a, which were left completely unguarded, and arrived
safely at Himera on the north coast of Sicily. Here he announced
himself as the forerunner of larger succours, and began to levy an army
which the magic of the Spartan name soon enabled him to effect; and in
a few days he was in a condition to march towards Syracuse with about
3000 men. The Syracusans now dismissed all thoughts of surrender, and
went out boldly to meet Gylippus, who marched into Syracuse over the
heights of Epipolae, which the supineness of Nicias had left unguarded.
Upon arriving in the city, Gylippus sent a message to the Athenians
allowing them a five days' truce to collect their effects and evacuate
the island. Nicias returned no answer to this insulting proposal; but
the operations of Gylippus soon showed that the tide of affairs was
really turned. His first exploit was to capture the Athenian fort at
Labdalum, which made him master of Epipolae. He next commenced
constructing a counter-wall to intersect the Athenian lines on the
northern side. This turn of affairs induced those Sicilian cities
which had hitherto hesitated to embrace the side of Syracuse. Gylippus
was also reinforced by the arrival of thirty triremes from Corinth,
Leucas, and Ambracia. Nicias now felt that the attempt to blockade
Syracuse with his present force was hopeless. He therefore resolved to
occupy the headland of Plemmyrium, the southernmost point of the
entrance to the Great Harbour, which would be a convenient station for
watching the enemy, as well as for facilitating the introduction of
supplies. Here he accordingly erected three forts and formed a naval
station. Some slight affairs occurred in which the balance of
advantage was in favour of the Syracusans. By their change of station
the Athenians were now a besieged rather than a besieging force. Their
triremes were becoming leaky, and their soldiers and sailors were
constantly deserting. Nicias himself had fallen into a bad state of
health; and in this discouraging posture of affairs he wrote to Athens
requesting to be recalled, and insisting strongly on the necessity of
sending reinforcements.

The Athenians refused to recall Nicias, but they determined on sending
a large reinforcement to Sicily, under the joint command of Demosthenes
and Eurymedon. The news of these fresh and extensive preparations
incited the Lacedaemonians to more vigorous action. The peace, if such
it can be called, was now openly