Euboea. The latter, however, were rather bent on the relief of the
distressed Chians, and accordingly put out to sea and sailed with all
their ships from Rhodes. Off Triopium they sighted the Athenian fleet
out at sea sailing from Chalce, and, neither attacking the other,
arrived, the latter at Samos, the Peloponnesians at Miletus, seeing that
it was no longer possible to relieve Chios without a battle. And this
winter ended, and with it ended the twentieth year of this war of which
Thucydides is the historian.

Early in the spring of the summer following, Dercyllidas, a Spartan, was
sent with a small force by land to the Hellespont to effect the revolt
of Abydos, which is a Milesian colony; and the Chians, while Astyochus
was at a loss how to help them, were compelled to fight at sea by the
pressure of the siege. While Astyochus was still at Rhodes they had
received from Miletus, as their commander after the death of Pedaritus,
a Spartan named Leon, who had come out with Antisthenes, and twelve
vessels which had been on guard at Miletus, five of which were Thurian,
four Syracusans, one from Anaia, one Milesian, and one Leon's own.
Accordingly the Chians marched out in mass and took up a strong
position, while thirty-six of their ships put out and engaged thirty-two
of the Athenians; and after a tough fight, in which the Chians and their
allies had rather the best of it, as it was now late, retired to their
city.

Immediately after this Dercyllidas arrived by land from Miletus; and
Abydos in the Hellespont revolted to him and Pharnabazus, and Lampsacus
two days later. Upon receipt of this news Strombichides hastily sailed
from Chios with twenty-four Athenian ships, some transports carrying
heavy infantry being of the number, and defeating the Lampsacenes who
came out against him, took Lampsacus, which was unfortified, at the
first assault, and making prize of the slaves and goods restored the
freemen to their homes, and went on to Abydos. The inhabitants, however,
refusing to capitulate, and his assaults failing to take the place, he
sailed over to the coast opposite, and appointed Sestos, the town in the
Chersonese held by the Medes at a former period in this history, as the
centre for the defence of the whole Hellespont.

In the meantime the Chians commanded the sea more than before; and the
Peloponnesians at Miletus and Astyochus, hearing of the sea-fight and
of the departure of the squadron with Strombichides, too