These then stayed, while the rest set out on the march.  Before they had gone two miles, they stumbled upon dead bodies, and when they had brought up the rear of the column in a line with the first bodies to be seen, they began digging graves and burying all included in the column from end to end.  After burying the first batch, they advanced, and again bringing the rear even with the first unburied bodies which appeared, they buried in the same way all which the line of troops included.  Finally, reaching the road that led out of the villages where the bodies lay thick together, they collected them and laid them in a common grave.

It was now about midday, when pushing forward the troops up to the villages without entering them, they proceeded to seize provisions, laying hands on everything they could set eyes on under cover of their 7 lines; when suddenly they caught sight of the enemy cresting certain hillocks in front of them, duly marshalled in line—­a large body of cavalry and infantry.  It was Spithridates and Rhathines, sent by Pharnabazus with their force at their backs.  As soon as the enemy caught sight of the Hellenes, they stood still, about two miles distant.  Then Arexion the seer sacrificed, and at the first essay the victims were favourable.  Whereupon Xenophon addressed the other generals:  “I would advise, sirs, that we should detach one or more flying columns to support our main attack, so that in case of need at any point we may have reserves in readiness to assist our main body, and the enemy, in the confusion of battle, may find himself attacking the unbroken lines of troops not hitherto engaged.”  These views approved themselves to all.  “Do you then,” said he, “lead on the vanguard straight at the enemy.  Do not let us stand parleying here, now that we have caught sight of him and he of us.  I will detach the hindmost companies in the way we have decided upon and follow you.”  After that they quietly advanced, and he, withdrawing the rear-rank companies in three brigades consisting of a couple of hundred men apiece, commissioned the first on the right to follow the main body at the distance of a hundred feet.  Samolas the Achaean was in command of this brigade.  The duty of the second, under the command of Pyrrhias the Arcadian, was to follow in the centre.  The last was posted on the left, with Phrasias, an Athenian, in command.  As they advanced, the vanguard reached a large and difficult woody glen, and halted, not knowing whether the obstacle needed to be crossed or not.  They passed down the word for the generals and officers to come forward to the front.  Xenophon, wondering what it was that stopped the march, and presently hearing the above order passed along the ranks, rode up with all speed.  As soon as they were met, Sophaenetus, as the eldest general, stated his opinion that the question, whether a gully of that kind ought to be crossed or not, was not worth discussing.  Xenophon, with some ardour, retorted:  “You