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

194 THE GETJE.broken and driven back, with a loss of three thousand killed,into the ravine. The uncertainty of night prevented the Macedoniansfrom pursuing. The rest of the Triballians fled inall directions. About fifty of Alexander's men were killed.The wounded are rarely mentioned in ancient narratives.They averaged eight to twelve for one killed.Alexander turned again to pursue his former track. Threedays after, the army reached the Danube, probably some waybelow the island of Pence. Here he was joined by the fleetwhich he had caused to be sent with provisions from Byzantimnto meet him. Filling the vessels with archers and heavytroops, he sailed up to the island, which Syrmus had put in astate of defense. But though he essayed a landing he foundthat he could make no headway, for the sliips were small andcould hold but few armed men beside the rowers ; the bankswere high and well patrolled, the current, penned in by thenarrows, was very rapid and hard to stem, and the defensewas stout. Alexander was obliged to withdraw, for the momentfoiled.But on the other side of the Danube were the Getae, whohad assembled to the number of four thousand horse and overten thousand foot to oppose his crossing, and appeared to beready to make common cause with the island forces (mid-May, B. C. 335). Alexander determined to dispose of theGet£e first. The barbarians naturally believed that if Alexanderattempted to cross it would be only after many days'preparation, and that they could attack the successive partiesas they reached the northern bank. Alexander's obstinacyalways rose with opposition, and he determined to cross atonce, foreseeing that if he beat the Getse the island wouldprobably surrender at discretion. He utilized the fleet ; hecollected a number of boats made of hollow logs, " dug-outs,"so to speak, which the inhabitants used for fishing, trading,