Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/288

 270 HISTORY OF GREECE. His order was on the point of being executed, when, fortunately for him, the Mitylenaean general Koes ventured to call in ques- tion the prudence of it, having first asked whether it was the pleasure of the Persian king to listen to advice. He urged that the march on which they were proceeding might prove perilous, and retreat possibly unavoidable ; because the Scythians- though certain to be defeated if brought to action, might perhaps not suffer themselves to be approached or even discovered. As a precaution against all contingencies, it was prudent to leave the bridge standing and watched by those who had constructed it. Far from being offended at the advice, Darius felt grateful for it, and desired that Koes would ask him after his return for a suit- able reward, which we shall hereafter find granted. He then altered his resolution, took a cord, and tied sixty knots in it. u Take this cord (said he to the lonians), untie one of the knots in it each day after my advance from the Danube into Scythia, Remain here and guard the bridge until you shall have untied all the knots ; but if by that time I shall not have returned, then depart and sail home." 1 After such orders he began his march into the interior. This anecdote is interesting, not only as it discloses the simple expedients for numeration and counting of time then practised, but also as it illustrates the geographical ideas prevalent. Darius did not intend to come back over the Danube, but to march round the Maeotis, and to return into Persia on the eastern side of the Euxine. No other explanation can be given of his orders. At first, confident of success, he orders the bridge to be destroyed forthwith : he will beat the Scythians, march through their coun- try, and reenter Media from the eastern side of the Euxine. When he is reminded that possibly he may not be able to find the Scythians, and may be obliged to retreat, he still continues persuaded that this must happen within sixty days, if it happens at all ; and that, should he remain absent more than sixty days, such delay will be a convincing proof that he will take the other road of return instead of repassing the Danube. The reader 1 llerodot. iv, 98. yv <5e fa TOVT^ TV XP V V M Kapeu, u?./ld duXduai v/ili tl Tipepai ruv dftpuTuv, uTto^Xlere if T^V vpeTeprjv aireuv lirti re oiru /Zfrec5ofe, vMffffT rrjv