The Prince soon formed his plan of battle. He directed the Guard to take a position in a long line, with its right resting at the sand-dune and its left thrown back in a wide curve so as to protect the approaching infantry from attacks of the Arabs.
“Let all our forces be brought up to-night and placed in position. Let them sleep on their arms and be ready to attack at daylight. The wells of water are in possession of the enemy and we must have them to-morrow or die of thirst. Here must we conquer or die. If we lose the battle, every tribe in Syria and Armenia will revolt and attempt to cut us off from retreat to our homes,” said the Prince, turning to his officers after a long survey of the field.
He then gave orders for placing the troops. As the sun went down, his dusty battalions were taking their appointed positions behind the long line of cavalry. He placed the Persian and Medean infantry opposite the Greeks, with its right resting on the sea. In the center were the allied races, principally footmen. On the left were the war-chariots, opposing the chariots of the enemy. Then the cavalry was withdrawn to the rear and massed behind the extreme left. Imitating the tactics of the Great Cyrus in his last battle, he intended to make a détour to the left with the cavalry, assail the extreme end of the enemy’s right, and roll it back to the sea. The pack-train, camp equipage, and the King’s pavilion were placed in the rear near the sea and enclosed within a palisade of stakes driven into the earth. But the King, as became a Persian warrior, bivouacked with the soldiers, having taken his station on the sand-dunes at the right, where he could see the field of battle.
Night fell upon the opposing hosts, and midnight arrived before the final dispositions were made. Videttes and sentinels were duly stationed, and the tired soldiers lay down on their arms to snatch a few hours of rest. The Prince of Iran was about to lie down on the sand in the midst of his guard when a slave, clad in the livery of the King, came and prayed leave to speak with him. Bidden to speak, he said: “My gracious mistress, the Queen, requests you to come to her if it be possible. I am directed to guide you.”
The Prince hesitated. He knew that Artistone, the younger of the King’s sisters, was referred to as the Queen. It was the privilege of the noble Persians and their wives to visit each other; but the King had introduced the customs of the seraglio, the separate harem, the veiled faces, and the seclusion of wives. The slave, noticing his hesitation, continued: “The King is not in his pavilion and the Queen will meet you in the tent of her slaves. She greatly desires you to come. She would speak of the Princess Athura.”
The Prince no longer hesitated. He drew Gobryas to one side and informed him of his design. Then, throwing a rough cloak about his shoulders, as a disguise, he motioned the servant to proceed, and followed him. They entered the palisadoed camp and went to a tent near the King’s pavilion. The slave watched outside while the Prince went in and met the child-wife of the King.
The interior of the tent was dimly lighted by a lamp burning perfumed oil. At one side was a low couch, and, reclining thereon, was Artistone. He bent his knee before her and kissed the slender white hand she held out to him.
“Greeting, Prince and brother!” said she. “How I have longed to see some one I do not fear! This camp is full of spies, placed by the King to watch me and the other women he has brought with him. Only in this one slave who brought you hither and in two maidens who dress me, have I any confidence. How good it is to see your face!”
“It gives me great delight, little sister, to come at your bidding. How may I serve you?” he returned.
“I hear that a great battle is about to take place. Is it true?”