Chapter 7

After this they marched into the country of the Taochians five stages—thirty parasangs—and provisions failed; for the Taochians lived in strong places, into which they had carried up all their stores. Now when the army arrived before one of these strong places—a mere fortress, without city or houses, into which a motley crowd of men and women and numerous flocks and herds were gathered—Cheirisophus attacked at once. When the first regiment fell back tired, a second advanced, and again a third, for it was impossible to surround the place in full force, as it was encircled by a river. Presently Xenophon came up with the rearguard, consisting of both light and heavy infantry, whereupon Cheirisophus halted him with the words: "In the nick of time you have come; we must take this place, for the troops have no provisions, unless we take it." Thereupon they consulted together, and to Xenophon's inquiry, "What it was which hindered their simply walking in?" Cheirisophus replied, "There is just this one narrow approach which you see, but when we attempt to pass it by they roll down volleys of stones from yonder overhanging crag," pointing up, "and this is the state in which you find yourself, if you chance to be caught;" and he pointed to some poor fellows with their legs or ribs crushed to bits. "But when they have expended their ammunition," said Xenophon, "there is nothing else, is there, to hinder our passing? Certainly, except yonder handful of fellows, there is no one in front of us that we can see; and of them, only two or three apparently are armed, and the distance to be traversed under fire is, as your eyes will tell you, about one hundred and fifty feet as near as can be, and of this space the first hundred is thickly covered with great pines at intervals; under cover of these, what harm can come to our men from a pelt of stones, flying or rolling? So then, there is only fifty feet left to cross, during a lull of stones." "Ay," said Cheirisophus, "but with our first attempt to approach the bush a galling fire of stones commences." "The very thing we want," said the other, "for they will use up their ammunition all the quicker; but let us select a point from which we shall have only a brief space to run across, if we can, and from which it will be easier to get back, if we wish."

After this, they marched five stages into the country of the Taochians, a distance of thirty parasangs. Their provisions ran out because the Taochians lived in strongholds, where they had taken all their stores. The army came to one of these strongholds. It was only a fortress, without a city or houses. A mixed crowd of men and women had gathered there, along with numerous flocks and herds. Cheirisophus attacked at once. When the first regiment fell back exhausted, a second advanced, and then a third. The army could not surround the place in full force because a river encircled it. Presently Xenophon arrived with the rearguard, made up of light and heavy infantry. Cheirisophus stopped him and said, "You have come just in time. We must take this place, because the troops have no provisions unless we take it." They discussed the situation, and Xenophon asked, "What is stopping us from simply walking in?" "There is only this one narrow approach, as you can see," Cheirisophus replied. "But when we try to pass, they roll volleys of stones down from that overhanging cliff." He pointed up at it. Then he pointed to some unfortunate men whose legs or ribs had been crushed. "That is what happens if you are caught." "But once they have used up their ammunition," Xenophon said, "there is nothing else to stop us from passing, is there? We can see no one in front of us except that handful of men over there. And only two or three of them seem to be armed. As you can see, the distance we must cross under fire is about one hundred and fifty feet. The first hundred feet are thickly covered with great pines, spaced apart. Under their cover, what harm can flying or rolling stones do our men? That leaves only fifty feet to cross during a lull in the stones." "Yes," said Cheirisophus, "but as soon as we try to approach the trees, a punishing volley of stones begins." "That is just what we want," Xenophon said. "They will use up their ammunition all the faster. But let us choose a point that gives us the shortest possible distance to run across. It should also make it easier to get back if we wish."

Thereupon Cheirisophus and Xenophon set out with Callimachus the Parrhasian, the captain in command of the officers of the rearguard that day; the rest of the captains remained out of danger. That done, the next step was for a party of about seventy men to get away under the trees, not in a body, but one by one, every one using his best precaution; and Agasis the Stymphalian, and Aristonymous the Methydrian, who were also officers of the rearguard, were posted as supports outside the trees; for it was not possible for more than a single company to stand safely within the trees. Here Callimachus hit upon a pretty contrivance—he ran forward from the tree under which he was posted two or three paces, and as soon as the stones came whizzing, he retired easily, but at each excursion more than ten wagon-loads of rocks were expended. Agasias, seeing how Callimachus was amusing himself, and the whole army looking on as spectators, was seized with the fear that he might miss his chance of being first to run the gauntlet of the enemy's fire and get into the place. So, without a word of summons to his neighbour, Aristonymous, or to Eurylochus of Lusia, both comrades of his, or to any one else, off he set on his own account, and passed the whole detachment. But Callimachus, seeing him tearing past, caught hold of his shield by the rim, and in the meantime Aristonymous the Methydrian ran past both, and after him Eurylochus of Lusia; for they were one and all aspirants to valour, and in that high pursuit, each was the eager rival of the rest. So in this strife of honour, the three of them took the fortress, and when they had once rushed in, not a stone more was hurled from overhead.

Then Cheirisophus and Xenophon set out with Callimachus the Parrhasian. That day, Callimachus commanded the officers of the rearguard. The other captains stayed out of danger. Next, about seventy men made their way under the trees. They went one by one, not as a group, each taking every possible precaution. Agasis the Stymphalian and Aristonymous the Methydrian were also officers of the rearguard. They were stationed outside the trees to support the others, because only one company could stand safely under the trees. There Callimachus came up with a clever trick. He ran two or three paces from the tree sheltering him. As soon as the stones came whizzing down, he easily stepped back. Each time he ventured out, the enemy used up more than ten wagonloads of rocks. Agasias saw Callimachus amusing himself while the whole army watched. He feared he would miss his chance to be the first to run through the enemy’s fire and reach the place. So he set off on his own, without calling to anyone. He said nothing to his neighbor Aristonymous or to Eurylochus of Lusia, both of whom were his comrades. He ran past the whole detachment. But when Callimachus saw Agasias racing past, he caught the rim of his shield. Meanwhile, Aristonymous the Methydrian ran past them both, followed by Eurylochus of Lusia. They all wanted to prove their courage, and each eagerly competed with the others in that noble pursuit. In this contest for honor, the three of them took the fortress. Once they had rushed inside, not another stone was hurled from above.

And here a terrible spectacle displayed itself: the women first cast their infants down the cliff, and then they cast themselves after their fallen little ones, and the men likewise. In such a scene, Aeneas the Stymphalian, an officer, caught sight of a man with a fine dress about to throw himself over, and seized hold of him to stop him; but the other caught him to his arms, and both were gone in an instant headlong down the crags, and were killed. Out of this place the merest handful of human beings were taken prisoners, but cattle and asses in abundance and flocks of sheep.

Here they witnessed a terrible sight. The women first threw their infants off the cliff, then threw themselves after them. The men did the same. Amid this scene, an officer named Aeneas the Stymphalian saw a finely dressed man about to jump. He grabbed the man to stop him, but the man took him in his arms. In an instant, both fell headlong down the rocks and were killed. Only a handful of people were taken prisoner there, but cattle, donkeys, and flocks of sheep were taken in abundance.

From this place they marched through the Chalybes¹ seven stages, fifty parasangs. These were the bravest men whom they encountered on the whole march, coming cheerily to close quarters with them. They wore linen cuirasses reaching to the groin, and instead of the ordinary "wings" or basques, a thickly-plaited fringe of cords. They were also provided with greaves and helmets, and at the girdle a short sabre, about as long as the Laconian dagger, with which they cut the throats of those they mastered, and after severing the head from the trunk they would march along carrying it, singing and dancing, when they drew within their enemy's field of view. They carried also a spear fifteen cubits long, lanced at one end ². This folk stayed in regular townships, and whenever the Hellenes passed by they invariably hung close on their heels fighting. They had dwelling-places in their fortresses, and into them they had carried up their supplies, so that the Hellenes could get nothing from this district, but supported themselves on the flocks and herds they had taken from the Taochians. After this the Hellenes reached the river Harpasus, which was four hundred feet broad. Hence they marched through the Scythenians four stages—twenty parasangs—through a long level country to more villages, among which they halted three days, and got in supplies.

From there, they marched through the Chalybes¹ for seven stages, covering fifty parasangs. The Chalybes were the bravest men they encountered on the whole march. They eagerly fought them at close quarters. They wore linen cuirasses that reached to the groin. Instead of the usual "wings" or basques, these had a thickly braided fringe of cords. They also wore greaves and helmets. At their belts they carried short sabres, about as long as the Laconian dagger. With these they cut the throats of those they overpowered. They cut off their victims' heads and carried them as they marched. When they came within sight of their enemy, they sang and danced. They also carried spears fifteen cubits long, with a point at one end ². These people lived in regular townships. Whenever the Hellenes passed by, the Chalybes always followed close behind, fighting them. They had homes in their fortresses, where they had taken their supplies. So the Hellenes could get nothing from this district. Instead, they lived on the flocks and herds they had taken from the Taochians. After this, the Hellenes reached the river Harpasus, which was four hundred feet broad. From there they marched through the Scythenians for four stages, covering twenty parasangs. They crossed a long stretch of level country and came to more villages. They stayed among these villages for three days and gathered supplies.

Passing on from thence in four stages of twenty parasangs, they reached a large and prosperous well-populated city, which went by the name of Gymnias³, from which the governor of the country sent them a guide to lead them through a district hostile to his own. This guide told them that within five days he would lead them to a place from which they would see the sea, "and," he added, "if I fail of my word, you are free to take my life." Accordingly he put himself at their head; but he no sooner set foot in the country hostile to himself than he fell to encouraging them to burn and harry the land; indeed his exhortations were so earnest, it was plain that it was for this he had come, and not out of the good-will he bore the Hellenes.

From there they traveled twenty parasangs in four stages. They reached a large, prosperous, and well-populated city called Gymnias³. The governor of the country sent them a guide to lead them through a district hostile to his own. The guide told them that within five days he would lead them to a place where they could see the sea. "If I fail to keep my word," he added, "you may take my life." So he led them onward. But as soon as he entered the hostile country, he began urging them to burn and plunder it. He urged them so eagerly that it was clear he had come for this purpose, not out of goodwill toward the Hellenes.

On the fifth day they reached the mountain, the name of which was Theches ⁴. No sooner had the men in front ascended it and caught sight of the sea than a great cry arose, and Xenophon, in the rearguard, catching the sound of it, conjectured that another set of enemies must surely be attacking in front; for they were followed by the inhabitants of the country, which was all aflame; indeed the rearguard had killed some and captured others alive by laying an ambuscade; they had taken also about twenty wicker shields, covered with the raw hides of shaggy oxen.

On the fifth day they reached a mountain called Theches ⁴. As soon as the men in front climbed it and saw the sea, they gave a great shout. Xenophon, in the rear guard, heard the shouting and assumed that another group of enemies must be attacking from the front. For the inhabitants of the country, which was all in flames, were following them. The rear guard had in fact ambushed them, killing some and capturing others alive. They had also taken about twenty wicker shields covered with the raw hides of shaggy oxen.

But as the shout became louder and nearer, and those who from time to time came up, began racing at the top of their speed towards the shouters, and the shouting continually recommenced with yet greater volume as the numbers increased, Xenophon settled in his mind that something extraordinary must have happened, so he mounted his horse, and taking with him Lycius and the cavalry, he galloped to the rescue. Presently they could hear the soldiers shouting and passing on the joyful word, "The sea! the sea!"

But the shouting grew louder and closer. As more soldiers came up, they raced at full speed toward those shouting. Each time more joined them, the shouting began again, louder than before. Xenophon decided that something extraordinary must have happened. So he mounted his horse and galloped to the rescue with Lycius and the cavalry. Soon they could hear the soldiers shouting and passing on the joyful news: "The sea! the sea!"

Thereupon they began running, rearguard and all, and the baggage animals and horses came galloping up. But when they had reached the summit, then indeed they fell to embracing one another—generals and officers and all—and the tears trickled down their cheeks. And on a sudden, some one, whoever it was, having passed down the order, the soldiers began bringing stones and erecting a great cairn, whereon they dedicated a host of untanned skins, and staves, and captured wicker shields, and with his own hand the guide hacked the shields to pieces, inviting the rest to follow his example. After this the Hellenes dismissed the guide with a present raised from the common store, to wit, a horse, a silver bowl, a Persian dress, and ten darics; but what he most begged to have were their rings, and of these he got several from the soldiers. So, after pointing out to them a village where they would find quarters, and the road by which they would proceed towards the land of the Macrones, as evening fell, he turned his back upon them in the night and was gone.

Then they all began running, including the rearguard, and the baggage animals and horses galloped up. When they reached the summit, everyone embraced, generals and officers included, with tears running down their cheeks. Suddenly, someone, whoever it was, passed down an order, and the soldiers began bringing stones and building a great cairn. On it they dedicated many untanned skins, staffs, and captured wicker shields. The guide himself hacked the shields to pieces, urging the others to do the same. After this, the Hellenes sent the guide away with a gift from their common supplies: a horse, a silver bowl, Persian clothing, and ten darics. But what he most begged for was their rings, and he received several from the soldiers. He then pointed out a village where they would find shelter and the road toward the land of the Macrones. As evening fell, he turned away from them and departed into the night.