DARIUS AND THE SCYTHIANS. 121

the Ionians. “Take this cord,” he said, “ Untie one
of the knots in it each day after my advance from
the Danube into Scythia. Remain here and guard
the bridge until you shall have untied all the knots;
but if by that time I shall not have returned, then
depart and sail home.”

Such were the methods of counting which then
prevailed. And the knowledge of geography was
not more advanced. Darius had it in view to march
round the Black Sea and return to Persia along its
eastern side,—with the wild idea that sixty days
would suffice for this great march.

Fortunately for him, as the story goes, the Jonians
did not obey orders, but remained on guard after
the knots were all untied. Then, to their surprise,
Scythians instead of Persians appeared. These told
the Jonians that the Persian army was in the great-
est distress, was retreating with all speed, and that
its escape from utter ruin depended on the safety
of the bridge. They urged the Greeks to break
the bridge and retire. If they should do so the
Persians would all be destroyed, and Ionia would
regain its freedom.

This was wise advice. Had it been taken it
might have saved Greece from the danger of Per-
sian invasion. The Ionians were at first in favor of
it, and Miltiades, one of their leaders, and after-
wards one of the heroes of Greek history, warmly
advised that it should be done. But Histisus, the
despot of Miletus, advised the other Ionian princes
that they would lose their power if their countries
became free,‘ since the Persians alone supported

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