Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/117

REVOLTS IN THE HELLESPONT. 93 afrash, though the Athenian armament and fortified post still remained on the island. Astyochus also was enabled to recall Leon with the twelve triremes to Miletus, and thus to strengthen his main fleet. 1 The present appears to have been the time, when the oligar chical party both in the town and in the camp at Samos, were laying their plan of conspiracy as already recounted, and when the Athenian generals were divided in opinion, Charminus siding with this party, Leon and Diomedon against it. Apprized of the reigning dissension, Astyochus thought it a favorable opportunity for sailing with his whole fleet up to the harbor of Samos, and offering battle ; but the Athenians were in no condition to leave the harbor. He accordingly returned to Miletus, where he again remained inactive, in expectation, real or pretended, of the arri- val of the Phenician ships. But the discontent of his own troops, especially the Syracusan contingent, presently became uncontrol- lable. They not only murmured at the inaction of the arma- ment during this precious moment of disunion in the Athenian camp, but also detected the insidious policy of Tissaphernes in thus frittering away their strength without result ; a policy still more keenly brought home to their feelings by his irregularity in supplying them with pay and provision, which caused serious distress. To appease their clamors, Astyochus was compelled to call together a general assembly, the resolution of which was pro- nounced in favor of immediate battle. He accordingly sailed from Miletus with his whole fleet of one hundred and twelve trirenu-.s round to the promontory of Mykale immediately opposite Sa- mos, ordering the Milesian hoplites to cross the promontory by land to the same point. The Athenian fleet, now consisting of only eighty-two sail, in the absence of Strombichides, was then moored near Glauke on the mainland of Mykale ; but the pub- lic decision just taken by the Peloponnesians to fight becoming known to them, they retired to Samos, not being willing to engage with such inferior numbers. 2 It seems to have been during this last interval of inaction on the part of Astyochus, that the oligarchical party in Samos made their attempt and miscarried ; the reaction from which at- 1 Thucyd. viii, 63. Thucyd. viii, 78, 79.