drawn up on land. With the morning a strong hurricane arose, blowing with terrific violence in the direction of the shore. Multitudes of the vessels were torn from their anchors and dashed against the cliffs. For three days and three nights the storm raged without a lull; the fourth morning was calm, but it rose on a widespread scene of desolation. For many miles the shore was covered with wrecks and corpses, while the loss of men, ships, stores, and treasure was incalculable.

Tidings of this great disaster came to the Greeks, who offered sacrifices of gratitude, and once more took courage. But if they expected that the whole of the Persian Armada had been destroyed, they were greatly deceived. The extent of that armada was so vast, that though very many ships had perished, very many yet remained, and still far outnumbered the Greek vessels. The disappointment of their expectations threw the Greek sailors into great consternation; it required all the influence of Themistocles, backed, it is said, by a plentiful supply of Euboean gold, to induce them to face the enemy. At length they sailed out, and

the Persians endeavoured to surround their fleet, that none of them might escape. It was nearly dark when the contest began, and it lasted till it was closed by night. The Greeks destroyed thirty of the enemy's ships, and, what was more important still, they found that the Persian fleet was not so invincible as they had deemed it. Once more, also, the elements came to their aid, and helped in the contest between Greece and Persia, which seemed so hopeless and one-sided. It was the summer time, the season during which rain rarely falls in Greece. But again a mighty tempest burst forth, inflicting considerable damage on the main body of the Persian fleet, and destroying a large part of it. They had sent out a squadron to sail round the eastern coast of Euboea, which is almost an unbroken line of precipitous cliffs, and this squadron was totally wrecked and destroyed at one of the most dangerous parts, called "the Hollows." The Greeks were encouraged by the news of this second disaster, and it so happened, also, that just at this time, they received a reinforcement of fifty-three additional ships from Athens. They sailed

out to attack their terror-stricken enemies, and fifteen Cilician ships, which were separated from the Persian main armament, fell into their hands. All that day the Persians were inactive, but on the next day, still presenting a most formidable total force, they were the first to sail out and commence the attack. All day long the battle raged, and each side suffered most severely. The Persians suffered the most, but they were better able, from numerical superiority, to sustain their losses.

In the meantime still more important events came to pass on shore. The hearts of the Greeks sunk within them when they had taken possession of the pass of Thermopylæ, and had seen the enormous hosts against whom they were about to contend. Leonidas encouraged them by sending messengers for further help from the confederate cities. Xerxes could hardly be persuaded that the small body of men posted in the pass had serious intentions of disputing the passage of his mighty army. There was a wall which the Greeks had built at the northern entrance of the pass, and a horseman, who had been sent to reconnoitre, came and told

Xerxes that there were a number of Spartans outside this wall, some of them amusing themselves with gymnastics, and some combing their hair. The Spartan Demaratus, who was accompanying Xerxes, told him that the Spartans were accustomed to comb their hair with peculiar care when they were about to hazard their lives. The story is told that Xerxes sent to the Spartans to tell them to deliver their arms. Let him come and take them," said the Spartans. Some one told a Spartan that the Persian host was so numerous that their arrows would darken the sun. "So much the better," said the Spartan; "we shall fight in the shade."

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For four days Xerxes waited, thinking that the little host would disperse. On the fifth day he sent a body of chosen Medes, telling them to fall upon the Greeks, and bring them prisoners into his presence. They made onset upon onset; but it was only as waves breaking upon a rock. Then Xerxes sent his chosen troops, the Ten Thousand Immortals, who served as a body-guard to himself. They had no better success, and soon demonstrated the vainglorious nature of the title which they bore. Xerxes had watched the fight from a lofty throne, and thrice started from his seat as he saw what was going on. And, indeed, it would be very difficult to foretell what might have been the ultimate issue of the conflict if the cause of the Greeks had not been betrayed by treachery. Mention has been made of a mountain pass, the existence of which Leonidas had found out, and confided to the care of the Phocians. A wretched traitor, Ephialtes, revealed to Xerxes the secret of this mountain path. Then at nighfall ten thousand Persian troops sought this path, by which they expected to descend in the rear of the defile. In the still dawn of day the Phocians, who guarded the path, were disturbed by the noise of the heavy tramping through the wood. The Phocians flew to their arms, but did not venture to arrest the march of the Persians; they sought their own safety on the higher parts of the mountain. Without attempting to follow them, the Persians pursued their way, and descended on the southern side of the mountain.