iance with the Syracusans, and would join the
Athenians, without waiting to see which were the strongest. They must
make Megara their naval station as a place to retreat to and a base from
which to attack: it was an uninhabited place at no great distance from
Syracuse either by land or by sea.

After speaking to this effect, Lamachus nevertheless gave his support
to the opinion of Alcibiades. After this Alcibiades sailed in his own
vessel across to Messina with proposals of alliance, but met with no
success, the inhabitants answering that they could not receive him
within their walls, though they would provide him with a market outside.
Upon this he sailed back to Rhegium. Immediately upon his return the
generals manned and victualled sixty ships out of the whole fleet and
coasted along to Naxos, leaving the rest of the armament behind them
at Rhegium with one of their number. Received by the Naxians, they then
coasted on to Catana, and being refused admittance by the inhabitants,
there being a Syracusan party in the town, went on to the river Terias.
Here they bivouacked, and the next day sailed in single file to Syracuse
with all their ships except ten which they sent on in front to sail
into the great harbour and see if there was any fleet launched, and
to proclaim by herald from shipboard that the Athenians were come
to restore the Leontines to their country, as being their allies and
kinsmen, and that such of them, therefore, as were in Syracuse should
leave it without fear and join their friends and benefactors the
Athenians. After making this proclamation and reconnoitring the city and
the harbours, and the features of the country which they would have to
make their base of operations in the war, they sailed back to Catana.

An assembly being held here, the inhabitants refused to receive the
armament, but invited the generals to come in and say what they desired;
and while Alcibiades was speaking and the citizens were intent on the
assembly, the soldiers broke down an ill-walled-up postern gate
without being observed, and getting inside the town, flocked into the
marketplace. The Syracusan party in the town no sooner saw the army
inside than they became frightened and withdrew, not being at all
numerous; while the rest voted for an alliance with the Athenians and
invited them to fetch the rest of their forces from Rhegium. After this
the Athenians sailed to Rhegium, and put off, this time with all the
armament,