90 HISTORY OF GREECE. despot n as fully aware of the disaffection which reigned in ih town, and of the hopes excited by Dion's project ; which was generally well known, though no one could tell how or at what moment the deliverer might be expected. Suspicious now to a greater degree than ever, Dionysius had caused a fresh search to be made in the city for arms, and had taken away all that he could find. 1 We may be sure too that his regiment of habitual spies were more on the alert than ever, and that unusual rigor was the order of the day. Yet, at this critical juncture, he thought proper to quit Syracuse with a very large portion of his force, leaving the command to Timokrates, the husband of Dion's late wife ; and at this same critical juncture Dion arrived at Minoa. Nothing could exceed the joy of the Dionian soldiers on hear- ing of the departure of Dionysius, which left Syracuse open and easy of access. Eager to avail themselves of the favorable in stant, they called upon their leader to march thither without de- lay, repudiating even that measure of rest which he recommended after the fatigues of the voyage. .Accordingly, Dion, after a short refreshment provided by Synalus with whom he deposited his spare arms, to be transmitted to him when required set forward on his march towards Syracuse. On entering the Agri- gentine territory, he was joined by two hundred horsemen near Eknomon. 2 Farther on, while passing through Gela and Kama- rina, many inhabitants of these towns, together with some neigh- boring Sikans and Sikels, swelled his band. Lastly, when he approached the Syracusan border, a considerable proportion of the rural population came to him also, though without arms ; making the reinforcements which joined him altogether about five thou- sand men.3 Having armed these volunteers in the best man- ner he could, Dion continued his progress as far as Akrae, where he made a short evening halt. From thence, receiving good news from Syracuse, he recommenced his march during the latter hah:" of the night, hastening forward to the passage over the river 1 Diodor. xvi. 10.
- Plutarch, Dion, c. 26, 27 ; Diodor. xvi. 9.
3 Plutarch, (Dion, c. 27) gives the numbers who joined him at about five thousand men, which is very credible. Diodorus gives the number exaggtv Kited, at twenty thousand (xvi. 9).
