EXFEDITION AGAINST NAXOS. 283
- Le disposal of Aristagoras, composed both of Persians and ot
ail the tributaries near the coast. 1 With this force Aristagoras and the Naxian exiles set sail froi Miletus, giving out that they were going to the Hellespont. On reaching Chios, they waited in its western harbor of Kaukasa for a fair wind to carry them straight across to Naxos. No su& picion was entertained in that island of its real purpose, nor was any preparation made for resistance, and the success of Aristag- oras would have been complete, had it not been defeated by an untoward incident ending in dispute. Megabates, with a solici- tude which we are surprised to discern in a Persian general, per- sonally made the tour of his fleet, to see that every ship was under proper watch, and discovered a ship from Myndus (an Asiatic Dorian city near Halikarnassus), left without a single man on board. Incensed at this neglect, he called before him Skylax, the commander of the ship, and ordered him to be put in chains, with his head projecting outwards through one of the apertures for oars in the ship's side. Skylax was a guest and friend of Aristagoras, who, on hearing of this punishment, inter- ceded with Megabates for his release ; but finding the request refused, took upon him to release the prisoner himself. He even went so far as to treat the remonstrance of Megabates with dis- dain, reminding him that, according to the instructions of Arta- phernes, he was only second and himself (Aristagoras) first. The pride of Megabates could not endure such treatment : as soon as night arrived, he sent a private intimation to Naxos of the com- ing of the fleet, warning the islanders to be on their guard. The warning thus fortunately received was turned by the Naxians to the best account. They carried in their property, laid up stores, and made every preparation for a siege, so that when the fleet, probably delayed by the dispute between its leaders, at length arrived, it was met by a stout resistance, remained on the shore of the island for four months in prosecution of an unavailing siege, and was obliged to retire without accomplishing anything beyond the erection of a fort, as lodgment for the Naxian exiles. After a large cost incurred, not only by the Persians, but also by 1 Herodot. v, 30, 31.
