Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/128

106 HISTORY OF GREECE. promising hi n that not one of his relations should be maltreated, and that he should be fully remunerated if he would condact the army safely out of the country, into that of the Chalybes which he described as being adjacent. By such treatment the headman was won over, promised his aid, and even revealed to the Greeks the subterranean cellars wherein the wine was deposited ; while Xenophon, though he kept him constantly under watch, and placed his youthful son as a hostage under the care of Episthenes, yet continued to treat him with studied attention and kindness. For seven days did the fatigued soldiers remain in these comfortable quarters, refreshing themselves and regaining strength. They were waited upon by the native youths, with whom they commu- nicated by means of signs. The uncommon happiness which all of them enjoyed after their recent sufferings, stands depicted in the lively details given by Xenophon ; who left here his own ex- hausted horse, and took young horses in exchange, for himself and the other officers. 1 After this week of repose, the army resumed its march through the snow. The headman, whose house they had replenished as well as they could, accompanied Cheirisophus in the van as guide, but was not put in chains or under guard ; his son remained as an hostage with Episthenes, but his other relations were left unmo- lested at home. As they marched for three days without reaching a village, Cheirisophus began to suspect his fidelity, and even be- came so out of humor, though the man affirmed that there were no villages in the track, as to beat him, yet without t v e precau- tion of putting him afterwards in fetters. The next night, accord- ingly, this headman made his escape ; much to the displeasure of Xenophon, who severely reproached Cheirisophus, first for his harshness, and next for his neglect. This was the only point of difference between the two (says Xenophon), during the whole march ; a fact very honorable to both, considering the numberless difficulties against which they had to contend. Episthenes retained the headman's youthful son, carried him home in safety, and be- came much attached to him. 2 Condemned thus to march without a guide, they could do no better than march up the course of a river ; and thus, from th 1 Xen. Anab. iv, 5, 26-36. * Xen. Anab. iv, 6. 1 -3.