264 GYLIPPUS JOINS THE SYRACUSANS [vil of wall, which extended towards Trogilusand the northern sea, the stones were mostly lying ready ; a part was half- finished, a part had been completed and left. So near was Syracuse to destruction. 3 The Athenians, though at first disconcerted by the Gyli/^p.s and the ^"^^^" advance of Gylippus and the Symcttsans offer battle Syracusans, drew up their forces in to Nicias on Epipdae, order of battle. He halted as he but as Nicias rctnaiiis , , ^ , , , , , by the Athenian hnes approached, and Sent a herald to them they soon withdrazv. offering a truce if they were willing to Lnbdahan taken by the q^jt Sicily within five days taking what belonged to them. But they despised his offer, and sent away the herald without an answer. Whereupon both armies set themselves in order of battle. Gylippus, seeing that the Syracusans were in confusion, and could with difficulty form, led back his troops to the more open ground. Nicias did not follow, but lay still, close to his own wall. When Gylippus observed that the Athenians remained where they were, he led away his army to the height called Temenites ; there they passed the night. On the following day he stationed the greater part of his troops in front of the Athenian wall that the enemy might not despatch a force to any other point, and then sent a detachment against the fort ofLabdalum, which was out of sight of the Athenian lines. He took the place, and killed every one whom he found in it. On the same day an Athenian trireme which was keeping watch over the mouth of the harbour was taken by the Syracusans. 4 The Syracusans and their allies now " began to build ^ The third counter. ^. ^'"8^^ ^'^^ of Wall Starting from the ivoik. Faihtre of an city and nmning upwards across Epi- attack on the Athenian poigg ^, ^^ ^ngle with the Athenian lines. ^ wall ; this was a work which, unless it could be stopped by the Athenians, would make the invest- ment of the city impossible. Towards the sea the Athenian » Or, omitting 'upwards' : 'began to build on the high ground.'
