by Mr. Hussey at something more than three
half-pence; seven oboli and a half would therefore be about a shilling.]

[Footnote 49: [Greek: Skepasmata] is the reading of Dindorf, but it
ought rather to be [Greek: stegasmata], if the distinction of Krueger and
Kuehner, who adopt the latter, be right; viz. that [Greek: stipasma]
signifies a covering to wrap round the body, and [Greek: stegasma] a
shelter against sun or rain. See Arrian, iii. 29. This mode of crossing
rivers, we learn from Dr. Layard, is still practised in Armenia both by
men and women.]

[Footnote 50: See note on i. 2. 22.]

CHAPTER VI.

Traces of the king's troops are perceived. Orontes, a Persian
nobleman, a relation of Cyrus, offers to go forward with a body of
cavalry, and lay an ambush for the king's army. Before he sets out,
however, he is found to be in correspondence with the king, and is
put to death.

1. As they advanced from this place, the footsteps and dung of horses
were observed, and the track was conjectured to be that of about two
thousand cavalry. These, as they went before, had burnt all the fodder,
and whatever else might have been of use to Cyrus. And here Orontes, a
Persian, by birth connected with the king, and reckoned one of the
ablest of the Persians in the field, turned traitor to Cyrus; with whom,
indeed, he had previously been at strife, but had been reconciled to
him. 2. He now told Cyrus, that if he would give him a thousand horse,
he would either cut off, by lying in ambush, the body of cavalry that
were burning all before them, or would take the greater number of them
prisoners, and hinder them from consuming everything in their way, and
prevent them from ever informing the king that they had seen the army of
Cyrus. Cyrus, when he heard his proposal, thought it advantageous; and
desired him to take a certain number of men from each of the different
commanders.

3. Orontes, thinking that he had secured the cavalry, wrote a letter to
the king, saying that he would come to him with as many horse as he
could obtain; and he desired him to give directions to his own cavalry
to receive him as a friend. There were also in the letter expressions
reminding the king of his former friendship and fidelity to him. This
letter he gave to a man, upon whom, as he believed, he could depend, but
who, when he received it, carried it to Cyrus. 4. Cyrus, after reading
the letter, caused Orontes to be arres