or it here shoulder to
shoulder, rank upon rank with locked shields, against which horse
and foot shall break in vain, for who shall drive a wedge through the
Ethiopian squares that Shabaka has trained and that Bes, the Karoon,
commands? I say that they shall roll back like waves from a cliff; yes,
again and again, growing ever fewer till the clamour of battle and
the shouts of fear and agony reach their ears from beyond Amada where
Shabaka and the archers do their work and the sight of the burning ships
strikes terror in them and they fly."

"Good again," said the holy Tanofir. "But still many on both fronts will
be left, for this army of Easterns is very vast. And how will you deal
with these, O Karema?"

"On these I would have Pharaoh with all his remaining strength pour
from the northern and the southern gates of Amada, for so shall they be
caught like wounded lions between two wild bulls and torn and trampled
and utterly destroyed. Only I know not how to tell Pharaoh what he must
do, and when."

"Good again," said the holy Tanofir, "very good. And as for the telling
of Pharaoh, well, I shall see him presently. It is strange, my chipped
Cup which I had almost thrown away as useless, that although broken, you
still hold so much wisdom. For know, wonderful though it may seem, that
just such plans as you have spoken have grown up in my own mind, only I
wished to learn if you thought them wise."

Then he laughed a little and Karema stretched her arms as one does who
awakes from sleep, rubbed her eyes and asked if he would not eat more
food.

In an instant Tanofir was speaking again in a quick, clear voice.

"Bes, or King," he said, "doubtless you will do your wife's will.
Therefore let the host be aroused and stand to its arms. As it chances
I have four men without who can be trusted. Two of these will guide the
five thousand to the ford and across it; also down upon the ships. The
other two will guide Shabaka and the archers along the road which Karema
remembers so well; perhaps she trod it as a child. For my part I return
to Amada to make sure that Pharaoh does his share and at the right time.
For mark, unless all this is carried through to-night Amada will fall
to-morrow, a certain priestess will die, and you, Bes, and your soldiers
will never look on Ethiopia again. Is it agreed?"

I nodded who did not wish to waste time in words, and Bes rolled his
eyes and answered,

"When one can think of nothing, it is