lding a causeway across the water.
However, the Tyrians sallied out and destroyed it; and he had to go to
Sidon, which he took much more easily, and thence obtained ships, with
which he beat the Tyrian fleet, and, after great toil and danger, at last
entered Tyre, after a siege of five months.

Then he marched along the shore to the Philistine city of Gaza, which was
likewise most bravely defended by a black slave named Boetis. Alexander
was much hurt by a stone launched from the walls, which struck him
between the breast and shoulder, and when at the end of four months'
siege the city was stormed, the attack was led by one of his cousins. A
cruel slaughter was made of the citizens; and then Alexander marched up
the steep road to Jerusalem, expecting another tedious siege. Instead of
this, he beheld a long procession in white bordered with blue, coming out
at the gates to meet him. All the Priests and Levites, in their robes,
came forth, headed by Jaddua, the High Priest, in his beautiful raiment,
and the golden mitre on his head inscribed with the words, "Holiness unto
the Lord." So he had been commanded by God in a vision; and when
Alexander beheld the sight, he threw himself from his horse, and adored
the Name on the mitre. He told his officers that before he set out from
home, when he was considering of his journey, just such a form as he now
beheld had come and bidden him fear not, for he should be led into the
East, and all Persia should be delivered to him. Then the High Priest
took him to the outer court of the temple, and showed him the very
prophecies of Daniel and Zechariah where his own conquests were foretold.

[Picture: Decorative chapter heading]

CHAP. XXIX. ALEXANDER'S EASTERN CONQUESTS. B.C. 331-328.

Alexander's next step was into Egypt, where the people had long desired
to drive out the Persians, and welcomed him gladly. He wished to make a
Greek settlement in Egypt, and bring Greek and Egyptian learning
together; so at the delta of the Nile he built the great city of
Alexandria, which still remains as important as ever.

So powerful did he feel himself, that a fancy crossed his mind that,
after all, he was no mere man, but the son of Jupiter, and a demi-god,
like Bacchus, or Hercules of old. There was a temple to the Egyptian god
Ammon, on an oasis, a fertile spot round a spring in the middle of the
desert, with an oracle that Alexander resolved to consult, an