Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/532

 510 HISTOLY OF GEEECE. three hundred talents which yet remained in the camp, on condi tion of the fleet and army being allowed to sail to Africa unmo- lested. Dionysius would not consent, nor would the Syracusans have confirmed any such consent, to let them all escape ; but he engaged to permit the departure of Imilkon himself with the na- tive Carthaginians. The sum of three hundred talents was ac- cordingly sent across by night to Ortygia ; and the fourth night ensuing was fixed for the departure of Imilkon and his Cartha- ginians, without opposition from Dionysius. During that night forty of their ships, filled with Carthaginians, put to sea and sailed in silence out of the harbor. Their stealthy flight, however, did not altogether escape the notice of the Corinthian seamen in Sy- racuse ; who not only apprised Dionysius, but also manned some of their own ships and started in pursuit. They overtook and destroyed one or two of the slowest sailers ; but all the rest with Imilkon himself, accomplished their flight to Carthage. Dionysius, while he affected to obey the warning of the Co- rinthians, with movements intentionally tardy and unavailing, applied himself with earnest activity to act against the forsaken army remaining. During the same night he led out his troops from the city to the vicinity of their camp. The flight of Imil- kon speedily promulgated, had filled the whole army with aston- ishment and consternation. No command, no common cause, no bond of union, now remained among this miscellaneous host, already prostrated by previous misfortune. The Sikels in the army, being near to their own territory and knowing the roads, retired at once, before daybreak, and reached their homes. Scarcely had they passed, when the Syracusan soldiers occupied the roads, and barred the like escape to others. Amidst the gen- eral dispersion of the abandoned soldiers, some perished in vain attempts to force the passes, others threw down their arms and solicited mercy. The Iberians alone, maintaining their arms and or ler with unshaken resolution, sent to Dionysius propositions to transfer to him their service ; which he thought proper to accept, enrolling them among his mercenaries. All the remaining host, principally Libyans, being stripped and plundered by his soldiers, became his captives, and were probably sold as slaves. 1 The heroic efforts of Nikias, to open for his army a retreat in 1 Diodor. xiv, 75.