Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/33

 ATTACK UPON RIIEGIUM. 7 Without pursuing Magon, Dionysius returned to Syracuse, IVom whence he presently set forth to execute his projects against Rhegium, with a fleet of one hundred ships of war. So skilfully did he arrange or mask his movements, that he arrived at night at the gates and under the walls of Rhegium, without the least suspicion on the part of the citizens. Applying combustibles to set fire to the gate (as he had once done successfully at the gate of Achradina), 1 he at the same time planted his ladders against the walls, and attempted an escalade. Surprised and in small numbers, the citizens began their defence ; but the attack was making progress, had not the general Heloris, instead of trying to extinguish the flames, bethought himself of encouraging them by heaping on dry faggots and other matters. The conflagration became so violent, that even the assailants themselves were kept off until time was given for the citizens to mount the walls in force ; and the city was saved from capture by burning a portion of it. Disappointed in his hopes, Dionysius was obliged to con- tent himself with ravaging the neighboring territory ; after which, he concluded a truce of one year with the Rhegines, and then returned to Syracuse. 2 This step was probably determined by news of the movements of Magon, who was in the field anew with a mercenary force reckoned at eighty thousand men Libyan, Sardinian, and Ita- lian obtained from Carthage, where hope of Sicilian success was again reviving. Magon directed his march through the Sikel population in the centre of the island, receiving the adhe- sion of many of their various townships. Agyrium, however, the largest and most important of all, resisted him as an enemy. Agyris, the despot of the place, who had conquered much of the neighboring territory, and had enriched himself by the murder of several opulent proprietors, maintained strict alliance with Dio- nysius. The latter speedily came to his aid, with a force stated at twenty thousand men, Syracusans and mercenaries. Admitted into the city, and co-operating with Agyris, who furnished abun- dant supplies, he soon reduced the Carthaginians to great straits. Magon was encamped near the river Chrysas, between Agyrium
 * Diodor. xiii. 113. * Diodor xiv. 90.