The disasters which had befallen these Persian reconnoiterers thus far were only the beginning of their troubles. Their ships were driven by contrary winds out of their course, and they were thrown at last upon the coast of Iapygia, a country occupying the heel of Italy. Here they were seized by the inhabitants and made slaves. It happened that there was living in this wild country at that time a man of wealth and of cultivation, who had been exiled from Tarentum on account of some political offenses. His name was Cillus. He heard the story of these unhappy foreigners, and interested himself in their fate. He thought that, by rescuing them from their captivity and sending them home, he should make Darius his friend, and secure, perhaps, his aid in effecting his own restoration to his native land. He accordingly paid the ransom which was demanded for the captives, and set them free. He then aided them in making arrangements for their return to Persia, and the unfortunate messengers found their way back at last to the court of Darius, without their guide, without any of the splendid appointments with which they had gone forth, but stripped of every thing, and glad to escape with their lives. They had some cause to fear, too, the anger of Darius, for the insensate wrath of a tyrant is awakened as often by calamity as by crime. Darius, however, was in this instance graciously disposed. He received the unfortunate commissioners in a favorable manner. He took immediate measures for rewarding Cillus for having ransomed them. He treasured up, too, the information which they had obtained respecting Greece, though he was prevented by circumstances, which we will proceed to describe, from immediately putting into execution his plans of invasion and conquest there. CHAPTER VII. THE REVOLT OF BABYLON. B.C. 516-514 City of Babylon.--The captive Jews.--Wickedness of the Babylonians.--Causes of discontent.--Preparations of the Babylonians for revolt.--Their secrecy.--Time chosen for revolt.--Story of Syloson.--Syloson's red cloak.--He gives it to Darius.--Syloson goes to Susa.--Interview with Darius.--Request of Syloson.--Darius grants it.--Citadel of Samos.--Measures of Maeandrius.--Hypocrisy of Maeandrius.--His brother Charilaus.--Reproaches of Charilaus.--Character of Maeandrius.--Attack of Charilaus.--Slaughter of the Samians.--Revolt of Babylon.--Insults and jeers of the Babylonians.--Ancient mode of warfare.--Modern warfare.--Taunt of the Babylonians.--Fabricating prodigies.--The mule of Zopyrus.--Interview with Darius.--Desperate plan of Zopyrus.--He mutilates himself.--Darius's astonishment.--Final arrangements.--Zopyrus leaves the Persian camp.--Success of Zopyrus's stratagem.--His piteous story.--The three victories.--Zopyrus intrusted with power in Babylon.--Zopyrus admits the Persians.--Fall of Babylon.