Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/294

 272 HISTORY OF GREECE. At the end of these four days, while the uneasiness of the popular leaders still continued, and Nikostratus still adjourned his departure, a new phase opened in this melancholy drama. The Peloponnesian fleet under Alkidas arrived at the road of Sybota on the opposite mainland, fifty-three triremes in num- ber, for the forty triremes brought back from Ionia had been re- inforced by thirteen more from Leukas and Ambrakia, and the Lacedaemonians had sent down Brasidas as advising companion, himself worth more than the new thirteen triremes, if he had been sent to supersede Alkidas, instead of bringing nothing but authority to advise. 1 Despising the small squadron of Nikostra- tus, then at Nanpaktus, they were only anxious to deal with Korkyra before reinforcements should arrive from Athens : but the repairs necessary for the ships of Alkidas, after their disas- trous voyage home, occasioned an unfortunate delay. When tho Peloponnesian fleet was seen approaching from Sybota at break of day, the confusion in Korkyra was unspeakable : the Demos and the newly-emancipated slaves were agitated alike by the late terrible combat and by fear of the invaders, the oligarchical party, though defeated, was still present and forming a consid- erable minority, and the town was half burnt. Amidst such elements of trouble, there was little authority to command, and still less confidence or willingness to obey. Plenty of triremes were indeed at hand, and orders were given to man sixty of them forthwith, while Nikostratus, the only man who preserved the cool courage necessary for effective resistance, entreated the Korkyrasan leaders to proceed with regularity, and to wait till all were manned, so as to sail forth from the harbor in a body. He offered himself with his twelve Athenian triremes to go forth first alone, and occupy the Peloponnesian fleet, until the Korky- rsean sixty triremes could all come out in full array to support him. He accordingly went forth with his squadron ; but the Korkyraeans, instead of following his advice, sent their ships out one by one and without any selection of crews. Two of them deserted forthwith to the enemy, while others presented the spec- tacle of crews fighting among themselves ; even those which 1 Thuc yd. iii. 69-70.