of my companions, I at last reached the tenth milestone from
the city.

6. Here, having lightly refreshed ourselves, I tried to proceed, but
found myself, as a noble unaccustomed to such toil, overcome by fatigue
of the march. I happened to fall in, however, with what, though a most
unsightly object, was to me, completely tired out, a most seasonable
relief.

7. A groom riding a runaway horse, barebacked and without a bridle, in
order to prevent his falling had knotted the halter by which he was
guiding him tightly to his left hand, and presently, being thrown, and
unable to break the knot, he was torn to pieces as he was dragged over
the rough ground and through the bushes, till at last the weight of his
dead body stopped the tired beast; I caught him, and mounting him,
availed myself of his services at a most seasonable moment, and after
much suffering arrived with my companions at some sulphurous springs of
naturally hot water.

8. On account of the heat we had suffered greatly from thirst, and had
been crawling about for some time in search of water; and now when we
came to this well it was so deep that we could not descend into it, nor
had we any ropes; but, taught by extreme necessity, we tore up the linen
clothes which we wore into long rags, which we made into one great rope,
and fastened to the end of it a cap which one of us wore beneath his
helmet; and letting that down by the rope, and drawing up water in it
like a sponge, we easily quenched our thirst.

9. From hence we proceeded rapidly to the Euphrates, intending to cross
to the other side in the boat which long custom had stationed in that
quarter, to convey men and cattle across.

10. When lo! we see at a distance a Roman force with cavalry standards,
scattered and pursued by a division of Persians, though we did not know
from what quarter it had come so suddenly on them in their march.

11. This example showed us that what men call indigenous people are not
sprung from the bowels of the earth, but merely appear unexpectedly by
reason of the speed of their movements: and because they were seen
unexpectedly in various places, they got the name of Sparti,[106] and
were believed to have sprung from the ground, antiquity exaggerating
their renown in a fabulous manner, as it does that of other things.

12. Roused by this sight, since our only hope of safety lay in our
speed, we drew off through the thickets and woods to the high mountains;
and from t