Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

THE DEFILE TURNED. 109at first separately. The one obstinately denied the existenceof any other pass. Xenophon put him to death in the presenceof the other. This one then confessed that there wasanother equally good pass, which, being little known, wouldprobably not be held in force. By means of this pass theposition of the barbarians at the main gap could be turned,and it contained but one position which might have to beforced.Towards night Xenophon dispatched two thousand volunteersto surprise the newly-discovered pass, under conduct ofthis guide, whom he bound, and who saw reward or deathfacing him on either hand. A heavy rain then falling tendedto conceal this manoeuvre from observation. In order stillfurther to divert attention from it,Xenophon made a feignedattack in the front of the defile held by the enemy, with hismain body. The Carducians received him with confidence intheir ability to destroy his army. They felt certain that theyhad him entrapped. One of their means of defense was therolling down the mountain slope of huge stones upon theGreeks. This they continued to do all night. Xenophonleft a small party at this point, with orders to keep up activedemonstrations, and retired with the bulk of his force tocamp, to allow his men to rest.Meanwhile the two thousandvolunteers reached the side pass, and had no great difficultyin driving from it the small body of barbarians who held itand having made their way to the rear of the main pass, atdaylight, under cover of the morning mist, they boldly pushedin upon the astonished Carducians. The blare of their manytrumpets gave notice of their successful d(^tour to Xenophon,as well as added to the confusion of the enemy. The mainarmy at once joined in the attack from the valley side, andthe Carducians were driven from their stronghold.The army entered the hills through both passes, — Xeno-