244 HISTORICAL, TALES,

_sea was but five days’ journey away, and gave them
a guide who in that time would conduct them toa
hill from which they could see the Huxine’s distant
waves. On they went, and at length, while Xeno-
phon was driving off some natives that had attacked
the rear of the column, he heard loud shouts in front.
Thinking that the van had been assailed, he rode
hastily forward at the head of his few cavalry, the
noise increasing as he approached.

At length the sounds took shape into words.
“ Thalatta! Thalatta!” (“ The sea! The seal”) cried
the Greeks, in tones of exultation and ecstasy. All,
excited by the sound, came hurrying up to the
summit, and burst into simultaneous shouts of joy
as they saw, far in the distance, the gleaming waters
of the long-prayed-for sea. Tears, embraces, cries
of wild delight, manifested their intense feeling, and
for the time being the whole army went mad with
joy. The terrors of their march were at an end;
they were on the verge of Grecian territory again ;
and with pride they felt that they had achieved an
enterprise such as the world had never known
before.

A few words will suffice to complete their tale.
Reaching the city of Trebizond, they took ship for
home. Fifteen months had passed since they set out
with the army of Cyrus. After various further ad-
ventures, Xenophon led them on a pillaging expe-
dition against the Persians of Asia Minor, paid them
all richly from the plunder, and gained himself
sufficient wealth to enrich him for the remainder of
his days.