to the Queen, but Tua made no sign, only with
parted lips and heaving breast watched, watched and waited for the end.

As for Rames he forgot everything save that he, a soldier and a noble
of royal race, had been struck across the mouth by a black Nubian who
called himself a prince. His blood boiled up in him, and through a
red haze as it were, he saw Tua's glorious eyes beckoning him on to a
victory. He saw and sprang as springs the lion of the desert, sprang
straight at the throat of Amathel. The blow went high, an ostrich plume
floated to the ground--no more, and Amathel was a sturdy fighter and had
the strength of madness. Moreover, his was the longer weapon; it fell
upon the scales of armour of Rames and beat him back, it fell again
on his shoulder and struck him to his knee. It fell a third time,
and glancing from the mail wounded him in the thigh so that the blood
flowed. Now a soldier of Pharaoh's guard shouted to encourage his
captain, and the Nubians shouted back, crying to their prince to slit
the hog's throat.

Then Rames seemed to awake. He leapt from his knees, he smote and the
blow went home, though the iron which the Nubian wore beneath his robe
stayed it. He smote again more fiercely, and now it was the blood
of Amathel that flowed. Then bending almost to the ground before the
answering stroke, he leapt and thrust with all the strength of young
limbs trained to war. He thrust and behold! between the broad shoulders
of Amathel pierced from breast to back, appeared the point of the
Egyptian's sword. For a moment the prince stood still, then he fell
backwards heavily and lay dead.

Now, with a shout of rage the giants of the Nubian guard rushed at Rames
to avenge their master's death, so that he must fly backwards before
their spears, backwards into the ranks of the Pharaoh's guard. In a
flash the Nubians were on them also and, how none could tell, a fearful
fray began, for these soldiers hated each other, as their fathers had
done before them, and there were none who could come between them,
since at this feast no man bore weapons save the guards. Fierce was the
battle, but the Nubians lacked a captain while Rames led veterans of
Thebes picked for their valour.

The giants began to give. Here and there they fell till at length but
three of them were left upon their feet, who threw down their arms and
cried for mercy. Then it was for the first time that Rames understood
what he had done. With bent hea