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

ASSAULT REPULSED. 531Some of tlie natives now came to Alexander, no doubtattracted by his reputation for giving princely recompense, —the king had probably made inquiries and promises on allhands, — and oifered to lead him to a part of the rock whichthey pointed out from below, and from which the citadel couldbe assailed, if at all. Particularly an old shepherd and histwo sons were selected as guides, and the king offered a prizeof eighty talents for success in this enterprise. Alexandersent Ptolemy, son of Lagus, with some of the Agrianiansand other light troops, added to a body ofpicked hypasj^ists,with directions to occupy the place and signal to him when hehad done so. Ptolemy, after a long and difficult march overnarrow and dangerous footpaths, in conduct of the guides,reached the position undiscovered by the barbarians, and afterfortifyingit b}^ a stockade and ditch, he fired a beacon whereAlexander could see it.Next morning at dawn the king led his men to assault thehill from the main approach, expecting that Ptolemy wouldbe able to help him from his new position. But the mainapproach was so well defended by the Aornians that thekingcould make no headway, even with the aid of a well-meantbut not vigorous diversion by Ptolemy on their rear. Findingthat Alexander could be easily held incheck by limitednumbers, the barbarians fiercely turned on Ptolemy inforce,and drove him back to his stockade ; but, though with theutmost difficulty, this officer managed to hold his positionthere, and the enemy withdrew his troops at nightfall, havinglost heavily by the fire of the Agrianians and archers. Thenext night Alexander managed, through a deserter familiarwith the locality, to convey to Ptolemy the information thathe would assault early next day from a pointmore nearl}' inhis direction than at the main approach, and gave him orders,instead of holding his position, to move down the mountain,