before and were keeping the fire, would not admit the latecomers thereto unless they gave in exchange to them wheat or some other food that they had. Therefore these gave one to another according as each 20 had. And where the fire was burning, as the snow melted, trenches were formed so deep as to reach to the level of the ground; whence it was possible to measure the depth of snow.

Thence they marched the whole of the following 25 day through snow, and many of the men suffered violent hunger. And Xenophon, who was commanding the rearguard, having come up with those who had fallen, knew not what was the matter with them. But when one who had experience told him they were 30 clearly suffering from faintness and that if they ate they would stand up again, he went round among the beasts of burden, and when he found food anywhere, he distributed it, and sent round men who could run along the line to give to the hungry ones. And when 35 they had eaten something they rose up and went on marching. As they were marching, Cheirisophus came to a village about nightfall, and found women and girls fetching water from a fountain in front of the rampart. These asked them who they were, and the interpreter answered in Persian that they were marching from the king to the satrap. And the women answered that he was not there, but was about an hour distant. Then, since it was late, they went to the village ruler within the fortress along with the 45 water carriers, and bivouacked there, whilst those of

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the other soldiers who could not complete the march, spent the night foodless and fireless, some of them dying from cold and hunger.

Troops of the enemy followed up, and carried off those of the beasts of burden which could not move on, and there was fighting over them. And there were left behind both those whose sight was destroyed by the snow and those whose toes had fallen off with the 55 cold. A little protection for the eyes they obtained by holding something black before them, and for the feet by constantly moving about, and by taking off their boots at night. But when they slept with their shoes on, the straps entered into their feet and the 60 shoes were frozen round them, for when the old shoes had given out, they had made fresh ones out of newly flayed hides. In consequence of these hardships some of the soldiers lagged behind and refused to move forward. ...

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After this they came to a great and populous city called Gymnias. The king of this town gave the Greeks a guide to lead them through the enemy's country. This guide undertook to bring them within five days to a spot from whence they could see the ocean. He 70 was ready to stake his life on the undertaking. So the march began. On entering the hostile territory he advised them to ravage the land with sword and flame, thus betraying the fact that it was this which led him to offer his services, and not any good will for 75 the Greeks.

On the fifth day they came to a sacred hill called

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Theches. The vanguard climbed the hill, and raised a great shout of exultation when they saw the sea before them. The cheering reached the ears of Xenophon and the rearguard, who supposed that it meant an attack on the vanguard. But when the shouting grew louder and nearer, continually swelled by those who ran to join the throng, and the uproar increased as they drew near, they began to realize that something important must have happened. Xenophon leaped on to his horse and with a few of his staff galloped off to join them. And they had not gone far before they began to distinguish the roars of the soldiers, as they cried: "The sea! The sea!" and passed the Then the whole column

good news down the line.

started to run, rearguard, baggage animals and all. And when they reached the summit, the soldiers fell on their officers' necks and wept for joy.

From "The Katabasis."

GLOSSARY. Euphrates; stages; fraught; augurs; Xenophon; Cheirisophus; satrap; bivouacked; flayed; Gymnias; Theches; vanguard.

STUDY. The Greek troops had been enticed into the service of Cyrus, King of Persia. After being treacherously treated they started toward the Black Sea under the leadership of the young Xenophon. The passages given above form an account of the conclusion of this terrible march.

Notice how simply and in what detail the facts are told. Point out some of the most striking hardships mentioned. What impression do you get of Xenophon? How did the soldiers act when they came within sight of the sea? Do you understand clearly why they "wept for joy"?

SAM WALTER FOSS

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;

There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart
In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;-

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by—

The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban;

Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,

1 By permission of Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. From Dreams in Homespun; copyright, 1897, by Lee & Shepard.

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