All these causes produced a
burst of enthusiasm throughout Thrace, and if the Spartans had
supported Brasidas with vigour, a general insurrection would have
followed among the Athenian allies. But the authorities of Sparta were
jealous of their brilliant officer, and their chief anxiety was to
recover the prisoners taken at Sphacteria.
In the same winter the indefatigable Spartan effected the capture of
Torone, a town situated on the second of the three headlands which
project, like the prongs of a fork, from the peninsula of Chalcidice.
As in the case of Amphipolis, Torone fell into his hands by treachery;
but he had now made good his title as the champion of Greek
independence, and early in the following spring the citizens of
Scione, on the first or westernmost headland, invited him to come over
and take command of their town. On receiving this welcome summons
Brasidas lost no time, and crossed over by night in a skiff, which was
convoyed by a trireme, so that if any hostile vessel appeared in
sight, it might be engaged by the trireme, and leave him free to
escape. He reached Scione in safety, and having convened a general
assembly of the citizens, addressed them in flattering terms, praising
their high courage and patriotic spirit.
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