before
us, I know not, but in any case there is the broad Euphrates, which it
would be impossible to cross if an enemy were to dispute our way. It
seems to me moreover that if the King really meant to destroy us, he
would hardly have thought it necessary to perjure himself by swearing
to a treaty which he all the time intended to break.’

At last, after a delay of twenty days, Tissaphernes arrived with his
force, to escort the allied armies on their journey home. The double
camp was broken up, and in five days they reached the Tigris, which was
crossed by a bridge of boats.

Soon afterwards they came to some villages which belonged to Parysatis,
the Queen-mother, and Tissaphernes, who was delighted to have the
opportunity of doing her an injury, desired the Hellenes to plunder
the villages. He had always envied and hated Cyrus, and because she
had done everything in her power to help her younger son, he hated
Parysatis also. It gave additional zest to his revenge that her
villages should be plundered by the Hellenes for whom Cyrus had always
shown such marked partiality. They found them well-stocked with food,
and were able to take away a great number of sheep, and a quantity of
barley.

It was one of the provisions of the treaty that the Hellenes should be
supplied with food; this they were able to procure by buying it in the
market established in the Barbarian camp. Nevertheless their distrust
of Tissaphernes was constantly on the increase, and they always marched
at a prudent distance behind the Barbarians, having separate guides of
their own. At night the two camps were pitched at a distance of two or
three miles apart.

The army of Ariæus had by this time openly joined Tissaphernes, and now
kept itself close to his force and away from the Hellenes, regardless
of all the sacred oaths by which, after the battle of Cunaxa, the two
armies had sworn to stand by one another and act as faithful friends
and allies.

We cannot but condemn the treachery of Ariæus, and yet we must
remember, as some excuse for him, the difficult position in which he
was placed. For, had he remained true to the Hellenes, they would have
marched together as far as Ionia, and then the Hellenes would have gone
away over the sea to their own country, leaving him alone to bear the
full brunt of the King’s fury.

XX

A CONFERENCE WITH TISSAPHERNES

For about three weeks the two armies continued marching, one behind the
other, neither good friends nor yet open enemies. The mutual distrust
resulted in constant quarrels, and if the soldiers from both armies
were cutting wood in the same forest, or gathering grass from the same
fields, there was sure to be a fight.

Clearchus did not however believe that the Persians had any deliberate
intention of breaking the treaty to which they had sworn, and in the
hope of putting an end to a state of affairs which was every day
getting worse, he resolved if possible to come to an understanding with
Tissaphernes. He sent word therefore that he wished to speak with him.
Tissaphernes accordingly invited him to a conference in his tent, and
Clearchus spoke as follows--

‘You regard us,’ he said, ‘as enemies, and consequently we think it
necessary to stand on our guard against you. These mutual suspicions
may easily lead to actual war, and therefore I am anxious to convince
you that you have no reason to doubt us.

‘First, and before all things, we are prevented by our oath from
thinking of you in any other light than that of friends. He who breaks
an oath plunges himself into the greatest misery, for who is swift
enough to outrun the wrath of the gods? In what darkness could he hide
himself from them? What fortress would protect him, were it ever so
strong? For to the gods all things are subject, and they have power
over all, everywhere alike.

‘But more than this, you are of all others the man who is best able to
help us. Without you our way is shrouded in shades of night, for we
know not your land. The inhabited districts we should fear to enter,
but far more should we dread the barren waste lands, where there would
be none to help us. But with your good-will every way is open to us,
every river can be crossed, we shall be among friends, and food will
not fail. If we were mad enough to think of taking your life, we should
be destroying our best friend, and should expose ourselves to the fury
of the Great King who would hasten to avenge your death.

‘And now I will tell you what services we can render in return for your
friendship. We know that you are harassed by the Mysians, the Pisidians
and other nations, and moreover that the Egyptians have risen against
you. But if we Hellenes are your friends, and fight as comrades by your
side, what people can hope to withstand you?

‘Taking all things into consideration, it seems incredible that you
should suspect us, and I can only suppose that some mischief-maker has
been at work, causing you to question our good faith.’

In his own mind Clearchus had little doubt that the mischief-maker was
Menon, one of the other generals. Menon was a rival of Clearchus, and
wished to supersede him as commander-in-chief of the Hellene army,
while Clearchus was by no means inclined to make way for him. Clearchus
suspected that Menon had been trying to induce the Satrap to insist
upon his being given the first place, and that in return for this, he
had promised to bring over the Hellenes to the party of Tissaphernes.
Of such a plan the selfish Menon[13] was certainly capable, and it
afterwards appeared that he was not entirely innocent of intrigues with
the Persians. But it is very possible that Clearchus may have been
misled by jealousy into over-estimating the extent of his guilt.

     [13] See p. 55.

To the speech of Clearchus, Tissaphernes made a hypocritical reply. ‘I
rejoice,’ he said, ‘to hear that you know how to value our friendship.
But now, on the other hand, have we not long since given you proofs of
our sincerity?

‘If we wished to do you an injury, have we not foot-soldiers and
horsemen enough to overpower you? Is there any lack of favourable
places for falling upon you? Could I not seize the mountains to block
your way? Or prevent you from crossing a river? Or, surest means of all
to compass your ruin, could I not set fire to the country far and wide
around you, and having destroyed all the fruits of the earth, leave
you to die of hunger? Why have I not done this? Because I love the
Hellenes, and hope, by means of their friendship, to attain my highest
wish.

‘The Great King,’ he added, ‘is the only one who may wear the tiara
upright upon his head, but with your help, another may wear it upright
in his heart.’

By these mysterious words he meant to signify that he aspired to
fight himself for the throne, as Cyrus had done. He also hinted that
Clearchus was quite right in suspecting one of his fellow-officers, and
asked him to bring all the generals and captains to a meeting in his
tent, when he promised to point out the traitor.

All difficulties appeared now to have been smoothed away. Tissaphernes
assumed a most friendly manner, and begged Clearchus to remain with him
for supper, and be his guest for the night.

XXI

THE TREACHERY OF TISSAPHERNES

On the next day Clearchus returned to the camp, and reported the good
understanding that he had established with Tissaphernes. But when he
said that Tissaphernes wished all the officers to assemble in his tent,
the Hellenes objected, for they did not trust the Satrap, and did not
care to let their best men run any risk of falling into his clutches.

Clearchus however was so confident that all would go well, and pressed
his opinion with such persistence, that after a long discussion it was
at last decided to send five generals and twenty captains to take part
in the conference. Clearchus was of course one of the five generals,
so also was Menon. They were accompanied by two hundred soldiers who
wished to buy provisions in the Barbarian camp, but all were unarmed,
for it was to be a friendly meeting.

Some hours passed by, and the Hellenes did not return. Those who were
left behind began to look out anxiously for their comrades, but they
could see nothing but a number of Persian horsemen galloping about
separately in all directions upon the heath, which lay between the
two camps. They did not understand what this could mean, but soon the
horrible explanation was brought to them by a badly-wounded Hellene,
who made his way back to the camp as fast as he was able, and told them
what had happened.

On reaching the tent of Tissaphernes, the five generals had been
invited to go within; the captains were left standing at the door.
Presently a blood-red flag was hoisted above the tent, and at this
signal, the Barbarians fell upon the captains and the two hundred
soldiers who were all unarmed, and massacred them. Those who attempted
to flee were cut down by horsemen sent in pursuit of them, and killed
upon the heath. Of the fate of the generals who had gone within the
tent, the wounded man knew nothing.

On hearing this terrible news, the Hellenes rushed to seize their
arms, for they naturally expected an immediate attack. This did not
however take place, but Ariæus, with some other nobles, and about three
hundred Persian cavalry, rode towards the camp, and demanded to speak
with one of the generals. When he was within hearing, Ariæus cried
out, ‘Clearchus was a traitor, he had broken the oath, and has been
punished. To you I bring an order from the Great King to deliver up
your arms, for they belonged to Cyrus, who was his slave.’ Every one in
the Persian empire was considered a slave, except the King himself.

But one of the generals answered with spirit befitting the occasion.
‘Thou miserable Ariæus,’ he cried, ‘and you others who were the friends
of Cyrus, you are the most wicked of men, you who formerly swore that
our friends should be your friends, and our enemies your enemies, and
have now entered into a covenant with the godless Tissaphernes to
destroy us.’

To this the Persians could make no reply, and they turned back to their
own camp.

The night that followed was a terrible one for the Hellenes. The
infamous crime that had been committed could only be regarded as the
first of a series planned long ago by Tissaphernes. Now that Clearchus
was gone, who was to command the little band of Hellenes, left as sheep
without a shepherd? If the treacherous Barbarians were bent upon their
destruction, what was to hinder them from taking them by surprise again
and again, until at last they were reduced to the choice of death or
slavery?

Throughout the whole camp reigned discouragement, despondency, even
despair. Only a few of the soldiers could rouse themselves to take food
or kindle a fire. Wherever they chanced to be, they threw themselves
down upon the ground, and passed a sleepless night, kept awake by
brooding care for what the next day might bring forth, and for sick
longing for their country, their parents, their wives, their children,
whom they feared they should never see again.

On entering the tent of Tissaphernes, the five generals had been
surprised and made prisoners, and were forthwith sent to Susa, there
to await the King’s pleasure. Menon was set at liberty, but the rest
languished for a year in prison, and were then beheaded.

[Illustration: ARCHERS OF THE ROYAL BODY-GUARD.

(_From a frieze in the palace at Susa._)

See p. 2.]

For Clearchus, who had been the most intimate friend of her dearly
loved Cyrus, Parysatis, the Queen-mother, did everything in her power.
Through the medium of her physician, she was able to supply him with
many comforts in his prison, and she even hoped that her influence
with Artaxerxes would prevail to save his life. But in Statira, the
Queen-consort, she had a rival whose influence was even greater than
her own. Statira succeeded in convincing her husband that it was
indispensable to the dignity of the Persian throne to pass sentence of
death upon the most active and distinguished adherent of the usurper
Cyrus, and Clearchus was consequently executed.

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had long been consumed by mutual
jealousy and hatred, and this last struggle filled the cup to
overflowing. In order to revenge herself for the death of Clearchus,
Parysatis bribed a servant to give poison to Statira, and thus caused
her death. As a punishment for the murder, she was banished for a time
from Babylon.

For a year Menon was at liberty, and went about as he pleased in Susa,
but at the end of that time he also was executed, after having been
cruelly tortured. The freedom that he enjoyed at first seems to prove
that, as Clearchus suspected, he had really rendered some service
to the Great King, to the disadvantage of his countrymen. And his
subsequent death shows that, cunning as he was, he was not cunning
enough to provide against all contingencies. It is very possible that
here also the influence of Parysatis may have been at work.

XXII

XENOPHON

In the history of Rome there is a story which tells how King Tarquin
desired, once upon a time, to conquer the town of Gabii. As he was
unable to overcome it by fair fighting, he determined to have recourse
to treachery, and in order to carry out his purpose, sent his son to
the city.

The son knocked at the city gate, and when from within they asked who
was there, he said that he was the son of Tarquin, but that he came as
a friend, not an enemy, for his father had ill-treated him shamefully,
and he wished now to revenge himself by helping the Gabians to defend
their city.

The townsmen let him in, and after having seen him, time after time,
fighting bravely in their ranks, they gave him their full confidence,
and finally chose him to be their general-in-chief.

So far he had succeeded, but he did not know what was the next thing
to be done, and therefore sent a trusted slave to ask his father’s
advice. The king took the slave into his garden, where there was a bed
of poppies in full bloom, and walking up and down beside the bed, he
struck off the heads of the tallest poppies, one by one. Then he said
to the slave, ‘Go back and tell my son what you have seen.’

The slave did not know how this could be an answer to the question
that had been asked, but when he had carefully described to his master
what he had seen, the son understood very well what it meant. One
after another, he impeached in turn all the chief men of the city upon
some frivolous pretext or other, and he did it so cleverly that their
fellow-townsmen believed them to be traitors, and condemned them either
to death or banishment. When the city had been deprived of all its best
men, it was easy enough for him to give it up into the hands of his
father.

In like manner Tissaphernes thought that by the removal of their
officers, the Hellenes would be left helpless, and would no longer have
the heart to fight for their lives and their freedom. But it fell out
otherwise, for the officers who had been betrayed by Tissaphernes were
succeeded by others still more able. Above all, Xenophon the Athenian,
a man hitherto almost unnoticed in the crowd, came forward, and by his
inspiring presence, his sound judgment, and his unfailing courage,
gained the confidence of his comrades, and brought them at last through
all their difficulties to a place of safety.

Xenophon was at this time in the full prime of life, being about forty
years old. He had been born and brought up at Athens, and in his youth
astonished every one by his remarkable beauty, which was of such a kind
that it seemed to indicate rare qualities of heart and mind. The wise
Socrates met him one day by chance, and was so much attracted by his
appearance that he invited him to join the company of his friends.
Socrates had a great number of friends, both young and old, with whom
he used every day to discuss all manner of questions, in order that he
might inspire them with a love of everything that was true and noble
and good. Xenophon became one of his favourite pupils, and the teaching
of Socrates fell on fruitful soil; the beautiful and gifted youth grew
up to be a wise and pious man.

It is said that some years afterwards, when Xenophon was about thirty
years of age, Socrates had once the opportunity of saving him from a
great danger. In a war between the Athenians and Bœotians, Xenophon was
serving his country as a cavalry soldier, Socrates was on foot. The
Athenians were beaten at Delium, and obliged to flee. In the bustle and
confusion, Xenophon fell wounded from his horse, and must either have
been trodden to death by his countrymen, or else killed by the enemy,
had not Socrates perceived his danger, and rushed to help him, carrying
him in his strong arms until he was far away from the place of battle.

Another of the friends of Xenophon was Proxenus the Bœotian, who was
ten years younger than himself. From a very early age it had been the
ambition of Proxenus to gain for himself a high place as leader of
the people, and with this end in view he had placed himself under the
instruction of the famous orator, Gorgias. But his fate led him in
another direction.

At the time that Cyrus was preparing for his expedition against
Artaxerxes, Proxenus happened to be staying at Sardis. He soon became
an honoured friend and guest of Cyrus, and was asked by the prince to
raise a company of Hellenes for his service, as had already been done
by many of his countrymen. This commission he agreed to accept.

For the position of general Proxenus was in many respects well fitted,
but his nature was so amiable that he lacked the power of being severe,
and he was quite unable to maintain discipline amongst unruly soldiers.
He considered it sufficient if the superior officer praised those who
did their duty, and simply withheld his praise from those who shirked
it. And so it came to pass, that he had more fear of being irksome to
his men than they had of incurring his displeasure, and that he took
more pains to avoid annoying them than they took to do their duty. The
good soldiers were devoted to him, but the bad ones did not scruple to
be inattentive to his orders, because they knew that he was easy-going.
Proxenus was in fact the exact opposite of the stern Clearchus.

Fired with affection and enthusiasm for Cyrus, Proxenus wrote to
Xenophon, pressing him to come at once to Sardis, and join the prince.
He said that he would introduce him to Cyrus, and that Xenophon would
never repent of accepting the invitation, and he added that he himself
loved Cyrus even more than he loved his home.

Whenever Xenophon was in doubt about any decision, he was accustomed
to ask the advice of Socrates, and did so on this occasion. Socrates
doubted whether it would be well for Xenophon to do as his friend
wished, for some years before, in the time of the Peloponnesian war
between the Athenians and the Spartans, Cyrus had taken the part of
the Spartans against the Athenians, and had helped them with large sums
of money. He thought therefore that the Athenians might take it ill
if Xenophon were to ally himself with their former enemy. It would be
best, he said, to go to the oracle at Delphi, and ask counsel of the
god.

Accordingly Xenophon repaired to Delphi, but he had already made up his
mind, and worded his question thus:--‘To which of the gods must I pray
and offer sacrifices, in order that I may prosper in the journey which
I have in view, and return home in safety?’

The oracle named the gods. But when Xenophon returned, and told what
he had done, Socrates said, ‘That was not the right way to put the
question. Since however you have so asked, and so been answered,
depart, and do the bidding of the oracle.’

Xenophon was well received at Sardis, and accompanied Cyrus on
his march. Yet, up to the day of the massacre of the Hellenes by
Tissaphernes, he had taken no active part in the expedition. He served
neither as general, nor as captain, nor as private soldier, but was
present merely as the friend of Proxenus and Cyrus. Nevertheless he
took the deepest interest in everything that befell the army, whether
for good or ill.

XXIII

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Xenophon was deeply affected by the massacre of his countrymen, and all
the more so because of his friendship for Proxenus, who was one of the
five generals entrapped by Tissaphernes.

During the night that followed that ill-fated day, he could not sleep.
He had thrown himself upon the ground, overcome with grief and anxiety,
but could get no rest. At last however he fell into a troubled slumber,
and dreamt that it was thundering and lightning, and that his father’s
house was struck by the lightning and burst into flames.

He started up in horror, but found that it was a dream. Then, being
a pious man who believed that every event was brought about by the
direct intervention of the gods, he began to consider what the dream
could mean, for he doubted not that it was sent to him as a sign from
Zeus, the Ruler of all. But whether it betokened good or evil fortune,
he could not tell. The burning of the house would seem to foretell
misfortune, and yet, on the other hand, the light breaking suddenly out
of darkness might be taken to signify help in the hour of need.

Shaking off his despondency, he began to reason with himself. ‘Of
what avail is it,’ he said, ‘to lie here? The night creeps on apace.
To-morrow the enemy will attack us, and there is not one of us who
thinks of preparing for defence. All are lying prone, as if this were a
time for inaction and giving way to despair. For what should I wait, or
for whom? It is clear that I must help myself.’

With these words he sprang to his feet, and calling together the
captains of the company of Proxenus, he proceeded to address them,
saying, ‘I cannot sleep, and you in like manner are unable to close
your eyes for thinking of the perilous situation in which we find
ourselves. From the Great King we can look for nothing but fury and
vengeance, for we came hither to unseat him from his throne.

‘Nevertheless it seems to me that our condition is not such that we
should give way to despair, for the gods are angry with the Barbarians
because they have broken the peace they swore to maintain. The gods
will therefore be on our side. Moreover we can endure frost and heat
better than the weakly Persians, and are in every way, thank the
gods, made of better stuff. Let us therefore not delay, but at once
put our hands to the work. On us everything depends, for the soldiers
will follow our lead. If they see us wanting in courage they will be
faint-hearted, but if we show ourselves ready for anything that may be
in store for us, whether of toil or danger, and encourage a like spirit
in our comrades, the soldiers will follow our example and be ashamed of
their faint-heartedness.’

All the captains but one agreed with Xenophon, but there was one who
thought otherwise, a certain Apollonides, who appeared by his speech
to be a Bœotian. This man said that it was madness to dream of any
other deliverance than that which they might hope to gain by throwing
themselves upon the mercy of the Great King, and began to reckon up all
the hardships that lay before them.

But Xenophon cut him short. ‘Thou fool,’ he said, ‘thou hast eyes
and ears, but canst neither see nor hear. When the King demanded our
arms, and we refused to give them up and began to march away, was he
not then most anxious to enter into a treaty with us? And is it not
in consequence of having trusted in his promises that we have fallen
into this present distress? Ye captains, this man has not the mind of
a Hellene, he is a disgrace to our brave Hellas. Let us not endure him
among us any longer, he is only fit to be among the camp-followers and
carry the baggage.’

‘In truth,’ said one of the captains, ‘Apollonides is no Bœotian, nor
indeed a Hellene of any sort, but a Barbarian from Lydia. This you can
tell by looking at his ears, which have been pierced.’ So indeed it
proved, and Apollonides was turned away.

It was now midnight, and at the suggestion of Xenophon, the captains
of the company of Proxenus went through the camp, and summoned all the
generals and captains of the other companies to meet together and take
counsel as to what should be done.

When they were assembled, to the number of about a hundred, Xenophon
was asked to repeat in the hearing of all what he had already said to
the captains of the company of Proxenus. This he did, and then went on
to propose immediate action.

‘The first thing to be done,’ he said, ‘is to choose generals and
captains to replace those who have been taken from us, that the army
may not be left without responsible chiefs. For through order and
discipline an army is strong; slackness and disorder are the harbingers
of defeat. Let us first agree among ourselves who are the best men
to fill the vacant places, and then call together the soldiers to
confirm our decision. It will be well also to speak to them some words
of encouragement, for it is not numbers that ensure victory, but
confidence and courage. He who in war thinks only of saving his life is
the most likely to lose it, and his death is the death of a coward. But
he who, remembering that death is the common lot of all men, chooses
rather to die with honour than to live in shame, is far more likely to
attain old age, and while life lasts, lives nobly.’

The suggestion was acted upon without delay. Xenophon was chosen to
take the place of his friend Proxenus, and for the four other missing
generals successors were appointed from among the captains of their
companies. In the same way, soldiers were elected to replace the dead
captains and those newly promoted, so that as far as the officers were
concerned, each company was made up to its former strength.

By this time it was almost daybreak, and a herald was sent round the
camp to summon all the soldiers to a general meeting, the precaution
being meanwhile taken of placing outposts at regular intervals outside
the camp, with instructions to bring in news at once, if they should
perceive any sign of the enemy’s approach.

XXIV

XENOPHON ADDRESSES THE TROOPS

When the soldiers were assembled, Xenophon appeared among them clad
in his most beautiful armour, as if for a feast, with a serene
countenance, and eyes that glowed with hope and courage. When he was
asked to speak, he addressed them in a clear, penetrating voice that
all could hear. ‘Soldiers,’ he said, ‘in the terrible disaster that has
befallen us, you see the result of trusting to the oaths of Barbarians.
From henceforth we must regard them, not as allies, but as enemies, and
fight to avenge the murder of our comrades. Thus by the help of the
gods may we hope to be delivered out of their hands.’

[Illustration: ZEUS.]

At this moment it chanced that one of the soldiers sneezed loudly.
Nothing could have been more fortunate, for the Hellenes believed that
a sneeze was a sign sent by the gods to confirm the word that had just
been spoken. Such a good omen could not fail to cheer the downcast
soldiers, and Xenophon paused in his speech, and proposed that all
should unite in making a vow to Zeus the Saviour, from whom the sign
had come, that as soon as they should again find themselves in a land
of friends, they would offer thank-offerings to Zeus and the other
gods. The proposal was accepted with acclamation, and all prayed
together, and sang a hymn of praise.

After this, Xenophon continued to speak. ‘Our hope,’ he said, ‘rests on
a sure foundation. We have been true to the oath sworn in the name of
the gods, while the Barbarians have perjured themselves. The gods will
not allow them to go unpunished; their anger will be turned against our
enemies, and their help will be with us. They can humble the mighty and
exalt the weak, and can, if they will, save us out of our distress.

‘Let us not form too high an estimate of the Persian resources. The
Mysians and the little nation of Pisidians defy the Great King. In the
midst of his empire they live as free men, and have many large and
flourishing cities. Are we at all inferior to Mysians or Pisidians?
Think of our forefathers, and of the world-famed victories which they
won. The Persians came with a mighty army to lay Athens in the dust,
but the little band of Athenians met them with undaunted courage, and
drove them back in disgraceful flight. After that came Xerxes with an
army, countless as the sand of the sea. And what happened to him? Our
forefathers overcame that army by sea and by land, and the glorious
results of their victories continue to this very day. To this day our
cities are free, and over us we acknowledge no other lords but only the
eternal gods.

‘You yourselves moreover have been put to the test, and have not
been found wanting. It is but a short time since you confronted the
descendants of those same Barbarians. Their number was many times
greater than yours, but with the help of the gods you smote them and
they were scattered like chaff before the wind, not one of them could
look you in the face. And at that time you were fighting for Cyrus, a
stranger, to set him upon the throne. With how much greater zeal will
you fight now, when the battle is for your own salvation!

‘In the last place, let each one of us take heed to do his part. Our
new chiefs must be even more vigilant and cautious than those we have
lost; the soldiers must be more strictly obedient than hitherto. If
every man will keep his eye upon the rest, and allow nothing to be done
that is against the rule, then will our enemies be disappointed of
their hope that in depriving us of our officers they have robbed us of
all discipline.’

As of an heroic deed, so too of an inspiring speech it may with truth
be said that it ‘begets courage, even in a coward.’ The brave words of
Xenophon put to flight the dark cloud of despair that had threatened to
paralyse the energy of the soldiers, and prepared the way for a dawning
of new confidence, and a hope that in their case also the old saying
might once again prove true, that ‘Fortune helps the brave.’

The next thing to be done was to make preparations for continuing the
march. Xenophon was asked for his advice, and he answered, ‘Before
everything else, it will be necessary to provide ourselves with food,
now that we can no longer buy it in the Barbarian camp, and I hear
that there are villages in the neighbourhood where we shall find what
we want. The Barbarians will pursue us like cowardly curs, who run
after a man, snapping at his heels. If he turns round upon them, they
immediately run away, but as soon as he continues to go forward, they
are after him again as before.

‘I propose therefore that we adopt the form of a hollow square, and
place in the centre the camp-followers and baggage-animals, that there
may be no risk of their being cut off by the enemy. Let Cheirisophus
take the post of honour and lead the van, as is fitting, for he is a
Spartan,[14] and let the two eldest generals take charge of the wings,
while Timasion and myself command the rear. If after a time we wish
to make any alteration, it will always be easy to change. He who has
something better than this to propose, let him now speak.’

     [14] Sparta was at this time the leading state in Hellas.

All were silent.

‘Hold up hands then, those who agree to my plan,’ cried Xenophon.

Every hand was raised, and the proposal was accordingly carried.

There was another matter to which Xenophon was anxious to call the
attention of his comrades. He knew how serious a disadvantage it is to
an army in the field to be encumbered with a quantity of baggage, and
advised that everything not absolutely needed for the march should be
burnt.

‘He who would enrich himself with spoil,’ he said, ‘must overcome the
enemy. Only conquerors can hold their own, and take the spoil of the
vanquished. Whichever of you would see again those who are most dear to
him, let him remember that he must prove himself a man.’

This proposal was also carried by a show of hands, and the meeting
being at an end, the soldiers dispersed to overlook their possessions,
and choose from among them such things as were indispensable. If any
of them had possessions which they themselves did not need, but which
others lacked, they gave them to their comrades. Then a great bonfire
was lighted, and into it were cast all the rest of the things, together
with the tents and the wagons.

From this time forward the recognised heads of the army were
Cheirisophus the Spartan and Xenophon the Athenian, but more especially
Xenophon. All alike were agreed in thinking that these two men were the
best fitted to command, and the other generals felt that by carrying
out with alacrity whatever was proposed by them, they could most surely
promote the present well-being and ultimate salvation of the brave Ten
Thousand.

XXV

ANNOYED BY MITHRIDATES

The sun had now risen, and the Hellenes were about to prepare their
morning meal, when the scouts brought in word that the satrap
Mithridates was riding towards the camp with an escort of thirty
horsemen.

Having arrived within speaking distance, Mithridates called out to the
generals to come forward and hear what he had to say. Then he proceeded
to address them in an apparently friendly manner. ‘Men of Hellas,’ he
said, ‘I was, as you know, upon the side of Cyrus, and am now your
friend. I do not wish to remain with Tissaphernes, for I fear his
vengeance, and if you will let me know your plans, I will gladly join
you with all my following, and march by your side. Tell me therefore
what you have decided to do.’

The generals conferred together, and agreed that Cheirisophus, their
spokesman, should answer Mithridates as they had already so often
answered the Persian envoys. ‘If we are allowed to return in peace to
our home, we will pursue our way with as little injury as possible to
the inhabitants of the countries through which we pass. But if we are
hindered in our march, we will fight to the death.’

To this Mithridates replied by trying to persuade them that they could
have no hope of escape except by making peace with the Great King,
and it soon became clear that he had been sent by the enemy to feign
friendship, for the purpose of finding out their plans. They refused
therefore to listen to him any longer, and Mithridates was obliged to
ride away without having succeeded in his mission.

The generals had been confirmed in their suspicion of Mithridates
by recognising among his escort a man belonging to the suite of
Tissaphernes, who had evidently been sent with him as a spy, so that
he might not be able to say anything to the Hellenes except such words
as had been dictated by Tissaphernes. And as some Persians had already
succeeded in making their way into the camp, and had induced one of the
captains to desert with twenty of his men, they proceeded to pass a
resolution, that in future there was to be open war with the Persians,
and that they would receive no more ambassadors coming in the name of
the Great King.

They then returned to their interrupted meal, and when this was over,
set out upon the march, forming themselves, as already agreed upon,
in a hollow square. But they had not gone far when Mithridates again
appeared with two hundred horsemen and four hundred archers and
slingers, who advanced towards them as if with friendly intentions. As
soon however as they had come within arrow range, they opened fire, and
the Hellenes found themselves suddenly beset with a storm of arrows and
darts, which wounded many of them.

For a time Xenophon pursued his way without taking any notice, for he
was anxious not to delay the progress of the march, but finding that
the shots came thicker and thicker, he called a halt, and commanded
the rear-guard to charge the enemy. No sooner had they done so than
the Barbarians were in full flight, but the heavy armed hoplites could
not pursue them far, and each time that they re-formed their ranks and
turned to continue the march, the Barbarians were after them as before.
This occurred so often that it was late in the day before they reached
the villages where they were to halt, although the distance was little
more than three miles.

When at last they were established for the night in the villages,
Cheirisophus and the other generals reproached Xenophon with having
so seriously delayed the march, without having gained any advantage.
They did not, perhaps, fully realise the difficulty, but instead of
retorting that they were inconsiderate, Xenophon answered quietly,
admitting that they had cause for annoyance, and proposing a plan by
which he hoped to remedy the evil.

‘To-day,’ he said, ‘we have to thank the gods that we have only had a
small force to deal with, that could not do us any great injury; and we
have also to thank the enemy for having shown us where we are weak. The
Persian slingers and archers can make their missiles carry to a greater
distance than ours, and moreover the enemy have cavalry, while we are
without. Under such circumstances the struggle must always be unequal,
with the disadvantage on our side.

‘Happily however we have it in our power to improve our position in
this respect. Among the troops there are several Rhodians, and we know
that the men of Rhodes are famed for their skill in slinging. Their
shots carry moreover twice as far as those of the Persians, for instead
of great stones the size of a fist, they use little bullets of lead. I
propose that we find out if any of these men possess slings, or know
how to make new slings. With their help we may be able to form a band
of slingers capable of doing good service.

‘Then as regards our want of cavalry. Fortunately we have horses. I
have a few, there are some that belonged to Clearchus, and others that
have been captured, and are now used for transport, besides those
belonging to private persons. Any one willing to give up his horse for
the public service could have the loss made good to him by receiving in
exchange other baggage animals.’

All the proposals made by Xenophon were accepted, and carried into
execution during the night. By the next day the army was supplemented
with a company of five hundred Rhodian slingers and a troop of fifty
horsemen, all fully equipped,--the command of the cavalry being
entrusted to an Athenian named Lycius.

[Illustration: HELLENE HORSEMAN: COIN OF ALEXANDER OF PHERÆ.]

The Hellenes remained one more day in the villages, and then, on the
third morning, set out at earliest dawn to continue their march. There
lay before them a wooded ravine which it would be difficult to go
through in fighting order, and they were anxious to get as far beyond
it as possible, before they should be overtaken by the Persians.

The early start met with its due reward, for the Hellenes were already
a good distance beyond the ravine when Mithridates again appeared, this
time with a much larger force than before.

He had been very much pleased with the success of his first attempt
to harass the Hellenes, for his small band of slingers and archers
had sustained but little injury, whereas they had, as he believed,
inflicted considerable loss. Expecting to find the Hellenes still
at the same disadvantage, he had assured Tissaphernes that if he
were supplied with a thousand horsemen and four thousand archers and
slingers, he would make an end of them altogether.

But now they were prepared for him. They let him pass unhindered
through the ravine, and advance beyond it until he was almost within
arrow-shot. Then the trumpets sounded, and the newly formed cavalry and
light infantry charged forward upon the advancing foe.

At this wholly unexpected attack, the Barbarians were seized with
panic, and fled precipitately. But on reaching the ravine, their
flight was impeded by the trees and bushes, and many of them were
killed by the Hellene cavalry who came after them in full pursuit.
Eighteen horsemen were captured, together with their horses, and many
more of the enemy were killed, whose bodies the Hellenes mutilated in
a horrible manner in order to strike terror into the breasts of the
Persians.

From this time they saw no more of Mithridates. His place was now to be
taken by a still more powerful enemy.

XXVI

HARASSED BY TISSAPHERNES

For some days after the repulse of Mithridates, the Hellenes were
allowed to continue their march unmolested, but soon the Persians were
again seen coming up behind them. Tissaphernes was now pursuing them
with all the forces under his command, determined that they should not
much longer escape his vengeance.

Keeping the main body of his army in the background, he brought to the
front his numerous companies of light infantry, and commanded them to
make use of their slings and bows. But the Hellenes, unawed by the
overpowering numbers of the enemy, quickly brought forward their little
band of Rhodians, whose leaden bullets carried farther than the heavy
shot of the Persian slingers, and before the enemy was near enough to
do them any harm, they had opened fire upon their close-packed ranks
where every shot was certain to tell. The archers too discharged
their arrows with equal effect, and so deadly was the assault, that
Tissaphernes was obliged to withdraw his men out of range, and for the
rest of that day, contented himself with following the Hellenes at a
safe distance.

Before retiring from the ground where the skirmish had taken place,
the Hellenes were careful to collect all the bows and arrows that had
belonged to the dead Persians. These bows, which were much stronger
than their own, were likely to be of great service to them, and in the
evening, when they reached the villages in which they were to spend the
night, they took great pains to practise using them with effect. They
were so fortunate moreover as to find in these same villages a store of
excellent bow-strings, and a quantity of lead, which they at once set
to work to make into bullets.

After resting for one whole day, they continued their march, and
now the road lay through a flat plain. Tissaphernes followed at a
distance, always on the lookout for any opportunity of attacking them
at a disadvantage, and so overwhelming was his superiority in point of
numbers that he was often able to inflict considerable loss, even upon
the brave Hellenes.

Sometimes for instance the road would narrow considerably, or a bridge
would have to be crossed, and then it was found that the plan of
marching in the form of a square had many drawbacks for a retreating
army with the enemy in pursuit. Confusion was sure to arise, both in
breaking up the square on arriving at the narrow part of the road, and
in re-forming it on coming out again into the open country, and by this
confusion Tissaphernes did not fail to profit.

The generals agreed that some new plan must be devised to meet the
difficulty, and they decided to form six small companies, each
consisting of a hundred men, and subdivided into half and quarter
companies, each with its own officer. When the square had to be
compressed for passing over a bridge or narrow road, these companies
fell out of their places in the wings, and wheeled round to the back
of the rear, returning again to the wings when the square widened out
again. By this means disorder was prevented, and for the next four days
the Hellenes continued their way with very little loss.

On the fifth day they came to the end of the flat country. They had now
to cross a range of hills, and at this they rejoiced, thinking that the
hilly ground would be disadvantageous for the Persian cavalry. But this
day was destined to be the most disastrous of any they had yet known.

Seeing in the distance a palace with several villages clustering round
it, they decided to make for it. The road lay over hilly ground,
and they had already climbed the first hill when they received an
unexpected check. As they descended the farther side, the enemy
appeared upon the height they had just left, and discharged a volley of
stones and arrows upon the light-armed infantry, killing and wounding
many of them.

To this the Hellenes replied by sending a detachment of hoplites to
march back up the hill, and dislodge the Persians. Their heavy armour
protected them to some extent, but made it impossible for them to
advance rapidly, and the nimble Persians quickly withdrew beyond their
reach, returning however as soon as the hoplites turned back to rejoin
their comrades, and discharging their shots and arrows as before.

[Illustration: THE HILL COUNTRY EAST OF THE TIGRIS.]

At the second hill, the same thing happened again, and now the Persian
cavalry were also brought into play, and directed to chase the Hellenes
at full speed down the steep descent. This they did, but only when
they had been driven to their work with whips. Meanwhile the hail of
stones and arrows continued, and made such havoc in the ranks of the
light-armed troops who wore neither helmet nor coat of mail, that it
became urgently necessary to find some means of diverting the attention
of the enemy.

Calling a short halt, the generals rapidly took counsel together, and
formed a plan by which the light infantry could be placed beyond the
reach of danger, and at the same time give assistance to their comrades.

Parallel with the range of hills over which the Hellenes were making
their way, was a range of mountains, from whence the road along the
hills could be overlooked. To these mountains the light-armed troops
were despatched, with instructions to keep pace with their comrades on
the lower level, and rain down shots and arrows upon the enemy whenever
they attempted to hinder them in their march. As soon as the Persians
perceived this device, they gave up the pursuit. The disadvantage was
now on their side, and they were afraid of being cut off from the main
body of their army.

So for the rest of that day the Hellenes continued their way in peace,
the light infantry on the mountains, the hoplites on the lower hills.
At last they reached the villages which they had perceived in the
distance, and now the first thing to be done was to see to the sick and
wounded, of whom there were a great many. They were carefully tended
by the eight surgeons who accompanied the Hellene force, and for three
days the army rested quietly in the villages. This was chiefly on
account of the sick, but partly also because they found there great
stores of wheat, barley, and wine, of which they took possession
without paying for them, because they were now at war, and in the
enemy’s country.

XXVII

THE LAST OF TISSAPHERNES

During the time that the Hellenes rested in the villages Tissaphernes
disappeared from sight, but on the fourth day, when they came out from
under cover, they found him again pursuing them with his whole army.

It was an anxious time for the Hellenes, for a large number of them
were incapacitated from fighting. Besides the wounded, there were those
who carried the wounded in litters, and those again who carried the
armour of the litter-bearers. The wagons in which the sick might have
journeyed had been burnt when they had declared war against the Great
King.

The generals were of opinion that in this crippled condition they were
no match for the enemy in the open field, and that it would be useless
to attempt to march and fight at the same time, as hitherto. So when
they found that the Persians were coming against them, they determined
to halt at the first village they should reach, and place the wounded
in safety, while the able-bodied could easily put the Persians to
flight from under the cover of the huts. Once routed, they knew that
the Persians would give them no more trouble that night, for they were
so terribly afraid of being surprised by the Hellenes that they always
pitched their camp at least six miles away from them.

This plan was carried out, and the Persians were driven back from the
village. Then, as soon as they were out of sight, the Hellenes made a
fresh start, and marched on for another six miles before encamping for
the night, so that the next day when they began their march, they had
twelve miles start of the enemy.

All that day and all the next day they were able to march steadily on
without fighting, for the Barbarians were too far behind to attack
them, but during the third night Tissaphernes also made an extra, or as
it is called, a forced march.

The Satrap had the great advantage of being able to get every
information as to the districts through which they were marching, and
knowing that the flat plain that they had been traversing ever since
the last skirmish would now be succeeded by mountainous country, he
sent forward a detachment of his troops to get in advance of the
Hellenes by taking another road, and seize a hill overlooking the way
by which they must pass.

When the Hellene vanguard approached the hill, they found it already
in possession of the enemy, and Cheirisophus sent to the rear for
Xenophon. It was clear that the Persians must be dislodged without
a moment’s delay, for already the main body of the Barbarian army,
commanded by Tissaphernes himself, could be seen approaching in the
distance.

Xenophon looked long and carefully at the height occupied by the
Persians, and saw that from the very top of the mountain above it there
was a road leading down to the place. ‘We must get up to the top of
the mountain,’ he said, ‘and from thence charge down upon the enemy and
drive them from their post. There is not a moment to lose. If you will
remain here with the rest of the army, I will attack the mountain with
the light-armed troops, or else if you will lead them thither, I will
remain below.’

‘You may choose,’ said Cheirisophus.

‘Very well then,’ answered Xenophon, ‘I will climb the mountain, for I
am the younger.’

He set off at once with the troops assigned to him, and for a time they
were concealed from the enemy by the trees and bushes which clothed
the hillside. But as soon as the Persians perceived their intention,
they also made for the higher peak, hoping to reach it before the
Hellenes. And now began a race, Hellenes and Persians climbing each by
a different road, and watching eagerly the progress of the other party.
Now one side would seem to have the advantage and now the other, while
all the time incessant shouts from below stimulated their efforts, for
on both sides it was well known how much depended on the issue.

Xenophon rode on horseback beside his men, urging them to do their
utmost. ‘Remember,’ he said, ‘that this toil is to make it possible
for you to return to your homes, your wives, and your children. Yet a
little more effort, and all the rest will be easy.’

One of the soldiers, who was named Soteridas, was a lazy, sullen
fellow, and looking enviously at Xenophon, he said, ‘It is all very
well for you to talk, Xenophon, for you can ride at your ease, but I am
groaning beneath the weight of this heavy shield.’

Instantly Xenophon sprang from his horse, seized the shield of
Soteridas, pushed him aside, and taking his place in the ranks,
struggled up the hill like a private soldier, although he was
encumbered with the heavy armour worn for riding.

The other men were delighted at this, and they did not scruple to
express their contempt for Soteridas by blows as well as taunts, until
at last the unhappy man was constrained to implore Xenophon to let him
take back his shield and share the toil of his comrades.

To this Xenophon consented, and remounting his horse, he rode as long
as it was possible to do so, but soon the road became so bad that he
was obliged to dismount and climb on foot for the rest of the way.

The Persians were but a very little distance from the crest of the
mountain when the first Hellenes reached it. The advantage was now
with them, and they at once charged. Back fled the Persians by any
path they could find, and soon there was no longer a trace either of
the detachment that had been posted on the hill, or of the main army
advancing along the plain.

The road was free, and a short march brought the Hellenes to some
villages where they could rest after the fatigues of the day. There
they found abundance of food, and were able moreover to take as spoil a
number of cows and other animals, for it happened, fortunately for the
Hellenes, that a great number were just then collected at that place in
order to be ferried across the Tigris.

This was their last encounter with Tissaphernes. Since his shameful
betrayal of their generals, he had for twenty days been following in
their track, as a pack of hounds pursues a noble stag, who nevertheless
saves himself by his courage and endurance. Taking into consideration
the enormous difference in point of numbers, the loss sustained by the
Hellenes during these twenty days was very slight. They had been more
than a match for Tissaphernes and his great army, and might well feel
proud of their superiority to the cowardly mob of Barbarians.

XXVIII

THE RIVER OR THE MOUNTAINS?

But although they had now seen the last of Tissaphernes, the Hellenes
were still a very long way from the end of their journey. Difficulties
of another and more serious kind still lay before them, and the
question of their further route caused the generals great anxiety. For
in front of the fruitful valley in which they were encamped, there
stretched before them a stern and rugged mountain-country inhabited by
a nation of savages.

The limit of this mountain district was the river Tigris, and the only
way of avoiding it was by crossing the Tigris. No path could be found
by which they could pass between the mountains and the river, for
immense rocks stretched out far over the water, so that there was not
space for even a single person to go by.

But the river was far too deep and broad to be forded, and they had
no other means of crossing. When they tried to measure its depth with
their long spears, they could not reach the bottom, even close to the
shore.

Whilst the generals were consulting together as to what could be done,
a Rhodian soldier came to them to ask for an audience, and said, ‘If
you will promise me a talent of silver,[15] and provide me with all
that I shall need for carrying out my plan, I will build you a bridge
over the Tigris capable of bearing two thousand hoplites.’

     [15] A talent was equal to 243_l._ 15_s._ of our money.

Then he went on to explain his plan. ‘We have here,’ he said, ‘a great
many cows, sheep, goats and asses. All these animals must give me
their skins, for I shall want two thousand leather bags. I shall also
want all the straps used for the baggage animals. The skins must be
inflated, and tied up securely. I shall then attach one of the straps
to either end of each skin so that it can be fastened to the next
one, and steady it in the water with large stones let down from the
under side to serve as anchors. When the skins are all in their places
and fastened together, I shall cover them thoroughly with earth and
brushwood to prevent them from being slippery, and the bridge will be
complete. Each skin will bear the weight of two men, so that you will
have a bridge able to carry four thousand.’

The generals agreed that it was an excellent idea, but unhappily they
could not turn it to any account, for on the further side of the river,
troops of Persian cavalry were already collected to oppose their
crossing, and by them the men employed in working at the bridge would
be shot down one by one, long before it was sufficiently finished to
carry the soldiers across.

The crossing of the river was thus out of the question, and there
remained nothing but the road over the mountains, although they knew
not whither it led. They were like mariners driven out of their course
by violent storms, who neither know where they are, nor what is before,
or behind, or on either side of them. Gladly would the Hellenes have
given a good deal of their scanty store of money for a small sheet of
paper which to-day can be bought anywhere for a few pence,--a map of
the country that lay before them. But in those days no such thing had
ever been heard of.

All they could do was to question the prisoners, and from them they
learnt that southwards, in the direction from whence they had come,
were the provinces of Babylonia and Media, to the east were the cities
of Susa and Babylon, to the west the provinces of Lydia and Ionia, and
that the road northwards over the mountains would lead them through the
land of the Carduchians, a fierce, war-loving race, who had never been
conquered. Once the Great King had sent into their country an army of
120,000 men, to subdue them, but of all that great host not one had
ever seen his home again.

If the Hellenes should succeed in getting through the country of the
Carduchians, they would then reach the province of Armenia, and after
that they would be able to journey on without further hindrance.

XXIX

THE CARDUCHIANS

Although in themselves not very formidable enemies, within the limits
of their own country the Carduchians were almost invincible. It was
a mountainous district, in which the hills rose sheer and steep from
the rich, fertile valleys lying far below, where the Carduchians built
their houses and pastured their flocks.

They seldom risked coming to close quarters with their enemies, but
contented themselves with shooting from a distance at any intruders who
might be rash enough to enter their country. This method of warfare was
the more effective as they had considerable skill as marksmen, and were
beyond the possibility of pursuit. Every path and every recess of their
wild mountain country was familiar to them, and they were extremely
agile, being accustomed from their childhood to clamber up and down the
rocks like cats. Moreover they had the advantage of being burdened with
no armour and but little clothing, and they carried no weapons but bows
and slings.

Their bows and arrows were unusually large, the bow measuring nearly
three cubits in length, and the arrows more than two cubits. In order
to shoot, they rested the lower end of the bow on the ground, and
placed one foot upon it; then, drawing back the string as far as it
would go, they discharged the arrow with such force that it was able
to pierce right through a leather jerkin, and penetrate deep into the
flesh beneath.

With this barbarous people the Hellenes were most anxious to remain
at peace, and they desired nothing better than to be allowed to pass
quietly through the country, paying for everything that they might be
obliged to take, in order to supply themselves with food. The prisoners
who had told them about the defeat of the Persian army, had spoken also
of an alliance made by the Carduchians with the satrap of the province
nearest their country. With him they had established an occasional
exchange of friendly intercourse, but as they hated all the other
Persians as bitterly as ever, the Hellenes hoped that on the principle
that ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend,’ the Carduchians might be
inclined to regard them with favour, and make a treaty with them.

Nevertheless they resolved to enter the country very cautiously, and
after having offered sacrifices and prayers to the gods, that their
enterprise might be brought to a successful issue, they set out
while it was still dark in the hope of crossing the first mountain
unperceived. By daybreak they were in the country of the Carduchians,
Cheirisophus leading the van, which included all the light-armed
troops, Xenophon in the rear commanding the hoplites, while the
camp-followers as usual marched in the centre.

Cheirisophus passed unobserved over the crest of the mountain, and
on the further side, found several villages scattered about in the
ravines and recesses of the country. Great was the astonishment of the
inhabitants at the unexpected appearance of the Hellene soldiers. They
came pouring out of their houses, and although the Hellenes made signs
of friendliness, and called out that they had no wish to injure them,
they would not stop to listen, but fled away into the mountains with
their wives and children.

Meanwhile the rear was still crossing the height over which
Cheirisophus had just passed in safety. The road was narrow, and
the long line of combatants and camp-followers could make but slow
progress. Night had fallen before those in the extreme rear could reach
the villages, and on their way, they were attacked by the terrified
Carduchians who had fled at the approach of Cheirisophus. Some of them
were killed, and others wounded, with stones and arrows. Happily the
enemy were as yet but few in number, or they might have sustained more
serious loss.

The Hellenes established themselves for the night in the villages of
which they had been left in possession, and found in the houses many
vessels and utensils of brass, but as they still hoped to enter into
peaceful relations with the Carduchians, they took no spoil, excepting
only such food as was necessary. There was no one from whom to buy, and
so they were obliged to help themselves.

During the night they were left undisturbed, but great bonfires could
be seen flaming away upon the tops of the mountains. They had been set
alight by the Carduchians in order that the signal might be passed on
from point to point, all over the country, to call together all the
people to defend their land from the strangers who had entered it.

There could no longer be any doubt that the Carduchians were determined
to regard the Hellenes as enemies, and again the generals and captains
met in consultation. As on the occasion when they had declared war
against the Great King, they determined to leave behind everything
that could possibly be spared. All prisoners were set free, and of the
transport animals they retained only such of the strongest as were
quite indispensable. By this means it became possible to reduce the
quantity of provisions to be carried, and moreover the men who had been
formerly employed in attending to the discarded animals could now be
added to the fighting force.

The soldiers were informed of the decision arrived at, and desired to
be ready for a fresh start immediately after the morning meal. Then the
generals placed themselves at a narrow part of the road, and as the
army marched past, took away from the men anything that they might have
tried to carry off in defiance of the order.

The day did not pass without several skirmishes with the Carduchians,
but for the most part they were able to march on steadily without
serious fighting.

XXX

SEIZING A PASS

On the following day a great snow-storm made it difficult for the
Hellenes to continue their march. Nevertheless they were obliged to go
forward, as they had not a sufficient supply of food. The Carduchians
now beset them in greater numbers than before, and harassed them with
showers of stones and arrows, especially whenever they were hindered by
coming to a part of the road that was particularly narrow.

Xenophon, who led the rear-guard, was several times obliged to halt and
drive back the enemy, giving as he did so, a signal with the trumpets,
in order that Cheirisophus and the van might wait for him. No sooner
did the Hellenes turn and prepare to charge, than the Carduchians
disappeared as if by magic, but in a very short time they were again in
the rear, shooting at them as before.

At first Cheirisophus waited for the hoplites, so that they had no
great difficulty in keeping up with the rest of the army, but after a
time he took no more notice of the signals, and the distance between
the van and the rear became greater and greater, until at last the
march of Xenophon and his men was more like a flight than a retreat,
whilst all the time they were exposed to the arrows and missiles of the
enemy.

When in the evening they rejoined their comrades, Xenophon complained
to Cheirisophus of the want of consideration he had shown in obliging
the men to run and fight at the same time. In consequence of this,
several of them, he said, had fallen, amongst whom were two of the
best, and moreover it had been impossible to rescue their bodies.

Among the Hellenes it was regarded as a terrible calamity if anything
interfered to prevent the dead from receiving funeral honours. If
nothing else could be done, the corpse must at least be solemnly
sprinkled with earth in the name of the gods, or the shade of the dead
man would find no rest in the Lower World.

But it was not without urgent necessity that Cheirisophus had hurried
forward during the latter part of the march, and he answered, ‘We
were told by the guides that the mountains in front of us are almost
impassable, and that there is but one steep road--that which you see
yonder--leading to the only pass by which we can cross them. I hoped
that by hurrying we might be able to seize this pass before the enemy
should occupy it, but unhappily they have reached it first. They are
posted there in great numbers, and I do not see how we are to drive
them from it.’

[Illustration: AMONG THE CARDUCHIAN MOUNTAINS.]

Xenophon was obliged to admit that Cheirisophus was fully justified
in acting as he had done, but he had something to report, which made
the situation a little less hopeless. ‘As the Carduchians persisted in
molesting us,’ he said, ‘we lay in ambush for them behind some bushes.
This gave us the opportunity of doing them an injury, and also of
resting ourselves for a moment, for we were quite out of breath. When
a band of Carduchians came by, we rushed out upon them and killed most
of them, but two I was careful to take alive, and we have brought them
as prisoners, for I thought they would be useful in guiding us through
these mountains. They may be able to tell us of a second way not known
to the guides we have had hitherto.’

The two prisoners were led forward to be examined, and the first
one was asked if he did not know of another road leading to the
pass. Although it was evident that he could, if he chose, give the
information of which the Hellenes were in such pressing need, he
persisted in saying that there was no other road.

They threatened him with death if he continued obstinate, but it was of
no avail, and fearing lest the other Carduchian should be encouraged
to follow his example, they determined to show that they were not to
be trifled with. It was absolutely essential to find another road, the
fate of the whole army depended on it, and in order to strike terror
into the heart of the second man, they hanged his comrade before his
eyes.

This had the desired effect, and when the second Carduchian was
questioned, he said, ‘There is another road. My country-man would
not betray the secret, because his daughter lives near it, with her
husband. I am ready to show it to you, and you will find it passable
also for the baggage animals.’

In war, terrible things occur. For the sake of the general good it is
often necessary to be cruel. But still we cannot help regretting the
fate of the brave man who for the love of his daughter gave himself
over to death.

On further questioning the Carduchian, the generals discovered that the
road which he promised to show them was at one point commanded by a
peak already in possession of the enemy, who must be dislodged from it
before the road could be used. This would probably be an enterprise of
some risk, and the generals resorted to an expedient often used in war
to rouse enthusiasm for a difficult and dangerous undertaking,--namely
that of calling for volunteers.

About two thousand men at once offered their services, of whom some
were officers and others private soldiers. Having first eaten a good
meal, they set out, as soon as it began to get dark, in a storm of wind
and rain, guided by the Carduchian, whom they had put into chains, lest
he should desert them on the way.

It was arranged that the band of volunteers should dislodge the
Carduchians from the height commanding the second road, and remain
there during the night. At dawn they were to descend towards the pass
and begin the attack upon it, giving at the same time a signal with the
trumpets. On hearing the signal, a part of the army left below was to
ascend as rapidly as possible by the first road, and join them at the
pass.

In order to divert the attention of the enemy from the movements of the
two thousand, Xenophon set out at the same moment with the hoplites,
and made a feint of advancing up the first road leading to the pass.

Coming however to a narrow ravine between great boulders of rock,
he found the cliffs on either side crowded with Carduchians, who
had dragged to that place huge fragments of rock, besides stones
of all sizes, ready to be hurled down upon the Hellenes. The moment
the Carduchians caught sight of the approaching enemy, down crashed
the stone-storm, making the most appalling noise as the great pieces
of rock bounded from boulder to boulder, broke off into a thousand
splinters, and then thundered to the ground, burying themselves finally
deep in the earth.

Had the Hellenes entered the ravine, not one of them would have escaped
alive. But they had taken good care to keep well beyond the range of
the deadly hail, only, from time to time, one or other of the captains
would show himself from among the bushes on either side of the ravine,
as if he were looking for some other way of getting past.

When it had become so dark that they could no longer be seen by the
Carduchians, the Hellenes hastened back to the valley, where they were
glad enough to prepare their evening meal, for they had had no dinner
that day. All through the night they could hear the noise made by the
Carduchians, who were still on the alert, and who continued to pour
down volleys of stones and rock, lest their enemies should slip past
them in the darkness.

Meanwhile the two thousand volunteers had been led by their guide to a
place which they believed to be the peak commanding the second road.
There they found a number of Carduchians sitting comfortably round
their fires, and attacking them suddenly, they killed some and put the
rest to flight. Then they sat down and spent the remainder of the night
in front of the fires that had been kindled by the enemy, which, as it
was excessively cold, they looked upon as a piece of great good fortune.

At dawn they proceeded towards the pass, very cautiously and silently,
according to the instructions they had received, and under cover of
a thick mist, were able to come close up to the enemy unobserved.
Then the trumpets gave the signal that had been agreed upon, and the
Hellenes charged. The enemy saw that it was of no use to attempt to
maintain their position, and fled without a struggle, only a few of
them being killed.

This freed the road, up which Cheirisophus and his men were making
their way as fast as possible. It was excessively steep and narrow, and
in their eagerness to reach the top, many of the men climbed as best
they could over places where there was no path, drawing one another
up with the help of their spears. At last they reached the pass, and
joined the band of volunteers who were already in possession.

Two-thirds of the army had now reached the pass. But for the rest there
was still in store a long day of toil and fighting before they could
arrive at the same spot.

XXXI

A LONG DAY’S FIGHTING

Xenophon and his rear-guard of hoplites had undertaken the escort of
the transport animals, who had to be brought up to the pass by the
second, more circuitous road, because the first was too steep for them.
The animals were placed in the centre of the line, half the troops
marching in front of them, and half behind.

The rear had not proceeded far when they came in sight of a peak
overlooking the road, and discovered that it was occupied by the enemy.
The volunteers had indeed thought that they had freed the road by
driving the enemy from their camp-fires on the previous evening, but
this proved not to be the case.

Until the Carduchians could be ousted from the height, it would not
be safe for either troops or cattle to pass beneath, and Xenophon at
once told off some of his men for this service, with instructions to
make the attack in such a manner as to give the Carduchians ample
opportunity for running away. He did not want them to be forced to make
a desperate stand, for he was anxious not to be delayed by having to
stop and fight.

Accordingly a detachment of hoplites, headed by Xenophon himself, set
out to climb the hill. As they did so, they were exposed the whole
time to a constant volley of arrows and stones, discharged at them by
the Carduchians from above, but no sooner had they reached the top than
the Carduchians turned and fled, leaving the road below the peak free.

A new difficulty however now presented itself, for from this peak a
second came into sight, occupied just in the same manner. This would
have to be fought for as the first had been, and moreover it would
be necessary to leave a guard on the first peak to prevent the enemy
from returning to it. For the Carduchians were like a swarm of flies,
who can easily be driven away from the place where they have settled,
but who return just as quickly, the moment they are left alone again.
And Xenophon knew that he could not hope to get his line of men and
horses past the peak of which he had just taken possession, before the
Carduchians would have time to get back to it, for the road was so
narrow that they were obliged to go very slowly.

Accordingly he left three captains, with the men serving under them,
to guard the first peak, whilst he himself went forward towards the
second. This was captured with the same toil and the same success as
the first, but now a third came into view which had to be taken in like
manner. Xenophon accordingly set forward to attack it, but in this
case the task was easier than before, for the enemy abandoned the peak
before the Hellenes arrived at it, so that it could be climbed without
hindrance or danger.

So far all had gone well, but now from the rear came disastrous news.
The men left in charge of the first peak had been surprised and
defeated by the enemy, who had killed almost all of them, including
two out of the three captains. A few only had saved their lives by
making a desperate leap from the rocks into the road below.

There was nothing for it but to reconquer the peak which they had
thought already secured,--a terrible addition to the work of a day
already overcrowded with toils and risks which cost many a brave
soldier his life. Xenophon himself was at one time in great peril. In
climbing one of the mountains, his shield-bearer became so frightened
at the shower of stones and arrows pouring down from above, that he
turned and fled, taking the shield with him. Xenophon was thus left
unprotected, but happily one of the soldiers saw his danger, and
hastening to his side, held his own shield so as to cover both.

At last however the long march was over, and before nightfall, the
hoplites had rejoined their comrades at the pass, from whence they
soon reached some well-to-do mountain villages where there was food in
abundance, and where they could shelter themselves in comfortable huts.
Their loss that day had been very severe, and unhappily it had been
impossible to carry off the dead.

To repair such a misfortune, no sacrifice could be too great, and
accordingly Cheirisophus and Xenophon sent a herald to the Carduchians,
offering to restore the man who had acted as their guide, if the
Carduchians, on their part, would give up the bodies of the fallen
Hellenes. To this they agreed, and the Hellenes had the satisfaction of
burying their comrades with the customary rites.

It was however at no small cost that they had effected this exchange,
for by so doing they had lost the services of the only man who could
pilot them through this wild and unknown land. They were now without
a guide, and from the nature of the country, no extensive view could
anywhere be gained. They could but direct their course by the sun and
stars, and they decided to continue marching northwards towards the
source of the Tigris.

The next three days were spent in much the same manner as the last,
the Carduchians disputing every step of their march, and constantly
assailing them with shots and stones hurled from a higher level. But at
last, to their infinite joy, they came to the edge of the Carduchian
country, and could look down upon the broad plains of Armenia stretched
out before them.

They had only been seven days, in all, in the land of the Carduchians,
and yet, during that short time they had suffered so severely, that
all their previous encounters, both with the Great King and with
Tissaphernes, seemed in comparison but child’s play.

XXXII

THE CROSSING OF THE KENTRITES

The Persian province of Armenia was divided from the land of the
Carduchians by the river Kentrites. It was a fertile country, but for a
distance of nearly twenty miles from the river there were no villages
nor cultivated land, because the Armenians were determined that there
should be nothing to tempt their warlike neighbours, the Carduchians,
to enter their country in search of plunder.

The news that the Hellenes were approaching had reached them, and on
the further side of the river, Persian cavalry were already keeping
guard along the shore. Infantry also were posted beyond, in the more
hilly part of the country. Notwithstanding this, however, since there
was no way of getting round the river, the Hellenes were determined, if
possible, to wade through it, in defiance of the Persian troops.

But on stepping into the river, they found that the water was breast
deep, and that the stream had a very rapid current, which swept to one
side the great shields they carried to protect them in front, so that
they were exposed to the arrows and darts of the enemy. They could
indeed, by lifting the shields out of the water and holding them above
their heads, protect themselves to some extent, but not sufficiently
to be out of danger. Besides this, the ground at the bottom of the
river was strewn with great stones, so slippery that they could not
get any certain footing, and were in constant danger of falling. And
in addition to everything else, they now perceived, at the edge of
the mountainous country which they had just quitted, a band of armed
Carduchians, who were evidently only waiting for the moment when they
should be occupied in crossing the river, to come and attack them in
the rear.

The position was most embarrassing, and they could not tell what to do
for the best. Being urgently in need of rest, they resolved to remain
where they were for that day, and encamp at night in the same place as
on the previous evening. The Carduchians continued at their post until
dark, and then retreated to their nearest villages.

That night Xenophon had a dream. He thought that he was bound with
fetters, but suddenly the fetters fell off, and he could move his limbs
freely. Thereupon he awoke, with the firm conviction that the dream had
been sent from the gods, to signify that they would provide a way of
escape from the present difficulty.

Early in the morning he went to Cheirisophus to tell him of the dream,
and of his interpretation of it, and both generals agreed to have
sacrifices offered, that by means of the omens they might know yet
more surely the will of the gods. At the very first, the omens were
favourable, and now they felt certain that the gods would not fail to
work out their deliverance, though how it was to be accomplished they
did not as yet know.

They had not however long to wait, for whilst they were still eating
their breakfast, two young soldiers came running into the camp to tell
the generals of a discovery that they had made.

‘We were looking for fuel,’ they said, ‘a good way up the stream, when
we saw a man, a woman, and two girls, who seemed to be entering a cave
among the rocks. So we tried the water in that place, and found that it
flows much more quietly than here, and we went right over to the other
side, for the country there is hilly, so that we were protected from
the enemy’s cavalry, and nowhere did the water come above our waists.’

This was indeed welcome news, and the generals believed that it had
been sent to them by the gods. In token of thankfulness they at once
offered as a libation the wine of which they had been drinking, pouring
it out upon the ground. And for each of the two youths they filled also
a cup of wine, that they too might pour it out to the gods, and be
thankful.

The other generals were summoned, and all took counsel together as
to the arrangements to be made for crossing the river with the least
possible loss, in spite of the enemy in front and the enemy in the
rear. For with the morning light, the Carduchians had returned to their
post on the high ground that formed the fringe of their country.

After some consideration the generals decided upon a plan. Guided
by the two youths, the whole Hellene army marched up the river bank
towards the ford, which was about half a mile from the place where
they had pitched their camp. Seeing this, the Persian horsemen took the
same course, and made a similar progress on the opposite bank of the
river.

When the Hellenes reached the ford, the priests offered a sacrifice to
the god of the river, then all joined in singing the pæan, or hymn of
praise to the gods, and with a mighty shout, Cheirisophus and the van
stepped into the stream.

But meanwhile Xenophon and his men hurried back as fast as possible to
the former place, as if they intended crossing there; and this movement
had the effect that had been aimed at by the generals in making their
plan. For when the Persian cavalry saw that Cheirisophus was in the act
of crossing above, and that Xenophon, as they supposed, was about to
cross below, they were seized with panic, and fearing lest they should
be shut in between the two divisions of the Hellene army, they urged
their horses into a gallop, and fled away as fast as they could.

By this means Cheirisophus and the van crossed the river without
hindrance, and they marched straight to the high ground where the
Persian infantry were posted. The infantry however made no better stand
than the other troops, for when they saw that the cavalry had fled,
they followed the example of their comrades, and ran away also.

The camp-followers and the baggage animals had crossed the river behind
Cheirisophus, and now, on the hither side of the Kentrites, there only
remained the rear-guard commanded by Xenophon.

[Illustration: HOPLITE SINGING THE PÆAN.]

To enable these remaining troops to cross in safety was the last,
and by no means the easiest task of the day. For the Carduchians
were still behind, only waiting for the moment when they could most
effectively fall upon them. Until the greater part of the men were in
the water, they did not venture down from their mountains, but as soon
as they saw that comparatively few of them were left on the bank, they
dashed forward, as if they wished to teach the Hellenes the truth of
the proverb that the last man is bitten by the dog.

But Xenophon was prepared to receive them. Before taking any notice,
he allowed them to come almost within close quarters. Their arrows
were even whirring already through the air when he gave a signal with
the trumpet. Then the hoplites turned suddenly, and charged with rapid
step, shouting the Hellene war-cry.

The Carduchians fled back into shelter as fast as they could, for they
knew well that except in their own mountains they were no match for
the Hellene troops. Once more the trumpet sounded, and the Carduchians
fled yet faster than before, but Xenophon had previously given secret
instructions to the men, that when they heard the second signal for
attack, instead of obeying it they should turn back and hasten across
the river as quickly as possible. This they did, and thus the crossing
of the Kentrites, which in the beginning had seemed almost impossible,
was accomplished by the Hellenes with little or no loss.

XXXIII

THE SATRAP TIRIBAZUS

The Hellenes were now in Armenia. In this country there were no
dangerous mountains, such as those they had just left, but here they
had to contend against difficulties of another kind. The greater part
of the country was 5,000 feet above the sea level, and in consequence
of this, the winters were very long and cold, and the summers very
short. In June the corn began to sprout. In September the harvest was
gathered, and then the winter set in. It was now December, and the
Hellenes were soon to experience the intense cold of an Armenian winter.

After crossing the Kentrites, they marched for a distance of a hundred
and twenty miles over level country, without encountering any enemy.
These marches occupied six days, and it mostly chanced that in the
evening they found themselves near villages where they could shelter
for the night.

On the seventh day there came to meet them a troop of horsemen,
commanded by the satrap Tiribazus, who stood high in the favour of the
Great King, and enjoyed the privilege, when he was at court, of helping
the sovereign to mount on horseback.

He rode forward towards the Hellene army, and demanded speech of the
generals, announcing that he was desirous of entering into a treaty
with them. They were to promise that they would neither burn the
villages nor do violence to the inhabitants, but they were at liberty
to take any provisions that they might require; and he, for his part,
would undertake not to molest them in any way.

[Illustration: A SATRAP RECEIVING DEPUTIES.]

This was all that could be desired, and the generals agreed to conclude
the treaty on the terms proposed. But their previous experience of the
Persians had not been such as to induce them to place much confidence
in any promises they might make, and they judged that it was best,
notwithstanding the treaty, to remain on their guard. Tiribazus
followed their march at the distance of rather more than a mile.

During the night that followed, the Hellenes were encamped beneath
the open sky, when they were overtaken by the first fall of snow.
The next day there was nothing to be seen of Tiribazus, and thinking
that the deep snow would prevent him from attempting any surprise,
they ventured, when night came on, to take up their quarters in some
villages which they had reached.

In the morning however, some of the soldiers who had strayed to a
distance the previous night, reported that they had seen a great number
of fires in the neighbourhood, which seemed to show that the army of
Tiribazus was not far off. The generals decided therefore that it was
too unsafe to break up the army by allowing the soldiers to scatter
themselves over various villages, and on the next night again camped
out in the open, where all could be together.

But again the snow came down, and this time more heavily than before,
burying as if in a grave, both the men and their stacks of weapons. The
frost too was very severe, and the transport horses were so benumbed
that they could hardly raise their limbs from the ground. The soldiers
remained lying beneath the snow, for they found it warmer to be thus
covered up, as if with a soft blanket, but Xenophon roused himself,
and taking an axe, began to cut wood, partly for the sake of getting
warm, partly in order to make a fire. Then some of the men followed his
example, and soon they had a number of fires blazing.

After a night of such severity, the generals were afraid to risk
spending another in the open air, and decided that at all hazards they
must take shelter the next evening in the villages. They determined
however to send out a small band of men, under cover of the darkness,
to search in the direction in which the soldiers had stated that they
had seen the fires burning.

No fires could be discovered, but the soldiers came upon a man carrying
a battle-axe, and a Persian bow and quiver. When they asked him who he
was, and where he came from, the man replied that he was a Persian,
and had come from the army of Tiribazus to seek for food. Then they
questioned him further as to the size of the army, and the purpose for
which it had been assembled, and ascertained from his answers that the
satrap was keeping a little in advance of the Hellenes in order to
seize a pass in the mountains that they were now approaching, before
they should reach it.

There could be no doubt that the Barbarians were intending to play the
same treacherous game as before. It was well for the Hellenes that
they had not trusted them. The soldiers returned, taking with them the
Persian they had captured, and brought him into the presence of the
generals, who again questioned him. Having satisfied themselves that he
was speaking the truth, they resolved to be beforehand with Tiribazus,
and detailed a part of the army to set out at once under the guidance
of the prisoner towards the place where the Barbarians had pitched
their camp, not far from the pass.

As they were going over one of the mountains, the archers and slingers
who marched in front, caught sight of the camp, and without waiting
for the hoplites, rushed forward with a loud cry, which so frightened
the Barbarians that they immediately fled in the most disgraceful
manner,--just as when the lion opens his mouth and roars, all the
lesser animals run away in fear and trembling.

Few of the Barbarians were killed, but the Hellenes captured twenty
horses, and the magnificent tent of the satrap, in which were found
richly wrought drinking vessels, and couches with silver feet. The
bakers and cup-bearers of the satrap were also taken prisoners.

After this, the Hellenes returned with all speed to their comrades, and
the whole army hastened forward to secure the pass before the enemy
should have time to recover from their alarm. This they accomplished
successfully on the following day.

Three more marches brought them to the Euphrates, but as the river was
in this part of the country near its source they were able to ford it
without difficulty, for the water did not reach higher than the middle
of their bodies.

XXXIV

AN ARMENIAN WINTER

But now the Hellenes were brought face to face with a new difficulty.
The winter had by this time set in, and the whole country was buried
in snow. All around in every direction, as far as the eye could reach,
was one vast stretch of snow, many feet in depth, and through this the
Hellenes had to make their way. Any one who has tried to walk for even
a quarter of an hour through snow into which he cannot help sinking
above the knee at every step he takes, may imagine how tiring and
painful it must have been to march thus for a whole day. Many of the
slaves and horses perished, and also thirty of the soldiers.

On the third day after crossing the Euphrates, their sufferings
were still further increased by a north-wind, whose bitter blast
was torture, even to the stalwart Hellenes. One of the soothsayers
suggested that a sacrifice should be offered to Boreas, the god of the
north-wind, and when this had been accomplished, it seemed to them all
that his fury abated to some extent.

When night came on, the Hellenes had to encamp in the snow. Those who
first reached the camping-place found plenty of food, and soon had
some big fires burning, round which the stragglers were glad enough
to press as soon as they arrived; but the first-comers would only make
room for them on condition of their giving them some of their bread,
or anything else that they might have to eat, for food was now getting
scarce. As the snow melted beneath the fires, the soldiers could
measure its depth, and they found that it was no less than six feet.

All the next day, the Hellenes had to plough their way through this
terrible snow, and many became so faint and ill that they threw
themselves down upon the ground, unable to move. When Xenophon, with
the rear-guard, came up to the place, and saw them lying there in such
misery, he asked his men if there was nothing that could be done for
them. One of the older soldiers answered that the poor fellows were
merely suffering from exhaustion caused by fatigue and want of food,
and that if they could get something to eat, they would be able to
march on again. Xenophon went himself to the transport to get what he
could for them, and when the sick soldiers had taken some food, they
revived, and were able to keep up with their comrades.

In the evening, Cheirisophus and the van reached a village which had
a wall round it, and a gate that could be shut at night. When they
arrived, they found some women and children drawing water at a well
outside the village, who asked Cheirisophus where he came from. He
answered that he was on his way from the King to the satrap; and they
told him that the satrap was not in the village, but at a place about
four miles off. The women then went home, and the Hellenes of the van
went with them through the gate, and took up their quarters in the
village for the night.

But the other soldiers, who were a long way behind, had to spend the
night in the open air, with little or nothing to eat, and several of
them died of cold and hunger. When, on the next day, they continued
their march, some of those who had suffered most discovered a sheltered
place where there was a warm spring, that had not been frozen over, nor
covered up with snow. In a moment they threw themselves upon the warm
black earth round the spring, and there they lay enjoying the hot steam
that rose from it, when Xenophon, who always brought up the rear, came
to the place and found them there. He told the men that they must not
linger, as the enemy were close behind; and finding that mild words
were of no avail, he spoke more and more sharply, and even beat some of
them. But the men would not move. They said that if they must be killed
they were ready to die, but they could not go a step farther.

Meanwhile the Persians were coming nearer and nearer. They had not
failed to profit by the distress of the Hellenes, and had captured the
fallen baggage animals, who had been left lying in the snow. Now they
were disputing over their prize with great clamour, as they approached
the spring.

Xenophon ordered some of the least exhausted of his hoplites to charge,
and drive them back; and the sick men at the spring helped by shouting
with all their might, and striking their spears against their shields.
The enemy were soon routed, and fled as fast as they could, but were
hindered by the snow. Xenophon then marched on, but before leaving the
sick men, he promised that as soon as possible, he would send some of
their comrades to fetch them.

That night, he again had to encamp with his men in the open, without
either food or fire. When it was nearly morning, he sent some of his
youngest soldiers back to the spring to fetch the sick men who had
been left there the day before, and bring them on their way. Many had
died during the night, and for these there was nothing to be done but
to bury them where they lay; but others who were still living, though
unable to walk, had to be carried by their comrades.

Going to see whether the men were performing their task faithfully,
Xenophon was just in time to prevent a most barbarous action. One of
the soldiers was digging a grave for a comrade who lay beside him, but
as he watched him, Xenophon saw the dead man move, and called out to
the soldier, ‘He is still alive.’ But the man answered, ‘He may have
ten lives as far as I am concerned. I will not drag him any farther.’
And it was only after having been well beaten that he consented to take
up his burden again.

Up to this time, the Hellenes had preserved their courage through all
the difficulties and privations to which they had been exposed, or if
for a moment their spirits had flagged, they had quickly recovered
themselves. But now the trial of excessive cold seemed to have robbed
many of them of all manliness.

It must be remembered that extreme cold has an exceptionally enervating
effect, even upon men accustomed to it. But in this case, the sons of a
country where frost and snow are unknown except in the mildest form,
found themselves suddenly exposed to the terrible cold of the high
Asiatic table-land in the month of December.

Moreover they were absolutely unprovided with clothing suitable for
such weather. The Hellene soldier wore but one garment, and besides
this had nothing whatever to protect him except that some of them,
though by no means all, carried a great square of woollen cloth which
they used as a cloak. We may rather wonder that so many kept up their
spirits throughout this terrible march, than that the courage of some
should have failed.

XXXV

ARMENIAN VILLAGES

At last, all who were still alive of the sick men were brought away
from the spring, and before nightfall, the rear-guard reached the
village which had been already occupied for two nights by the van. Near
it were other villages, and the various companies drew lots for their
respective quarters. Here they were able to rest in comfort after the
privations of the last few days.

The dwellings in this part of the country were made in a fashion that
was quite new to the Hellenes. Instead of being built upon the ground,
they were dug out of it, and had, for entrance, an opening like the
mouth of a well, which widened out below into a large room, inhabited
by the owner and his whole family, together with his goats, his sheep,
his cattle, and his fowls. There were two ways of reaching it, a ladder
for the human beings, and a slope of earth for the animals. Such
dwellings are still common in Armenia, among the poorer classes, and
like the cellars in which we keep our wine, they are cooler in summer
and warmer in winter than the air outside.

The houses in which the Hellenes took up their quarters were well
stocked with food, and the hospitable villagers set before them maize
and barley and other kinds of corn, as much as they desired. They had
also a kind of barley beer, made with whole corns floating in it, which
they drank through hollow reeds, so that the corns should not choke
them. When they wished to drink a toast to the health of one of their
guests, they filled a great bowl with wine, and bending over it, lapped
it up, as an ox drinks out of a pail. Then it was the turn of the
guest, and he was expected to answer the toast by drinking to his host
in the same manner.

On the day after his arrival, Xenophon visited in turn all the
villages, and found the soldiers everywhere feasting and enjoying
themselves. The friendly villagers had made them most welcome, and when
Xenophon arrived, they loaded the tables with flesh of lambs, kids,
calves and swine, besides fowls, and bread both of maize and barley.

It happened that this was the season for sending the yearly tribute of
horses required by the Great King from the province of Armenia, where
the horses were smaller than those of Persia, but far more spirited.
Finding in the villages a number of horses destined for this purpose,
Xenophon did not hesitate to take one for his own use, and he advised
the other officers to follow his example. The head-man of the village
was a priest of the sun-god, and to him Xenophon gave the horse who had
faithfully carried him through so many dangers, but who was now quite
worn out and unable to go any farther, that he might be rested and well
fed, and then offered as a sacrifice to the sun-god.

[Illustration: RUINS OF PERSEPOLIS: GATE OF XERXES.]

Xenophon was on very friendly terms with the head-man, and always
invited him to dine with him at the same table. He had assured him
that no harm would come to him, and that the Hellenes would pay for
whatever they took, if he, for his part, would help them on their
way, by acting as their guide till they came to the next country. The
man agreed to this, and as further proof of friendship, showed the
Hellenes the place where a great store of wine had been buried. The
conversation between Xenophon and the head-man was carried on through
an interpreter, but the soldiers had to make themselves understood as
best they could by means of signs and gestures.

For eight days the Hellenes rested in the villages in order that they
might thoroughly recover themselves before going farther. On the ninth
day they again set out, and by the advice of the head-man, tied up
their horses’ hoofs in little bags of leather, so as to give them a
larger surface to tread upon, and thus prevent them from sinking as
deeply into the snow as before.

Cheirisophus as usual led the van, and with him went the head-man who
was to act as guide. It was not thought necessary to bind him, as they
had bound the Carduchian guide, for they had perfect confidence in him,
and felt sure that he would not desert them.

But after marching for three days without coming to any villages
in which they could shelter, Cheirisophus reproached the guide, on
the third evening, for bringing them by such a bad way. The man
answered that in that part of the country there were no villages, but
Cheirisophus did not believe him, and getting more and more angry, he
ended by striking him. The next morning the guide was nowhere to be
found.

In consequence of this misadventure, there arose a quarrel between
the two generals, the first and last in the whole course of the march.
Xenophon became very angry, and said that Cheirisophus had committed
two unpardonable blunders, first in striking the poor man who was doing
his best for them, and secondly in that after having ill-used him in
this manner, he had not taken the precaution of putting him into chains
in order to prevent his running away.

The Hellenes had to suffer for the imprudence of Cheirisophus, for
now they were again without a guide. Nevertheless they made their way
onwards as best they could, and on the eighth day came in sight of the
mountain range which forms the northern boundary of Armenia.

XXXVI

THE TAOCHIANS

The country north of Armenia was inhabited by the Taochians, a warlike
and independent tribe, who soon made it clear that they were by no
means disposed to welcome the intruding strangers.

On approaching the border of Armenia, the Hellenes saw before them, at
a distance of about three miles, a mountain range stretching away both
to the left and right. The generals halted, and brought up the troops
in line, whilst waiting for the return of the spies, who had been sent
on in front to find out whether there was any road leading over the
ridge. When the spies returned, they reported that the only road led to
a narrow pass, already occupied by the Taochians.

It was evident that they would not be suffered to cross the mountains
without a struggle, and Cheirisophus gave orders that the men should at
once take their dinner, during which time the generals were asked to
discuss whether they should attack the pass immediately, or wait till
the next day. One of the generals, named Cleanor, had quickly made up
his mind, and was the first to speak. ‘It is well,’ he said, ‘that the
soldiers should begin by making a good meal, but this done, we must
attack the enemy without delay. If we wait till to-morrow, they will
think we are afraid of them, their spirits will rise, and many more of
their friends will join them.’

But Xenophon was of a different opinion. ‘It is of the first
importance,’ he said, ‘that we should lose as few men as possible in
seizing the pass. The mountains stretch away to a distance of more than
six miles, and no part of the range appears to be guarded except the
road leading to the pass. It seems to me that it would be better for us
to find a way over the unguarded part, instead of attacking the enemy
in their favourable position.

‘For it is more easy to ascend by a steep road, if unhindered, than by
a level road that is contested, and more possible to see in the night,
if there is nothing to distract us, than in the day time, if there
are enemies all around. Moreover the rough road is better, if we are
left in peace, than the smooth road, if stones are continually falling
about our heads. We can steal a way for ourselves under cover of the
darkness at such a distance from the enemy that they will not hear us,
especially if some of us divert their attention by advancing towards
the pass as if we were going to attack it.

‘But when I speak of stealing,’ he continued in a jesting tone, turning
to Cheirisophus, ‘ye Spartans, as I have heard, are accustomed to
steal from your infancy. With you it is considered an honour to steal
successfully, but in order that you may learn to be skilful, he who is
caught is scourged. Now you can give proof of the excellent training
you have received. Help us to steal our way so cleverly that we shall
not be caught and punished.’

Cheirisophus took the jest in good part, and replied in the same
tone. ‘You also,’ he said, ‘ye men of Athens, have some experience
in stealing, for I hear that notwithstanding the risk of severe
punishment, you know how to steal the treasures of the state, and the
greatest robbers are those distinguished persons who hold the highest
offices. For you too, therefore, there is now a chance of showing how
well you can turn to account the lessons which you have learnt at home.’

The plan proposed by Xenophon was adopted, and it was agreed that
certain of the troops should climb the mountain, and that others should
advance along the road to the pass. The Hellenes were happily provided
with guides who knew the country, for on the march they had captured
some marauders who had followed at a little distance, hoping to find
a favourable opportunity for stealing a few cattle. The prisoners had
already been questioned, and had said that the mountains were not
impassable, but were used as grazing ground for both goats and cattle,
and that if the Hellenes had command of any part of the ridge, they
would be able to take the baggage animals over it without difficulty.

Dinner being ended, Cheirisophus led the army towards the pass occupied
by the enemy, but halted at the distance of a mile from the mountains.
When it was dark, the troops who were to climb over the heights,
marched away in the utmost silence. All went well, the soldiers met
with no hindrance, and having reached the top of the ridge, kindled a
fire according to agreement, as a signal to those below that they had
accomplished their task.

The fire was seen also by the Taochians, who now perceived that they
were in danger of being assailed on both sides, and they also lighted
fires as a signal to their comrades to come to their help.

In the morning, Cheirisophus pressed forward along the road leading
to the pass, and at the same time, the other troops appeared upon the
heights, and began to make their way to the same place. The Taochians
divided their men into two companies, the greater number remaining at
the pass, whilst a smaller band marched out to meet the enemy on the
ridge. Here the first engagement took place, and the Hellenes soon
defeated the Taochians, and put them to flight. Meanwhile Cheirisophus
was rapidly approaching at the head of the hoplites, having sent on
the archers and slingers in advance, and when the Taochians at the
pass saw that their friends had been defeated on the ridge, they also
turned and fled, so that the pass was won almost without fighting. As a
remembrance of their victory, the Hellenes raised upon the mountain a
trophy, made of stones piled one upon another, and decorated with the
shields and arms taken from the Taochians.

From hence they marched for five days through a level country, where
they met with no resistance. But now provisions again began to fail.
There was no lack of food in the country, but the Taochians had taken
care to store everything within their castles, which were strong,
fortified places, always perched on the top of some rugged height. The
Hellenes did not think it prudent to attack these castles, and in spite
of their hunger, were forced to pass them by.

On the sixth day however they came to a fortress which they were
obliged to attack, for they were quite without food. It was built upon
the edge of an overhanging cliff and beneath it was a river, and a
road running beside the river. In this fortress all the men, women
and children of the neighbourhood had assembled, together with their
cattle, and had piled together great heaps of stones to hurl down upon
the Hellenes.

Having tried in vain to find some means of taking the place,
Cheirisophus called a halt, and waited until Xenophon came up.
In answer to his question as to why they were at a standstill,
Cheirisophus replied, ‘The only approach to this place is by the road
under the cliff, and the moment we attempt to pass, they hurl down
stones upon us from above of which this is the result,’ and he pointed
to some poor fellows lying on the ground whose legs and ribs had been
broken.

As usual, Xenophon had something to suggest. ‘It seems to me,’ he said,
‘that there are not many of them up there, and that it will not take
long to exhaust their supply of stones.’ And then, having carefully
examined the place, he added, ‘The dangerous piece of road is about
a hundred and fifty feet in length, of which two-thirds is covered
with great pine trees, not very far apart. One, or at the most two
leaps, will take us from the shelter of one group of pine trees to the
next, and then, when the stones begin to fail, we must run as fast as
possible over the last fifty feet of open ground.’

About seventy men were entrusted with the task of freeing the approach
to the fortress, and one of them hit upon a clever device for bringing
down the stones as fast as possible. From beneath the shelter of a pine
tree, he ran a step or two forward to attract the attention of the
enemy, who at once hurled all their biggest stones at the place, but
before they could touch him, he was back under the shelter of his tree.
He did this so often that at last there was quite a heap of stones
lying in front of him, but he himself was untouched.

The other men followed his example, and made it a sort of game,
enjoying the sensation, pleasant alike to old and young, of courting
danger for a moment, and then quickly escaping it. When the stones were
almost exhausted, the soldiers raced one another over the exposed part
of the road, each eager to be the first to reach the fortress. The
Taochians made no further resistance, but, fearing the vengeance of the
Hellenes, men, women and children flung themselves over the edge of the
cliff and were dashed to pieces.

One of the soldiers, seeing a Taochian who appeared to be better
dressed than the rest, about to throw himself over the precipice, ran
up to him and tried to pull him back, but the Taochian grasped him in
his strong arms and dragged him forward with him over the edge, so that
both perished together.

The Hellenes took few prisoners, but much spoil, cattle and asses in
abundance, and whole flocks of sheep.

XXXVII

THE SEA! THE SEA!

The next country through which the Hellenes had to make their way
was inhabited by the Chalybeans, who like the Taochians, were a free
people, not subject to the Great King. In their country were iron mines
which they had worked from the most ancient times, and they knew how to
smelt the iron and make it into steel.

When they went out to fight, the Chalybeans wore a cuirass made of many
folds of linen, with a thick fringe at the bottom, of twisted cords.
They wore also greaves and helmet, and carried a spear twenty-two feet
in length, and a short curved sword, with which they cut off the heads
of their fallen enemies. These they carried about, singing and dancing,
and displayed them to the foe with horrible delight.

Like the Taochians, the Chalybeans were possessed of strong castles,
to which they had carried off all the food in the country, and the
Hellenes would have fared badly but for the cattle which they had
recently taken from the Taochians.

It was not the custom of the Chalybeans to meet their enemies in the
open field, and they contented themselves with harassing the Hellenes
whenever they could do so at an advantage, although if their castles
had been attacked, they would have defended them with the utmost
bravery. As it was, the Hellenes suffered considerable loss during the
seven days that they spent in passing through this country, and at the
end of the whole march, Xenophon declared that the Chalybeans were the
most warlike of all the many tribes with whom they had exchanged blows
in Asia.

After leaving their country, the Hellenes marched for four days through
the land of the Scythinians, until they came to some villages where
they rested for three days, and took in a fresh supply of food.

From thence, four more marches brought them to the rich and populous
city of Gymnias, which derived its wealth mainly from the produce of a
silver mine. It was the first city the Hellenes had seen for many long
weeks, and here they met with the agreeable surprise of being received
as friends. The governor paid them, unasked, the most welcome of all
attentions in sending them a guide, who undertook to bring them, within
five days, to a mountain from whence they could look down upon the
Black Sea. At hearing this promise the hearts of the Ten Thousand leapt
for joy, for hitherto they had been marching on and on without in the
least knowing how many more weary miles yet lay between them and the
sea.

But first the guide led them through a country of which the inhabitants
were at feud with the city of Gymnias, and desired them to lay waste
the land with fire and sword. It then appeared that the governor of
Gymnias had received them so kindly because he hoped to make use of
them. The Hellenes rendered him the service he required, and ravaged
the country, taking abundance of spoil.

Soon afterwards they came to the mountain of which the guide had
spoken, and began to ascend it. Suddenly Xenophon and the rear heard
a cry from the van, who had now reached the top, and the cry swelled
louder and louder as rank after rank came up to the place. Thinking
that there must be some unexpected attack, Xenophon urged on his horse,
and galloped forward to see what was the matter.

But as he came nearer, he perceived that it was no war-cry, but a
shout of joy. ‘Thalatta! Thalatta!’ was the cry, ‘The sea! The sea!’
And there, on the distant horizon, glittering in the sunlight, was a
narrow, silver streak, the long-looked-for goal of all their hopes.

The soldiers burst into tears of joy, poured forth congratulations
one to the other, threw themselves into the arms of their comrades
and their officers. Then some one suggested that they should raise a
trophy to commemorate the occasion, and all ran to get stones. These
they piled one upon another, and covered them with skins of animals for
decoration, and with shields which they had taken as spoil from the
enemy.

The guide had kept his word, and was generously rewarded, for out of
their poverty, the Hellenes presented him with a horse, a silver cup, a
Persian dress, and ten darics, equal to about ten guineas of our money.
He begged moreover for some of the rings that the soldiers wore on
their fingers, and a good many were given to him.

The Hellenes loved the sea as the Swiss love their Alps. Hardly
anywhere is there a country so sea-girt as Hellas. A glance at the map
will show the numberless bays and inlets by which the sea makes its way
to all parts of the country. Almost every Hellene had been born within
reach of the fresh salt breeze, had been familiar with the sea from his
childhood, had sailed over it in all directions, and was accustomed to
cherish for it the same sort of feeling as for that which he regarded
as the greatest of all blessings, namely freedom.

Now the sea was actually in sight, and a few more marches would
bring the weary soldiers to the Hellene colonies which lay scattered
all along its coast. There they would hear once more their own
mother-tongue, and be again among friends, among men of their own race,
whose help they could count upon in case of need.

For the last five months, ever since the battle of Cunaxa, they had
been engaged in a desperate struggle with difficulties of every kind,
surrounded on all sides by enemies of foreign race and alien tongue.
Now they saw before them the end of all their toils.

[Illustration: RUINS OF PERSEPOLIS: GATEWAY WITH WINGED BULLS]

XXXVIII

THE MACRONIANS AND THE COLCHIANS

Before parting from the Hellenes, the guide showed them a village where
they could rest for the night, and pointed out a road that led to the
country of the Macronians, through which they must next pass. Then he
took leave of them, and returned to his own people.

The country of the Macronians was bounded by a river, whose banks
were lined with trees, not large, but growing close together, and the
Hellenes set to work to cut down the trees, that they might throw
them into the river and so cross the more easily. Soon however there
appeared on the opposite bank a number of Macronians armed with spears
and shields, who began throwing stones at the Hellenes, although they
could not reach far enough to hit them.

Just then one of the soldiers went up to Xenophon and said, ‘When I was
quite a child, I was taken to Athens and sold as a slave, and I could
never discover who were my parents, nor to what race they belonged. But
now I hear the tongue which I remember to have spoken as a child. These
must be my countrymen. May I speak with them?’

‘By all means,’ answered Xenophon. ‘Ask them why they come out against
us, and seek to stop our way.’

The soldier translated this question, and soon reported the answer,
‘Because ye come as invaders into our country.’

‘Tell them,’ said Xenophon, ‘that we have been at war with the Great
King, and that we are now returning to our home, and only wish to reach
the sea as quickly as possible. Say also that we will not do them any
harm.’

The Macronians then asked if the Hellenes would make a treaty with
them, and give pledges to deal with them as with friends, and when the
generals had agreed to this, they came through the water to the other
side. The gods were called to witness, and as a pledge of friendship,
the Macronians gave to the Hellenes a Barbarian spear, and received
from them in return a Hellene spear.

After this the Macronians set to work to help the Hellenes in cutting
down trees to make a bridge, and re-crossed the river with their new
friends. They also brought barley and other food for sale, and at
parting supplied them with a guide to take them on to the next country,
which was inhabited by the Colchians.

In three days the Hellenes came to a chain of mountains already
occupied by the Colchians, who were drawn up against them in battle
array. The mountains were not too steep to be scaled, and the Hellenes
halted and took counsel as to how they could best make the attack.

It was at first proposed to advance in the form of a phalanx, that is
to say in long lines, each close behind the next, but Xenophon thought
there were many objections to this plan. ‘A phalanx,’ he said, ‘would
be liable to fall out of line in climbing the mountain, for in some
places we shall find the road good, and in other places bad. Moreover
if the phalanx is at all deep, the lines will not extend far enough to
outflank the enemy, and in that case they will be able to attack us at
the wings or in the rear. And on the other hand, if we extend our lines
far enough to obviate that danger, the phalanx will be shallow, and
easily broken through.

‘My advice is that we divide the hoplites into separate companies of a
hundred men each, and let them ascend in column, leaving spaces between
the columns, so that they may extend beyond the enemy’s line. The
bravest man in each company must head the column, and lead it up the
mountain by the best path he can find. The Colchians will not venture
to charge, for if they were to press in between the columns, they would
be surrounded by enemies on both sides.’

This plan was agreed upon, and the hoplites were formed into eighty
companies of a hundred men each, while the light-armed troops were
divided into three detachments of about six hundred men each, and
posted in the centre and at the two wings. Before advancing to the
battle, Xenophon addressed the troops in a soldier-like speech, short,
and to the point. ‘Comrades,’ he said, ‘these are the last enemies
that stand in our path. Let us eat them up alive, if we can, without
cooking.’

Having prayed and sung the battle-hymn, the Hellenes advanced bravely
up the mountain to meet the Colchians, who seeing that they were
outflanked, drew out their line to the right and left, leaving a gap
in the centre, of which the Hellenes were not slow to take advantage.
With a great shout they pressed forward to occupy the vacant space, and
when the Colchians saw that the two wings of their army were cut off
one from the other, they betook themselves to flight.

The Hellenes then crossed the mountain-range, and came, on the further