In this hour of weakness
and distress, the Syracusans became divided against themselves, and
every man suspected his neighbour of treason. Then they turned upon
their generals, who, after holding out such high promises, had brought
them to this pass, either by mismanagement, or by deliberate
treachery. Hermocrates and his colleagues were deposed from their
command, and three other generals succeeded to their place.
In the eyes of all those who were watching the struggle, the fate of
Syracuse was sealed; she was destined to fall a prey to the devouring
ambition of Athens. But at this very moment a little cloud was
approaching from the east, which was fraught with disaster and ruin to
the besieging army.
VII
Just at the time when the Syracusans were brought to the brink of
despair, Gylippus, after so many months' delay, was on his voyage to
Sicily. While lying at Leucas, a Corinthian settlement in the Ionian
sea, he received the alarming intelligence that Syracuse was already
completely blockaded, and the report was confirmed by every vessel
that came in from the west. Deceived by these false rumours, he gave
up all hope of saving Sicily, but hoping still to forestall the
Athenians in Italy, he put out from Leucas with four ships, and
steered a straight course for Tarentum.
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