Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/133

EXTREME DELIGHT OF THE SOLDIERS. m have a view of the sea. This was by no means their nearest way to the sea, for the chief of Gymnias wished to send them through the territory of some neighbors to whom he was hostile ; which territory, as soon as they reached it, the guide desired them to burn and destroy. However, the promise was kept, and on the fifth day, marching still apparently through the territory of the Skythini, they reached the summit of a mountain called Theches, from whence the Euxine Sea was visible. 1 An animated shout from the soldiers who formed the van-guard testified the impressive effect of this long-deferred spectacle, as- suring as it seemed to do, their safety and their return home. To Xenophon and to the rear-guard, engaged in repelling the at- tack of natives who had come forward to revenge the plunder of their territory, the shout was unintelligible. They at first im- agined that the natives had commenced attack in front as well as in the rear, and that the van-guard was engaged in battle. But every moment the shout became louder, as fresh men came to the summit and gave vent to their feelings ; so that Xenophon grew anxious, and galloped up to the van with his handful of cavalry to see what had happened. As he approached, the voice of the overjoyed crowd was heard distinctly crying out, Thalatta, Tha- latta (The sea, the sea), and congratulating each other in ecstasy. The main body, the rear-guard, the baggage-soldiers driving up their horses and cattle before them, became all excited by the sound, and hurried up breathless to the summit. The whole army, officers and soldiers, were thus assembled, manifesting their joy- ous emotions by tears, embraces, and outpourings of enthusiastic sympathy. With spontaneous impulse they heaped up stones to decorate the spot by a monument and commemorative trophy ; put- ting on the stones such homely offerings as their means afforded, sticks, hides, and a few of the wicker shields just taken from the natives. To the guide, who had performed his engagement of bringing them in five days within sight of the sea, their grati- tude was unbounded. They presented him with a horse, a silver bowl, a Persian costume, and ten darics in money ; beside: seve- Diodorus (xiv, 29) calls the mountain XTJVOIV Chenium. He seenii to have had Xenoplon before him in his brief description of this interest- ing scene.