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while　you　do　so　I　will　offer　sacrifice　for　our　journey　and　when　the
signs　are　favourable　we　will　give　the　signal。　At　that　you　must　present
yourselves；　with　everything　I　have　ordered；　at　the　appointed　place；
under　your　own　officers。　＇41＇　And　you；　gentlemen；〃　said　he；　turning　to
the　officers；　〃when　your　divisions　are　all　in　line；　you　will　come　to
me　in　a　body　to　receive　your　final　orders。〃

＇C。3＇　With　these　instructions　the　army　went　to　make　their　preparations
while　Cyrus　offered　sacrifice。

As　soon　as　the　victims　were　favourable；　he　set　out　with　his　force。

On　the　first　day　they　encamped　as　near　by　as　possible；　so　that
anything　left　behind　could　easily　be　fetched　and　any　omission　readily
supplied。　＇2＇　Cyaxares　stayed　in　Media　with　a　third　of　the　Median
troops　in　order　not　to　leave　their　own　country　undefended。　Cyrus
himself　pushed　forward　with　all　possible　speed；　keeping　his　cavalry　in
the　van　and　constantly　sending　explorers　and　scouts　ahead　to　some
look…out。　Behind　the　cavalry　came　the　baggage；　and　on　the　plains　he
had　long　strings　of　waggons　and　beasts　of　burden；　and　the　main　army
behind　them；　so　that　if　any　of　the　baggage…train　fell　back；　the
officers　who　caught　them　up　would　see　that　they　did　not　lose　their
places　in　the　march。　＇3＇　But　where　the　road　was　narrower　the　fighting…
men　marched　on　either　side　with　the　baggage　in　the　middle；　and　in　case
of　any　block　it　was　the　business　of　the　soldiers　on　the　spot　to　attend
to　the　matter。　As　a　rule；　the　different　regiments　would　be　marching
alongside　their　own　baggage；　orders　having　been　given　that　all　members
of　the　train　should　advance　by　regiments　unless　absolutely　prevented。
＇4＇　To　help　matters　the　brigadier's　own　body…servant　led　the　way　with
an　ensign　known　to　his　men；　so　that　each　regiment　marched　together；
the　men　doing　their　best　to　keep　up　with　their　comrades。　Thus　there
was　no　need　to　search　for　each　other；　everything　was　to　hand；　there
was　greater　security；　and　the　soldiers　could　get　what　they　wanted　more
quickly。

＇5＇　After　some　days　the　scouts　ahead　thought　they　could　see　people　in
the　plain　collecting　fodder　and　timber；　and　then　they　made　out　beasts
of　burden；　some　grazing　and　others　already　laden；　and　as　they　scanned
the　distance　they　felt　sure　they　could　distinguish　something　that　was
either　smoke　rising　or　clouds　of　dust；　and　from　all　this　they
concluded　that　the　enemy's　army　was　not　far　off。　＇6＇　Whereupon　their
commander　despatched　a　messenger　with　the　news　to　Cyrus；　who　sent　back
word　that　the　scouts　should　stay　where　they　were；　on　their　look…out；
and　tell　him　if　they　saw　anything　more；　while　he　ordered　a　squadron　of
cavalry　to　ride　forward；　and　intercept；　if　they　could；　some　of　the　men
on　the　plain　and　so　discover　the　actual　state　of　affairs。　＇7＇　While
the　detachment　carried　out　this　order　Cyrus　halted　the　rest　of　his
army　to　make　such　dispositions　as　he　thought　necessary　before　coming
to　close　quarters。　His　first　order　was　for　the　troops　to　take　their
breakfast：　after　breakfast　they　were　to　fall　in　and　wait　for　the　word
of　command。　＇8＇　When　breakfast　was　over　he　sent　for　all　the　officers
from　the　cavalry；　the　infantry；　and　the　chariot　brigade；　and　for　the
commanders　of　the　battering　engines　and　the　baggage　train；　and　they
came　to　him。　＇9＇　Meanwhile　the　troop　of　horse　had　dashed　into　the
plain；　cut　off　some　of　the　men；　and　now　brought　them　in　captive。　The
prisoners；　on　being　questioned　by　Cyrus；　said　they　belonged　to　the
camp　and　had　gone　out　to　forage　or　cut　wood　and　so　had　passed　beyond
their　own　pickets；　for；　owing　to　the　size　of　their　army；　everything
was　scarce。

＇10＇　〃How　far　is　your　army　from　here？〃　asked　Cyrus。　〃About　seven
miles；〃　said　they。　〃Was　there　any　talk　about　us　down　there？〃　said　he。
〃We　should　think　there　was；〃　they　answered；　〃it　was　all　over　the　camp
that　you　were　coming。〃　〃Ah；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃I　suppose　they　were　glad　to
hear　we　were　coming　so　soon？〃　（putting　this　question　for　his　officers
to　hear　the　answer）。　〃That　they　were　not；〃　said　the　prisoners；　〃they
were　anything　but　glad；　they　were　miserable。〃　＇11＇　〃And　what　are　they
doing　now？〃　asked　Cyrus。　〃Forming　their　line　of　battle；〃　answered
they；　〃yesterday　and　the　day　before　they　did　the　same。〃

〃And　their　commander？〃　said　Cyrus；　〃who　is　he？〃　〃Croesus　himself；〃
said　they；　〃and　with　him　a　Greek；　and　also　another　man；　a　Mede；　who　is
said　to　be　a　deserter　from　you。〃

〃Ah；〃　cried　Cyrus；　〃is　that　so？　Most　mighty　Zeus；　may　I　deal　with　him
as　I　wish！〃

＇12＇　Then　he　had　the　prisoners　led　away　and　turned　to　speak　to　his
officers；　but　at　this　moment　another　scout　appeared；　saying　that　a
large　force　of　cavalry　was　in　the　plain。　〃We　think；〃　he　added；　〃that
they　are　trying　to　get　a　sight　of　our　army。　For　about　thirty　of　them
are　riding　ahead　at　a　good　round　pace　and　they　seem　to　be　coming
straight　for　our　little　company；　perhaps　to　capture　our　look…out　if
they　can；　for　there　are　only　ten　of　us　there。〃

＇13＇　At　that　Cyrus　sent　off　a　detachment　from　his　own　bodyguard；
bidding　them　gallop　up　to　the　place；　unseen　by　the　enemy；　and　stay
there　motionless。　〃Wait；〃　he　said；　〃until　our　own　ten　must　leave　the
spot　and　then　dash　out　on　the　thirty　as　they　come　up　the　hill。　And　to
prevent　any　injury　from　the　larger　body；　do　you；　Hystaspas；〃　said　he；
turning　to　the　latter；　〃ride　out　with　a　thousand　horse；　and　let　them
see　you　suddenly；　face　to　face。　But　remember　not　to　pursue　them　out　of
sight；　come　back　as　soon　as　you　have　secured　our　post。　And　if　any　of
your　opponents　ride　up　with　their　right　hands　raised；　welcome　them　as
friends。〃

＇14＇　Accordingly　Hystaspas　went　off　and　got　under　arms；　while　the
bodyguard　galloped　to　the　spot。　But　before　they　reached　the　scouts；
some　one　met　them　with　his　squires；　the　man　who　had　been　sent　out　as　a
spy；　the　guardian　of　the　lady　from　Susa；　Araspas　himself。　＇15＇　When
the　news　reached　Cyrus；　he　sprang　up　from　his　seat；　went　to　meet　him
himself；　and　clasped　his　hand；　but　the　others；　who　of　course　knew
nothing；　were　utterly　dumbfounded；　until　Cyrus　said：

〃Gentlemen；　the　best　of　our　friends　has　come　back　to　us。　It　is　high
time　that　all　men　should　know　what　he　has　done。　It　was　not　through　any
baseness；　or　any　weakness；　or　any　fear　of　me；　that　he　left　us；　it　was
because　I　sent　him　to　be　my　messenger；　to　learn　the　enemy's　doings　and
bring　us　word。　＇16＇　Araspas；　I　have　not　forgotten　what　I　promised　you；
I　will　repay　you；　we　will　all　repay　you。　For；　gentlemen；　it　is　only
just　that　all　of　you　should　pay　him　honour。　Good　and　true　I　call　him
who　risked　himself　for　our　good；　and　took　upon　himself　a　reproach　that
was　heavy　to　bear。〃

＇17＇　At　that　all　crowded　round　Araspas　and　took　him　by　the　hand　and
made　him　welcome。　Then　Cyrus　spoke　again：

〃Enough；　my　friends；　Araspas　has　news　for　us；　and　it　is　time　to　hear
it。　Tell　us　your　tale；　Araspas；　keep　back　nothing　of　the　truth；　and　do
not　make　out　the　power　of　the　enemy　less　than　it　really　is。　It　is　far
better　that　we　should　find　it　smaller　than　we　looked　for　rather　than
strong　beyond　our　expectations。〃　＇18＇　〃Well；〃　began　Araspas；　〃in　order
to　learn　their　numbers；　I　managed　to　be　present　at　the　marshalling　of
their　troops。〃　〃Then　you　can　tell　us；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃not　only　their
numbers　but　their　disposition　in　the　field。〃　〃That　I　can；〃　answered
Araspas；　〃and　also　how　they　propose　to　fight。〃　〃Good；〃　said　Cyrus；
〃but　first　let　us　hear　their　numbers　in　brief。〃　＇19＇　〃Well；〃　he
answered；　〃they　are　drawn　up　thirty　deep；　infantry　and　cavalry　alike；
all　except　the　Egyptians；　and　they　cover　about　five　miles；　for　I　was
at　great　pains；〃　he　added；　〃to　find　out　how　much　ground　they
occupied。〃

＇20＇　〃And　the　Egyptians？〃　Cyrus　said；　〃how　are　they　drawn　up？　I
noticed　you　said；　'all　except　the　Egyptians。'〃

〃The　Egyptians；〃　he　answered；　〃are　drawn　up　in　companies　of　ten
thousand；　under　their　own　officers；　a　hundred　deep；　and　a　hundred
broad：　that；　they　insisted；　was　their　usual　formation　at　home。
Croesus；　however；　was　very　loth　to　let　them　have　their　own　way　in
this：　he　wished　to　outflank　you　as　much　as　possible。〃　〃Why？〃　Cyrus
asked；　〃what　was　his　object？〃　〃To　encircle　you；　I　imagine；　with　his
wings。〃　〃He　had　better　take　care；〃　said　Cyrus；　〃or　his　circle　may　find
itself　in　the　centre。　＇21＇　But　now　you　have　told　us　what　we　most
needed　to　know；　and　you；　gentlemen；〃　said　he　to　the　officers；　〃on
leaving　this　meeting；　you　will　look　to　your　weapons　and　your　harness。
It　often　happens　that　the　lack　of　some　little　thing　makes　man　or　horse
or　chariot　useless。　To…morrow　morning　early；　while　I　am　offering
sacrifice；　do　you　take　your　breakfast　and　give　your　steeds　their
provender；　so　that　when　the　moment　comes　to　strike　you　may　not　be
found　wanting。　And　then　you；　Araspas；　must　hold　the　right　wing　in　the
position　it　has　now；　and　the　rest　of　you　who　command　a　thousand　men
must　do　the　same　with　your　divisions：　it　is　no　time　to　be　changing
horses　when　the　race　is　being　run；　and　you　will　send　word　to　the
brigadiers　and　captains　under　you　to　draw　up　the　phalanx　with　each
company　two　deep。〃　（Now　a　company　consisted　of　four…and…twenty　men。）

＇22＇　Then　one　of　the　officers；　a　captain　of　ten　thousand；　said：

〃Do　you　think；　Cyrus；　that　with　so　shallow