the Egyptians we can
hold out far longer than they can, for the difficulty of victualing so
huge an army will be immense. In what way do you think they will
attack? For my part I do not see any method which offers a hope of
success."

"That I cannot tell you. We know that to us and to the peoples around
our cities seem impregnable. But the Egyptians are skilled in all the
devices of war. They have laid siege to and captured great numbers of
cities, and are doubtless full of plans and expedients of which we
know nothing. However, to-morrow morning will show us something.
Nothing will be attempted to-day. The generals have first to inspect
our walls and see where the assault is to be delivered, and the army
will be given a day's rest at least before being called upon to
assault such a position."

In the afternoon a _cortege_ of chariots made the circuit of the walls
from the shore of the sea round the great plateau to the sea again,
keeping just beyond the range of arrows.

"If we had but a few of their archers here," Jethro said, "the
Egyptian king would not be so overbold in venturing so near. It is
wonderful how strongly they shoot. Their arrows have fully double the
range of ours, and their power is sufficient to carry them through the
strongest shields, even when strengthened with metal. Had I not seen
it I should have thought it impossible that living men, and those no
bigger or stronger than we, could have sent their arrows with such
power. They stand in a different attitude to that of our archers, and
though their shafts are fully a foot longer than ours they draw them
to the head. I regarded myself as a good bowman till I met the
Egyptians, and now I feel as a child might do when watching a man
performing feats of strength of which he had not even imagined a
possibility."

In the evening the great council met. It included all the principal
officers of the army, the priests, the royal councilors, and the
leading men in the state. After a discussion it was determined that
in the present crisis it were best to postpone taking any steps to
appoint a successor to the late king, but that so long as the siege
lasted Amusis should be endowed with absolute powers. In order that
there should be no loss of time for the necessity of consulting any
one Amuba was present with his mother at the council, though neither
of them took any active part in it. But at its commencement an
announcement was made in their name that