Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/57

Rh their guide; but after a day or two this man, having been struck by Cheirisophus, ran away.

Owing to this they did not make a very straight course during their next nine days' march, which brought them to the foot of a formidable pass, guarded, as they could see, by the people of the country. Here a council of war was held, in which some lively banter occurred between Cheirisophus and Xenophon. The former was for marching straight at the enemy, and cutting their way through; Xenophon recommended that in the night they should send a detachment to occupy the heights above the enemy. "But this," he added, "would be stealing a march, and in any question about stealing I am diffident in speaking before Lacedæmonians, who, it is well known, are trained in this art from their boyhood." To this Cheirisophus retorted that "he understood the Athenians also were pretty skilful in stealing the public money. Their men in office invariably did so, and doubtless Xenophon himself was well skilled in the accomplishment: he had better now give them a specimen of his powers." Xenophon justified the ambiguous compliment by producing two natives whom he had caught by an ambush, and who would serve as guides in scaling the mountains. A night expedition was organised, which was perfectly successful. They occupied a height, and in the morning descended on the flank of the enemy, while Cheirisophus attacked them in front, so that they were speedily routed with slaughter. After erecting a trophy on the pass, they marched over it to some well-provisioned villages.