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

sixTHE PEOPLE PROTECTED. 629noble Ordanes was brought in chains to Persis by Craterus,and was likewise executed for plotting levolt inthat satrapy,and Arachotia was added to the satrapy of Ora and Gedrosia,under Sibyrtius, Apollophanes having been deposed forneglect of the king's orders to furnish provision in Gedrosia.From Media, Heracon with the mercenary horse, Oleanderwith the mercenary veterans, and Sitalces with theThracianfoot, who had been in Media with Parmenio, now reportedwith their respective commands ; but they were also accusedby the Medians of misuse of their office. The two latterwere found guilty of peculation, pillage, and cruelty, andwere executed with.hundred of their equally guilty soldiers,who had been their agents in oppression.Heracon wasat that time acquitted, but was later executed for a repeatedoffense of plundering.Baryaxes of Media, and Oxyathres ofParaetacense, suffered a like fate. Philip had been killed ina mutiny in India ; but the mutiny was readily suppressed,and his satrapy was given to the king of Taxila and Eudemus.Encouraged by Alexander's evident intention to bejust, the people came forward more and more freely withtheir troubles, and none had cause to feel that he failed toreceive ample justice. Evenhandedness such as this, especiallywhen exerted against his old and now sadly-neededMacedonians, showed the Persians that Alexander meant to betheir protector as well as king, and was a well-timed lesson toall satraps. It was found, also, that Harpalus, the treasurer,had been playing fast and loose with Alexander's hoardedgold. But the thief was clever enough to make good hisescape from the king's wrath, conveying with him, accordingto Diodorus, fifty thousand talents.It is asserted by some that Alexander often acted on insufficientor on perjured evidence. That he made mistakesin this wholesale administration of justice is altogether prob-