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Megabates set sail, and, touching at Miletus, took on board
Aristagoras with the Ionian troops and the Naxians; after which he
steered, as he gave out, for the Hellespont; and when he reached
Chios, he brought the fleet to anchor off Caucasa, being minded to
wait there for a north wind, and then sail straight to Naxos. The
Naxians however were not to perish at this time; and so the following
events were brought about. As Megabates went his rounds to visit the
watches on board the ships, he found a Myndian vessel upon which there
was none set. Full of anger at such carelessness, he bade his guards
to seek out the captain, one Scylax by name, and thrusting him
through one of the holes in the ship's side, to fasten him there in
such a way that his head might show outside the vessel, while his body
remained within. When Scylax was thus fastened, one went and
informed Aristagoras that Megabates had bound his Myndian friend and
was entreating him shamefully. So he came and asked Megabates to let
the man off; but the Persian refused him; whereupon Aristagoras went
himself and set Scylax free. When Megabates heard this he was still
more angry than before, and spoke hotly to Aristagoras. Then the
latter said to him -
"What has thou to do with these matters? Wert thou not sent here by
Artaphernes to obey me, and to sail whithersoever I ordered? Why
dost meddle so?
Thus spake Aristagoras. The other, in high dudgeon at such
language, waited till the night, and then despatched a boat to
Naxos, to warn the Naxians of the coming danger.
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