t with these coming up by that
way, and blocking the enemies' retreat, and themselves advancing against
them directly, they might surround them on all sides. Having formed this
plan they proceeded to send off the ships which were appointed for this,
and they themselves had no design of attacking the Hellenes on that day
nor until the signal agreed upon should be displayed to them by those
who were sailing round, to show that they had arrived. These ships, I
say, they were sending round, and meanwhile they were numbering the rest
at Aphetai.

8. During this time, while these were numbering their ships, it happened
thus:--there was in that camp a man of Skione named Skyllias, as a diver
the best of all the men of that time, who also in the shipwreck which
took place by Pelion had saved for the Persians many of their goods and
many of them also he had acquired for himself: this Skyllias it appears
had had an intention even before this of deserting to the side of the
Hellenes, but it had not been possible for him to do so then. In what
manner after this attempt he did actually come to the Hellenes, I am not
able to say with certainty, but I marvel if the tale is true which is
reported; for it is said that he dived into the sea at Aphetai and did
not come up till he reached Artemision, having traversed here somewhere
about eighty furlongs through the sea. Now there are told about this man
several other tales which seem likely to be false, but some also which
are true: about this matter however let it be stated as my opinion that
he came to Artemision in a boat. Then when he had come, he forthwith
informed the commanders about the shipwreck, how it had come to pass,
and of the ships which had been sent away to go round Euboea.

9. Hearing this the Hellenes considered the matter with one another; and
after many things had been spoken, the prevailing opinion was that
they should remain there that day and encamp on shore, and then, when
midnight was past, they should set forth and go to meet those ships
which were sailing round. After this however, as no one sailed out
to attack them, they waited for the coming of the late hours of the
afternoon and sailed out themselves to attack the Barbarians, desiring
to make a trial both of their manner of fighting and of the trick of
breaking their line. 8

10. And seeing them sailing thus against them with few ships, not only
the others in the army of Xerxes but also their commanders ju