“I think that before the dawn, believing us so few, it will advance and with the first light begin to thread the swamp, and therefore we must keep five thousand archers to gall it as it comes.  Still it will win through, though with loss, and find us waiting for it here shoulder to shoulder, rank upon rank with locked shields, against which horse and foot shall break in vain, for who shall drive a wedge through the Ethiopian squares that Shabaka has trained and that Bes, the Karoon, commands?  I say that they shall roll back like waves from a cliff; yes, again and again, growing ever fewer till the clamour of battle and the shouts of fear and agony reach their ears from beyond Amada where Shabaka and the archers do their work and the sight of the burning ships strikes terror in them and they fly.”

“Good again,” said the holy Tanofir.  “But still many on both fronts will be left, for this army of Easterns is very vast.  And how will you deal with these, O Karema?”

“On these I would have Pharaoh with all his remaining strength pour from the northern and the southern gates of Amada, for so shall they be caught like wounded lions between two wild bulls and torn and trampled and utterly destroyed.  Only I know not how to tell Pharaoh what he must do, and when.”

“Good again,” said the holy Tanofir, “very good.  And as for the telling of Pharaoh, well, I shall see him presently.  It is strange, my chipped Cup which I had almost thrown away as useless, that although broken, you still hold so much wisdom.  For know, wonderful though it may seem, that just such plans as you have spoken have grown up in my own mind, only I wished to learn if you thought them wise.”

Then he laughed a little and Karema stretched her arms as one does who awakes from sleep, rubbed her eyes and asked if he would not eat more food.

In an instant Tanofir was speaking again in a quick, clear voice.

“Bes, or King,” he said, “doubtless you will do your wife’s will.  Therefore let the host be aroused and stand to its arms.  As it chances I have four men without who can be trusted.  Two of these will guide the five thousand to the ford and across it; also down upon the ships.  The other two will guide Shabaka and the archers along the road which Karema remembers so well; perhaps she trod it as a child.  For my part I return to Amada to make sure that Pharaoh does his share and at the right time.  For mark, unless all this is carried through to-night Amada will fall to-morrow, a certain priestess will die, and you, Bes, and your soldiers will never look on Ethiopia again.  Is it agreed?”

I nodded who did not wish to waste time in words, and Bes rolled his eyes and answered,

“When one can think of nothing, it is best to follow the counsel of those who can think of something; also to hunt rather than to be hunted.  Especially is this so if that something comes from the holy Tanofir or his broken Cup.  Generals, you have heard.  Rouse the host and bid them stand to their arms company by company!”