III


The Arcadians, disembarking under cover of night at Calpe Haven, 1
marched against the nearest villages about thirty furlongs from the
sea; and as soon as it was light, each of the ten generals led his
company to attack one village, or if the village were large, a couple
of companies advanced under their combined generals. They further
agreed upon a certain knoll, where they were all eventually to
assemble. So sudden was their attack that they seized a number of
captives and enclosed a multitude of small cattle. But the Thracians
who escaped began to collect again; for being light-armed troops they
had slipped in large numbers through the hands of the heavy infantry;
and now that they were got together they first attacked the company of
the Arcadian general, Smicres, who had done his work and was retiring
to the appointed meeting-place, driving along a large train of
captives and cattle. For a good while the Hellenes maintained a
running fight[1]; but at the passage of a gorge the enemy routed them, 5
slaying Smicres himself and those with him to a man. The fate of
another company under command of Hegesander, another of the ten, was
nearly as bad; only eight men escaped, Hegesander being one of them.
The remaining captains eventually met, some with somewhat to show for
their pains, others empty-handed.

[1] Lit. "marched and fought," as did the forlorn hope under Sir C.
Wilson making its way from Abu Klea to the Nile in Jan. 1885.

The Thracians, having achieved this success, kept up a continual
shouting and clatter of conversation to one another during the night;
but with day-dawn they marshalled themselves right round the knoll on
which the Hellenes were encamped--both cavalry in large numbers and
light-armed troops--while every minute the stream of new-comers grew
greater. Then they commenced an attack on the heavy infantry in all
security, for the Hellenes had not a single bowman, javelin-man, or
mounted trooper amongst them; while the enemy rushed forward on foot
or galloped up on horseback and let fly their javelins. It was vain to
attempt to retaliate, so lightly did they spring back and escape; and
ever the attack renewed itself from every point, so that on one side
man after man was wounded, on the other not a soul was touched; the
result being that they could not stir from their position, and the
Thracians ended by cutting them off even from their water. In their
despair they began to parley about a truce, and finally various
concessions were made and terms agreed to between them; but the
Thracians would not hear of giving hostages in answer to the demand of
the Hellenes; at that point the matter rested. So fared it with the
Arcadians.

As to Cheirisophus, that general prosecuted his march along the 10
seaboard, and without check reached Calpe Haven. Xenophon advanced
through the heart of the country; and his cavalry pushing on in front,
came upon some old men pursuing their road somewither, who were
brought to him, and in answer to his question, whether they had caught
sight of another Hellenic army anywhere, told him all that had already
taken place, adding that at present they were being besieged upon a
knoll with all the Thracians in close circle round them. Thereupon he
kept the old men under strict guard to serve as guides in case of
need; next, having appointed outposts, he called a meeting of the
soldiers, and addressed them: "Soldiers, some of the Arcadians are
dead and the rest are being besieged upon a certain knoll. Now my own
belief is, that if they are to perish, with their deaths the seal is
set to our own fate: since we must reckon with an enemy at once
numerous and emboldened. Clearly our best course is to hasten to their
rescue, if haply we may find them still alive, and do battle by their
side rather than suffer isolation, confronting danger single-handed.

"Let us then at once push forward as far as may seem opportune till
supper-time, and then encamp. As long as we are marching, let
Timasion, with the cavalry, gallop on in front, but without losing
sight of us; and let him examine all closely in front, so that nothing
may escape our observation." (At the same time too, he sent out some
nimble fellows of the light-armed troops to the flanks and to the high
tops, who were to give a signal if they espied anything anywhere;
ordering them to burn everything inflammable which lay in their path.)
"As for ourselves," he continued, "we need not look to find cover in
any direction; for it is a long step back to Heraclea and a long leap
across to Chrysopolis, and the enemy is at the door. The shortest road
is to Calpe Haven, where we suppose Cheirisophus, if safe, to be; but
then, when we get there, at Calpe Haven there are no vessels for us to
sail away in; and if we stop here, we have not provisions for a single
day. Suppose the beleaguered Arcadians left to their fate, we shall
find it but a sorry alternative to run the gauntlet with
Cheirisophus's detachment alone; better to save them if we can, and 17
with united forces work out our deliverance in common. But if so, we
must set out with minds prepared, since to-day either a glorious death
awaits us or the achievement of a deed of noblest emprise in the
rescue of so many Hellene lives. Maybe it is God who leads us thus,
God who chooses to humble the proud boaster, boasting as though he
were exceedingly wise, but for us, the beginning of whose every act is
by heaven's grace, that same God reserves a higher grade of honour.
One duty I would recall to you, to apply your minds to the execution
of the orders with promptitude."

With these words he led the way. The cavalry, scattering as far in
advance as was prudent, wherever they set foot, set fire. The peltasts
moving parallel on the high ground were similarly employed, burning
everything combustible they could discover. While the main army,
wherever they came upon anything which had accidentally escaped,
completed the work, so that the whole country looked as if it were
ablaze; and the army might easily pass for a larger one. When the hour
had come, they turned aside to a knoll and took up quarters; and there
they espied the enemy's watch-fires. He was about forty furlongs
distant. On their side also they kindled as many watch-fires as
possible; but as soon as they had dined the order was passed to quench
all the fires. So during the night they posted guards and slept. But
at daybreak they offered prayers to the gods, and drawing up in order
of battle, began marching with what speed they might. Timasion and the
cavalry, who had the guides with them, and were moving on briskly in
front, found themselves without knowing it at the very knoll upon
which the Hellenes had been beleaguered. But no army could they
discover, whether of friend or foe; only some starveling old women and
men, with a few sheep and oxen which had been left behind. This news
they reproted to Xenophon and the main body. At first the marvel was
what had happened; but ere long they found out by inquiries from the
folk who had been left behind, that the Thracians had set off
immediately after sundown, and were gone; the Hellenes had waited till
morning before they made off, but in what direction, they could not 23
say.

On hearing this, Xenophon's troops first breakfasted, and then getting
their kit together began their march, desiring to unite with the rest
at Calpe's Haven without loss of time. As they continued their march,
they came across the track of the Arcadians and Achaeans along the
road to Calpe, and both divisions arriving eventually at the same
place, were overjoyed to see one another again, and they embraced each
other like brothers. Then the Arcadians inquired of Xenophon's
officers--why they had quenched the watch-fires? "At first," said
they, "when we lost sight of your watch-fires, we expected you to
attack the enemy in the night; and the enemy, so at least we imagined,
must have been afraid of that and so set off. The time at any rate at
which they set off would correspond. But when the requisite time had
elapsed and you did not come, we concluded that you must have learnt
what was happening to us, and in terror had made a bolt for it to the
seaboard. We resolved not to be left behind by you; and that is how we
also came to march hither."