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So Gobryas advised; and when night came, Darius followed his
counsel, and leaving his sick soldiers, and those whose loss would be
of least account, with the asses also tethered about the camp, marched
away. The asses were left that their noise might be heard: the men,
really because they were sick and useless, but under the pretence that
he was about to fall upon the Scythians with the flower of his troops,
and that they meanwhile were to guard his camp for him. Having thus
declared his plans to the men whom he was deserting, and having caused
the fires to be lighted, Darius set forth, and marched hastily
towards the Ister. The asses, aware of the departure of the host,
brayed louder than ever; and the Scythians, hearing the sound,
entertained no doubt of the Persians being still in the same place.
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