ng with you." 3. The generals, after consulting
together, resolved on returning the following answer; and Cheirisophus
delivered it: "It is our determination, if no one hinders us from
returning home, to proceed through the country with as little injury to
it as possible; but if any one opposes us on our march, to fight our way
against him as vigorously as we can." 4. Mithridates then endeavoured to
convince them how impracticable it was to escape without the king's
consent. But it was now concluded that he was insidiously sent; for one
of the followers of Tissaphernes was in attendance on him to insure his
fidelity.[138] 5. In consequence, it was thought right by the generals
to pass a resolution that the war should be such as to admit of no
intercourse by heralds;[139] for those that came tried to corrupt the
soldiers, and succeeded in seducing one of the captains, Nicarchus an
Arcadian, and he deserted in the night with about twenty men.

6. Having then dined, and crossed the river Zabatus, they marched on in
regular order, keeping the baggage-cattle and camp-followers in the
centre. But before they had gone far, Mithridates made his appearance
again with about two hundred cavalry and about four hundred archers and
slingers, very light and active troops. 7. He advanced towards the
Greeks as a friend, but, when he came near, some of his men, both horse
and foot, suddenly discharged their arrows, and others used their
slings, and wounded some of our men. The rear of the Greeks indeed was
much harassed, and could do nothing in return; for the Cretan bowmen
shot to a less distance than the Persians, and had also, as being
lightly armed, sheltered themselves within the heavy troops; and the
javelin-men did not hurl far enough to reach the slingers. 8. Upon this
it seemed to Xenophon that it would be well to pursue them; and such of
the heavy-armed and peltasts as happened to be with him in the rear,
began to pursue, but could overtake in the pursuit not a single man of
the enemy; 9. for the Greeks had no cavalry,[140] nor could their
infantry, in a short distance, overtake the infantry of the enemy, who
took to flight when they were a long way off, since it was impossible
for the Greeks to follow them to a great distance from the rest of the
army. 10. The Barbarian cavalry, too, inflicted wounds in their retreat,
shooting backwards as they rode, and however far the Greeks advanced in
pursuit, so far were they obliged to re