bu Obediah, in attacking the most conspicuous of
the elephants, was seized by the infuriated animal and trampled under
his feet. Inspirited by this success, the Persians rushed upon their
enemies, who, disheartened by the loss of their commander, began a
retrograde movement, falling back upon their newly-made bridge. This,
however, was found to have been broken, either by the enemy, or by a
rash Arab who thought, by making retreat impossible, to give his own
side the courage of despair. Before the damage done could be repaired,
the retreating host suffered severely. The Persians pressed closely
upon them, slew many, and drove others into the stream, where they were
drowned. Out of the 9000 or 10,000 who originally passed the river,
only 5000 returned, and of these 2000 at once dispersed to their homes.
Besides Abu Obediah, the veteran Salit was slain; and Al Mothanna, who
succeeded to the command on Abu Obediah's death, was severely wounded.
The last remnant of the defeated army might easily have been destroyed,
had not a dissension arisen among the Persians, which induced Bahman to
return to Otesiphon.

The Arabs, upon this repulse, retired to El Lis; and Al Mothanna sent
to Omar for reinforcements, which speedily arrived under the command
of Jarir, son of Abdallah. Al Mothanna was preparing to resume the
offensive when the Persians anticipated him. A body of picked troops,
led by Mihran a general of reputation, crossed the Euphrates, and made a
dash at Hira. Hastily collecting his men, who were widely dispersed, Al
Mothanna gave the assailants battle on the canal El Boweib, in the near
vicinity of the threatened town, and though the Persians fought with
desperation from noon to sunset, succeeded in defeating them and in
killing their commander. The beaten army recrossed the Euphrates, and
returned to Otesiphon without suffering further losses, since the Arabs
were content to have baffled their attack, and did not pursue them many
miles from the field of battle. All Mesopotamia, however, was by this
defeat laid open to the invaders, whose ravages soon extended to the
Tigris and the near vicinity of the capital.

The year A.D. 636 now arrived, and the Persians resolved upon an
extraordinary effort. An army of 120,000 men was enrolled, and Rustam,
reckoned the best general of the day, was placed at its head. The
Euphrates was once more crossed, the Sawad entered, its inhabitants
invited to revolt, and the Arab force, wh