e Rebu had
lost their king. He was not forgetful of the charge which had been
laid on him, but the lad was for a moment beyond his control, and he,
too, was filled with fury at the fall of the king, and determined if
possible to save his body. He reached Amuba's side just in time to
interpose his shield between the boy and an Egyptian archer in a
chariot he was passing. The arrow pierced the shield and the arm that
held it. Jethro paused an instant, broke off the shaft at the shield,
and seizing the point, which was projecting two inches beyond the
flesh, pulled the arrow through the wound.

It was but a moment's work, but short as it was it almost cost Amuba
his life, for the archer, leaning forward, dropped the end of his bow
over the lad's head--a trick common among the Egyptian archers--and in
a moment dragged him to the ground, while his comrade in the chariot
raised his spear to dispatch him. Jethro sprang forward with a shout
of rage, and with a blow of his sword struck off the head of the spear
as it was descending. Then shortening his sword, he sprang into the
chariot, ran the man holding the bow through the body, and grappled
with the spearman.

The struggle was a short one. Leaving his sword in the body of the
archer, Jethro drew his dagger and speedily dispatched his foe. Then
he jumped down, and lifting Amuba, who was insensible from the sharp
jerk of the bowstring upon his throat and the violence of his fall,
carried him back to his chariot. This with the greatest difficulty he
managed to draw out of the heat of the conflict, which was for the
moment raging more fiercely than before. The Rebu who had seen the
fall of their king had dashed forward to rescue the body and to avenge
his death. They cleared a space round him, and as it was impossible to
extricate his chariot, they carried his body through the chaos of
plunging horses, broken chariots, and fiercely struggling men to the
rear.

Then it was placed in another chariot, and the driver started with it
at full speed for the city. Jethro, on emerging from the crowd, paused
for a moment to look round. He saw at once that the battle was lost.
The center was utterly broken, and the masses of the Egyptians who had
crossed the swamp were pressing heavily on the flanks of the Rebu
footmen, who were still opposing a firm stand to those attacking them
in front. For the moment the passage of the Egyptian chariots was
arrested; so choked was the causeway with