CHAPTER X.

ALEXANDER AND PORUS AT THE HYDASPES.

Alexander therefore spread a report that he would wait for that season

of the year, if his passage was obstructed at the present time; but

yet all the time he was waiting in ambush to see whether by rapidity

of movement he could steal a passage anywhere without being observed.

But he perceived that it was impossible for him to cross at the place

where Porus himself had encamped near the bank of the Hydaspes, not

only on account of the multitude of his elephants, but also because

his large army, arranged in order of battle and splendidly accoutred,

was ready to attack his men as they emerged from the water. Moreover

he thought that his horses would not be willing to mount the opposite

bank, because the elephants would at once fall upon them and frighten

them both by their aspect and trumpeting; nor even before that would

they remain upon the inflated hides during the passage of the river;

but when they looked across and saw the elephants they would become

frantic and leap into the water. He therefore resolved to steal a

crossing by the following manœuvre:—In the night he led most of his

cavalry along the bank in various directions, making a clamour and

raising the battle-cry in honour of Enyalius.[674] Every kind of noise

was raised, as if they were making all the preparations necessary for

crossing the river. Porus also marched along the river at the head of

his elephants opposite the places where the clamour was heard, and

Alexander thus gradually got him into the habit of leading his men

along opposite the noise. But when this occurred frequently, and there

was merely a clamour and a raising of the battle-cry, Porus no longer

continued to move about to meet the expected advance of the cavalry;

but perceiving that his fear had been groundless,[675] he kept his

position in the camp. However he posted his scouts at many places along

the bank. When Alexander had brought it about that the mind of Porus no

longer entertained any fear of his nocturnal attempts, he devised the

following stratagem.