Aristagoras had no way of fulfilling his promise to Artaphrenes, and he was hard-pressed by demands for the costs of the force. Furthermore he feared what might come of the failure of the army and Megabates' displeasure against him. It was likely, he thought, that his lordship of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus would be taken away from him.

With all these fears in his mind, he began to plan revolt, for it chanced that at that very time there came from Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa Histiaeus' messenger, the man with the marked head, signifying that Aristagoras should revolt from the king.

Since Histiaeus desired to give word to Aristagoras that he should revolt and had no other safe way of doing so because the roads were guarded, he shaved and branded the head of his most trustworthy slave. He waited till the hair had grown again, and as soon as it was grown, he sent the man to Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus with no other message except that when he came to Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus he must bid Aristagoras shave his hair and examine his head. The writing branded on it signified revolt, as I have already said.

This Histiaeus did because he greatly disliked his detention at Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa and fully expected to be sent away to the coast in the case that there should be a revolt. If, however, Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus remained at peace, he calculated that he would never return there.