"I wish Leonidas, Chares, and Clearchus were here," he said at last.
"Perhaps they have taken service under Memnon," Parmenio suggested dryly.
"Is there none that you trust?" Alexander said sharply. "They are not deserters; but they may have been killed."
"That is possible," the old man replied.
"I care not so much for the Persians," Alexander continued, "but I would like to know how many men Memnon has and what spirit they are in."
A small party of the scouting horsemen appeared before them in the road.
"It is Amyntas himself," Alexander said, catching sight of them. "What has the Lyncestian found?"
"Either stragglers or prisoners," Parmenio replied, shading his eyes with his palms. "They seem to be negroes."
"We will put them to the torture," Alexander said, with satisfaction. "They may be able to tell something of what we wish to know."
He urged Bucephalus forward to meet the skirmishers, who halted to await his arrival.