to shoot, though sparingly, for but few arrows were
left. Galled by our archery they marshalled their ranks to charge us
again. With a shout we leapt forward to meet them, for now from the
higher ground I saw the chariots of Peroa rushing to our rescue.

We met, we fought. Surely there had been no such fighting since the days
of Thotmes and Rameses the Great. Still they drove us back till unseen
and unsuspected the chariots and the footmen of Peroa broke on them from
behind, broke on them like a desert storm. They gave, they fled this way
and that, some to the banks of the Nile, some to the hills. By the light
of the setting sun we finished it and ere the darkness closed in the
Great King's army was destroyed, save for the fugitives whom we hunted
down next day.

Yes, in that battle perished ten thousand of the Easterns and their
mercenaries, and upon its field at dawn we crowned Peroa Pharaoh of
Egypt, and he named me the chief general of his army. There, too, fell
over a thousand of my men and among them those six hunters whom I had
won in the wager with the Great King and brought with me from the East.
Throughout the fray they served me as a bodyguard, fighting furiously,
who knew that they could hope for no mercy from their own people. One by
one they were slain, the last two of them in the charge at sunset. Well,
they were brave and faithful to me, so peace be on their spirits. Better
to die thus than in the den of lions.

In triumph we returned to Memphis, I bringing in the rear-guard and the
spoils. Before Pharaoh and I parted a messenger brought me more good
news. Sure tidings had come that the King of kings had been driven by
revolt in his dominions to embark upon a mighty war with Syria, Greece
and Cyprus and other half-conquered countries, in which, doubtless
by agreement, the fires of insurrection had suddenly burned up. Also
already Peroa's messengers had departed to tell them of what was passing
on the Nile.

"If this be true," said Peroa when he had heard all, "the Great King
will have no new army to spare for Egypt."

"It is so, Pharaoh," I answered. "Yet I think he will conquer in this
great war and that within two years you must be prepared to meet him
face to face."

"Two years are long, Shabaka, and in them, by your help, much may be
done."

But as it chanced he was destined to be robbed of that help, and this by
the work of Woman the destroyer.

It happened thus. Amidst great rejoicing