From this city, which was
friendly to Sparta and Syracuse, he started on his mission among the
Italian Greeks, and putting in at Locri he heard for the first time
that the Athenian wall was still unfinished on the northern side of
Epipolae, leaving a wide gap, through which a relieving force might
enter the town.
Two courses now lay open to Gylippus. He might sail southwards, and
make an attempt to run the blockade of Syracuse--or he might land on
the northern coast of Sicily, march across the island, and fight his
way into the city through the unwalled interval. In either case, the
enterprise seemed desperate enough. By a very moderate exertion on the
part of Nicias, employing only a fraction of the immense force at his
disposal, Gylippus might have been destroyed, before he had time to
become dangerous. But Nicias was lulled into a fatal confidence. He
had heard of the mission of Gylippus, but made no attempt to oppose
his voyage to Italy, regarding him as a mere free-booter, unworthy of
serious notice. At last, learning that Gylippus was at Locri, he was
induced to send out four triremes against him. They were instructed to
take station at Rhegium, and cut off the daring intruder as he passed
through the strait. But when they reached Rhegium, the wary Spartan
was already beyond their reach.
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