Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/34

 26 THE ATTACK UPON THE ISLAND [iv towards the harbour, a force amounting in all to about eight hundred men. They then ran as fast as they could to the first station on the island. Now the disposition of the enemy was as follows : This first station was garrisoned by about thirty hoplitcs, while the main body under the command of Epitadas was posted near the spring in the centre of the island, where the ground was most level. A small force guarded ^ the furthest extremit}'^ of the island opposite Pylos, which was precipitous towards the sea, and on the land side the strongest point of all, being protected to some extent by an ancient wall made of rough stones, which the Spartans thought would be of use to them if they were overpowered and compelled to retreat. Such was the disposition of the Lacedaemonian troops. 32 The Athenians rushed upon the first garrison and cut „, .,, ., them down, half asleep as they were The Athenian hop- ' -^ Uieslaud. The first of and just Snatching up their arms. the three garrisons is Their landing had been unobserved, C"i^io2vu The rest 0/ j,^^ ^^ supposing that thc ships the Athenian forecs ^ i r o r tchirh land later are dis- wcrc Only gonc to keep the customary iribtited in small parties watch for the night. When the dawn and oeeupy the higher appeared, the rest of the army began points of the island. ff' ^ j b to disembark. They were the crews of rather more than seventy ships, including all but the lowest rank of rowers, variously equipped. There were also archers to the number of eight hundred, and as many targeteers, besides the Messenian auxiliaries and all who were on duty about P^'los, except the guards who could not be spared from the walls of the fortress. Demosthenes divided them into parties of two hundred more or less, who seized the highest points of the island in order that the enemy, being completely surrounded and distracted by the number of their opponents, might not know whom they should face first, but might be exposed to missiles on every side. For if they attacked those who were in front, they " Reading axnb ro iaaTov, or, axnb Tovax<ifov-