A single glance was sufficient to reveal to me the enemy's tactics. Just as I had anticipated, the Melkarth was being towed down the stream towards the right, obviously with the design to pass us and get below, so as to cut off our retreat. Their immediate design was to divert our attention from this manœuvre, and for this purpose two large ships were ordered to bear down upon us, and a flotilla of small boats was sent to keep up a storm of arrows. Hannibal immediately, by my directions, set his catapults to work, and a volley of stones and pots full of pitch and sulphur was discharged, right over the Cabiros, on to the approaching vessels. I then ordered the Cabiros and the Dagon to move simultaneously, right and left of me, but in opposite directions: the Cabiros northwards towards the galleys that were obstructing our way, the Dagon straight down upon the boat that was towing the Melkarth. I could see Bodmilcar upon the prow of the great gaoul, wildly endeavouring to make the Egyptians understand their danger, and urging the rowers to get their oars into the water; but he was too late. Our movements had taken them completely by surprise. The Dagon, cutting her way full speed through the crowd of small boats, crushed or capsized all that came in her course; the Ashtoreth, liberated by the departure of the Cabiros, effectually kept in check the ships that were trying to pass down the stream; and the Cabiros, that had gone northward, by sending out a number of fire-floats that drifted on in advance, completely discomfited the two galleys that were guarding the mouth of the river.
Our tactics were a perfect success. One of the Egyptian ships was run into by the Ashtoreth with such violence that it was cut asunder, and sank immediately; and the other, harassed by the pots of combustibles, and alarmed at the eddy caused by the foundering of its consort, purposely ran aground. The Dagon, after staving in the towing-boat like a piece of rotten wood, had returned to me; and as we had the satisfaction of seeing Bodmilcar's crew cut their tow-rope, we both turned our attention to the galley which was retiring from the attack and falling back upon the Melkarth. Simultaneously passing it quite close, one on each side, we swept off both its tiers of oars, and hurling down upon it a final shower of arrows, we filed off to join the Cabiros, which was still engaged in discharging its missiles and fire-floats at the other two galleys.
The contest had been sharp but short. In less than an hour we had rendered the Melkarth incapable of action; had sunk two Egyptian vessels; had sent a third aground; and had crushed or capsized at least fifteen small boats.
The surface of the water was covered with the débris, and not a few men could be seen drifting along in the current. Thrown into utter confusion by our unlooked-for attack, the rest of the Egyptian vessels floundered about in each others' way, and totally prevented the Melkarth from obtaining another tug-boat. Finding, therefore, that those need give me no concern, I gave my attention to the galleys in front, and sent adrift a dozen or more fire-floats, which the crew of the Cabiros sent down-stream with their boathooks. The galleys gave way; and, feeling that there was no immediate impediment, I proceeded towards them calmly to the north, leaving our assailants confounded by their disaster, and Bodmilcar raving furiously on the poop of his helpless ship. Bichri lamented that he could not let fly an arrow at him, but it was utterly useless, as we were already too far away.
"A drawn battle!" said the brave archer, coming forward from the stern.
"Yes," said I; "the rascal has had bad luck this morning; but he will watch his opportunity. We haven't done with each other yet."
"I hope not," said Hanno, vindictively.
Presently there was a movement among the Egyptian ships, and three of them, having extricated themselves from the maze of confusion, had commenced a pursuit of us, accompanied by a number of little boats. At the same moment I espied a troop of horsemen galloping along the shore; and raising my eyes to the causeway on the top of the dyke, I observed a cloud of dust, from the midst of which broke ever and again the gleam of a row of bronze and gilded chariots. There was no room for doubt; evidently the King himself was approaching with the intention of being a witness of our capture.
But the mighty Pharaoh had come too late!