240 HISTORICAL TALES.

them of their wives and children at home. And
here took place one of those occurrences which gave
this leader so much influence over his men.

“Weare not upon equal terms, Xenophon,” said So-
teridas, a soldier from Sicyon, “ for you are on horse-
back, while I am weary from carrying my shield.”

Instantly Xenophon sprang from his horse, took
the man’s shield from his arm, and thrust him out
of the ranks, taking his place. The horseman’s
corselet which he wore, added to by the weight of
the shield, gave him much annoyance. But he called
out bravely to the men to hasten their pace.

On this the other soldiers began to abuse and
stone Soteridas, making it so unpleasant for him
that he was glad to ask for his shield again. Xeno-
phon now remounted and rode as far as his horse
could go, then sprang down and hastened onward on
foot. Such was the speed made that they reached
the summit before the foe, whereupon the enemy
fled, leaving the road open to the Greeks. That
evening they reached the plain beyond, where they
found a village abounding in food ; and in this plain,
near the Tigris, many other villages were found, well
filled with all sorts of provisions.

Finding it impossible to cross the Tigris in the
face of the enemy, who lined its western bank, the
Greeks were obliged to continue their course up its
eastern side. This would bring them to the elevated
table land of Armenia, but first they would have to
cross the rugged Carduchian Mountains, inhabited
by a tribe so fierce that they had hitherto defied all
the power of Persia, and had once destroyed a Per-