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

Unable to
march
farther.
They reach
some villages.
Cheirisophus,
one of the
commanders,
a Spartan.
The villagers
and their
dwellings.
254 The Supremacy of Sparta
had gone half a mile, they fell in with some soldiers who
had laid down to rest on the snow with their cloaks
wrapped round them; but never a guard was established,
and they made them get up. Their explanation was that
those in front would not move on.
Passing by this group,
he sent forward the strongest of his light infantry in advance
with orders to find out what the stoppage was.
They reported that the whole army lay reposing in the
same fashion. That being so, Xenophon's men had nothing
for it but to bivouac in the open air also, without fire
and supperless, merely posting what pickets they could
under the circumstances. But as soon as it drew toward
day, Xenophon despatched the youngest of his men to the
sick folk behind, with orders to make them get up and
to force them to proceed. Meanwhile Cheirisophus had
sent some of his men quartered in the village to inquire
how they fared in the rear; they were overjoyed to see
them, and handed over the sick folk to them to carry into
camp, while they themselves continued their
march forward,
and ere twenty stadia were past, reached the village
in which Cheirisophus was quartered. As soon as
the two divisions were met, the resolution was come to
that it would be safe to billet the regiments throughout
the villages;
Cheirisophus remained where he was, while
the rest drew lots for the villages in sight, and then, with
their several detachments, marched off to their respective
destinations.
It was here that Polycrates, an Athenian and captain
of a company, asked for leave of absence. He wished to
be off on a quest of his own; and putting himself at the
head of the active men of the division, he ran to the village
which had been allotted to Xenophon. He surprised
within it the villagers with their headman, and seventeen