Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/287

269 THIRD SYRACUSAN COUNTER-WALL. 2GS lines, as if about to attack. But while the attention of the Athenians was thus engaged, he sent a detachment to surprise the fort of Labdalum, which was not within view of their lines. The enterprise was completely successful. The fort was. taken, and the garrison put to the sword ; while the Syracusans gained another unexpected advantage during the day, by the capture of one of the Athenian triremes which was watching their harbor. Gylippus pursued his successes actively, by immediately begin- ning the construction of a fresh counter-wall, from the outer city wall in a northwesterly direction aslant up the slope of Epipolrc : so as to traverse the intended line of the Athenian circumvalla- tion on the north side of their Cii'cle, and render blockade im- possible. He availed himself, for this purpose, of stones laid by the Athenians for their own circumvallation, at the same time alarming them by threatening attack upon their lower wall, be- tween the southern cliff of Epipolteand the Great Harbor, which was now just finished, so as to leave their troops disposable for action on the higher ground. Against one part of the wall, which seemed weaker than the rest, he attempted a nocturnal surprise, but finding the Athenians in vigilant guard without, he was forced to retire. This part of the wall was now heightened, and the Athenians took charge of it themselves, distributing their allies along the remainder. 1 These attacks, however, appear to have been chiefly intended as diversions, in order to hinder the enemy from obstructing the completion of the counter-wall. Now was the time for Nikias to adopt vigorous aggressive measures both against this wall and against the Syracusans in the field, unless he chose to relinquish all hope of ever being able to beleaguer Syracuse. And, indeed, he seems actually to have relinquished such hope, even thus early rtfter he had seemed certain master of the city. For he now un- dertook a measure altogether new ; highly important in itself, but indicating an altered scheme of policy. He resolved to fortify Cape Plemmyrium, the rocky promontory which forms one extremity of the narrow entrance of the Great Harbor, immedi- ately south of the point of Ortygia, and to make it a secure main station for the fleet and stores. The fleet had been hithert 1 Thucvd. vii 4.