Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/91

 110-114I CAPTURE OF TORONt 83 the unconscious citizens by the sudden appearance of an armed force in their rear and on both sides of them at once. Their next step was to raise the fire-signal according to agreement; they then received the rest of the targeteers through the gates by the market-place. Brasidas, when he saw the signal, gave his army the 112 word to advance, and ran forward. The army of B,asi- Raising with one voice a shout which das, on a signal given struck great terror into the inhabitants, >'"" '^'^ ioivn,rnsh in. they followed him. Some of them dashed in by the gates ; others found a way in at a place where the wall had fallen down and was being repaired, getting up by some planks which were placed against it, intended for drawing up stones. He himself with the main body of his army ascended to the upper part of the city, wanting to make the capture thorough and secure ; the rest of his soldiers overran the town. While the capture was proceeding the Toronaeans 113 generally, who knew nothing about the ri.c Athenian gar. plot, were in confusion. The con- rison take refuge in spirators and their party at once joined l-'^O'^^tis. the assailants. Of the Athenian hoplites, who to the number of fifty chanced to be sleeping in the Agora, a few were cut down at once, but the greater number, when they saw what had happened, fled, some by land, others to the Athenian guard-ships, of which two were on the spot, and reached safely the fort of Lecythus, a high point of the city which the Athenians had occupied and retained in their own hands; it runs out into the sea, and is only joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus ; thither fled also such Toronaeans as were friendly to the Athenians. It was now daylight, and the city being completely in 114 his power, Brasidas made proclamation to the Toronaeans who had taken refuge with the Athenians, that if they liked they might come out and return to their homes ; they would suffer no harm in the city. He also sent a herald to the Athenians, bidding them take what was their own and