THE DEFENCE OF PLATAIA, 211

comrades below to carry up and hand tothem. This
first company was to attack and master the two
towers right and left. This they did, surprising and
slaying the guards without the alarm having spread.
Then the others rapidly mounted the wall.

At this critical moment one of them struck a loose
tile with his foot and sent it clattering down the
wall. This unlucky accident gave the alarm. In
an instant shouts came from the towers and the gar-
rison below sprang to arms and hurried to the top
of the wall. But they knew not where to seek the
foe, and their perplexity was increased by the garri-
son within the city, which made a false attack on the
other side.

Not knowing what to do or where to go the
blockaders remained at their posts, except a body of
three hundred men, who were kept in readiness to
patrol the outside of the outer ditch. Fire-signals
were raised to warn their allies in Thebes, but the
garrison in the town also kindled fire-signals so as to
destroy the meaning of those of the besiegers.

Meanwhile the escaping warriors were actively
engaged. Some held with spear and javelin the
towers they had captured. Others drew up the
ladders and planted them against the outer wall.
Then down the ladders they hurried, waded across the
outer ditch, and reached level ground beyond. Each
man, as he gained this space, stood ready with his
weapons. to repel assault from without. When all
the others were down, the men who had held the
towers fled to the ladders and safely descended.

Tho outer ditch was nearly full of water from the