Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/299

 37,38] ATTACK BY SEA AND LAND 29I Athenian wall which faced Syracuse, while some of the heavy-armed troops, which together with the cavalry and light infantry were stationed at the Olympieiim, approached the lines of the enemy from the opposite side. Nearly at the same instant the ships of the Syracusans and their allies sailed out. The Athenians at first thought that they were going to make an attempt by land only, but when they saw the ships suddenly bearing down upon them they were disconcerted. Some mounted the walls or prepared to meet their assailants in front of them ; others went out against the numerous cavalry and javelin-men, who were hastening from the Olympieum and the outer side of the wall ; others manned the ships or prepared to fight on the beach. When the crews had got on board they sailed out with seventy-five ships ; the number of Syracusan ships being about eighty. During a great part of the day the two fleets continued 38 advancing and retreating and skirmish- Slight result of the ing with one another. Neither was /"'• ^"y^ f'si't'i's- able to gain any considerable advan- ^''f ^ M'-W^-s 5//,/.s ° -' a)i(i places inctchaitt- tage, only the Syracusans sank one or vessels so as to protect two ships of the Athenians ; so they '/'f'« '/defeated. parted, and at the same time the infantry retired from the walls. On the following day the Syracusans remained quiet and gave no sign of what they meant to do next. Seeing how close the conflict had been, Nicias expected another attack ; he therefore compelled the trierarchs to repair their ships wherever they were injured, and an- chored merchant-vessels in front of the palisades which the Athenians had driven into the sea so as to form a kind of dock for the protection of their own ships ; these he placed at a distance of about two hundred feet from one another, in order that any ship which was hard pressed might have a safe retreat and an oppor- tunity of going out again at leisure. These preparations occupied the Athenians for a whole day from morning to night.