estion, as we can always change afterwards whatever
we do not like."

The people were at first highly irritated at the mention of an
oligarchy, but upon understanding clearly from Pisander that this was
the only resource left, they took counsel of their fears, and promised
themselves some day to change the government again, and gave way. They
accordingly voted that Pisander should sail with ten others and make the
best arrangement that they could with Tissaphernes and Alcibiades. At
the same time the people, upon a false accusation of Pisander, dismissed
Phrynichus from his post together with his colleague Scironides, sending
Diomedon and Leon to replace them in the command of the fleet. The
accusation was that Phrynichus had betrayed Iasus and Amorges; and
Pisander brought it because he thought him a man unfit for the business
now in hand with Alcibiades. Pisander also went the round of all the
clubs already existing in the city for help in lawsuits and elections,
and urged them to draw together and to unite their efforts for the
overthrow of the democracy; and after taking all other measures required
by the circumstances, so that no time might be lost, set off with his
ten companions on his voyage to Tissaphernes.

In the same winter Leon and Diomedon, who had by this time joined the
fleet, made an attack upon Rhodes. The ships of the Peloponnesians they
found hauled up on shore, and, after making a descent upon the coast and
defeating the Rhodians who appeared in the field against them, withdrew
to Chalce and made that place their base of operations instead of Cos,
as they could better observe from thence if the Peloponnesian fleet
put out to sea. Meanwhile Xenophantes, a Laconian, came to Rhodes
from Pedaritus at Chios, with the news that the fortification of the
Athenians was now finished, and that, unless the whole Peloponnesian
fleet came to the rescue, the cause in Chios must be lost. Upon this
they resolved to go to his relief. In the meantime Pedaritus, with the
mercenaries that he had with him and the whole force of the Chians, made
an assault upon the work round the Athenian ships and took a portion
of it, and got possession of some vessels that were hauled up on shore,
when the Athenians sallied out to the rescue, and first routing the
Chians, next defeated the remainder of the force round Pedaritus, who
was himself killed, with many of the Chians, a great number of arms
being also taken.

After this the