ges were found, well filled with all
sorts of provisions.

Finding it impossible to cross the Tigris in the face of the enemy, who
lined its western bank, the Greeks were obliged to continue their course
up its eastern side. This would bring them to the elevated table land of
Armenia, but first they would have to cross the rugged Carduchian
Mountains, inhabited by a tribe so fierce that they had hitherto defied
all the power of Persia, and had once destroyed a Persian army of one
hundred and twenty thousand men. These mountains must be crossed, but
the mountaineers proved fiercely hostile. Seven days were occupied in
the task, and these were days of constant battle and loss. At one pass
the Carduchians rolled down such incessant masses of rocks that progress
was impossible, and the Greeks were almost in despair. Fortunately a
prisoner showed them a pass by which they could get above these
defenders, who, on seeing themselves thus exposed, took to their heels,
and left the way open to the main body of the Greek army. Glad enough
were the disheartened adventurers to see once more a plain, and find
themselves past these dreaded hills and on the banks of an Armenian
river.

But they now had the Persians again in their front, with the Carduchians
in their rear, and it was with no small difficulty that they reached the
north side of this stream. In Armenia they had new perils to encounter.
The winter was upon them, and the country covered with snow. Reaching at
length the head-waters of the Euphrates, they waded across, and there
found themselves in such deep snow and facing such fierce winds that
many slaves and draught-horses died of cold, together with about thirty
soldiers. Some of the men lost their sight from the snow-glare; others
had their feet badly frosted; food was very scarce; the foe was in their
rear. It was a miserable and woe-begone army that at length gladly
reached, on the summit of some hills, a number of villages well stored
with food.

In the country of the Taochians, which the fugitives next reached, the
people carried off all their food into mountain strongholds, and
starvation threatened the Greeks. One of these strongholds was reached,
a lofty place surrounded by precipices, where great numbers of men and
women, with their cattle, had assembled. Yet, strong as it was, it must
be taken, or the army would be starved.

As they sought to ascend, stones came down in showers, breaking the legs
and ribs