CHAPTER XVIII
GREEK AND BARBARIAN
Alexander was riding upon Bucephalus, with Parmenio at his side. Behind them rode the light-hearted pages and the grave generals, followed by the Companions and the infantry, winding like an enormous snake along the road that led southward to the Granicus.
The young king seemed preoccupied. He glanced restlessly to the right and left where scouting parties were beating the country to guard against surprise and in the hope of finding some trace of the enemy.
"The Persians cannot be far away now," he said to Parmenio. "Do you think they will wait for us?"
"If they were wise, they would fall back and draw us away from our supplies," the old general replied.
"They must fight," Alexander exclaimed.
"I have no doubt they will," Parmenio answered, with the shadow of a smile upon his lips.
Alexander glanced sharply at him and was silent, riding with bent head as though debating with himself. There was something in the veteran's tone that jarred upon him.