Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/52

42 those of their comrades who had fallen by the formidable arrows of the Kurds. The privilege of discharging this melancholy duty was purchased at the cost of their only guide, a heavy sacrifice in an unknown country. But, nevertheless, they fought their way gallantly through the passes. Whenever the vanguard was opposed, Xenophon ascended the mountains from behind, and outflanked the enemy; and whenever the rear was attacked, Cheirisophus performed a similar service from the front. Thus they painfully advanced; and on the seventh day after first entering the mountains they emerged on an open plain, and saw before them the river Centrites (now called the Buhtánchài), which separated Kurdistan from Armenia. During these seven days they had suffered more miseries than all which the King and Tissaphernes had inflicted put together. But now they joyfully rested in the villages on the plain, and in all comfort recalled the troubles and dangers which they had passed through.

The next day anxiety returned, for over the river (which was two hundred feet broad) they could see the opposite bank lined with the cavalry and infantry of the satrap of Armenia, and a large body of Kurds was collecting in their rear. The river too seemed to be unfordable. But Xenophon in the night had an encouraging dream:—he dreamed that he had been bound, but that his fetters fell off of their own accord; and next morning, while he was at breakfast, two young men brought him word that they had discovered a ford in a place where the rocks would prevent cavalry