1854.] 



Oradus ad Aornon. 



325 



Arrian. 

 the shield-bearers ; instructed 

 that on taking the place they 

 should hold it in force and should 

 signal that they possessed it. And 

 Ptolemy threading a rugged and 

 difficult path, escaped the notice 

 of the barbarians holding the 

 country, and fortifying it by a 

 circular palisade and ditch, light- 

 ed the beacon upon the moun- 

 tain; that it might be seen by 

 Alexander, and it was seen by its 

 flame, and Alexander next day 

 advanced the army : but the bar- 

 barians opposing him, he did not 

 advance far on account of the 

 steepness (of the hill) . But when 

 the barbarians perceived the as- 

 cent to be impossible to Alexan- 

 der, they turned upon Ptolemy's 

 force and attacked it, and between 

 them and the Macedonians a 

 stout battle was maintained, the 

 Indians earnestly endeavoring to 

 tear up the palisade, Ptolemy 

 to defend the post. And the bar- 

 barians losing victims in the skir- 

 mish, at night fall retired. Alex- 

 ander selecting certain of the 

 Indian deserters of whom he held 

 security, sent the Indians by night 

 to Ptolemy bearing letters. Thus 

 it was written. " Whenever he 

 himself (Alexander) should at- 

 tack the rock, he (Ptolemy) should 

 come down upon the barbarians 



Gurtius. 

 fresh troops to succeed to the 

 wearied. Which pertinacity be- 

 ing observed, the Indians for two 

 days and two nights banquetted 

 with ostentation not only of con- 

 fidence, but of victory, beating 

 drums according to their custom. 

 On the 3rd night however, the 

 sounds of the drums had ceased to 

 be heard, and torches glowed over 

 the whole rock which the barbari- 

 ans were lighting that their flight 

 in the darkness of night over path- 

 less rocks might be secured. The 

 king having sentBalacros to recon- 

 noitre, knew that the rock was de- 

 serted by the flight of the Indians. 

 Then at a given signal as they 

 shouted all together, !Fear struck 

 the fugitives in their disorder and 

 many, as if close prest by the 

 enemy, precipitated themselves 

 over the slippery rocks and path- 

 less crags. More, mutilated in 

 some member of the body, were 

 deserted of the unwounded. The 

 king victor rather of the place 

 than of the enemy, nevertheless 

 offered thanksgiving to the gods 

 and sacrifices as for a great victory. 

 Altars were built on the spot to 

 Minerva and to Victory. To the 

 leaders of the enterprise whom 

 he had ordered to mount lightly 

 armed he rendered the promised 

 reward with fidelity, although 

 2 x 



