At last he became so frightened that he bestirred himself belatedly to obey the Oracle. He secured a ship and a few people willing to go to Sicily, but still he dreaded the colonizing task. And on the very day of Theria’s betrothal Hyllos reappeared in Delphi, praying to be released from Apollo’s command. On this occasion the Oracle reproved him roundly. “The ruins of Inessa disturb the peace of the Delphic god. Yes, and yet more misfortune shall overtake thee unless thou rebuild Inessa on a height where trees invite the birds. Of high choice is the one who goeth with thee.” Hyllos next morning met Nikander in the Precinct and to him poured out his troubles. “I cannot rebuild Inessa, O priest,” he said. “Only a few poor shepherds are left there. Our Catanian neighbours in their raid upon us killed all our leading citizens. They carried away our wealth and destroyed everything. Inessa is ruined beyond repair. Oh, no doubt the god means to destroy me also, and takes this way of making me worthy of death.” Nikander quieted the young man as was his wont, then bade him wait in Delphi until the priests should think and advise with each other over the problem. The young man’s predicament interested Nikander. Like all Delphic priests he loved those far-away colonies of the west: Tarentum, Catana, Syracuse, Croton, Elia—scattered at right intervals along the coast of Greater Greece. They were young in power, wonderful places of sunny beach and wooded hill, while in their backlands were stretches of the richest soil in the world. Almost all those cities had been either founded by the Oracle of Delphi or greatly helped by it. To some Delphi had given laws, to others had sent great leaders in times of need. In the case of Cyrene in Africa, the Oracle had, in some secret way, selected the site and insisted by repeated commands until the “fortunate city” had been built. Delphi retained no lordship over these colonies—her children. She was satisfied to feed their spirit and to receive in return their worship, their tithes, and free gifts. Nikander left the young man and at once went into the cella of the Great Temple. Here in the closed back room he brought forth long-treasured maps of the priests, ancient ones of pottery, later ones of sheepskin and papyrus. He studied them absorbedly. Yes, at the site of the destroyed Inessa was a great stretch of unhabitation on the coast. A city was needed there and the port at the mouth of the river Symæthus was good. How well the god had planned! Nikander then went to old Akeretos who without delay summoned the Council of the priests. They met not in the Council House, for the day was warm, but up in the great lesche or colonnade of the Precinct. Greeks never willingly did their thinking away from the open air. Sitting thus on the stone seats, they could look down through the opening of the steep vale to the far-off bit of sapphire loveliness which was the Corinthian Gulf.