Before him was the army encamped,
and wild, indeed, was the region chosen for the night's rest. The
glistening soil was thickly strewn with rocks, varying in size from
huge cubes to sharp shingle. Every abrupt ravine ahead was accentuated
with profound shadow, and the dim horizon was broken with hills. The
locality maintained an irregular slope toward the east. The camp
stretched before the messenger for a mile, but the great army had
changed its posture. It squatted like a tired beast.
Kenkenes approached it dropping with weariness, and after a time was
passed through the lines and conducted to the headquarters of the king.
In the center of the great field were pitched the multi-hued tents of
Meneptah and his generals. Above them, turning like weather-vanes upon
their staves, were the standards bearing the royal and divine device,
the crown and the uplifted hands, the plumes and the god-head.
About the royal pavilion in triple cordon paced the noble body-guard of
the Pharaoh.
Of one of these Kenkenes asked that a personal attendant of the king be
sent to him.
In a little time, some one emerged from the Pharaoh's tent, and came
through the guard-line to the messenger. It was Nechutes.
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