rs whose orders were to shoot at the horses, and to pay no heed
to those in the chariots; then came the chariots, four hundred in
number. Behind these again was a deep line of spearmen; on the right
and left extending to the wood and village were the main body of the
army, who were to oppose the Egyptian footmen advancing across the
swamp.

The completion of the last portion of the causeway cost the Egyptians
heavily, for while they were exposed to the arrows of the Rebu archers
these were now beyond the range of the Egyptians on the opposite
crest. But at last the work was completed. Just as it was finished
and the workmen had retired, the king leaped from his chariot, and,
leading a body of a hundred men carrying blazing brands, dashed down
the slope. As soon as they were seen the Egyptian archers ran forward
and a storm of arrows was poured into the little band. Two-thirds of
them fell ere they reached the causeway; the others applied their
torches to the fagots.

The Egyptian footmen rushed across to extinguish the flames, while the
Rebu poured down to repel them. A desperate fight ensued, but the
bravery of the Rebu prevailed, and the Egyptians were driven back.
Their attack, however, had answered its purpose, for in the struggle
the fagots had been trodden deeper into the mire, and the fire was
extinguished. The Rebu now went back to their first position and
waited the attack which they were powerless to avert. It was upward
of an hour before it began, then the long line of Egyptian footmen
opened, and their chariots were seen fifty abreast, then with a mighty
shout the whole army advanced down the slope. The Rebu replied with
their warcry.

At full speed the Egyptian chariots dashed down the declivity to the
causeway. This was the signal for the Rebu archers to draw their bows,
and in an instant confusion was spread among the first line of
chariots. The horses wounded by the missiles plunged madly. Many,
stepping between the fagots, fell. For a moment the advance was
checked, but the Egyptian footmen, entering the swamp waist-deep,
opened such a terrible fire with their arrows that the front line of
the Rebu were forced to fall back, and the aim of their archers became
wild and uncertain.

In vain the king endeavored to steady them. While he was doing so, the
first of the Egyptian chariots had already made their way across the
causeway, and behind them the others poured on in an unbroken column.
Then throug