Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/36

 28 THE CONFLICT DEEPENS [iV compared with what they had expected ; and famiharity made them think their opponents much less formidable than when they first landed cowed by the fear of facing Lacedaemonians. The}' now despised them and with a loud cry rushed upon them in a bod}', hurling at them stones, arrows, javelins, whichever came first to hand. The shout with which they accompanied the attack dis- mayed the Lacedaemonians, who were unaccustomed to this kind of warfare. Clouds of dust arose from the newly- burnt wood, and there was no possibility of a man's seeing what was before him, owing to the showers of arrows and stones hurled by their assailants which were flying amid the dust. And now the Lacedaemonians began to be sorely distressed, for their felt cuirasses did not protect them against the arrows, and the points of the javelins broke off where they struck them. They were at their wits' end, not being able to see out of their eyes or to hear the word of command, which was drowned by the cries of the enemy. Destruction was staring them in the face, and they had no means or hope of deliverance. 35 At length, finding that so long as they fought in the They reheat to the ^ame narrow spot more and more of fortification at the ex- their men Were wounded, they closed tremily of the islaud, ^j^^jj. j.,^,^i.g ^^j^^ f^ji ^^^]^ ^^ the last and defend themselves. , ... ,vith greater success fortification of the island, which was because they are now not far ofF, and where their other /ess exposed. garrison was stationed. Instantly the light-armed troops of the Athenians pressed upon them with fresh confidence, redoubling their cries. Those of the Lacedaemonians who were caught by them on the way were killed, but the greater number escaped to the fort and ranged themselves with the garrison, resolved to defend the heights wherever they were assailable. The Athenians followed, but the strength of the position made it impos- sible to surround and cut them off", and so they attacked them in face and tried to force them back. For a long time, and indeed during the greater part of the day, both armies,