Then, having posted the greater part of his
troops for the defence of his position against the Peloponnesian army,
he himself descended with a picked body of sixty hoplites, and took up
his station on the rocky shore. For on this side the defences were
weakest, as the Athenians, in building the fort, had never anticipated
an attack from the sea.
Demosthenes had just time to address a few words of caution and
encouragement to his men, assuring them of victory, if they would only
stand fast, when the Peloponnesian fleet was seen bearing down upon
them; and at the same moment a loud shout from the fort announced that
the garrison was already engaged behind them. The assault was fiercest
at the point where Demosthenes and his men were stationed, and the
Peloponnesians made desperate efforts to effect a landing. But they
were embarrassed by the difficult and rocky coast, which only allowed
a few ships to approach at a time. As fast as one division was beaten
back, another came on, with the white foam spouting round the prows,
and the waters roaring and eddying to the strokes of the gigantic
oars, while the cliffs resounded with the shouts of their comrades in
the ships behind, cheering them on to the attack.
Conspicuous among those who fought on the ships was seen the gallant
figure of Brasidas, who exerted himself, by voice and by example, to
infuse his own heroic spirit into the rest of the crews and their
officers.
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