ed against the wall from the opposite side; the ships
of the Syracusans and allies sailing out immediately afterwards. The
Athenians at first fancied that they were to be attacked by land
only, and it was not without alarm that they saw the fleet suddenly
approaching as well; and while some were forming upon the walls and
in front of them against the advancing enemy, and some marching out in
haste against the numbers of horse and darters coming from the Olympieum
and from outside, others manned the ships or rushed down to the beach
to oppose the enemy, and when the ships were manned put out with
seventy-five sail against about eighty of the Syracusans.

After spending a great part of the day in advancing and retreating
and skirmishing with each other, without either being able to gain any
advantage worth speaking of, except that the Syracusans sank one or two
of the Athenian vessels, they parted, the land force at the same time
retiring from the lines. The next day the Syracusans remained quiet, and
gave no signs of what they were going to do; but Nicias, seeing that the
battle had been a drawn one, and expecting that they would attack again,
compelled the captains to refit any of the ships that had suffered, and
moored merchant vessels before the stockade which they had driven
into the sea in front of their ships, to serve instead of an enclosed
harbour, at about two hundred feet from each other, in order that any
ship that was hard pressed might be able to retreat in safety and sail
out again at leisure. These preparations occupied the Athenians all day
until nightfall.

The next day the Syracusans began operations at an earlier hour, but
with the same plan of attack by land and sea. A great part of the day
the rivals spent as before, confronting and skirmishing with each
other; until at last Ariston, son of Pyrrhicus, a Corinthian, the ablest
helmsman in the Syracusan service, persuaded their naval commanders to
send to the officials in the city, and tell them to move the sale market
as quickly as they could down to the sea, and oblige every one to
bring whatever eatables he had and sell them there, thus enabling the
commanders to land the crews and dine at once close to the ships, and
shortly afterwards, the selfsame day, to attack the Athenians again when
they were not expecting it.

In compliance with this advice a messenger was sent and the market got
ready, upon which the Syracusans suddenly backed water and w