While the Persians were puzzling their heads over the significance of the gifts, the division of the Scythian force which had previously had orders to keep watch along the shore of Lake Maeotis, and had now been sent to confer with the Ionians on the Danube, made its way to the bridge and opened negotiations. ‘Men of Ionia,’ began the Scythian spokesman, ‘we bring you freedom, if only you will do what we suggest. We understand that your orders from Darius were to guard the bridge for sixty days – no more; and after that if he failed to put in an appearance, to go home. Now, therefore, the obvious thing for you to do is to wait till the sixty days have passed and then clear out – neither Darius nor ourselves will have anything to reproach you for in that.’ The Ionians agreed and the Scythians rode back without loss of time.

After the presents had been sent to Darius, the Scythians who had not gone to the Danube drew up their cavalry and infantry with the apparent intention of offering the Persians battle. But as soon as their dispositions were made, a hare started up between the two armies and began running. The Scythians were after it in a moment – company after company of them, directly they caught sight of it – while the array was reduced to a shouting rabble. Darius inquired what all the noise and fuss were about, and upon learning that the enemy was engaged in hunting a hare, he turned to those of his officers he was in the habit of talking with, and said: ‘These fellows have a hearty contempt for us, and I am now ready to believe that Gobryas’ interpretation of those things they sent me was the right one. Well then – as I have come round to his opinion, it is time to think of the best way of getting out of this country in safety.’

‘My lord,’ Gobryas answered. ‘I already knew pretty well from hearsay how difficult the Scythians were to deal with, and now that I am on the spot and can see how they fool us with their tricks, I know it all the better. As to our next move, my proposal is this: as soon as it is dark, I suggest that we should light the camp-fires as usual, and then, tethering the donkeys and leaving behind on some pretext or other those of our men who are least fit to face the hardship and privation, clear out before the Scythians advance to the Danube and destroy the bridge, and before the Ionians on guard can take any measures which may lead to our destruction.’

Darius adopted this proposal, and as soon as night fell began the homeward march, leaving behind the sick and such other of his troops as he could most easily spare, as well as the donkeys all tethered in their usual places.