After awhile, the nations whom they had overrun, whose armies they had defeated, and whose cities they had given to the flames, began to recover themselves.

Cyaxares, it is probable, commenced an aggressive war against such of the invaders as had remained within the limits of his dominions, and soon drove them beyond his borders.

Other kings may have followed his example.

In a little while long, probably, before the twenty-eight years of Herodotus had expired--the Scythian power was completely broken.

Many bands may have returned across the Caucasus into the Steppe country.