I cast my eyes about me and perceived that no place in the world could have been better for archery.

In front the hill was steep for a hundred paces or more and scattered over with thousands of large stones behind which bowmen might take shelter.

Then came a gentle slope of loose sand up which attackers would find it hard to climb.

Then the long flat plain whereon the Easterns were camped, and beyond it, scarce two furlongs away, the banks of Nile.
Indeed the place was ill-chosen for so great an army, nor could it have held them all, had not the camping ground been a full league in length, and even so they were crowded.

Out of the mist their tents appeared, thousands of them, farther than my eye could reach, and almost opposite to me, near to the banks of the river, was a great pavilion of silk and gold that I guessed must shelter the majesty of the King of kings.
Indeed this was certain since now I saw that over it floated his royal banner which I knew so well, I who had stolen the little White Signet of signets from which it was taken.