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

532 ASCENT OF THE ROCK.and attack the barbarians in the rear, whenever he saw thememerge from their defenses to repel the assault he shoiddmake. In this way Alexander would try to reunite the forces,whose division at this moment had proven to be unwise, forit had not resulted in surrender, as the ruse of the " wingedsoldiers " at the rock of Oxyartes had done. At the sametime he hoped that the barbarians might affordhim an openingby which he could surprise the fort.At daybreak Alexander began the ascent of the mountain,prepared for an assault. The barbarians soon perceived hismovement, and began to harass his men as they climbed oneby one along the steep paths, with darts and arrows, to rollstones down upon them, and to embarrass them in every manner.But the Macedonians persevered, and by sharp persistentfighting and the protection of good armor made someheadway. Ptolemy now fell upon the flank and rear of thebarbarians, who had advanced between the two bodies, andthrew them off their guard ; and towards afternoon Alexandermanaged to make a junction with Ptolemy. At the sametime the flying Indians led him to believethat he could capturethe fort, and he endeavored to follow the enemy intotheir defenses, but was not speedy enough to do so. Thegates were closed upon him, and the place was too narrowfor an assaidt to promise success.The army with Alexander now reached the eminence wherePtolemy had built his stockade, — a place lower than, andseparated from, the top of the rock by a precipitous ravine.This he tried the same day to cross by escalading the rocks,but found that the task was an impossible one.On this occasion he gave the pages a chance todistinguishthemselves. He called for volunteers, and thirty of theseroyal youths presented themselves.Under two of their number,Charus and Alexander, this forlorn hope, suitably sustained