the magnificent temple there was
a tremendous storm; rocks, struck by lightning, rolled down, and the
Persians fled in dismay; but it is said Xerxes sent one man to insult the
heathen god, and that he was a Jew, and therefore had no fears, and came
back safe.

Now that Thermopylae was lost, there was no place fit to guard short of
the Isthmus of Corinth, and the council decided to build a wall across
that, and defend it, so as to save the Peloponnesus. This left Attica
outside, and the Athenians held anxious council what was to become of
them. Before the way to Delphi was stopped, they had asked the oracle
what they were to do, and the answer had been, "Pallas had prayed for her
city, but it was doomed; yet a wooden wall should save her people, and at
Salamis should women be made childless, at seed-time or harvest."

[Picture: Salamis]

Themistocles said the wooden walls meant the ships, and that the
Athenians were all to sail away and leave the city. Others would have it
that the wooden walls were the old thorn fence of the Acropolis, and
these, being mostly old people, chose to stay, while all the rest went
away; and while the wives and children were kindly sheltered by their
friends in the Peloponnesus, the men all joined the fleet, which lay off
Salamis, and was now 366 in number. The Persians overran the whole
country, overcame the few who held out the Acropolis, and set Athens on
fire. All the hope of Greece was now in the fleet, which lay in the
strait between Attica and the isle of Salamis. Eurybiades, the Spartan
commander, still wanted not to fight, but Themistocles was resolved on
the battle. Eurybiades did all he could to silence him. "Those who
begin a race before the signal are scourged," said the Spartan. "True,"
said Themistocles; "but the laggards never win a crown." Eurybiades
raised his leading staff as if to give him a blow. "Strike, but hear
me," said Themistocles; and then he showed such good reason for there
meeting the battle that Eurybiades gave way. Six days later the Persian
fleet, in all its grandeur, came up, and Xerxes caused his throne to be
set on Mount AEgaleos, above the strait, that he might see the battle.
The doubts of the Peloponnesians revived. They wanted to sail away and
guard their own shores, but Themistocles was so resolved that they should
fight that he sent a slave with a message to Xerxes, pretending to be a
traitor, and advising h