The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

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A. i). 634-5] BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE 85
another, the captains whom Abu 'Obcid had named to take A. II. 13-14.
~
command in case of disaster, were slain, and the troops
began to waver. Just then a soldier, appalled at the fate
of his leaders, ran to the bridge, and crying, Die, as your
Chiefs have died, or conquer,— cut the first boat adrift,
Battle of the
Abu^Obeid
^'^'n ^"d
Retreat closed, the panic spread. The Muslims, hemmed viii.isA.H.
in, were driven back upon the river. Many leapt into the Oct. 634 a. d.
deep swift stream, but few reached the other shore. At
this eventful moment Al-Muthanna rushed to the front.
Backed by a few heroic spirits, among them a Christian
chief of the Beni 'I'ai, he seized the banner and, planting
himself between the enemy and the bewildered Arabs,
called out that he would hold the ground till all had passed
over. Then he chided the author of the calamity, and
commanded the bridge to be restored. " Destroy not your
own selves," he cried ; " retire in order, and I will
defend you." While thus bravely holding the Persians
at bay, the thrust of a lance imbedded the rings of his
armour in a deep and dangerous wound. Heedless of it,
he stood to his ground, endeavouring to cahn the panicstricken
force, but in vain. The confusion increased, and
before order could be restored, vast numbers had perished
in the river. At last, the bridge repaired, a remnant escaped
across ; but 4000 were swept off by the flood, left dead upon
the field, or borne wounded away. Of the new levies, some
2000, stung with remorse, fled from the terrible field back
to Arabia ; and Al-Muthanna, again assuming the command,
was left with only 3000 of his men. After the battle,
l^ahman was on the point of crossing the river to follow up
his victory. Had he done so, it would have fared badly
with Al-Muthanna and the disheartened remnants still holding
their ground on the opposite bank, l^ut fortunately at the .Muthanna
moment, news reached Bahman of a revolt at Al-Mcdain
;
and so, relinquishing his design, he hastened away to the Ulki.>.
distracted capital. Al-Muthanna fell back upon Ulleis,
farther down the river, and fixing headquarters there,
bravely defended his early conquests amongst a people
now not unfriendly to the Muslim cause, Jaban, unaware
of Bahman's hasty recall, fell into Al-Muthanna's hands and,
with his followers, was beheaded. Things, no doubt, looked
dark ; but a hero like i\l-Muthanna was not one to despair.
[emnmi'to