110 HISTORICAL TALES.

offered him one and two-thirds talents. In the fol-
lowing year Polycrates of Samos bid higher still,
offering him two talents, and the young surgeon
repaired to that charming island.

Thus far the career of Democedes had been one of
steady progress. But, as Solon told Crcesus, a man
cannot count himself sure of happiness while he
lives. The good fortune which had attended the run-
away surgeon was about to be followed by a period of
ill luck and degradation, following those of his new
patron. In the constant wars of Greece a free citi-
zen could never be sure how soon he might be reduced
to slavery, and such was the fate of Democedes.

We have already told how Polycrates was treach-
erously seized and murdered by the Persian satrap
Oretes. Democedes had accompanied him to the
court of the traitor, and was, with the other attend-
ants of Polycrates, seized and left to languish in
neglect and imprisonment. Soon afterwards Orcetes
received the just retribution for his treachery, being
himself slain. And now a third turn came to the
career of Democedes. He was classed among the
slaves of Orcetes, and sent with them in chains to
Susa, the capital of Darius, the great Persian king.

But here the wheel of fortune suddenly took an
upward turn. Darius, the king, leaping one day from
his horse in the chase, sprained his foot so badly
that he had to be carried home in violent pain.
The surgeons of the Persian court were Egyptians,
who were claimed to be the first men in their pro-
fession. But, though they used all their skill in
treating the foot of the king, they did him no good.