march by the shortest way
from home, with two great rivers and broad tracts of desert between it
and themselves, and many nations, all hating them, in the inhabited land,
with no guides, no generals, and ten times their number of Persian troops
waiting to fall on them. All were in dismay; hardly a fire was lighted
to cook their supper; each man lay down to rest where he was, yet hardly
anyone could sleep for fear and anxiety, looking for shame, death, or
slavery, and never expecting to see Greece, wife, or children again.

But that night Xenophon made up his mind to do what he could to save his
countrymen. The only hope was in some one taking the lead, and, as the
Greeks had been true to their oaths throughout the whole march, he
believed the gods would help them. So he called the chief of the
officers still remaining together, and put them in mind that they might
still hope. They were so much stronger and braver than the Persians,
that if only they did not lose heart and separate, they could beat off
almost any attack. As to provisions, they would seize them, and the
rivers which they could not cross should be their guides, for they would
track them up into the hills, where they would become shallow. Only
every soldier must swear to assist in keeping up obedience, and then they
would show Artaxerxes that, though he had seized Clearchus, they had ten
thousand as good as he. The army listened, recovered hope and spirit,
swore to all he asked, and one of the most wonderful marches in the world
began. Cheirisophus, the eldest officer, a Spartan, took the command in
the centre; Xenophon, as one of the youngest, was in the rear. They
crossed the Zab, their first barrier, and then went upwards along the
banks of the Tigris. The Persians hovered about them, and always
attacked them every morning. Then the Greeks halted under any shelter
near at hand, and fought them till towards evening. They were sure to
fall back, as they were afraid to sleep near the Greeks, for fear of a
night attack. Then the Greeks marched on for a good distance before
halting to sup and sleep, and were able again to make a little way in the
morning before the enemy attacked them again.

So they went on till they came to the mountains, where dwelt wild tribes
whom the Great King called his subjects, but who did not obey him at all.
However, they were robbers and very fierce, and stood on the steep
heights shooting arrows and rolling down sto