CHAPTER XXXI
ALEXANDER IS SURPRISED
In the second watch of the night, the Macedonian outposts challengedfour men whose horses were flecked with foam. The strangers came fromthe direction of Issus, along the narrow and rugged road that ledsouthward through the Syrian Gates, between the mountains and the sea.Alexander had led his army that day through the pass, and it wasencamped at Myriandrus. In the moonlight the sentinels saw that thestrangers were grimy with dust and that their faces were grim and graywith fatigue.
"I am Leonidas, of the Companions," said one of the riders who seemedto be the leader. "Lead me to the general in charge."
They were conducted to Ptolemy, son of Lagus, who immediatelyrecognized Leonidas. He greeted Chares and Clearchus with surprise.The Spartan led him aside.
"Darius is at Issus," he said.
Ptolemy stared at him incredulously.
"The Persians behind us!" he exclaimed. "You must be dreaming!"
"No," Leonidas replied. "All day we have fled before them."
"The king must know at once," Ptolemy said. "Follow me."
He led the way through the sleeping camp to Alexander's tent, in whicha lamp was burning. A sentinel stood before it in full armor.
"What is your business?" he demanded.
"I must speak with the king," Ptolemy replied.
"The king left orders that he must not be disturbed. Wait until themorning," the man said calmly.
"I will take the responsibility," Ptolemy retorted angrily. "Standaside!"
"You cannot pass," the soldier answered, without moving.
"What is this?" Alexander inquired, raising the curtain of the tent.He held in his hand a copy of the Iliad, in which he had been reading."Is it you, Ptolemy--and Leonidas? Enter."
They followed him into the tent, which contained nothing save hisweapons and a couch spread upon the ground.
"Clearchus and Chares back again!" the young king cried in a tone ofsatisfaction. "You have much to tell me; but first I must hear whatLeonidas brings."
"Darius and his army have passed the Amanic Gates and are now atIssus," Leonidas said briefly.
The smile left Alexander's lips.
"How many men has he?" he asked.
"Five hundred thousand, of whom thirty thousand are mercenaries ofGreek blood," Leonidas answered.
"They are in our rear," Alexander said, half to himself. He began topace backward and forward, with his hands behind his back and his headinclined slightly toward his left shoulder. Although the startlingnews brought to him by the Spartan had taken him wholly by surprise,his decision was swift. Before he had made three turnings, his entireplan of campaign had been changed.
"The Gods have delivered them into our hands!" he said in a tone ofconviction. "I dared not expect such good fortune. In the narrowplain of Issus, their army will defeat itself. The victory is ours."
His face was radiant and he spoke joyously, like a man whose mind hasbeen relieved of a great anxiety; but his eyes were fastened upon theface of Ptolemy. Alexander had not failed to note the expression ofapprehension that his lieutenant wore. He saw it vanish before thewarmth of his own confidence. He felt that he would be able to avertany feeling of panic that might arise in the army at the unexpectedturn of events.
"This is good news you bring," he said to Leonidas, "and I am repaidfor waiting."
He glanced sharply at the sunken eyes and bloodless lips of the Spartanand spoke to the sentinel.
"Tell them to bring food and wine at once," he commanded.
The young king's eyes fell upon Nathan, apparently for the first time.
"Who is this?" he asked. "Come forward."
The Israelite had been standing in the background, watching Alexander'sface with a gaze of peculiar intensity.
"This is Nathan, who led us captive from Halicarnassus," Clearchusreplied. "He saved us when we were condemned to death in Babylon, andhis aid enabled us to assist Leonidas in escaping from the Persians soas to bring you his news. He wishes to take service under you, and atyour leisure to tell you of certain prophecies concerning you that wereinspired by the God of Israel."
"It is well," Alexander said. "He will serve with you and Chares inthe squadron that Leonidas commands. Ptolemy, send a thousand of yourmen to hold the pass behind us, until we come."
Alexander insisted that the young men should eat the food that wasbrought into the tent in obedience to his order. While they weresatisfying their hunger, he plied them with questions concerning Dariusand his army, the character of his men and their commanders, and theformation and resources of the country about Babylon. It was late whenhe finally permitted them to retire.
In the morning Alexander called a general council of his leaders toimpart to them the information that Leonidas had brought. He gave itwithout comment, foreseeing that its first effect would be to arouseuncertainty and dismay that must be overcome before the men would befit for battle.
The council was held in the open air in front of Alexander's tent.There came the captains of the Companions and of the phalanx and thegenerals of the allies. About them pressed the rank and file of thearmy, curious to learn the cause of the summons. Parmenio stood besideAlexander, his furrowed face grave with thought.
All eyes were turned upon the countenance of the young king, glowingwith confidence and enthusiasm.
"Darius and his army are behind you, at Issus," he announced. "I havecalled you together to learn your opinions as to what we should do.Let each speak freely."
For a moment the soldiers stood in silence, looking doubtfully at eachother. Then a murmur of uneasiness rose among them. They had expectedto find the enemy on the Syrian plains, and behold, he was in theirrear.
"Parmenio," Alexander said, "what is your mind?"
"We must fight," the old general replied, carefully and slowly. "ThePersians are between us and our homes. They can enslave the Greekcities of the coast that we have set free. But they are so many thatthey cannot wait. Hunger will force them to attack us on our ownground. Let us wait until that time comes and then give them battle."
His words caused a brief stir of approval, but the great mass of menremained silent.
"What is your advice, Ptolemy, son of Lagus?" Alexander demanded.
"It is true that Darius is in our rear," Ptolemy responded, "but it isalso true that we are between him and his empire, that we have come toconquer. Let us march upon Babylon and take the city. The road liesopen before us."
A shout arose and a clashing of swords upon shields. It was evidentthat Ptolemy's rashness found more favor than Parmenio's caution.
One after another the generals and captains gave their opinions, someagreeing with the older leader and some with the younger. When all hadspoken Alexander seemed to meditate for a moment.
"O men of Hellas!" he cried, raising his head and looking into theireyes, "we came to avenge the ancient wrongs that these barbariansinflicted upon our fathers. Remember Darius, son of Hystaspes; how hebrought his ships to your coasts and was defeated at Marathon.Remember Xerxes and the victory of Salamis. Never in the memory of manhave we been free from Persian attack; and when they no longer dared toface us, they have sent their gold to corrupt our leaders and turn usone against the other. For these insults and injuries, their empire isforfeit; for the Gods have grown weary of their treachery.
"What has happened when we met them, sword in hand? In the long listof their attacks upon us, they have had nothing but defeat. Did notthe Ten Thousand march to the very gates of Babylon?
"I say to you that the Gods have wearied of the barbarian. We weremarching to meet Darius upon the plain, where the vast number of hisarmy might have encompassed us. We were willing to allow him to choosehis own ground, but the Gods would not have it so. They have blindedhis eyes and led him to us almost as a sacrifice. Nothing remains butto strike the blow.
"O men of Macedon, my friends and companions, liberators of Greece, the
hour of our triumph is near. At the Granicus we overthrew the army ofa viceroy; now we are to meet the army of the Great King himself.
"It is Persia that awaits our onset at Issus. There have the Godsassembled the might and power of the empire and it stands like cornripe for the reaper. The sheaves of this harvest shall be of gold thatthe barbarians have gathered for us as bees gather honey.
"Heroes of Hellas! from your iron hands none can wrest victory unlessyou will it! For yourselves and your children you are about to winfame that shall endure through the ages. I have never led you todefeat, and now I promise you the victory!"
Dead silence reigned while Alexander artfully made his appeal to theimmemorial hatred of Persia, pointed out the advantage that Darius hadgiven them, and raised the hope of fame and spoil. As he finished, acry rent the air that showed he knew his men.
"Alexander! Alexander!" they shouted. "Lead us!"
With swelling hearts, the generals and captains pressed forward tograsp his hand and swear to lay down their lives for him. He greetedthem each by name, reminding them of their bravest deeds and makingeach man feel that the result of the battle might depend upon himalone. The council broke up, spreading its enthusiasm through thecamp. On all sides the soldiers fell to polishing their weapons andboasting of what they would do when they faced the army of Darius.
That day was devoted to preparation. Alexander had sent a scoutingparty of picked men to sail up the coast and learn the disposition ofthe enemy's force. This expedition returned at nightfall and reportedthat the wounded and invalid soldiers who had been left in Issus hadbeen cruelly slain by order of Darius and their bodies impaled alongthe shore. Rage filled the army at this news and hardened the resolveof the men to die rather than forego their victory and revenge.
The trumpets sounded at the first flush of dawn, and by sunrise thearmy was flowing back through the Syrian Gates to the field where thefate of the world was to be decided.