He built towers upon these rafts, and garrisoned them with soldiers, in hopes by this means to prevent all egress from the fort.

He thought that, when this work was completed, Pompey would be entirely shut in, beyond all possibility of escape.
[Sidenote: He besieges Pompey.] [Sidenote: Pompey's plan of escape.] The transports, however, returned before the work was completed.

Its progress was, of course, slow, as the constructions were the scene of a continued conflict; for Pompey sent out rafts and galleys against them every day, and the workmen had thus to build in the midst of continual interruptions, sometimes from showers of darts, arrows, and javelins, sometimes from the conflagrations of fireships, and sometimes from the terrible concussions of great vessels of war, impelled with prodigious force against them.

The transports returned, therefore, before the defenses were complete, and contrived to get into the harbor.

Pompey immediately formed his plan for embarking the remainder of his army.
[Sidenote: It is made known to Caesar.] [Sidenote: Success of Pompey's plan.] He filled the streets of the city with barricades and pitfalls, excepting two streets which led to the place of embarkation.