At Rhegion the generals combined their forces and held a council. Nikias was of opinion they should sail to Selinous, force the inhabitants to do right to the Egestæans, make a demonstration before the chief Sicilian cities, victual the fleet, and return to Athens. Lamachos was for a very different course—sail straight for Syrakuse, land the troops hard by, destroy the forts, force the harbour, and while the fleet was attacking it by sea, march the troops upon the town and take it before it could recover from its surprise or put itself into a fit state of defence. Alkibiades showed foresight as well as courage. He discerned the motives of the mean-souled Nikias, as well as the danger of his impulsive colleague’s plan. Nikias had opposed the enterprise from the beginning, and had prophesied its failure. He was now doing worse, for he was advocating a course which would make his prophecy come true, and had urged the adoption of that course with all his energy. Alkibiades wanted to be able to point to the effect of following his rival’s counsel. ‘What!’ said he, ‘take this vast fleet back again, that has cost the Athenians and their allies so much—take it back before we have done anything but make a vain show before the ports of Sicily! I should be ashamed to face my fellow-citizens. Besides, you must remember more than half our force is not Athenian; it has been furnished by allies. What will _they_ say who have readily brought with us their contingents to rescue their friends and colonies from the clutches of the Syrakusans and the other domineering cities? My advice is to discover what trusty friends we have in Sicily, and endeavour to make others, so as to get a sure basis in the island, before delivering our main attack upon the front of the offending. ‘It is the part of a prudent general not to land his forces in an unknown country before he has discovered what the resources of the country are and what is the strength of the city he is going to assault, lest, if he should happen not to meet with complete success at first, he might find it difficult to feed his men, or to make a good retreat if that were necessary. ‘Were it not for these unforeseen but possible dangers, I should agree with our colleague Lamachos. But, on the whole, therefore, my proposal is that we first gain the goodwill of Messana, the nearest port, or, failing that, the goodwill of some other town, whence we can descend with both army and fleet on Syrakuse, after we have made our observations of the strong and weak points of that important city.’