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Soon after the treasures of Oroetes had been conveyed to Sardis it
happened that king Darius, as he leaped from his horse during the
chase, sprained his foot. The sprain was one of no common severity,
for the ankle-bone was forced quite out of the socket. Now Darius
already had at his court certain Egyptians whom he reckoned the
best-skilled physicians in all the world; to their aid, therefore,
he had recourse; but they twisted the foot so clumsily, and used such
violence, that they only made the mischief greater. For seven days
and seven nights the king lay without sleep, so grievous was the pain
he suffered. On the eighth day of his indisposition, one who had
heard before leaving Sardis of the skill of Democedes the Crotoniat,
told Darius, who commanded that he should be brought with all speed
into his presence. When, therefore, they had found him among the
slaves of Oroetes, quite uncared for by any one, they brought him
just as he was, clanking his fetters, and all clothed in rags, before
the king.
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