ng the rest
of the day the Greeks continued their march, and the enemy followed; but
the Barbarians no longer harassed them with their usual skirmishing; for
the Rhodians sent their missiles to a greater distance than the
Persians, and than most of the bowmen. 17. The bows of the Persians,
too, were large, so that such of their arrows as were taken up, were of
service to the Cretans, who continued to use the enemy's arrows, and
practised shooting by sending them far up into the air.[156] A great
number of bowstrings were also found in the villages, and some lead, so
that they could use it for their slings.

18. For that day, therefore, as soon as the Greeks reached the villages
and encamped, the Barbarians went off, having had the worst in the
skirmish; and during the next the Greeks remained where they were, and
collected provisions, for there was plenty of corn in the villages. The
day after, they proceeded through the open country, and Tissaphernes
followed, hurling missiles at them from a distance. 19. Here the Greeks
found that a square was a bad disposition for an army when the enemy
was behind them: for it must necessarily happen, that if the flanks of
the square close together from the road being narrow, or from hills or a
bridge making it necessary, that the heavy-armed men must be pushed out
of their places, and march with difficulty,[157] being at the same time
crowded together and thrown into confusion; so that when in such
disorder they must be nearly useless. 20. And when, again, the flanks
divide, those who were previously forced out of their places, must now
of necessity separate, and the space between the flanks be left empty;
and men who are thrown into such a condition must doubtless lose heart,
if the enemy are behind them. Whenever, too, they had to pass a bridge,
or any other crossing-place, each hastened on to get first, and the
enemy had then a fine opportunity of attacking them.[158] 21. The
generals, seeing that such was the case, formed six companies of a
hundred men each, and appointed captains of these companies, as well as
captains of fifty and captains of twenty-five.[159] These captains and
their companies, on the march, whenever the flanks of the square closed
together, fell behind, so as to cause no disorder in the flanks, and
then led on outside the flanks; 22. and whenever the sides of the square
opened, they filled up the centre, if the opening was narrow, by
companies; if rather wid