hed it night
and day, to prevent any one from going in or out, or smuggling in any
food.

As Dionysius had no army, and could not win back his throne by force, he
made up his mind to do so, if possible, by a trick. He therefore wrote a
letter, in which he offered Dion the tyranny in exchange for his
freedom. This message was worded so cleverly that it sounded as if Dion
had asked to be made tyrant of Syracuse.

LXXXVI. DEATH OF DION.

Now, after suffering so much under Dionysius and his father, the
Syracusans had learned to hate the very name of tyrant; and ever since
Dion had come into the city, and taken the lead, they had loudly said
they would never stand such a ruler again.

As soon as the letter was ended, Dionysius tied it to a stone, and threw
it over the wall. Of course, it was carried to Dion, who read it aloud,
little suspecting its contents, or the effect it would produce upon his
followers.

The people began to frown and look angry, and Heraclides boldly seized
this opportunity to poison their minds against Dion. He urged them to
drive their new leader out of the city, and to give the command of the
army to him instead.

The people, ever ready for a change, gladly listened to this advice,
and, after banishing Dion, made Heraclides their chief. Dionysius
cleverly managed to escape from the citadel; and his general, Nyp'sius,
only then becoming aware of the revolution, took his place there, and by
a sudden sally won back the greater part of the city.

As Heraclides was taken by surprise at this move, and greatly feared the
wrath of Dionysius, he now wrote to Dion, begging him to come back and
save those who had upheld him.

The appeal was not made in vain. Dion generously forgave the treachery
of Heraclides, and, marching into the city once more, drove Nypsius back
into the citadel, where this general died.

The people of Syracuse were ashamed of having so suddenly turned against
Dion after their first warm welcome to him, and they now fell at his
feet, begging his pardon, which he freely granted to them all.

In spite of this kindness, which they had not deserved, Heraclides and
many others went on plotting secretly against Dion, until his friends,
weary of such double dealing, put Heraclides to death.

Dion was sorry for this, reproved his friends for committing such a
crime, and said that he knew the Syracusans would in time lay the murder
at his door, and try to punish him for it.