Page 119 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

opening.” A chorus of “Huzzas!” from all of the officers greeted this observation, as
Aspatha continued: “But the plan may be abortive if we do not resort to trickery and
cover of night to carry our scheme.”

“Go on, Aspatha, you are in command!” again interposed Gobryas.
“We must throw them off of their guard and do our job as far as possible without
being observed. “We should break camp and raise the siege and march off in the
presence of all. That will cause them great elation, and doubtless they will have a

celebration of our failure and retreat. Then having departed beyond those low-lying
hills to the West, we will halt till nightfall.
“Then with the best of our men, we will return after sundown, every man equipped
with a spade as well as his arms. The moon is just right, being in its third phase. It will

rise a little late and give enough light, but not too much. We will cut away the dike
between the present river and the old bed and the water will rush out to the lower
level. As the river drops and gets shallower, we will throw a temporary dam across the
present bed to accelerate the outflow. I think the Babylonians, from their king down to

the men on the walls, will be so occupied with their revelries that they will not even
notice the fall of the river.
“When the water under the walls is so low that it is only knee deep or less, we will
start under the wall, pouring into the city and capturing it before they even know what

has taken place.”

The members of the military council sat spellbound as Aspatha unfolded his plan,
so ingenious, so well-thought-out, so practical and workable, that they arose feeling

that Babylon was already theirs.
“Bravo! Aspatha, if your plan works and the city is captured, you will be
recommended to Cyrus for the highest military citation that the Medes and Persians
can confer,” the commander-in-chief said with a hearty shake of the hand. “We shall

not delay to put your plan into operation.” And then to the others, “You will pass the
word through your divisions, that we will break camp in the morning.”