Now in their fear and amaze men looked up to Pharaoh, waiting his word, but Pharaoh, overcome by the horror of the scene, appeared to have swooned; at least, he lay back in his chair with his eyes shut like one asleep.  Then they looked to the Queen, but Tua made no sign, only with parted lips and heaving breast watched, watched and waited for the end.

As for Rames he forgot everything save that he, a soldier and a noble of royal race, had been struck across the mouth by a black Nubian who called himself a prince.  His blood boiled up in him, and through a red haze as it were, he saw Tua’s glorious eyes beckoning him on to a victory.  He saw and sprang as springs the lion of the desert, sprang straight at the throat of Amathel.  The blow went high, an ostrich plume floated to the ground—­no more, and Amathel was a sturdy fighter and had the strength of madness.  Moreover, his was the longer weapon; it fell upon the scales of armour of Rames and beat him back, it fell again on his shoulder and struck him to his knee.  It fell a third time, and glancing from the mail wounded him in the thigh so that the blood flowed.  Now a soldier of Pharaoh’s guard shouted to encourage his captain, and the Nubians shouted back, crying to their prince to slit the hog’s throat.

Then Rames seemed to awake.  He leapt from his knees, he smote and the blow went home, though the iron which the Nubian wore beneath his robe stayed it.  He smote again more fiercely, and now it was the blood of Amathel that flowed.  Then bending almost to the ground before the answering stroke, he leapt and thrust with all the strength of young limbs trained to war.  He thrust and behold! between the broad shoulders of Amathel pierced from breast to back, appeared the point of the Egyptian’s sword.  For a moment the prince stood still, then he fell backwards heavily and lay dead.

Now, with a shout of rage the giants of the Nubian guard rushed at Rames to avenge their master’s death, so that he must fly backwards before their spears, backwards into the ranks of the Pharaoh’s guard.  In a flash the Nubians were on them also and, how none could tell, a fearful fray began, for these soldiers hated each other, as their fathers had done before them, and there were none who could come between them, since at this feast no man bore weapons save the guards.  Fierce was the battle, but the Nubians lacked a captain while Rames led veterans of Thebes picked for their valour.

The giants began to give.  Here and there they fell till at length but three of them were left upon their feet, who threw down their arms and cried for mercy.  Then it was for the first time that Rames understood what he had done.  With bent head, his red sword in his hand, he climbed the dais and knelt before the throne of Pharaoh, saying: 

“I have avenged my honour and the honour of Egypt.  Slay me, O Pharaoh!”

But Pharaoh made no answer for his swoon still held him.