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

ALEXANDER RISES ABOVE MUTINY. 637Alexander's notice had been given at a camp council calledoutside the town, and no doubt hold inthe usual or Macedonianstyle.He was addressing the assembled soldiers from aplatform upon which he could be seen by all.That there hadlong been open discontent Alexander well knew ; but he hopedto allay it by just this course, and he felt that his action wasgenerous and would be received as such. Instead of hiswords producing the desired effect, however, the ringleadersof the Macedonian party began a murmur of dissent whichsoon grew to a loud outcry of protest. Their feelings hadfinally broken bounds.Once their tongues were untied, theirpent-up anger got the better of them, and after some otherslurring remarks, the ringleadersimpudently urged the kingto make a clean sweep of all the Macedonians and to prosecutehis wars alone. These seditious cries speedily drownedAlexander's voice and the wordy tumult ofa few soon burstout into every sign of general mutiny. Astonished beyondmeasure at this unexpected and ungracious outbreak, and lettinghis naturally quick temper get the upper-hand, Alexander,unarmed as he was, leaped down from the rostrum onwhich he had been standing, and immediately followed by afew of his Companions who had stood beside him, he seizedwith his own hands upon some and ordered all the others whowere apparent ringleaders to be arrested, himself singling themout, as he had been witness of the whole affair, and probablyknew each man by name.Thirteen of these he ordered awayto instant execution, and then again ascending theplatform,he addressed the rest, who were cowed by terror at thisnew role which their king had, at their incentive, assumed" You may every man of you go home," said he, " for aughtI care. I am and always have been independent of such asyou. But before you go, you shall hear what I think of you.Who were you when my father Philip found you? Hide-