During the
day two triremes sailed continually round Sphacteria in opposite
directions, and at night their whole fleet, now raised to the number
of seventy by the arrival of twenty fresh ships, was moored about the
island, except on the exposed side in windy weather.
Before long the Athenians began to feel the difficulties of their
position. They were but scantily supplied with food, and had much
trouble in obtaining water. The only spring to which they had access,
and even that by no means abundant, was in the citadel of Pylos, and
most of them were reduced to scraping the shingle, and thus obtaining
a meagre supply of brackish water. On land their quarters were
straitened and uncomfortable, and they had no proper anchorage for
their ships, so that the crews had to go ashore in turns to get their
meals. They were greatly disappointed to find their task thus
prolonged, for they had supposed that a few days' siege would suffice
to starve the imprisoned Spartans into a surrender, as the island was
barren and ill-furnished with water. But day followed day, and still
they waited in vain for any sign of yielding. For the Spartan
magistrates had offered large rewards to anyone who succeeded in
conveying wine, meal, or other portable provisions, to the island, and
many were tempted to run the risk, especially among the Helots, who
were offered their liberty in return for this service.
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