Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/191

 STRATAGEM OF KONON. 109 ready to depart at a moment's notice, without giving any indication to the enemy that they were so. They were fully manned before daybreak, the crews remained in their position all day, and after dark were taken out to repose. This went on for four days successively, no favorable opportunity having occurred to give the signal for attempting a start. At length, on the fifth day, about noon, when many of the Peloponnesian crews were ashore for their morning meal, and others were reposing, the mo- ment seemed favorable, the signal was given, and both the tri- remes started at the same moment with their utmost speed ; one to go out at the southern entrance towards the sea, between Les- bos and Chios, the other to depart by the northern entrance towards the Hellespont. Instantly, the alarm was given among the Peloponnesian fleet : the cables were cut, the men hastened aboard, and many triremes were put in motion to overtake the two runaways. That which departed southward, in spite of the most strenuous efforts, was caught towards evening and brought back with all her crew prisoners : that which went towards the Hellespont escaped, rounded the northern coast of Lesbos, and got safe with the news to Athens ; sending intelligence also, seemingly, in her way, to the Athenian admiral Diomedon at Samos. The latter immediately made all haste to the aid of Konon, with the small force which he had with him, no more than twelve triremes. The two harbors being both guarded by a superior force, he tried to get access to Mitylene through the Euripus, a strait which opens on the southern coast of the island into an in- terior lake, or bay, approaching near to the town. But here he was attacked suddenly by Kallikratidas, and his squadron all captured except two triremes, his own and another ; he himself had great difficulty in escaping. 1 1 Xcnoph. Ilcllcn. i, 6, 22. Ato/^t'Juv 6e floTj&tiv Koiwi Ko fudena vavalv upfj.iaa.To If rov evpnrov rbv fAirvXfjvaluv. The reader should look at a map of Lesbos, to see what is meant by the Euripus of Mitylem", and the other Euripus of the neighboring town of Pyrrlia. Diodorus (xiii, 79) confounds the Euripus of Mh/Ifene with tire harbor of Mitylenu, with which it is quite unconnected. Schneider ar/ Plchn seem tomr.ke the same confusion (sec Plchn, Lcsbiaca, p. 15). VOL. VIII 8