Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/117

PROPOSAL OF ARLEUS FOR RETREAT. 95 Determining to fight their way across these difficult mountains into Armenia, but refraining from any public announcement, for fear that the passes should be occupied beforehand, the gene- rals sacrificed forthwith, in order that they might be ready for breaking up at a moment's notice. They then began then: march a little after midnight, so that soon after daybreak they reached the first of the Karduchian mountain-passes, which they found undefended. Cheirisophus, with his front division and all the light troops, made haste to ascend the pass, and having got over the first mountain, descended on the other side to some villages in the valley or nooks beneath ; while Xenophon with the heavy- armed and the baggage, followed at a slower pace, not reaching the villages until dark, as the road was both steep and narrow. The Karduchians, taken completely by surprise, abandoned the villages as the Greeks approached, and took refuge on the moun- tains ; leaving to the intruders plenty of provisions, comfortable houses, and especially, abundance of copper vessels. At first the Greeks were careful to do no damage, trying to invite the natives to amicable colloquy. But none of the latter would come near, and at length necessity drove the Greeks to take what was neces- sary for refreshment. It was just when Xenophon and the rear guard were coming in at night, that some few Karduchians first set upon them ; by surprise and with considerable success, so that if their numbers had been greater, serious mischief might have ensued. 1 Many fires were discovered burning on the mountains, an earnest of resistance during the next day; which satisfied the Greek generals that they must lighten the army, in order to ensure greater expedition as well as a fuller complement of avail- able hands during the coming march. They therefore gave orders to burn all the baggage except what was indispensable, and to dismiss ah 1 the prisoners ; planting themselves in a narrow strait, through which the army had to pass, in order to s*>e that their directions were executed. The women, however, of whom there mountains closing in. Here the modern road crosses the Tigris by a bridge, from the eastern bank to the western (Koch, Zug der Zehn Tausend, P. 72). 1 Xen. Ar.ab. iv, 1, 12.