Otryae. Lucullus, considering that it was not possible for
any human resources or wealth to maintain for any length of time, and
in the presence of an enemy, so many thousands as Mithridates had,
ordered one of the prisoners to be brought to him, and asked him first
how many messmates he had, and then how much provision he had left in
his tent. When the man had given his answer, he ordered him to be
removed, and he put the same question to a second, and to a third.
Then comparing the amount of provisions that the enemy had with the
number of those who were to be fed, he concluded that the enemy's
provisions would fail them in three or four days. He now stuck still
more closely to his plan of protracting the time, and he employed
himself in getting into his camp a great store of provision, that he
might have abundance himself, and so wait till the enemy was reduced
to want.

IX. In the meantime Mithridates resolved to attack the Kyzikeni,[349]
who had received a blow in the battle at Chalkedon, for they had lost
three thousand men and ten ships. Accordingly, wishing to give
Lucullus the slip, he put himself in motion immediately after supper,
taking advantage of a dark and rainy night; and he succeeded in
planting his force at daybreak right opposite to the city, at the base
of the mountain tract of the Adrasteia.[350] Lucullus, who perceived
his movements and followed him, was well satisfied that he had not
come up with the enemy while his own troops were out of battle order;
and he posted his army near the village named Thrakia, in a position
excellently adapted to command the roads and the places from which and
through which the soldiers of Mithridates must bring their supplies.
Now, as he had in his own mind a clear comprehension of the issue, he
did not conceal it from his men; but as soon as he had chosen his
ground, and the men had finished the entrenchments, he summoned them
together, and confidently told them that he would, in a few days, give
them a victory which would cost no blood. Mithridates had hemmed in
the Kyzikeni with ten camps on the land side, and towards the sea with
his ships, by blocking up the narrow channel which separates the city
from the mainland, and thus he was besieging them on both sides.
Though the citizens were disposed to resist the enemy boldly, and had
determined to sustain all hardships for the sake of the Romans, they
were troubled at not knowing where Lucullus was, and at having