"And this man," thought Tutmosis, "wants to battle with the priesthood!"
CHAPTER IV
RAMSES and his comrade ran about a quarter of an hour along the rocky ridge of the hill, drawing ever nearer to the trumpets, which sounded more and more urgently. At last they reached a point where they took in at a glance the whole region. Toward the left stretched the highway; beyond that were seen clearly the city of Pi-Bailos, the regiments of the heir drawn up behind it, and an immense cloud of dust which rose above his opponent hastening forward from the east.
On the right yawned a broad ravine, along the middle of which the Greek regiment was dragging military engines. Not far from the road the ravine was lost in another and a broader one which began in the depth of the desert.
At this point something uncommon was happening. The Greeks stood unoccupied not far from the junction of the two ravines; but at the juncture itself, and between the highway and the staff of Ramses, marched out four dense lines of some other army, like four fences, bristling with glittering darts.
In spite of the steep road the prince rushed down at full speed to his division, to the place where the minister of war stood surrounded by officers.
"What is happening?" called he, threateningly. "Why sound an alarm instead of marching?"
"We are cut off," said Herhor.
"By whom?"
"Our division by three regiments of Nitager, who has marched out of the desert."