After these resolutions Xenophon got up and said:  “Soldiers, the journey must now, I presume, be conducted on foot; indeed, this is clear, since we have no vessels; and we are driven to commence it at once, for we have no provisions if we stop.  We then,” he continued, “will sacrifice, and you must prepare yourselves to fight now, if ever, for the spirit of the enemy has revived.”

Thereupon the generals sacrificed, in the presence of the Arcadian seer, Arexion; for Silanus the Ambraciot had chartered a vessel at Heraclea and made his escape ere this.  Sacrificing with a view to 13 departure, the victims proved unfavourable to them.  Accordingly they waited that day.  Certain people were bold enough to say that Xenophon, out of his desire to colonise the place, had persuaded the seer to say that the victims were unfavourable to departure.  Consequently he proclaimed by herald next morning that any one who liked should be present at the sacrifice; or if he were a seer he was bidden to be present and help to inspect the victims.  Then he sacrificed, and there were numbers present; but though the sacrifice on the question of departure was repeated as many as three times, the victims were persistently unfavourable.  Thereat the soldiers were in high dudgeon, for the provisions they had brought with them had reached the lowest ebb, and there was no market to be had.

Consequently there was another meeting, and Xenophon spoke again:  “Men,” said he, “the victims are, as you may see for yourselves, not yet favourable to the march; but meanwhile, I can see for myself that you are in need of provisions; accordingly we must narrow the sacrifice to the particular point.”  Some one got up and said:  “Naturally enough the victims are unfavourable, for, as I learnt from some one on a vessel which arrived here yesterday by accident, Cleander, the governor at Byzantium, intends coming here with ships and men-of-war.”  Thereat they were all in favour of stopping; but they must needs go out for provisions, and with this object he again sacrificed three times, and the victims remained adverse.  Things had now reached such a pass that the men actually came to Xenophon’s tent to proclaim that they had no provisions.  His sole answer was that he would not lead them out till the victims were favourable.

So again the next day he sacrificed; and nearly the whole army, so strong was the general anxiety, flocked round the victims; and now the very victims themselves failed.  So the generals, instead of leading out the army, called the men together.  Xenophon, as was incumbent on him, spoke:  “It is quite possible that the enemy are collected in a body, and we shall have to fight.  If we were to leave our baggage in the strong place” (pointing overhead) “and sally forth prepared for battle, the victims might favour us.”  But the soldiers, on hearing 22 this proposal, cried out, “No need to take us inside that place; better sacrifice with all speed.”  Now sheep there were none any longer.  So they purchased oxen from under a wagon and sacrificed; and Xenophon begged Cleanor the Arcadian to superintend the sacrifice on his behalf, in case there might be some change now.  But even so there was no improvement.