Of the Greek mercenaries very few survived, so furious had been Phanes’ revenge, and so well had he been supported by his Ionians.  Ten thousand Karians were taken captive and the murderer of his little child was killed by Phanes’ own hand.

Aristomachus too, in spite of his wooden leg, had performed miracles of bravery; but, notwithstanding all their efforts, neither he, nor any of his confederates in revenge, had succeeded in taking Psamtik prisoner.

When the battle was over, the Persians returned in triumph to their tents, to be warmly welcomed by Croesus and the warriors and priests who had remained behind, and to celebrate their victory by prayers and sacrifices.

The next morning Cambyses assembled his generals and rewarded them with different tokens of distinction, such as costly robes, gold chains, rings, swords, and stars formed of precious stones.  Gold and silver coins were distributed among the common soldiers.

The principal attack of the Egyptians had been directed against the centre of the Persian army, where Cambyses commanded in person; and with such effect that the guards had already begun to give way.  At that moment Bartja, arriving with his troop of horsemen, had put fresh courage into the wavering, had fought like a lion himself, and by his bravery and promptitude decided the day in favor of the Persians.

The troops were exultant in their joy:  they shouted his praises, as “the conqueror of Pelusium” and the “best of the Achaemenidae.”

Their cries reached the king’s ears and made him very angry.  He knew he had been fighting at the risk of life, with real courage and the strength of a giant, and yet the day would have been lost if this boy had not presented him with the victory.  The brother who had embittered his days of happy love, was now to rob him of half his military glory.  Cambyses felt that he hated Bartja, and his fist clenched involuntarily as he saw the young hero looking so happy in the consciousness of his own well-earned success.

Phanes had been wounded and went to his tent; Aristomachus lay near him, dying.

“The oracle has deceived me, after all,” he murmured.  “I shall die without seeing my country again.”

“The oracle spoke the truth,” answered Phanes.  “Were not the last words of the Pythia?”

   ’Then shall the lingering boat to the beckoning meadows convey thee,
   Which to the wandering foot peace and a home will afford?’

“Can you misunderstand their meaning?  They speak of Charon’s lingering boat, which will convey you to your last home, to the one great resting-place for all wanderers—­the kingdom of Hades.”

“Yes, my friend, you are right there.  I am going to Hades.”

“And the Five have granted you, before death, what they so long refused,—­the return to Lacedaemon.  You ought to be thankful to the gods for granting you such sons and such vengeance on your enemies.  When my wound is healed, I shall go to Greece and tell your son that his father died a glorious death, and was carried to the grave on his shield, as beseems a hero.”