Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/360

342 342 HISTORY OF GREECE. On the next day, Gylippus and the victorious Syracusans over* took Nikias on the right bank of the Erineus, apprized him of tl.e capitulation of Demosthenes, and summoned him to capitulate also. He demanded leave to send a horseman for the purpose of verifying the statement ; and on the return of the horseman, he made a proposition to Gylippus, that his army should be per- mitted to return home, on condition of Athens reimbursing to Syracuse the whole expense of the war, and furnishing hostages until payment should be made ; one citizen against each talent of silver. These conditions were rejected ; but Nikias could not yet bring himself to submit to the same terms for his division as Demosthenes. Accordingly, the Syracusans recommenced their attacks, which the Athenians, in spite of hunger and fatigue, sus tained as they best could until night. It was the intention of Nikias again to take advantage of the night for the purpose of getting away. But on this occasion the Syracusans were on the watch, and as soon as they heard movement in the camp, they raised the paean, or war-shout ; thus showing that they were on the lookout, and inducing the Athenians again to lay down the arms which they had taken up for departure. A detachment of three hundred Athenians, nevertheless, still persisting in march- ing off, apart from the rest, forced their Avay through the posts of the Syracusans. These men got safely away, and nothing but the want of guides prevented them from escaping altogether. 1 During all this painful retreat, the personal resolution displayed by Nikias was exemplary ; his sick and feeble frame was made to bear up, and even to hearten up stronger men, against the extremity of hardship, exhausting the last fragment of hope or even possibility. It was now the sixth day of the retreat, six days 2 of constant privation, suffering, and endurance of attack, yet Nikias early in the morning attempted a fresh march, in order to get to the river Asinarus, which falls into the same sea, south of the Erineus, but is a more considerable stream, flowing deeply imbedded between lofty banks. This was a last effort of despair, with little hope of final escape, even if they did reach it Yet the march was accomplished, in spite of renewed and inces- 1 rimcyd. vii, 83. ' Plutarch (Nikia, c. 9' gays eight days, inaccurately.