Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/47

Rh allowed the Greeks to gain a place which Xenophon describes as "a palace amid villages," which can still be identified in the modern Zákhú. It was a satrap's palace, "like a baronial castle, surrounded by the cottages of serfs and retainers." Here they stayed three days, tending the wounded, and enjoying the satrap's stores of provisions and wine. As soon as they started again Tissaphernes was upon them. But they reached a village, which served them as a defensive work, and enabled them to keep the enemy off. When night came the Persians drew back for six miles, because their horses were always picketed at night by foot-ropes (just as in India at the present day), and could not be got ready suddenly; so they kept a long way off to avoid surprise. The Greeks took advantage of this, and stole a march upon them in the night, and did not see them for two days.

On the fourth day from Zákhú they found the enemy in front of them, on an eminence which commanded the road. Cheirisophus halted the men and sent for Xenophon, who came galloping up from the rear. It was obviously necessary to dislodge the Persians from their front, as Tissaphernes with his army was coming up behind. Xenophon offered to take a select detachment from the van and centre of the army, and scale a height which commanded the hill on which the enemy were posted. He proceeded to do so, and the natives, seeing what was intended, detached some of their own troops to occupy the summit before the