leading division, that of Nicias, kept together and
got on a good way in front, while that of Demosthenes, comprising rather
more than half the army, got separated and marched on in some disorder.
By morning, however, they reached the sea, and getting into the Helorine
road, pushed on in order to reach the river Cacyparis, and to follow the
stream up through the interior, where they hoped to be met by the Sicels
whom they had sent for. Arrived at the river, they found there also a
Syracusan party engaged in barring the passage of the ford with a wall
and a palisade, and forcing this guard, crossed the river and went on to
another called the Erineus, according to the advice of their guides.

Meanwhile, when day came and the Syracusans and allies found that the
Athenians were gone, most of them accused Gylippus of having let them
escape on purpose, and hastily pursuing by the road which they had
no difficulty in finding that they had taken, overtook them about
dinner-time. They first came up with the troops under Demosthenes, who
were behind and marching somewhat slowly and in disorder, owing to the
night panic above referred to, and at once attacked and engaged them,
the Syracusan horse surrounding them with more ease now that they were
separated from the rest and hemming them in on one spot. The division of
Nicias was five or six miles on in front, as he led them more rapidly,
thinking that under the circumstances their safety lay not in staying
and fighting, unless obliged, but in retreating as fast as possible, and
only fighting when forced to do so. On the other hand, Demosthenes was,
generally speaking, harassed more incessantly, as his post in the rear
left him the first exposed to the attacks of the enemy; and now, finding
that the Syracusans were in pursuit, he omitted to push on, in order to
form his men for battle, and so lingered until he was surrounded by
his pursuers and himself and the Athenians with him placed in the most
distressing position, being huddled into an enclosure with a wall all
round it, a road on this side and on that, and olive-trees in great
number, where missiles were showered in upon them from every quarter.
This mode of attack the Syracusans had with good reason adopted in
preference to fighting at close quarters, as to risk a struggle with
desperate men was now more for the advantage of the Athenians than for
their own; besides, their success had now become so certain that they
began to