Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/324

306 36 HISTORY OF GREECh. their counter- wall which rested upon that fort ; the countei'-wal! was no longer defensible, now that he had got on the north or Syracusan side of it, so that the men on the parapet, where if joined the fort, made no resistance, and fled. Some of tho Athe- nians even began to tear down the parapets, and demolish this part of the counter-wall, an operation of extreme importance, since it would have opened to Demosthenes a communication with the southern side of the counter-wall, leading directly towards the Athenian lines on Epipolas. At any rate, his plan of turning the counter-wall was already carried, if he could only have maintained himself in his actual position, even without advancing farther, and if he could have demolished two or three hundred yards of the upper extremity of the wall now in his power. Whether it would have been possible for him to maintain himself without farther advance, until day broke, and thus avoid the unknown perils of a night-battle, we cannot say. But both he and his men, too much flushed with success to think of halting, hastened forward to complete their victory, and to prevent the disordered Syracusans from again recovering a firm array. Unfortunately, however, their ardor of pursuit as it constantly happened with Grecian hoplites disturbed the regularity of their own ranks, so that they were not in condition to stand thp shock of the Boeotian hoplites, just emerged from their position, and marching up in steady and excellent order to the scene of action. The Boeotians charged them, and after a s'hort resist- ance, broke them completely, forcing them to take flight. The fugitives of the van were thus driven back upon their own com- rades advancing from behind, still under the impression of success, ignorant of what had passed in front, and themselves urged on by the fresh troops closing up in their rear. In this manner the whole army presently became one scene of clamor and confusion wherein there was neither command nor obedience, nor could any one discern what was passing. The light of the moon rendered objects and figures generally visible, without being sufficient to discriminate friend from foe. The beaten Athenians, thrown back upon their comrades, were in many cases mistaken for enemies, and slain. The Syracusans and BfEotians, shouting aloud and pursuing their advantage, became intermingled with the foremost Athenians, and both