176 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



and violent thunder about Pelion ; but the dead 

 bodies and pieces of wreck were driven to Aphetfe, 

 and got entangled round the prows of the ships 

 and impeded the blades of the oars. But the 

 soldiers who were on board, when they heard the 

 thunder, were seized with terror, expecting that 

 they must certainly perish, into such calamities 

 had they fallen. For before they had recovered 

 breath, after the wreck and tempest that had 

 occurred off Pelion, a fierce engagement followed ; 

 and after the engagement, impetuous rain and 

 mighty torrents rushing into the sea, and violent 

 thunder. Such was the night to them. But to 

 those who had been appointed to sail round 

 Euboea, this same night proved so much the 

 more wild, in that it fell upon them while they 

 were in the open sea ; and the end was grievous to 

 them ; for as they were sailing, the storm and rain 

 overtook them when they were near the Ccela of 

 Eubcea, and, being driven by the wind, and not 

 knowing where they were driven, they were dashed 

 upon the rocks. All this was done by the deity, 

 that the Persian might be brought to an equality 

 with the Grecian, or at least not be greatly 

 superior. Thus they perished near the Coela of 

 Eubosa. The barbarians at Aphetaj, when, to their 

 great joy, day dawned, kept their ships at rest and 

 were content, after they had suffered so much, to 

 remain quiet for the present. I'ut three-and- fifty 



