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

274 THE PAMPHYLIAN LADDERS.compelled to reveal the plot. The Lyneestian Alexander wasat the time commander of the Thessalian horse, a positionsecond to none in the army, and was also one of the Companions.To this body the king confided the facts. The Companionshad long mistrusted the man, and feared that theking's confidence was misplaced. The traitor, who was withParmenio at Sardis, was deprived of his rank and orderedunder guard. The Companions would have sentenced himto death ; but the king still strove to spare him despite histreachery ; he never forgot a benefit. This Alexander waseventually executed three years later on the occasion of theconspiracy of Philotas.When the weather became more auspicious, Alexandermoved from Phaselis, sending a part of his light troops overthe mountain road, which he had caused to be repaired by theThracians after he had driven the robber tribe from its allbut inaccessible fastnesses, to Perge. This was strageticallythe most important town of this part of the country, becausethe key to the passage of the mountains on the north. Theking himself, with the cavalry Companions and phalanx,marched along the seashore. This march was a very riskyone to make. A narrow beach, shut in between MountClimax, which rose in bold outlines to the height of seventhousand feet, and the sea, was generally covered by water anumber of feet deep, or by marshes, for a distance of manymiles. Only at those very rare intervals, when the northwind, blowing with unusual violence, beat back the tides,could the beach be used at all, and this but for a few hours ata time. The idea of marching an army along this beach wasalmost as bold as the conception of Hannibal's march throughthe Arnus swamps, though not undertaken with the crispstrategic purpose of the latter. Still, if it could be done,Alexander might surprise the position of Perge, whose inhab-