The story of what had occurred in the council spread quickly through the mercenary army next morning. Memnon had returned in a rage. He had warned the satraps of their folly in expecting an easy victory and had advised them again to fall back, laying waste the country as they went, so that the Macedonians would be forced to give battle on disadvantageous terms and when they had been disheartened by privation.
This suggestion had been treated with scorn by the Persians. They had taunted Memnon with cowardice and the satrap Arsites had flatly refused to permit a single house in his province to be destroyed.
"If the Greeks wish to earn their pay without fighting," he had said, "let them stand idly by and see how brave men can conquer."
Thereupon all the Persian nobles had shouted assent and it had been decided to proceed without delay to crush the invasion by forcing a battle.
This was the news that was told through the camp of the Greeks and discussed with bitter comment by groups of soldiers.
"I wish I was back with my wife and children," said a sturdy Locrian. "These dogs know nothing of war."
"I shall stay here, no matter what they do," remarked an Athenian, with a shrug. "Hemlock does not agree with me."
"Wait until the phalanx strikes them," said a hoplite from Syracuse. "I'll wager that the date-eaters will sing a different song when the sarissa begins to tickle their ribs."
"You would suppose that these fellows would like to see the barbarians beaten," Chares muttered to Clearchus.
"Hush," said Leonidas. "We know all that we came to learn. What we have to do now, is to get out as soon as we can. The army cannot be far away and unless we can reach it before it arrives, the day may be lost. If we give the Persians time, they may yet change their minds. All depends upon an immediate attack, while their forces are divided. We must get away at once. How are we to manage it?"