last two state triremes, the _Paralus_ and _Salaminia,_ which had
been sent on public business from Athens, came into Mytilene with the
news that they had sighted the fleet of Alcidas lying at anchor off
Clarus. [Footnote: A little town, north-west of Ephesus.] Thereupon
Paches put to sea at once, and gave chase. But Alcidas had got wind of
his danger, and was already on the high seas, making all speed for
Peloponnesus. Paches pursued him as far as Patmos, and then turned
back. He would gladly have caught the Peloponnesians in blue water,
where he could have sent all their ships to the bottom; but as it was
he thought himself fortunate to have escaped the necessity of forming
a blockade, as he must have done if he had come up with them near
land, and driven them ashore. As for Alcidas, he fled in wild haste,
keeping the open sea, being resolved not to touch land, if he could
help it, until he reached the shelter of a Peloponnesian harbour.


III

On his return to Lesbos, Paches despatched to Athens the prisoners who
had been sent to Tenedos, among whom was the Spartan Salaethus. When
they arrived the Athenians immediately put Salaethus to death, and
then met in full assembly to decide on the fate of the rest. They had
just been delivered from a fearful danger, and in the natural reaction
of vindictive rage which had now set in they came to the horrible
resolution of putting all the adult male population of Mytilene to the
sword, and selling the women and children as slaves. The Mytilenaeans,
they argued, were without excuse: they were not subjects of Athens,
who might wish to escape from their burdens, but free and privileged
allies. They had treacherously plotted against Athens, when she was
sunk deep in calamity, and brought a Peloponnesian fleet within the