278 BUT TAKE PLEMMYRIUM [vil were already losing the day, and the fugitives got past them with greater ease. For the Syracusan ships which were fighting before the mouth of the harbour, having forced their way through the enemy, entered in disorder, and falling foul of one another gave av/ay the victory to the Athenians, who routed not only these, but also the others by whom they were at first worsted inside the harbour. Eleven Syracusan ships were disabled ; the crews in most of them were slain, in three, made prisoners. The Athenians themselves lost three ships. They now drew to land the wrecks of the S3Tacusan ships, and erecting a trophy on the little island in front of Plemmyrium returned to their own station. 24 But although the Syracusans were unsuccessful in the The loss of Plem- sea-fight, Still they had taken the fort- myriimi disastrous lo resscs of Plemmyrium. They erected the Atimuans. three trophies, one for each fort. Two out of the three forts they repaired and garrisoned, but one of the two which were captured last they demolished. Many perished and many prisoners were made at the capture of the forts, and abundant spoil of different kinds was taken, for the Athenians had used them as a store, and much corn and goods of traders were deposited in them ; also much property belonging to the trierarchs, including the sails and other fittings of forty triremes which fell into the enemy's hands, and three triremes which had been drawn up on the beach. The loss of Plemmyrium was one of the greatest and severest blows which befell the Athenians. For now they could no longer even introduce provisions with safety, but the Syracusan ships lay watching to prevent them, and they had to fight for the passage". General discouragement and dismay prevailed throughout the army. 25 The Syracusans next sent out twelve ships under the command of Agatharchus, a Syracusan. One of these Cp. vii. 4 mcd., 13 init.
