it gives signs of being now, it is time for us to take counsel for ourselves and see that we do not prove ourselves to be the worst and basest of men in the sight of gods and men, be they friends or be they foes.”  The words moved the curiosity of the soldiers.  They marvelled what this matter might be, and bade him explain.  Thereupon he began again:  “You will not have forgotten certain places in the hills—­barbaric fastnesses, but friendly to the Cerasuntines—­from which people used to come down and sell us large cattle and other things which they possessed, and if I mistake not, some of you went to the nearest of these places and made purchases in the market and came back again.  Clearetus the captain learnt of this place, that it was but a little one and unguarded.  Why should it be guarded since it was friendly? so the folk thought.  Thus he stole upon it in the dead of night, and meant to sack it without saying a word to any of us.  His design was, if he took the place, not to return again to the army, but to mount a vessel which, with his messmates on board her, was sailing past at the time, and stowing away what he had seized, to set sail and begone beyond the Euxine.  All this had been agreed upon and arranged with his comrades on board the vessel, as I now discover.  Accordingly, he summoned to his side all whom he could persuade, and set off at their head against the little place.  But dawn overtook him on his march.  The men collected out of their strongholds, and whether from a distance or close quarters, made such a fight that they killed Clearetus and a good many of the rest, and only a few of them got safe back to Cerasus.

“These things took place on the day on which we started to come hither on foot; while some of those who were to go by sea were still at Cerasus, not having as yet weighed anchor.  After this, according to 17 what the Cerasuntines state, there arrived three inhabitants of the place which had been attacked; three elderly men, seeking an interview with our public assembly.  Not finding us, they addressed themselves to the men of Cerasus, and told them, they were astonished that we should have thought it right to attack them; however, when, as the Cerasuntines assert, they had assured them that the occurrence was not authorised by public consent, they were pleased, and proposed to sail here, not only to state to us what had occurred, but to offer that those who were interested should take up and bury the bodies of the slain.

“But among the Hellenes still at Cerasus were some of those who had escaped.  They found out in which direction the barbarians were minded to go, and not only had the face themselves to pelt them with stones, but vociferously encouraged their neighbours to do the same.  The three men—­ambassadors, mark you—­were slain, stoned to death.  After this occurrence, the men of Cerasus came to us and reported the affair, and we generals, on being informed, were annoyed at what had taken place, and