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

200 LANGARUS.the valleys of the Erygon and the Haliacmon, and one whichmust at any cost be held as a barrier against the restless barbariansof Illyria.The town lay in a wide plain in the mountains,and fully commanded the road through the gap. Thisroad most of the way ran along the rocky precipices borderingthe Apsos, and in places was so narrow that but four mencould march abreast. The game was really a serious one forAlexander. A slight failure, and he would forfeit the westernsecurity of his kingdom, conquered by Philip with so muchbloodshed ; and as he was abeady engaged in the mountainranges, the Illyrians could now readily interpose between himand Pella, which Alexander could then only reach by a countermarchand circuit of many days ; and even this march inretreat might be cut off by the Autariatians. A serious backsetwoidd forfeit perhaps the control he now held in Greece.The king's Persian exjjedition looked far off indeed.The danger from the Autariatians, however, was happilydisposed of. Langarus, king of the Agrianians, of old afaithful personal friend of Alexander, and whose contingentin the late campaign on the Danube had behaved with splendidhardihood, now came to meet the king with his best troopsand volunteered himself to keep the Autariatians busy byattacking them and making inroads into their country. Thisservice he performed in so workmanlike a manner that theAutariatians, not a very warlike race, were fain to keep totheir hills. For this kindly and efficient service Langaruswas rewarded by Alexander with many proofs of friendship,and the promise of his half-sister Cyna's hand, — which, however,Langarus did not live to claim. We shall constantlyrefer to the gallant Agrianians who accompanied Alexanderto Asia. They were among the bravest and most efficientof his light troops.This initialdanger put one side, Alexander advanced on