In spite of the steep road the prince rushed down at full speed to his division, to the place where the minister of war stood surrounded by officers. "What is happening?" called he, threateningly. "Why sound an alarm instead of marching?" "We are cut off," said Herhor. "By whom?" "Our division by three regiments of Nitager, who has marched out of the desert." "Then the enemy is there, near the highway?" "Yes, the invincible Nitager himself." It seemed in that moment that the heir to the throne had gone mad. His lips were contorted, his eyes were starting out of their sockets. He drew his sword, rushed to the Greeks, and cried, "Follow me against those who bar the road to us." "O heir, live forever!" cried Patrokles, who drew his sword also. "Forward, descendants of Achilles!" said he, turning to his men. "We will teach those Egyptian cowkeepers not to stop us!" Trumpets sounded the attack. Four short but erect Greek columns rushed forward, a cloud of dust rose, and a shout in honor of Ramses. After a couple of minutes the Greeks found themselves in the presence of the Egyptian regiments, and hesitated. "Forward!" cried the heir, rushing on, sword in hand. The Greeks lowered their spears. On the opposing side there was a movement, a murmur flew along the ranks, and spears also were lowered. "Who are ye, madmen?" asked a mighty voice. "The heir to the throne!" shouted Patrokles. A moment of silence. "Open ranks!" commanded the same voice, mighty as before. The regiments of the eastern army opened slowly, like heavy folding- doors, and the Greek division passed between them. Then a gray-haired warrior in golden helmet and armor approached Prince Ramses and said with a low obeisance, "Erpatr, [Heir] Thou hast conquered. Only a great warrior could free himself from difficulty in that way." "Thou art Nitager, the bravest of the brave!" cried the prince. At that moment Herhor approached. He had heard the conversation, and said abruptly, "Had there been on your side such an awkward leader as the erpatr, how could we have finished the maneuvers?" "Let the young warrior alone!" answered Nitager. "Is it not enough for thee that he has shown the iron claws, as was proper for a son of the pharaoh?" Tutmosis, noting the turn which the conversation had taken, asked Nitager, "Whence hast Thou come, that thy main forces are in front of our army?" "I knew how incompetently the division was marching from Memphis, when the heir was concentrating his regiments near Pi-Bailos, and for sport I wished to capture you young lords. To my misfortune the heir was here and spoiled my plans. Act that way always, Ramses, of course in presence of real enemies." "But if, as today, he meets a force three times superior?" inquired Herhor. "Daring keenness means more than strength," replied the old leader. "An elephant is fifty times stronger than a man; still he yields to him, or dies at his hands." Herhor listened in silence.