Astyages came to his death many years afterward, in a somewhat remarkable manner. Cyrus sent for him to come into Persia, where he was himself then residing. The officer who had Astyages in charge, conducted him, on the way, into a desolate wilderness, where he perished of fatigue, exposure, and hunger. It was supposed that this was done in obedience to secret orders from Cyrus, who perhaps found the charge of such a prisoner a burden. The officer, however, was cruelly punished for the act; but even this may have been only for appearances, to divert the minds of men from all suspicion that Cyrus could himself have been an accomplice in such a crime. The whole revolution which has been described in this chapter, from its first inception to its final accomplishment, was effected in a very short period of time, and Cyrus thus found himself very unexpectedly and suddenly elevated to a throne. Harpagus continued in his service, and became subsequently one of his most celebrated generals. CHAPTER VI. THE ORACLES. B.C. 547 Plans of Croesus.--The River Halys.--Nature of the oracles.--Situation of Delphi.--The gaseous vapor.--The priestess.--The sacred tripod.--The oracle of Dodona.--The two black doves.--The priestesses of Dodona.--Manner of obtaining responses.--The great brazen caldron.--The Oasis of Jupiter Ammon.--Discovery of the Oasis of Jupiter Ammon.--Other oracles.--Mode of consulting the oracle.--Mystic ceremonies.--Croesus puts the oracle to the test.--Manner of doing it.--Return of the messengers.--The replies.--Croesus decides in favor of Delphi.--His costly gifts.--The silver tank.--The golden lion.--The bread-maker.--Her history.--The oracle questioned.--The response.--Delight of Croesus.--Supplementary inquiry.--Croesus's feeling of security.--Nature of the oracles.--Means by which the credit of the oracles was sustained.--Whether the priests were impostors.--Answers of the oracles.--Collusion between the priests and those who consulted the oracle.--Is there any revelation truly divine? As soon as Cyrus had become established on his throne as King of the Medes and Persians, his influence and power began to extend westward toward the confines of the empire of Croesus, king of Lydia. Croesus was aroused from the dejection and stupor into which the death of his son had plunged him, as related in a former chapter, by this threatening danger. He began to consider very earnestly what he could do to avert it.