Peucestas covered him with the sacred shield, while Leonnatus fought on desperately until help came.
A few of the Macedonians, maddened by the thought of their king’s danger, scrambled up on each other’s shoulders, and leaped down on the other side to rescue him and his three companions if they still lived.
Some ran to the gates, and opened them, and the anxious soldiers poured in and took the citadel. They believed that their king was dead, and they wreaked their fury on the miserable inhabitants, leaving neither men, women nor children alive.
Alexander was not dead, and although his wound was severe, he recovered. But the rumour of his death had reached the camp near the river where the main body of the army had been left. No letters, no messages could make the grief-stricken soldiers believe that their king still lived.
Alexander was brought down the river in a ship. He was lying on a couch in the stern of the vessel as he drew near to the camp, and he ordered the canopy which screened him to be raised that his soldiers might see him.
At first they thought it was but his lifeless body which they beheld, but as he drew nearer still, the king waved his hand. Then a great shout of joy rent the air.
CHAPTER CII
THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER
In the autumn of 325 B.C. Alexander began to march through the desert of Gedrosia on his way to Babylon.
The heat was terrible, and the soldiers were soon parched with thirst, while sinking sand added to the hardship of the march.