Quintus Curtius Rufus, History of Alexander 9.4.25

9.4.25

Iam lux adpetebat, cum rex fiduciae ac spei plenus alacres milites arma capere et exire in aciem iubet. Sed — haud traditur, metune an oborta seditione inter ipsos — subito profugerunt barbari certe et avios montes et inpeditos occupaverunt.

Alexander, elated by these acclamatious, at once broke up his camp and advanced against the enemy, which was the strongest in point of numbers of all the Indian tribes. They were making active preparations for war, and had selected as their head a brave warrior of the nation of the Sudracae. This experienced general had encamped at the foot of a mountain, and had ordered fires to be kindled over a wide circuit to make his army appear so much the more numerous. He endeavoured also at times, but in vain, to alarm the Macedonians when at rest by making his men shout and howl in their own barbarous manner. As soon as day dawned, the king, full of hope and confidence, ordered his soldiers, who were eager for action, to take their arms and march to battle. The barbarians, however, fled all of a sudden, but whether through fear or dissensions that had arisen among them, there is no record to show. At any rate, they escaped timeously to their mountain recesses, which were difficult of approach. The king pursued the fugitives, but to no purpose; however, he took their baggage.