Now, this story was in no wise true; but Joshua believed it, and the Gibeonites went away pleased indeed that they had succeeded so well. But a few days after, Joshua learned that these Gibeonites had been untrue to him, and that they dwelt in the very midst of the country of Canaan. "Why have you deceived us?" he asked of their leaders. The leaders could make no reply. They could only say, "But you promised not to slay us." "That is true," Joshua replied. "And we will not break our promise. We will not slay you; but we will take all prisoners, and you shall serve us as slaves all the days of your life." The Gibeonites were heavy hearted indeed. They had fallen into their own pit; for they would rather have died than become slaves. But now there was no hope for them, and they could only bow their proud heads beneath the yoke. Hardly had the Israelites and the Gibeonites made peace with each other in this way, when down came the Amorites upon the Gibeonites to fight them. [Illustration: JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL.] The Gibeonites, frightened at the appearance of the great army, fled to Joshua for help. "We shall protect you as our servants and slaves," was the answer. And so, when the Amorites came, it was the Israelites that marched out against them. A terrible battle followed. For a time no one could have told which army was to be victorious. Many were falling among the Amorites; still their army was pressing forward. If only the day would not come to an end! If only the darkness would not fall! If only they might keep on with the battle till the Amorites, exhausted, should fall back! To give up the battle and begin again in the morning would be to give the Amorites opportunity to regain strength and courage. Then the thought came to Joshua, "Why _should_ night come? Why should not the sun and the moon stand still in the heavens until this battle is finished and the Amorites are driven back?" [Illustration: DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMY OF THE AMORITES.] And as he thought, lo! the prayer was answered, and the sun and the moon did stand still. Hour after hour passed; the two armies fought on; the Amorites grew weaker and weaker. Why did not the sun go down? Why did the darkness not come to give them rest? At last the Amorites could hold out no longer. The army turned and fled. The Israelites pursued. The kings hid themselves in a great cave. But Joshua pursued these still. He rolled great stones up before the cave and held them there prisoners. Then, when the Amorites had been scattered, Joshua came back to the cave, brought out the offending kings and slew them all. So the contention for the possession of the land of Canaan went on. One by one the tribes were overcome; and at last Canaan was in the control of the Israelites.