But in the course
of twenty centuries great changes may well have occurred.] These
inlets the Spartans proposed to close, by anchoring triremes close
together, with their prows turned seawards, which they could easily
have done, for at the southern entrance there was only room for eight
or nine vessels to sail abreast, and at the northern entrance only
room for two. This precaution, however, was never carried out; and the
Spartans, as if blinded by fate, adopted another measure, which led to
fatal consequences for themselves. Wishing to keep command of every
spot of land in the neighbourhood of Pylos, they landed a body of
their own men, numbering four hundred and twenty, with the usual
proportion of Helots, on the island, and the same time posted troops
at every assailable point on the opposite coast.
Thinking now that the little garrison at Pylos, surrounded on all
sides by enemies, would fall an easy prey, they sent orders to the
fleet to get under way, and prepared to attack the fort on the land
side. Meanwhile Demosthenes had not been idle: having drawn his three
remaining ships under the shelter of the fort, and protected them in
front by a stockade, he armed the crews with such weapons as he had,
including a number of wicker-shields, taken from a thirty-oared
Messenian galley which had recently come to his assistance with a
force of forty hoplites.
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