αὖ—again referring to c. 41.4 τὴν ἐλπίδα ἤδη ἐχυρὰν εἶχον.
Ἀκράγαντα—it was neutial See c. 33. There was now a party favourable to Syracuse in the city; hence the mission of Sicanus, who had been appointed general with Hermocrates in the winter of 415. Acragas did not however join Syr. See c. 50.
αὖθις—he had gone once before; see c. 7.
ἐν ἐλπίδι ὢν—cf. c. 25.1. Here it is constructed as ἐλπίζω.