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.