Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/291

 STRATAGEMS, III. m. 5-. . 2

his enemies, conceived the idea that Sparta might be captured, if he slioiild set out against it secretly. Accordingly he ordered numerous watch-fires to be built at night, that, by appearing to remain, he might conceal his departure. But betrayed by a deserter and pursued by the Lacedaemonian troops, he abandoned his march to Sparta, and employed the same scheme against the Mantineans ; for by building watch-fires as before, he deceived the Spartans into thinking that he would remain. Meanwhile, return- ing to Mantinea by a march of forty miles, he found it without defences and captured it.^

0. THE OTHER Hand, Stratagems Connected WITH the Protection of the Besieged

XII. On Stimulating the Vigilance of One's Own Troops

Alcibiades, the Athenian commander, when his own city was blockaded by the Spartans, fearing negligence on the part of the guards, ordered the men on picket-duty to watch for the light which he should exhibit from the citadel at night, and to raise their own lights at sight of it, threatening that whoever failed in this duty should suffer a penalty. While anxiously awaiting the signal of their general, all maintained constant watch, and so escaped the dangers of the perilous night. ^

When Iphicrates, the Athenian general, was hold- ing Corinth with a garrison and on one occasion personally made the rounds of the sentries as the enemy were approaching, he found one of the guards asleep at his post and stabbed him with his spear.

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