Again and again the Grecian phalanx advanced, but they found a wall before them as solid as the cliff behind them. When a Bedouin lay dead he ceased to fight, but not before; and the moment he fell, another sprang forward from behind to take his place. XIII THE LANCE OF KANANA The army of the Prophet had not retreated one foot from its original position, when night brought the third day's battle to a close. Kahled sank upon the ground among his soldiers, while the women from the rear brought what refreshment they could to the tired warriors. All night he lay awake beside his gray battle-horse, looking at the stars and thinking. Flight or death would surely be the result of the coming day. Even Kahled the Invincible, had given up all hope of victory. He was too brave a man to fly, but he was also too brave to force others to stand and be slaughtered for his pride. It was a bitter night for him, but as the eastern sky was tinged with gray, he at last resolved to make the sacrifice himself, and save such of his people as he could. The women and children, with the wounded who could be moved, must leave at once, taking all that they could carry with them, and scatter themselves in every direction. When they were well away, he, with such as preferred to stand and die with him, would hold the foe in check while the rest of the army retreated, with orders to march at once to Mecca and Medina, and hold those two sacred cities as long as a man remained alive. He breathed a deep sigh when the plan was completed, and rising, mounted his tired charger, to see that it was properly executed. It was the first time in his career that Kahled the Invincible had ordered a retreat, and his only consolation was that he was neither to lead nor join in it. In the camp of Manuel the same dread of the coming day clouded every brow. Food was entirely exhausted. Horses and camels had been devoured. They had neither the means with which to move away, nor the strength to stand their ground. Their solid phalanx was only what the enemy saw along the front. Rank after rank had been supplied from the rear till there was nothing left to call upon. All that remained of the eighty thousand iron-hearted fighters--the pride of the Emperor Heraclius--as they gathered about the low camp fires, confessed that they were overmatched by the sharper steel of Mohammedan zeal and Bedouin patriotism. Manuel and his officers knew that for at least three days no relief could reach them; they knew, too, that they could not endure another day of fighting. "If we could make them think that their men are deserting and joining us, we might frighten them," suggested an officer. "Send for the spy," said Manuel quickly, "and let it be proclaimed to the other prisoners that all who will join us shall be set free, and that those who refuse shall be slaughtered without mercy."