they retired again to
Aegospotami. Then Lysander ordered the swiftest of his ships to follow
the Athenians, and as soon as the crews had disembarked, to watch what
they did, sail back, and report to him. Until these look-outs returned
he would permit no disembarkation from his ships. This performance he
repeated for four successive days, and each day the Athenians put out to
sea and challenged an engagement.

But now Alcibiades, from one of his fortresses, could espy the position
of his fellow-countrymen, moored on an open beach beyond reach of any
city, and forced to send for supplies to Sestos, which was nearly two
miles distant, while their enemies were safely lodged in a harbour, with
a city adjoining, and everything within reach. The situation did not
please him, and he advised them to shift their anchorage to Sestos,
where they would have the advantage of a harbour and a city. "Once
there," he concluded, "you can engage the enemy whenever it suits you."
But the generals, and more particularly Tydeus and Menander, bade him go
about his business. "We are generals now--not you," they said; and so he
went away. And now for five days in succession the Athenians had sailed
out to offer battle, and for the fifth time retired, followed by the
same swift sailors of the enemy. But this time Lysander's orders to the
vessels so sent in pursuit were, that as soon as they saw the
enemy's crew fairly disembarked and dispersed along the shores of the
Chersonesus (a practice, it should be mentioned, which had grown upon
them from day to day owing to the distance at which eatables had to be
purchased, and out of sheer contempt, no doubt, of Lysander, who refused
to accept battle), they were to begin their return voyage, and when in
mid-channel to hoist a shield. The orders were punctually carried out,
and Lysander at once signalled to his whole squadron to put across with
all speed, while Thorax, with the land forces, was to march parallel
with the fleet along the coast. Aware of the enemy's fleet, which he
could see bearing down upon him, Conon had only time to signal to the
crews to join their ships and rally to the rescue with all their might.
But the men were scattered far and wide, and some of the vessels had
only two out of their three banks of rowers, some only a single one,
while others again were completely empty. Conon's own ship, with seven
others in attendance on him and the "Paralus," (9) put out to sea, a
little clust