anxiety of the soldiers about alexander.

while alexander was remaining in this place until his wound was cured, the first news which reached the camp from which he had set out to attack the mallians was 336that he had died of the wound; and at first there arose a sound of lamentation from the entire army, as one man handed the rumour on to another. when they ceased their lamentation, they became spiritless, and felt perplexed as to the man who was to become the leader of the army; for many of the officers seemed to have stood in equal rank and merit, both in the opinion of alexander and in that of the macedonians. they were also in a state of perplexity how to get back in safety to their own country, being quite enclosed by so many warlike nations, some of whom had not yet submitted, and who they conjectured would fight stoutly for their freedom; while others would no doubt revolt as soon as they were relieved of their fear of alexander. besides, they seemed at that time to be in the midst of impassable rivers, and all things appeared to them uncertain and impracticable now that they were bereft of alexander. but when at length the news came that he was still alive, they with difficulty acquiesced in it; and did not yet believe that he was likely to survive. even when a letter came from the king, saying that he was coming down to the camp in a short time, this did not appear to most of them worthy of credit, on account of their excessive fear; for they conjectured that the letter was concocted by his confidential body-guards and generals.