Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/118

56 HISTORY OF GREECE. were many with the army, could not be abandoned ; and it scorns farther that a considerable stock of baggage was still retained ; J nor could the army make more than slow advance, from the narrowness of the road and the harassing attack of the Karduch- ians, who were now assembled in considerable numbers. Their attack was renewed with double vigor on the ensuing day, when the Greeks were forced, from want of provisions, to hasten for- ward their march, though in the midst of a terrible snow-storm. Both Cheirisophus in the front and Xenophon in the rear, were hard pressed by the Karduchian slingers and bowmen ; the latter, men of consummate skill, having bows three cubits in length, and arrows of more than two cubits, so strong that the Greeks when they took them could dart them as javelins. These archers, amidst the rugged ground and narrow paths, approached so near and drew the bow with such surprising force, resting one extremity of it on the ground, that several Greek warriors were mortally wounded even through both shield and corslet into the reins, and through the brazen helmet into their heads ; among them espe- cially, two distinguished men, a Lacedaemonian named Kleony- mus, and an Arcadian named Basias. 2 The rear division, more roughly handled than the rest, was obliged continually to halt to repel the enemy, under all the difficulties of the ground, which made it scarcely possible to act against nimble mountaineers. On one occasion, however, a body of these latter were entrapped into an ambush, driven back with loss, and (what was still more fortu- nate) two of their number were made prisoners. Thus impeded, Xenophon sent frequent messages entreating Cheirisophus to slacken the march of the van division ; but in- stead of obeying, Cheirisophus only hastened the faster, urging Xenophon to follow him. The march of the army became little better than a rout, so that the rear division reached the halting- place hi extreme confusion ; upon which Xenophon proceeded to remonstrate with Cheirisophus for prematurely hurrying forward and neglecting his comrades behind. But the other, pointing out to his attention the hill before them, and the steep path ascending it, forming their future line of march, which was beset with numerous Karduchians, defended himself by saying that Xen. Anab. iv, 3, 19-30. * Xcn. Anab. iv 1, 18 : iv, 2, 28