Dismayed by this prospect, they resolved to make one more effort to
drive the Athenians from their position, and marching out in full
force, offered battle. Advancing in haste and disorder, they would
certainly have suffered a crushing defeat, but for the prudent caution
of their generals, who were so much impressed by the superior
discipline of the Athenians, that they gave the order to retire, and
led their troops back into the city, leaving only a detachment of
horse to skirmish with the besiegers. But the Athenians had now an
efficient force of cavalry, which had been raised by successive
reinforcements to the number of six hundred and fifty men; and these,
backed by a small force of infantry, soon drove the horsemen of
Syracuse from the field.
The Athenians then completed the building of their Circle, and began
to lay the materials for the northern line of wall. By the advice of
Hermocrates the Syracusans made no further attempt to attack them in
full force, but began to build a counterwall, running out from the
city in a direction south of the Athenian Circle, so as to cross the
line to be followed by the wall of blockade, and prevent it from
reaching the Great Harbour. The work proceeded without interruption,
for the Athenians were engaged in their building operations north of
the Circle, and did not choose to divide their forces.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231