A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

252 The Supremacy of Sparta
more than
three miles;
Boreas, god
of the north
wind.
They camp
in the snow.
Freezing to
death.
diminished fierceness of the blast. But there were six
feet of snow, so that many of the baggage animals and
slaves were lost, and about thirty of the men themselves.
They spent the whole night in kindling fire; for there
was fortunately no dearth of wood at the halting-place;
Hungerfaintness.
only those who came late into camp had no wood. Accordingly
those who had arrived a good while and had
kindled fires were not for allowing these late-comers near
their fires, unless they would in return give a share of their
corn or of any other victuals they might have. Here then
a general exchange of goods was set up. Where the fire
was kindled the snow melted, and great trenches formed
themselves down to the bare earth, and here it
was possible
to measure the depth of the snow.
Leaving these quarters, they marched the whole of the
next day over snow, and many of the men were afflicted
with hunger-faintness. Xenophon, who was guarding the
rear, came upon some men who had dropt down, and he
did not know what ailed them; but some one who was
experienced in
such matters suggested to him that they
were evidently faint; and if they got something to eat,
they would revive. Then he went the round of the baggage
train, and laying an embargo on any eatables he
could see, doled it out with his own hands, or sent off
other able-bodied agents to distribute it to the sufferers,
who as soon as they had taken a mouthful got on their
legs again and continued the march. . . .
On the heels of the army hung perpetually bands of the
enemy, snatching away disabled baggage animals and fighting
with each other over the carcases. And in its track
not seldom were left tb their fate disabled soldiers, struck
down with snow-blindness or with toes mortified by frostbite.
As to the eyes, it was some alleviation against the