ft the old negro to keep guard over me, took the
rolls and rode away. Look, there are the stars, and the moon will soon
be up."

"Make haste, men!" cried Pentaur. "The three best horses for me, Horus,
and Kaschta; the rest remain here."

As the red-bearded soldier led the horses forward, the moon shone forth,
and within an hour the travellers had reached the plain; they sprang on
to the beasts and rode madly on towards the lake, which, when the sun
rose, gleamed before them in silvery green. As they drew near to it they
could discern, on its treeless western shore, black masses moving hither
and thither; clouds of dust rose up from the plain, pierced by flashes
of light, like the rays of the sun reflected from a moving mirror.

"The battle is begun!" cried Horus; and he fell sobbing on his horse's
neck.

"But all is not lost yet!" exclaimed the poet, spurring his horse to
a final effort of strength. His companions did the same, but first
Kaschta's horse fell under him, then Horus's broke down.

"Help may be given by the left wing!" cried Horus. "I will run as fast
as I can on foot, I know where to find them. You will easily find the
king if you follow the stream to the stone bridge. In the cross-valley
about a thousand paces farther north--to the northwest of our
stronghold--the surprise is to be effected. Try to get through, and warn
Rameses; the Egyptian pass-word is 'Bent-Anat,' the name of the king's
favorite daughter. But even if you had wings, and could fly straight to
him, they would overpower him if I cannot succeed in turning the left
wing on the rear of the enemy."

Pentaur galloped onwards; but it was not long before his horse too gave
way, and he ran forward like a man who runs a race, and shouted the
pass-word "Bent-Anat"--for the ring of her name seemed to give him
vigor. Presently he came upon a mounted messenger of the enemy; he
struck him down from his horse, flung himself into the saddle, and
rushed on towards the camp; as if he were riding to his wedding.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

During the night which had proved so eventful to our friends, much
had occurred in the king's camp, for the troops were to advance to the
long-anticipated battle before sunrise.

Paaker had given his false report of the enemy's movements to the
Pharaoh with his own hand; a council of war had been held, and each
division had received instructions as to where it was to take up its
position. The corps, which bore the