In another instant he had pushed Soteridas from the ranks, snatched from him his shield, and begun marching as quickly as he might under the circumstances, having his horseman’s cuirass to carry as well, so that he was sore pressed; but he continued to cheer on the troops:  exhorting those in front to lead on and the men toiling behind to follow up[11].  Soteridas was not spared by the rest of the men.  They gave him blows, they pelted him, they showered him with abuse, till they compelled him to take back his shield and march on; and the other, remounting, led them on horseback as long as the footing held; but when the ground became too steep, he left his horse and pressed forward on foot, and so they found themselves on the summit before the enemy.

[11] Some MSS. “and the men behind to pass him by, as he could but ill
    keep up the pace.”

V

There and then the barbarians turned and fled as best they might, and 1 the Hellenes held the summit, while the troops with Tissaphernes and Ariaeus turned aside and disappeared by another road.  The main body with Cheirisophus made its way down into the plain and encamped in a village filled with good things of divers sorts.  Nor did this village stand alone; there were others not a few in this plain of the Tigris equally overflowing with plenty.  It was now afternoon; and all of a sudden the enemy came in sight on the plain, and succeeded in cutting down some of the Hellenes belonging to parties who were scattered over the flat land in quest of spoil.  Indeed, many herds of cattle had been caught whilst being conveyed across to the other side of the river.  And now Tissaphernes and his troops made an attempt to burn the villages, and some of the Hellenes were disposed to take the matter deeply to heart, being apprehensive that they might not know where to get provisions if the enemy burnt the villages.

Cheirisophus and his men were returning from their sally of defence when Xenophon and his party descended, and the latter rode along the 4 ranks as the rescuing party came up, and greeted them thus:  “Do you not see, men of Hellas, they admit that the country is now ours; what they stipulated against our doing when they made the treaty, viz. that we were not to fire the king’s country, they are now themselves doing—­setting fire to it as if it were not their own.  But we will be even with them; if they leave provisions for themselves anywhere, there also shall they see us marching;” and, turning to Cheirisophus, he added:  “But it strikes me, we should sally forth against these incendiaries and protect our country.”  Cheirisophus retorted:  “That is not quite my view; I say, let us do a little burning ourselves, and they will cease all the quicker.”