of the unlucky climbers. By stratagem, however, the Greeks
induced the defenders to exhaust their ammunition of stones, the
soldiers pretending to advance, and then running back behind trees as
the stones came crashing down. Finally several bold men made a dash for
the top, others followed, and the place was won. Then came a dreadful
scene. The women threw their children down the precipice, and then
leaped after them. The men did the same. AEneas, a captain, seeing a
richly-dressed barbarian about to throw himself down the height, caught
hold of him. It was a fatal impulse of cupidity. The Taochian seized him
in a fierce grasp and sprang with him over the brink, both being dashed
to pieces below. Very few prisoners were made, but, what was more to the
purpose of the Greeks, a large number of oxen, asses, and sheep were
obtained.

At another point, where a mountain-pass had to be crossed, which could
only be done by ascending the mountain by stealth at night, and so
turning the position of the enemy, an amusing piece of badinage took
place between Xenophon, the Athenian, and Cheirisophus, the Spartan.

"Stealing a march upon the enemy is more your trade than mine," said
Xenophon. "For I understand that you, the full citizens and peers at
Sparta, practise stealing from your boyhood upward, and that it is held
no way base, but even honorable, to steal such things as the law does
not distinctly forbid. And to the end that you may steal with the
greatest effect, and take pains to do it in secret, the custom is to
flog you if you are found out. Here, then, you have an excellent
opportunity to display your training. Take good care that we be not
found out in stealing an occupation of the mountain now before us; for
if we _are_ found out, we shall be well beaten."

"Why, as to that," retorted Cheirisophus, good-humoredly, "you Athenians
also, as I learn, are capital hands at stealing the public money, and
that, too, in spite of prodigious peril to the thief. Nay, your most
powerful men steal most of all, at least if it be the most powerful men
among you who are raised to official command. So this is a time for
_you_ to exhibit your training, as well as for me to exhibit mine."

Leaving the land of the Taochi, the Greeks entered that of the Chalybes,
which they were seven days in passing through. All the food here was
carried off, and they had to live on the cattle they had recently won.
Then came the country of the Skythini