MORNING STAR

by H. Rider Haggard

DEDICATION

My dear Budge, --

Only a friendship extending over many years emboldened me, an amateur, to propose to dedicate a Romance of Old Egypt to you, one of the world'smasters of the language and lore of the great people who in theselatter days arise from their holy tombs to instruct us in the secrets ofhistory and faith. 

With doubt I submitted to you this story, asking whether you wishedto accept pages that could not, I feared, be free from error, and withsurprise in due course I read, among other kind things, your advice tome to "leave it exactly as it is. " So I take you at your word, althoughI can scarcely think that in paths so remote and difficult I have notsometimes gone astray. 

Whatever may be the shortcomings, therefore, that your kindness hasconcealed from me, since this tale was so fortunate as to please andinterest you, its first critic, I offer it to you as an earnest of myrespect for your learning and your labours. 

Very sincerely yours, H. Rider Haggard. 

Ditchingham. 

To Doctor Wallis Budge, Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, British Museum. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

It may be thought that even in a story of Old Egypt to represent a "Ka"or "Double" as remaining in active occupation of a throne, while theowner of the said "Double" goes upon a long journey and achieves sundryadventures, is, in fact, to take a liberty with Doubles. Yet I believethat this is scarcely the case. The _Ka_ or Double which Wiedermannaptly calls the "Personality within the Person" appears, according toEgyptian theory, to have had an existence of its own. It did not diewhen the body died, for it was immortal and awaited the resurrectionof that body, with which, henceforth, it would be reunited and dwelleternally. To quote Wiedermann again, "The _Ka_ could live without thebody, but the body could not live without the _Ka_ . . . . . It wasmaterial in just the same was as the body itself. " Also, it would seemthat in certain ways it was superior to and more powerful than the body, since the Egyptian monarchs are often represented as making offerings totheir own _Kas_ as though these were gods. Again, in the story of "Setnaand the Magic Book, " translated by Maspero and by Mr. Flinders Petriein his "Egyptian Tales, " the _Ka_ plays a very distinct part of its own. Thus the husband is buried at Memphis and the wife in Koptos, yet the_Ka_ of the wife goes to live in her husband's tomb hundreds of milesaway, and converses with the prince who comes to steal the magic book. 

Although I know no actual precedent for it, in the case of aparticularly powerful Double, such as was given in this romance to QueenNeter-Tua by her spiritual father, Amen, the greatest of the Egyptiangods, it seems, therefore, legitimate to suppose that, in order to saveher from the abomination of a forced marriage with her uncle and herfather's murderer, the _Ka_ would be allowed to anticipate matters alittle, and to play the part recorded in these pages. 

It must not be understood, however, that the fact of marriage with anuncle would have shocked the Egyptian mind, since these people, andespecially their royal Houses, made a habit of wedding their ownbrothers and sisters, as in this tale Mermes wed his half sister Asti. 

I may add that there is authority for the magic waxen image which thesorcerer Kaku and his accomplice used to bewitch Pharaoh. In the days ofRameses III. , over three thousand years ago, a plot was made to murderthe king in pursuance of which such images were used. "Gods of wax . . . . . . For enfeebling the limbs of people, " which were "great crimes ofdeath, the great abomination of the land. " Also a certain "magic roll"was brought into play which enabled its user to "employ the magic powersof the gods. "

Still, the end of these wizards was not encouraging to others, for theywere found guilty and obliged to take their own lives. 

But even if I am held to have stretched the prerogative of the _Ka_, or of the waxen image which, by the way, has survived almost to our owntime, and in West Africa, as a fetish, is still pierced with pins ornails, I can urge in excuse that I have tried, so far as a modern may, to reproduce something of the atmosphere and colour of Old Egypt, asit has appeared to a traveller in that country and a student of itsrecords. If Neter-Tua never sat upon its throne, at least anotherdaughter of Amen, a mighty queen, Hatshepu, wore the crown of the Upperand the Lower Lands, and sent her embassies to search out the mysteriesof Punt. Of romance also, in high places, there must have beenabundance, though the short-cut records of the religious texts of thepriests do not trouble themselves with such matters. 

At any rate, so believing, in the hope that it may interest readersof to-day, I have ventured to discover and present one such romance, whereof the motive, we may be sure, is more ancient, by far, than theold Egyptians, namely, the triumph of true love over great difficultiesand dangers. It is pleasant to dream that the gods are on the side ofsuch lovers, and deign for their sakes to work the miracles in which forthousands of years mankind has believed, although the scientist tells usthat they do not happen. 

How large a part marvel and magic of the most terrible and exalted kindplayed in the life of Old Egypt and of the nations with which she foughtand traded, we need go no further than the Book of Exodus to learn. Also all her history is full of it, since among the Egyptians it was anarticle of faith that the Divinity, which they worshipped under so manynames and symbols, made use of such mysterious means to influence ordirect the affairs of men and bring about the accomplishment of Itsdecrees. 

H. R. H. 

MORNING STAR

by H. Rider Haggard

CHAPTER I

THE PLOT OF ABI

It was evening in Egypt, thousands of years ago, when the Prince Abi, governor of Memphis and of great territories in the Delta, made fast hisship of state to a quay beneath the outermost walls of the mighty cityof Uast or Thebes, which we moderns know as Luxor and Karnac on theNile. Abi, a large man, very dark of skin, for his mother was one of thehated Hyksos barbarians who once had usurped the throne of Egypt, satupon the deck of his ship and stared at the setting sun which for a fewmoments seemed to rest, a round ball of fire, upon the bare and ruggedmountains, that ring round the Tombs of the Kings. 

He was angry, as the slave-women, who stood on either side fanning him, could see well enough by the scowl on his coarse face and the fire inhis large black eyes. Presently they felt it also, for one of them, staring at the temples and palaces of the wonderful city made gloriousby the light of the setting sun, that city of which she had heard sooften, touched his head with the feathers of her fan. Thereon, as thoughglad of an excuse to express his ill-humour, Abi sprang up and boxed herears so heavily that the poor girl fell to the deck. 

"Awkward cat, " he cried, "do that again and you shall be flogged untilyour robe sticks to your back!"

"Pardon, mighty Lord, " she said, beginning to weep, "it was an accident;the wind caught my fan. "

"So the rod shall catch your skin, if you are not more careful, Merytra. Stop that snivelling and go send Kaku the Astrologer here. Go, both, Iweary of the sight of your ugly faces. "

The girl rose, and with her fellow slave ran swiftly to the ladder thatled to the waist of the ship. 

"He called me a cat, " Merytra hissed through her white teeth to hercompanion. "Well, if so, Sekhet the cat-headed is my godmother, and sheis the Lady of Vengeance. "

"Yes, " answered the other, "and he said that we were both ugly--we, whomevery lord who comes near the Court admires so much! Oh! I wish a holycrocodile would eat him, black pig!"

"Then why don't they buy us? Abi would sell his daughters, much more hisfan-bearers--at a price. "

"Because they hope to get us for nothing, my dear, and what is more, if I can manage it one of them shall, for I am tired of this life. Haveyour fling while you can, I say. Who knows at which corner Osiris, Lordof Death, is waiting. "

"Hush!" whispered Merytra, "there is that knave of an astrologer, and helooks cross, too. "

Then, hand in hand, they went to this lean and learned man and humblybowed themselves before him. 

"Master of the Stars, " said Merytra, "we have a message for you. No, donot look at my cheek, please, the marks are not magical, only those ofthe divine fingers of the glorious hand of the most exalted Prince Abi, son of the Pharaoh happily ruling in Osiris, etc. , etc. , etc. , of theright, royal blood of Egypt--that is on one side, and on the other ofa divine lady whom Khem the Spirit, or Ptah the Creator, thought fit todip in a vat of black dye. "

"Hem!" said Kaku glancing nervously over his shoulder. Then, seeing thatthere was no one near, he added, "you had better be careful what yousay, my dear. The royal Abi does not like to hear the colour of his latemother defined so closely. But why did he slap your face?"

She told him. 

"Well, " he answered, "if I had been in his place I would rather havekissed it, for it is pretty, decidedly pretty, " and this learned manforgot himself so far as to wink at Merytra. 

"There, Sister, " said the girl, "I always told you that rough shellshave sweet nuts inside of them. Thank you for your compliment, Master oflearning. Will you tell us our fortune for nothing?"

"Yes, yes, " he answered; "at least the fee I want will cost you nothing. Now stop this nonsense, " he added, anxiously, "I gather that _he_ iscross. "

"I never saw him crosser, Kaku. I am glad it is you who reads the stars, not I. Listen!"

As he spoke an angry roar reached them from the high deck above. 

"Where is that accursed astrologer?" said the roar. 

"There, what did I tell you? Oh! never mind the rest of the papers, goat once. Your robe is full of rolls as it is. "

"Yes, " answered Kaku as he ran to the ladder, "but the question is, howwill he like what is in the rolls?"

"The gods be with you!" cried one of the girls after him, "you will needthem all. "

"And if you get back alive, don't forget your promise about thefortunes, " said the other. 

A minute later this searcher of the heavens, a tall, hook-nosed man, wasprostrating himself before Abi in his pavilion on the upper deck, so lowthat his Syrian-shaped cap fell from his bald head. 

"Why were you so long in coming?" asked Abi. 

"Because your slaves could not find me, royal Son of the Sun. I was atwork in my cabin. "

"Indeed, I thought I heard them giggling with you down there. What didyou call me? Royal Son of the Sun? That is Pharaoh's name! Have thestars shown you----?" and he looked at him eagerly. 

"No, Prince, not exactly that. I did not think it needful to search themon a matter which seems established, more or less. "

"More or less, " answered Abi gloomily. "What do you mean by your 'moreor less'? Here am I at the turning-point of my fortunes, not knowingwhether I am to be Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Lands, or only thepetty lord of a city and a few provinces in the Delta, and you satisfymy hunger for the truth with an empty dish of 'more or less. ' Man, whatdo you mean?"

"If your Majesty will be pleased to tell his servant exactly what youdesire to know, perhaps I may be able to answer the question, " repliedKaku humbly. 

"Majesty! Well, I desire to know by what warrant you call me 'Majesty, 'who am only Prince of Memphis. Did the stars give it to you? Have youobeyed me and asked them of the future?"

"Certainly, certainly. How could I disobey? I observed them all lastnight, and have been working out the results till this moment; indeed, they are not yet finished. Question and I will answer. "

"You will answer, yes, but what will you answer? Not the truth, I fancy, because you are a coward, though if anyone can read the truth, it isyou. Man, " he added fiercely, "if you dare to lie to me I will cut yourhead off and take it to Pharaoh as a traitor's; and your body shalllie, not in that fine tomb which you have made, but in the belly of acrocodile whence there is no resurrection. Do you understand? Thenlet us come to the point. Look, the sun sets there behind the Tombs ofKings, where the departed Pharaohs of Egypt take their rest till the Dayof Awakening. It is a bad omen for me, I know, who wished to reach thiscity in the morning when Ra was in the House of Life, the East, and notin the House of Death, the West; but that accursed wind sent by Typhon, held me back and I could not. Well, let us begin at the end which mustcome after all. Tell me, you reader of the heavens, shall I sleep atlast in that valley?"

"I think so, Prince; at least, so says your planet. Look, yonder, itsprings to life above you, " and he pointed to an orb that appeared atthe topmost edge of the red glow of the sunset. 

"You are keeping something back from me, " said Abi, searching Kaku'sface with his fierce eyes. "Shall I sleep in the tomb of Pharaoh, in myown everlasting house that I shall have made ready to receive me?"

"Son of Ra, I cannot say, " answered the astrologer. "Divine One, I willbe frank with you. Though you be wrath, yet will I tell you the truthas you command me. An evil influence is at work in your House of Life. Another star crosses and re-crosses your path, and though for a longtime you seem to swallow it up, yet at the last it eclipses you--it andone that goes with it. "

"What star?" asked Abi hoarsely, "Pharaoh's?"

"Nay, Prince, the star of Amen. "

"Amen! What Amen?"

"Amen the god, Prince, the mighty father of the gods. "

"Amen the god, " repeated Abi in an awed voice. "How can a man fightagainst a god?"

"Say rather against two gods, for with the star of Amen goes the star ofHathor, Queen of Love. Not for many periods of thousands of years havethey been together, but now they draw near to each other, and so willremain for all your life. Look, " and Kaku pointed to the Eastern horizonwhere a faint rosy glow still lingered reflected from the western sky. 

As they watched this glow melted, and there in the pure heavens, lyingjust where it met the distant land, seeming to rest upon the land, indeed, appeared a bright and beautiful star, and so close to it that, to the eye, they almost touched, a twin star. For a few minutes onlywere they seen; then they vanished beneath the line of the horizon. 

"The morning star of Amen, and with it the star of Hathor, " said theastrologer. 

"Well, Fool, what of it?" exclaimed Abi. "They are far enough frommy star; moreover, it is they that sink, not I, who ride higher everymoment. "

"Aye, Prince, but in a year to come they will certainly eclipse thatstar of yours. Prince, Amen and Hathor are against you. Look, I willshow you their journeyings on this scroll and you shall see where theyeat you up yonder, yes, yonder over the Valley of dead Kings, thoughtwenty years and more must go by ere then, and take this for yourcomfort, during those years you shine alone, " and he began to unfold apapyrus roll. 

Abi snatched it from him, crumpled it up and threw it in his face. 

"You cheat!" he said. "Do you think to frighten me with this nonsenseabout stars? Here is my star, " and he drew the short sword at his sideand shook it over the head of the trembling Kaku. "This sharp bronzeis the star I follow, and be careful lest it should eclipse _you_, youfather of lies. "

"I have told the truth as I see it, " answered the poor astrologer withsome dignity, "but if you wish, O Prince, that in the future I shouldindeed prophesy pleasant things to you, why, it can be done easilyenough. Moreover, it seems to me that this horoscope of yours is not soevil, seeing that it gives to you over twenty years of life and power, more by far than most men can expect--at your age. If after that cometroubles and the end, what of it?"

"That is so, " replied Abi mollified. "It was my ill-temper, everythinghas gone cross to-day. Well, a gold cup, my own, shall pay the price ofit. Bear me no ill-will, I pray you, learned scribe, and above all tellme no falsehood as the message of the stars you serve. It is the truthI seek, the truth. If only she may be seen, and clasped, I care not howill-favoured is her face. "

Rejoicing at the turn which things had taken, and especially at thepromise of the priceless cup which he had long coveted, Kaku bowedobsequiously. He picked up his crumpled roll and was about to retirewhen through the gloom of the falling night, some men mounted upon asseswere seen riding over the mud flats that border the Nile at this spot, towards that bank where the ship was moored. 

"The captain of my guard, " said Abi, who saw the starlight gleam upona bronze helmet, "who brings me Pharaoh's answer. Nay, go not, bide andhear it, Kaku, and give us your counsel on it, your true counsel. "

So the astrologer stood aside and waited, till presently the captainappeared saluting. 

"What says Pharaoh, my brother?" asked the Prince. 

"Lord, he says that he will receive you, though as he did not send foryou, he thinks that you can scarcely come upon any necessary errand, as he has heard long ago of your victory over the desert-dwellingbarbarians, and does not want the offering of the salted heads of theirofficers which you bring to him. "

"Good, " said Abi contemptuously. "The divine Pharaoh was ever a woman insuch matters, as in others. Let him be thankful that he has generals whoknow how to make war and to cut off the heads of his enemies in defenceof the kingdom. We will wait upon him to-morrow. "

"Lord, " added the captain, "that is not all Pharaoh's message. He saysthat it has been reported to him that you are accompanied by a guard ofthree hundred soldiers. These soldiers he refuses to allow within thegates. He directs that you shall appear before his Majesty attended byfive persons only. "

"Indeed, " answered Abi with a scornful laugh. "Does Pharaoh fear, then, lest I should capture him and his armies and the great city with threehundred soldiers?"

"No, Prince, " answered the captain bluntly; "but I think he fears lestyou should kill him and declare yourself Pharaoh as next in blood. "

"Ah!" said Abi, "as next of blood. Then I suppose that there are stillno children at the Court?"

"None, O Prince. I saw Ahura, the royal wife, the Lady of the Two Lands, that fairest of women, and other lesser wives and beautiful slave girlswithout number, but never a one of them had an infant on her breast orat her knee. Pharaoh remains childless. "

"Ah!" said Abi again. Then he walked forward out of the pavilion whereofthe curtains were drawn back, and stood a while upon the prow of thevessel. 

By now night had fallen, and the great moon, rising from the earth as itwere, poured her flood of silver light over the desert, the mountains, the limitless city of Thebes, and the wide rippling bosom of the Nile. The pylons and obelisks, glittering with copper and with gold, toweredto the tender sky. In the window places of palaces and of ten thousandhomes lamps shone like stars. From gardens, streets and the courts oftemples floated the faint sound of singing and of music, while on thegreat embattled walls the watchmen called the hour from post to post. 

It was a wondrous scene, and the heart of Abi swelled as he gazed uponit. What wealth lay yonder, and what power. There was the glorious houseof his brother, Pharaoh, the god in human form who for all his godshiphad never a child to follow after him when he ascended to Osiris, as hewho was sickly probably must do before so very long. 

Yes, but before then a miracle might happen; in this way or in that asuccessor to the throne might be found and acknowledged, for were notPharaoh and his House beloved by all the priests of Amen, and by thepeople, and was not he, Abi, feared and disliked because he was fierce, and the hated savage blood flowed in his veins? Oh! what evil god hadput it in his father's heart to give him a princess of the Hyksos for amother, the Hyksos, whom the Egyptians loathed, when he had the fairestwomen of the world from whom to choose? Well, it was done and couldnot be undone, though because of it he might lose his heritage of thegreatest throne in all the earth. Also was it not to this fierce Hyksosblood that he owed his strength and vigour?

Why should he wait? Why should he not set his fortune on a cast? He hadthree hundred soldiers with him, picked men and brave, children of thesea and the desert, sworn to his House and interests. It was a time offestival, those gates were ill-guarded. Why should he not force themat the dead of night, make his way to the palace, cause Pharaoh to begathered to his fathers, and at the dawn discover himself seated uponPharaoh's throne? At the thought of it Abi's heart leapt in his breast, his wide nostrils spread themselves, and he erected his strong head asthough already he felt upon it the weight of the double crown. Then heturned and walked back to the pavilion. 

"I am minded to strike a blow, " he said. "Say now, my officer, would youand the soldiers follow me into the heart of yonder city to-night to wina throne--or a grave? If it were the first, you should be the generalof all my army, and you, astrologer, should become vizier, yes, afterPharaoh you two should be the greatest men in all the land. "

They looked at him and gasped. 

"A venturesome deed, Prince, " said the captain at length; "yet with sucha prize to win I think that I would dare it, though for the soldiersI cannot speak. First they must be told what is on foot, and out of somany, how know we that the heart of one or more would not fail? A wordfrom a traitor and before this time to-morrow the embalmers, or thejackals, would be busy. "

Abi heard and looked from him to his companion. 

"Prince, " said Kaku, "put such thoughts from you. Bury them deep. Letthem rise no more. In the heavens I read something of this business, but then I did not understand, but now I see the black depths of hellopening beneath our feet. Yes, hell would be our home if we dared tolift hand against the divine person of the Pharaoh. I say that the godsthemselves would fight against us. Let it be, Prince, let it be, and youshall have many years of rule, who, if you strike now, will win nothingbut a crown of shame, a nameless grave, and the everlasting torment ofthe damned. "

As he spoke Abi considered the man's face and saw that all craft hadleft it. This was no charlatan that spoke to him, but one in earnest whobelieved what he said. 

"So be it, " he answered. "I accept your judgment, and will wait upon myfortune. Moreover, you are both right, the thing is too dangerous, and evil often falls on the heads of those who shoot arrows at a god, especially if they have not enough arrows. Let Pharaoh live on while Imake ready. Perhaps to-morrow I may work upon him to name me his heir. "

The astrologer sighed in relief, nor did the captain seem disappointed. 

"My head feels firmer on my shoulders than it did just now, " he said:"and doubtless there are times when wisdom is better than valour. Sleep well, Prince; Pharaoh will receive you to-morrow two hours aftersunrise. Have we your leave to retire?"

"If I were wise, " said Abi, fingering the hilt of his sword as he spoke, "you would both of you retire for ever who know all the secret of myheart, and with a whisper could bring doom upon me. "

Now the pair looked at each other with frightened eyes, and, like hismaster, the captain began to play with his sword. 

"Life is sweet to all men, Prince, " he said significantly, "and we havenever given you cause to doubt us. "

"No, " answered Abi, "had it been otherwise I should have struck firstand spoken afterwards. Only you must swear by the oath which may not bebroken that in life or death no word of this shall pass your lips. "

So they swore, both of them, by the holy name of Osiris, the judge andthe redeemer. 

"Captain, " said Abi, "you have served me well. Your pay is doubled, andI confirm the promise that I made to you--should I ever rule yonder youshall be my general. "

While the soldier bowed his thanks, the prince said to Kaku, "Master of the stars, my gold cup is yours. Is there aught else of minethat you desire?"

"That slave, " answered the learned man, "Merytra, whose ears you boxedjust now----"

"How do you know that I boxed her ears?" asked Abi quickly. "Did thestars tell you that also? Well, I am tired of the sly hussy--take her. Soon I think she will box yours. "

But when Kaku sought Merytra to tell her the glad tidings that she washis, he could not find her. 

Merytra had disappeared. 

CHAPTER II

THE PROMISE OF THE GOD

It was morning at Thebes, and the great city glowed in the rays ofthe new-risen sun. In a royal barge sat Abi the prince, splendidlyapparelled, and with him Kaku, his astrologer, his captain of the guardand three other of his officers, while in a second barge followed slaveswho escorted two chiefs and some fair women captured in war, also thechests of salted heads and hands, offerings to Pharaoh. 

The white-robed rowers bent to their oars, and the swift boat shotforward up the Nile through a double line of ships of war, all of themcrowded with soldiers. Abi looked at these ships which Pharaoh hadgathered there to meet him, and thought to himself that Kaku had givenwise counsel when he prayed him to attempt no rash deed, for againstsuch surprises clearly Pharaoh was well prepared. He thought it againwhen on reaching the quay of cut stones he saw foot and horse-menmarshalled there in companies and squadrons, and on the walls abovehundreds of other men, all armed, for now he saw what would havehappened to him, if with his little desperate band he had tried topierce that iron ring of watching soldiers. 

At the steps generals met him in their mail and priests in their fullrobes, bowing and doing him honour. Thus royally escorted, Abi passedthrough the open gates and the pylons of the splendid temple dedicatedto the Trinity of Thebes, "the House of Amen in the Southern Apt, "where gay banners fluttered from the pointed masts, up the long streetbordered with tall houses set in their gardens, till he came to thepalace wall. Here more guards rolled back the brazen gates which inhis folly of a few hours gone he had thought that he could force, andthrough the avenues of blooming trees he was led to the great pillaredhall of audience. 

After the brightness without, that hall seemed almost dark, only a rayof sunshine flowing from an unshuttered space in the clerestory above, fell full on the end of it, and revealed the crowned Pharaoh and hisqueen seated in state upon their thrones of ivory and gold. Gatheredround and about him also were scribes and councillors and captains, andbeyond these other queens in their carved chairs and attended, each ofthem, by beautiful women of the household in their gala dress. Moreover, behind the thrones, and at intervals between the columns, stood thefamous Nubian guard of two hundred men, the servants of the body ofPharaoh as they were called, each of them chosen for faithfulness andcourage. 

The centre of all this magnificence was Pharaoh, on him the sunlightbeat, to him every eye was turned, and where his glance fell there headsbowed and knees were bent. A small thin man of about forty years of agewith a puckered, kindly and anxious face, and a brow that seemed tosink beneath the weight of the double crown that, save for its royalsnake-crest of hollow gold, was after all but of linen, a man withthin, nervous hands which played amongst the embroideries of his goldenrobe--such was Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch in the world, the rulerwhom millions that had never seen him worshipped as a god. 

Abi, the burly framed, thick-lipped, dark-skinned, round-eyed Abi, bornof the same father, stared at him with wonderment, for years had passedsince last they met, and in the palace when they were children a gulfhad been set between the offspring of a royal mother and the child of aHyksos concubine taken into the Household for reasons of state. In hisvigour, and the might of his manhood, he stared at this weakling, theson of a brother and a sister, and the grandson of a brother and asister. Yet there was something in that gentle eye, an essence ofinherited royalty, before which his rude nature bowed. The body might becontemptible, but within it dwelt the proud spirit of the descendant ofa hundred kings. 

Abi advanced to the steps of the throne and knelt there, till after alittle pause Pharaoh stretched out the sceptre in his hand for him tokiss. Then he spoke in his light, quick voice. 

"Welcome, Prince and my brother, " he said. "We quarrelled long ago, did we not, and many years have passed since we met, but Time heals allwounds and--welcome, son of my father. I need not ask if you are well, "and he glanced enviously at the great-framed man who knelt before him. 

"Hail to your divine Majesty!" answered Abi in his deep voice. "Healthand strength be with you, Holder of the Scourge of Osiris, Wearer of theFeathers of Amen, Mortal crowned with the glory of Ra. "

"I thank you, Prince, " answered Pharaoh gently, "and that health andstrength I need, who fear that I shall only find them when I haveyielded up the Scourge of Osiris whereof you speak to him who lent itme. But enough of myself. Let us to business, afterwards we will talkof such matters together. Why have you left your government at Memphiswithout leave asked, to visit me here in my City of the Gates?"

"Be not wrath with me, " answered Abi humbly. "A while ago, in obedienceto your divine command, I attacked the barbarians who threatened yourdominions in the desert. Like Menthu, god of war, I fell upon them. I took them by surprise, I smote them, thousands of them bit the dustbefore me. Two of their kings I captured with their women--they waitwithout, to be slain by your Majesty. I bring with me the heads ofa hundred of their captains and the hands of five hundred of theirsoldiers, in earnest of the truth of my word. Let them be spread outbefore you. I report to your divine Majesty that those barbarians are nomore, that for a generation, at least, I have made the land safe to youruttermost dominions in the north. Suffer that the heads and the hands bebrought in and counted out before your Majesty, that the smell of themmay rise like incense to your divine nostrils. "

"No, no, " said Pharaoh, "my officers shall count them without, for Ilove not such sights of death, and I take your word for the number. Whatpayment do you ask for this service, my brother, for with great giftswould I reward you, who have done so well for me and Egypt?"

Before he answered Abi looked at the beautiful queen, Ahura, who sat atPharaoh's side, and at the other royal consorts and women. 

"Your Majesty, " he said, "I see here many wives and ladies, but royalchildren I do not see. Grant--for doubtless they are in their ownchambers--grant, O Pharaoh, that they may be led hither that my eyes mayfeed upon their loveliness, and that I may tell of them, each of them, to their cousins who await me at Memphis. "

At these words a flush as of shame spread itself over the lovely face ofAhura, the royal wife, the Lady of the Two Lands; while the women turnedtheir heads away whispering to each other bitterly, for the insult hurtthem. Only Pharaoh set his pale face and answered with dignity. 

"Prince Abi, to affront those whom the gods have smitten, be they kingsor peasants, is an unworthy deed which the gods will not forget. Youknow well that I have no children. Why then do you ask me to show youtheir loveliness?"

"I had heard rumours, O Pharaoh, " answered the Prince, "no more. Indeed, I did not believe them, for where there are so many wives I was certainthat there would be some mothers. Therefore I asked to be sure beforeI proffered a petition which now I will make to you not for my own sakebut for Egypt's and yours, O Pharaoh. Have I your leave to speak here inpublic?"

"Speak on, " said Pharaoh sternly. "Let aught that is for the welfare ofEgypt be heard by Egypt. "

"Your Majesty has told me, " replied Abi bowing, "that the gods, beingwrath, have denied you children. Not so much as one girl of your bloodhave they given to you to fill your throne after you when in due seasonit pleases you to depart to Osiris. Were it otherwise, were there evenbut a single woman-child of your divine race, I would say nothing, Iwould be silent as the grave. But so it is, and though your queens befair and many, so it would seem that it must remain, since the ears ofthe gods having been deaf to your pleadings for so long, although youhave built them glorious temples and made them offerings without count, will scarcely now be opened. Even Amen your father, Amen, whose name youbear, will perform no miracle for you, O Pharaoh, who are so great thathe has decreed that you shall shine alone like the full moon at night, not sharing your glory with a single star. "

Now Ahura the Queen, who all this while had been listening intently, spoke for the first time in a quick angry voice, saying, "How know you that, Prince of Memphis? Sometimes the gods relent andthat which they have withheld for a space, they give. My lord lives, andI live, and a child of his may yet fill the throne of Egypt. "

"It may be so, O Queen, " said Abi bowing, "and for my part I pray thatit will be so, for who am I that I should know the purpose of the kingsof heaven? If but one girl be born of you and Pharaoh, then I takeback my words and give to you that title which for many years has beenwritten falsely upon your thrones and monuments, the title of RoyalMother. "

Now Ahura would have answered again, for this sneering taunt stung herto the quick. But Pharaoh laid his hand upon her knee and said, "Continue, Prince and brother. We have heard from you that which wealready know too well--that I am childless. Tell us what we do not know, the desire of your heart which lies hid beneath all these words. "

"Pharaoh, it is this--I am of your holy blood, sprung of the same divinefather----"

"But of a mother who was not divine, " broke in Ahura; "of a mother takenfrom a race that has brought many a curse upon Khem, as any mirror willshow you, Prince of Memphis. "

"Pharaoh, " went on Abi without heeding her, "you grow weak; heavendesires you, the earth melts beneath you. In the north and in the southmany dangers threaten Egypt. Should you die suddenly without an heir, barbarians will flow in from the north and from the south, and the greatones of the land will struggle for your place. Pharaoh, I am a warrior;I am built strong; my children are many; my house is built upon a rock;the army trusts me; the millions of the people love me. Take me then torule with you and in the hearing of all the earth name me and my sonsas your successors, so that our royal race may continue for generationafter generation. So shall you end your days in peace and hope. I havespoken. "

Now, as the meaning of this bold request sank into their hearts, all thecourt there gathered gasped and whispered, while the Queen Ahura in heranger crushed the lotus flower which she held in her hand and cast it tothe floor. Only Pharaoh sat still and silent, his head bent and his eyesshut as though in prayer. For a minute or more he sat thus, and when helifted his pale, pure face, there was a smile upon it. 

"Abi, my brother, " he said in his gentle voice, "listen to me. There arethose who filled this throne before me, who on hearing such words wouldhave pointed to you with their sceptres, whereon, Abi, those lips ofyours would have grown still for ever, and you and your name and thenames of all your House would have been blotted out by death. But, Abi, you were ever bold, and I forgive you for laying open the thoughts ofyour heart to me. Still, Abi, you have not told us all of them. You havenot told us, for instance, " he went on slowly, and in the midst of anintense silence, "that but last night you debated whether it would notbe possible with that guard of yours to break into my palace and put meto the sword and name yourself Pharaoh--by right of blood, Abi; yes, byright of blood--my blood shed by you, my brother. "

As these words left the royal lips a tumult arose in the hall, the womenand the great officers sprang up, the captains stepped forward drawingtheir swords to avenge so horrible a sacrilege. But Pharaoh waved hissceptre, and they were still, only Abi cried in a great voice. 

"Who has dared to whisper a lie so monstrous?" And he glared first atKaku and then at the captain of his guard who stood behind him, andchoked in wrath, or fear, or both. 

"Suspect not your officers, Prince, " went on the Pharaoh, still smiling, "for on my royal word they are innocent. Yet, Abi, a pavilion set uponthe deck of a ship is no good place to plot the death of kings. Pharaohhas many spies, also, at times, the gods, to whom as you say he is sonear, whisper tidings to him in his sleep. Suspect not your officers, Abi, although I think that to yonder Master of the Stars who standsbehind you, I should be grateful, since, had you attempted to executethis madness, but for him I might have been forced to kill you, Abi, as one kills a snake that creeps beneath his mat. Astrologer, you shallhave a gift from me, for you are a wise man. It may take the place, perhaps, of one that you have lost; was it not a certain woman slavewhom your master gave to you last night--after he had punished her forno fault?"

Kaku prostrated himself before the glory of Pharaoh, understanding atlast that it was the lost girl Merytra who had overheard and betrayedthem. But heeding him no more, his Majesty went on. 

"Abi, Prince and brother, I forgive you a deed that you purposed butdid not attempt. May the gods and the spirits of our fathers forgiveyou also, if they will. Now as to your demand. You are my only livingbrother, and therefore I will weigh it. Perchance, if I should diewithout issue, although you are not all royal, although there flows inyour veins a blood that Egypt hates; although you could plot the murderof your lord and king, it may be well that when I am gone you shouldfill my place, for you are brave and of the ancient race on one side, if base-born on the other. But I am not yet dead, and children may stillcome to me. Abi, will you be a prisoner until Osiris calls me, or willyou swear an oath?"

"I will swear an oath, " answered the Prince hoarsely, for he knew hisshame and danger. 

"Then kneel here, and by the dreadful Name swear that you will lift nohand and plot no plot against me. Swear that if a child, male or female, should be given to me, you will serve such a child truly as your lordand lawful Pharaoh. In the presence of all this company, swear, knowingthat if you break the oath in letter or in spirit, then all the gods ofEgypt shall pour their curse upon your head in life, and in death shallgive you over to the everlasting torments of the damned. "

So, having little choice, Abi swore by the Name and kissed the sceptrein token of his oath. 

It was night. Dark and solemn was the innermost shrine of the vasttemple, the "House of Amen in the Northern Apt, " which we call Karnak, the very holy of holies where, fashioned of stone, and with thefeathered crown upon his head, stood the statue of Amen-ra, father ofthe gods. Here, where none but the high-priest and the royalties ofEgypt might enter, Pharaoh and his wife Ahura, wrapped in brown cloakslike common folk, knelt at the feet of the god and prayed. With tearsand supplications did they pray that a child might be given to them. 

There in the sacred place, lit only by a single lamp which burned fromage to age, they told the story of their grief, whilst high above themthe cold, calm countenance of the god seemed to stare through the gloom, as for a thousand years, in joy or sorrow, it had stared at those thatwent before them. They told of the mocking words of Abi who had demandedto see their children, the children that were not; they told of theirterror of the people who demanded that an heir should be declared; theytold of the doom that threatened their ancient house, which from Pharaohto Pharaoh, all of one blood, for generations had worshipped in thisplace. They promised gifts and offerings, stately temples and widelands, if only their desire might be fulfilled. 

"Let me no more be made a mock among men, " cried the beautiful queen, beating her forehead upon the stone feet of the god. "Let me bear achild to fill the seat of my lord the King, and then if thou wilt, takemy life in payment. "

But the god made no answer, and wearied out at length they rose anddeparted. At the door of the sanctuary they found the high-priestawaiting them, a wizened, aged man. 

"The god gave no sign, O High-priest, " said Pharaoh sadly; "no voicespoke to us. "

The old priest looked at the weeping queen, and a light of pity creptinto his eyes. 

"To me, watching without, " he said, "a voice seemed to speak, thoughwhat it said I may not reveal. Go to your palace now, O Pharaoh, and OQueen Ahura, and take your rest side by side. I think that in your sleepa sign will come to you, for Amen is pitiful, and loves his childrenwho love him. According to that sign so speak to the Prince Abi, speakwithout fear or doubt, since for good or ill it shall be fulfilled. "

Then like shadows, hand in hand, this royal pair glided down the vast, pillared halls till at the pylon gates, which were opened for them, theyfound their litters, and were borne along the great avenue of ram-headedsphinxes back to a secret door in the palace wall. 

It was past midnight. Deep darkness and heavy silence lay upon Thebes, broken only by dogs howling at the stars and the occasional challengeof soldiers on the walls. Side by side in their golden bed the weariedPharaoh and his queen slept heavily. Presently Ahura woke. She startedup in the bed; she stared at the darkness about her with frightenedeyes; she stretched out her hand and clasping Pharaoh by the arm, whispered in a thrilling voice, "Awake, awake! I have that which I must tell you. "

Pharaoh roused himself, for there was something in Ahura's voice whichswept away the veils of sleep. 

"What has chanced, Ahura?" he asked. 

"O Pharaoh, I have dreamed a dream, if indeed it were but a dream. Itseemed to me that the darkness opened, and that standing in the darknessI saw a Glory which had neither shape nor form. Yet a voice spoke fromthe Glory, a low, sweet voice: 'Queen Ahura, my daughter, ' it said, 'Iam that Spirit to whom thou and thy husband did pray this night inthe sanctuary of my temple. It seemed to both of you that your prayersremained unheard, yet it was not so, as my priest knew well. QueenAhura, thou and Pharaoh thy husband have put your trust in me these manyyears, and not in vain. A daughter shall be given to thee and Pharaoh, and my Spirit shall be in that child. She shall be beautiful andglorious as no woman was before her, for I clothe her with health andpower and wisdom. She shall rule over the Northern and the SouthernLands; yea, for many years the double crown shall rest upon her brow, and no king that went before her, and no king that follows after her, shall be more great in Egypt. Troubles and dangers shall threaten her, but the Spirit that I give to her shall protect her in them all, and sheshall tread her enemy beneath her feet. A royal lover shall come to heralso, and she shall rejoice in his love and from it shall spring manykings and princes. Neter-Tua, Morning Star, shall be her name, andhigh-priestess of Amen--no less--shall be her office, for she is mychild whom I have taken from heaven and sent down to earth; the childthat I have given to Pharaoh and to thee, and I love her and appoint thegood goddesses to be her companions, and command Osiris to receive herat the last. 

"'Behold, in token of these things I lay my symbol on thy breast, and onher breast also shall that symbol be. When I lift it from thee and thoudost open thy eyes, then awaken Pharaoh at thy side and let these mywords be written in a roll, so that none of them are forgotten. '

"Then, O Pharaoh, " went on Ahura, "from the Glory there came forth ahand, and in the hand was the Symbol of Life shining as though withfire, and the hand laid it upon my breast and it burned me as thoughwith fire, and I awoke and lo! darkness was all about me, nothing butdarkness, and at my side I heard you sleeping. "

Now when Pharaoh had listened to this dream, he kissed the queen andblessed her because of its good omen, and clapped his hands to summonthe women of honour who slept without. They ran in bearing lights, andby the lights he saw that beneath the throat of the Queen upon her fairskin, appeared a red mark, and the shape of it was the shape of the Signof Life; yes, there was the loop, and beneath the loop the cross. 

Then Pharaoh commanded that the chief of his scribes should come to himwith papyrus and writing tools, and that the high-priest of Amenshould be brought swiftly from the temple. So the scribe came to thebed-chamber of the King, and in the presence of the high-priest allthe words of Amen were written down, not one of them was omitted, andPharaoh and the Queen signed the roll, and the high-priest witnessedit and, copies having been made, bore it away to hide it in the secrettreasury of Amen. But the mark of the Cross of Life remained upon thebreast of the Queen Ahura till the day that she died. 

Now in the morning Pharaoh summoned his Court and commanded that thePrince Abi should be brought before him. So the Prince came and Pharaohaddressed him kindly. 

"Son of my father, " he said, "I have considered your request that Ishould take you to rule with me on the throne of Egypt, and name you andyour sons to be Pharaohs after me, and it is refused. Know that it hasbeen revealed to me and to the royal wife, Ahura, by the greatest of thegods, that a daughter shall be born to us in due season, who shall becalled Morning Star of Amen, and that she and her seed shall be Pharaohsafter me. Therefore rejoice with us and return to your government, Prince Abi, and be happy in our love, and in the goods and greatnessthat the gods have given you. "

Now Abi shook with anger, for he thought that all this tale was a trickand a snare. But knowing that his peril was great there in the hand ofPharaoh, he answered only that when this Morning Star arose, hisstar should do it reverence, though as the words passed his lips heremembered the prophecy of his astrologer Kaku, that the Morning Star ofAmen should blot out that star of his. 

"You think that I speak falsely, Prince Abi, yes, that I stain my lipswith lies, " said Pharaoh with indignation. "Well, I forgive you thisalso. Go hence and await the issue and know by this sign that truth isin my heart. When the Princess Neter-Tua is born, upon her breast shallbe seen the symbol of the Sign of Life. Depart now, lest I grow angry. The gifts I have promised shall follow you to Memphis. "

So Abi returned to the white-walled city of Memphis and sat theresullenly, putting it about that a plot was on foot to deprive him ofhis heritage. But Kaku shook his head, saying in secret that the Star, Neter-Tua, would arise, for so it was decreed by Amen, father of thegods. 

CHAPTER III

RAMES, THE PRINCESS, AND THE CROCODILE

At the appointed time to Ahura, the royal wife, was born a child, agirl with a fresh and lovely face and waving hair and eyes that from thefirst were blue like the summer sky at even. Also on her breast was amole of the length of a finger nail, which mole was shaped like the holySign of Life. 

Now Pharaoh and his house and the priests in every temple, and indeedall Egypt went mad with joy, though there were many who in secretmourned over the sex of the infant, whispering that a man and not awoman should wear the Double Crown. But in public they said nothing, since the story of this child had gone abroad and folk declared that itwas sent by the gods, and divine, and that the goddesses, Isis, Nepthys, and Hathor, with Khemu, the Maker of Mankind, were seen in the birthchamber, glowing like gold. 

Also Pharaoh issued a decree that wherever the name of the Queen Ahurawas graven in all the land, to it should be added the title "By thewill of Amen, Mother of his Morning Star, " and that a new hall should bebuilt in the temple of Amen in the Northern Apt, and all about it carvedthe story of the coming of Prince Abi and of the vision of the Queen. 

But Ahura never lived to see this glorious place, since from the hour ofher daughter's birth she began to sink. On the fourteenth day, the dayof purification, she bade the nurse bring the beautiful babe, and gazedat it long and blessed it, and spoke with the Ka or Double of the child, which she said she saw lying on her arm beside it, bidding that Kaprotect it well through the dangers of life and death until the hour ofresurrection. Then she said that she heard Amen calling to her to paythe price which she had promised for the gift of the divine child, theprice of her own life, and smiled upon Pharaoh her husband, and diedhappily with a radiant face. 

Now joy was turned to mourning, and during all the days of embalmingEgypt wept for Ahura until, at length, the time came when her body wasrowed across the Nile to the splendid tomb which she had made ready inthe Valley of the Queens, causing masons and artists to labour at itwithout cease. For Ahura knew from the day of her vision that she wasdoomed to die, and remembered that the tombs of the dead remain as thelive hands leave them, since few waste gold and toil upon the eternalhouse of one who is dead. 

So Ahura was buried with great pomp and all her jewels, and Pharaoh, whomourned her truly, made splendid offerings in the chapel of her tomb, and having laid in the mouth of it the funeral boat in which she wasborne across the Nile, he built it up for ever, and poured sand over therock, so that none should find its place until the Day of Awakening. 

Meanwhile, the infant grew and flourished, and when it was six monthsold, was taken to the college of the priestesses of Amen, there to bereared and taught. 

Now on the day of the birth of the Princess Neter-Tua, there happenedanother birth with which our story has to do. The captain of theguard of the temple of Amen was one Mermes, who had married his ownhalf-sister, Asti, the enchantress. As was well known, this Mermes wasby right and true descent the last of that house of Pharaohs which hadfilled the throne of Egypt until their line was cast down generationsbefore by the dynasty that now ruled the land, whereof the reigningPharaoh and his daughter Neter-Tua alone remained. A long while past, inthe early days of his reign, his council has whispered in Pharaoh's earthat he should kill Mermes and his sister, lest a day should come whenthey rebelled against him, proclaiming that they did so by right ofblood. But Pharaoh, who was gentle and hated murder, instead of slayingMermes sent for him and told him all. 

Then Mermes, a noble-looking man as became the stock from which hesprang, prostrated himself and said, "O Pharaoh, why should you kill me? It has pleased the gods to debasemy House and to set up yours. Have I ever lifted up my heel against youbecause my forefathers were kings, or plotted with the discontent tooverthrow you! See, I am satisfied with my station, which is that of anoble and a soldier in your army. Therefore let me and my half-sister, the wise lady Asti whom I purpose to marry, dwell on in peace as yourtrue and humble servants. Dip not your hands in our innocent blood, O Pharaoh, lest the gods send a curse upon you and your House and ourghosts come back from the grave to haunt you. "

When Pharaoh heard these words, his heart was moved in him, and hestretched out his sceptre for Mermes to kiss, thereby granting to himlife and protection. 

"Mermes, " he said, "you are an honourable man, and my equal in blood ifnot in place. For their own purposes the gods raise up one and cast downanother that at last their ends may be fulfilled. I believe that youwill work no harm against me and mine, and, therefore, I will work noharm against you and your sister Asti, Mistress of Magic. Rather shallyou be my friend and counsellor. "

Then Pharaoh offered high rank and office to him, but Mermes would nottake them, answering that if he did, envy would be stirred up againsthim, and in this way or that bring him to his death, since tall treesare the first to fall. So in the end Pharaoh made Mermes Captain of theGuard of Amen, and gave him land and houses enough to enable him tolive as a noble of good estate, but no more. Also he became a friend ofPharaoh and one of his inner Council, to whose voice he always listened, for Mermes was a true-hearted man. 

Afterwards Mermes married Asti, but like Pharaoh for a long while heremained childless, since he took no other wives. On the day of thebirth of the Princess Tua, the Morning Star of Amen, however, Asti borea son, a royal-looking child of great strength and beauty and very fairin colour, as tradition said that the kings of his race had been beforehim, but with black and shining eyes. 

"See, " said the midwife, "here is a head shaped to wear a crown. "

Whereon Asti, his mother, forgetting her caution in her joy, or perhapsinspired by the gods, for from her childhood she was a prophetess, answered, "Yes, and I think that this head and a crown will come close together, "and she kissed him and named him Rames after her royal forefather, thefounder of their line. 

As it chanced a spy overheard this saying and reported it to theCouncil, and the Council urged Pharaoh to cause the boy to be put away, as they had urged in the case of his father, Mermes, because of thewords of omen that Asti had spoken, and because she had given her son aroyal name, naming him after the majesty of Ra, as though he were indeedthe child of a king. But Pharaoh would not, asking with his soft smilewhether they wished him to baptise his daughter in the blood of anotherinfant who drew his first breath upon the same day, and adding:

"Ra sheds his glory upon all, and this high-born boy may live to be afriend in need to her whom Amen has given to Egypt. Let things befall asthe gods decree. Who am I that I should make myself a god and destroy alife that they have fashioned?"

So the boy Rames lived and throve, and Mermes and Asti, when they cameto hear of these things, thanked Pharaoh and blessed him. 

Now the house of Mermes, as Captain of the Guard, was within the wall ofthe great temple of Amen, near to the palace of the priestesses of Amenwhere the Princess Neter-Tua was nurtured. Thus it came about that whenthe Queen Ahura died, the lady Asti was named as nurse to the Princess, since Pharaoh said that she should drink no milk save that of one inwhose veins ran royal blood. So Asti was Tua's foster mother, andnight by night she slept in her arms together with her own son, Rames. Afterwards, too, when they were weaned the babes were taught to walk andspeak together, and later, as children, they became playmates. 

Thus from the first these two loved each other, as brother and sisterlove when they are twins. But although the boy was bold and brave, thislittle princess always had the mastery of him, not because she was aprincess and heir to the throne of Egypt--for all the high titlesthey gave her fell idly on her ears, nor did she think anything ofthe bowings of courtiers and of priests--but from some strength withinherself. She it was that set the games they played, and when she talkedhe was obliged to listen, for although she was so sound and healthy, this Tua differed from other children. 

Thus she had what she called her "silent hours" when she would suffer noone to come near her, not her ladies or her foster-mother, Asti herself, nor even Rames. Then, followed by the women at a distance, she wouldwander among the great columns of the temple and study the sculptureson the walls; and, since all places were open to her, Pharaoh's child, enter the sanctuaries, and stare at the gods that sat in them fashionedin granite and in alabaster. This she would do even in the solemnmoonlight when mortals were afraid to approach these sacred shrines, andcome thence unconcerned and smiling. 

"What do you see there, O Morning Star?" asked little Rames of her once. "They are dull things, those stone gods that have never moved since thebeginning of the world; also they frighten me, especially when Ra isset. "

"They are not dull, and they do not frighten me, " answered Tua; "theytalk to me, and although I cannot understand all they say, I am happywith them. "

"Talk!" he said contemptuously, "how can stones talk?"

"I do not know. I think it is their spirits that talk, telling mestories which happened before I was born and that shall happen afterI am dead, yes, and after _they_ seem to be dead. Now be silent--I saythat they talk to me--it is enough. "

"For me it would be more than enough, " said the boy, "but then I am notcalled Child of Amen, who only worship Menthu, God of War. "

When Rames was seven years of age, every morning he was taken to schoolin the temple, where the priests taught him to write with pens of reedupon tablets of wood, and told him more about the gods of Egypt than heever wanted to hear again. During these hours, except when she was beinginstructed by the great ladies of the Court, or by high-priestesses, Tua was left solitary, since by the command of Pharaoh no other childrenwere allowed to play with her, perhaps because there were none in thetemple of her age whose birth was noble. 

Once when he came back from his school in the evening Rames asked herif she had not been lonely without him. She answered, No, as she hadanother companion. 

"Who is it?" he asked jealously. "Show me and I will fight him. "

"No one that you can see, Rames, " she replied. "Only my own Ka. "

"Your Ka! I have heard of Kas, but I never saw one. What is it like?"

"Just like me, except that it throws no shadow, and only comes when Iam quite by myself, and then, although I hear it often, I see it rarely, for it is mixed up with the light. "

"I don't believe in Kas, " exclaimed Rames scornfully, "you make them upout of your head. "

A little while after this talk something happened that caused Rames tochange his mind about Kas, or at any rate the Ka of Tua. In a hiddencourt of the temple was a deep pool of water with cemented sides, where, it was said, lived a sacred crocodile, an enormous beast that haddwelt there for hundreds of years. Rames and Tua having heard of thiscrocodile, often talked of it and longed to see it, but could not forthere was a high wall round the tank, and in it a door of copper thatwas kept locked, except when once in every eight days the priests tookin food to the crocodile--living goats and sheep, and sometimes a calf, none of which ever came back again. 

Now one day Rames watching them return, saw the priest, who was calledGuardian of the Door, put his hand behind him to thrust the key withwhich he had just locked the door, into his wallet, and missing themouth of the wallet, let it fall upon the sand, then go upon his wayknowing nothing of what he had done. 

When he had gone in a great hurry, for he was a fat old priest and thedinner hour was at hand, Rames pounced upon the key and hid it in hisrobe. Then he sought out the princess and said, "Morning Star, this evening, when I come back from school and am allowedto play with you, we can look at the wonderful beast in the tank, forlook, I have the key which that fat priest will not search for tillseven days are gone by, before which I can take it to him, saying that Ifound it in the sand, or perhaps put it back into his wallet. "

When she heard this Tua's eyes shone, since above all things she desiredto see this holy monster. But in the evening when the boy came runningto her eagerly--for he had thought of nothing but the crocodile allday, and had bought a pigeon from a school-fellow with which to feed thebrute--he found Tua in a different mood. 

"I don't think that we will go to see the holy crocodile, Rames, " shesaid, looking at him thoughtfully. 

"Why not?" he asked amazed. "There is no one about, and I have put fatupon the key so that it will make no noise. "

"Because my Ka has been with me, Rames, and told me that it is a bad actand if we do trouble will come to us. "

"Oh! may the fiend Set take your Ka, " replied the lad in a rage. "Showit to me and I will talk with it. "

"I cannot, Rames, for it is _me_. Moreover, if Set took it, he wouldtake me also, and you are wicked to wish such a thing. "

Now the boy began to cry with vexation, sobbing out that she was not tobe trusted, and that he had paid away his bronze knife, which Pharaohhad given him when last he visited the temple, for a pigeon to tempt thebeast to the top of the water, so that they might see it, although theknife was worth many pigeons, and Pharaoh would be angry if he heardthat he had parted with it. 

"Why should we take the life of a poor pigeon to please ourselves?"asked Tua, softening a little at the sight of his grief. 

"It's taken already, " he answered. "It fluttered so that I had to sit onit to hide it from the priest, and when he had gone it was dead. Look, "and he opened the linen bag he held, and showed her the dove cold andstiff. 

"As you did not mean to kill it, that makes a difference, " said Tuajudicially. "Well, perhaps my Ka did not mean that we should not haveone peep, and it is a pity to waste the poor pigeon, which then willhave died for nothing. "

Rames agreed that it would be the greatest of pities, so the twochildren slipped away through the trees of the garden into the shadow ofthe wall, along which they crept till they came to the bronze door. Thenguiltily enough Rames put the great key into the lock, and with the helpof a piece of wood which he had also made ready, that he set in the ringof the key to act as a lever, the two of them turning together shot backthe heavy bolts. 

Taking out the key lest it should betray them, they opened the doora little and squeezed themselves through into the forbidden place. Nosooner had they done so than almost they wished themselves back again, for there was something about the spot that frightened them, to saynothing of the horrible smell which made Tua feel ill. It was a greattank, with a little artificial island in its centre, full of slimy waterthat looked almost black because of the shadow of the high walls, andround it ran a narrow stone path. At one spot in this path, however, where grew some dank-looking trees and bushes, was a slope, also ofstone, and on the slope with its prow resting in the water a littleboat, and in the boat, oars. But of the crocodile there was nothing tobe seen. 

"It is asleep somewhere, " whispered Tua, "let us go away, I do not likethis stench. "

"Stench, " answered Rames. "I smell nothing except the lilies on thewater. Let us wake it up, it would be silly to go now. Surely you arenot afraid, O Star. "

"Oh, no! I am not afraid, " answered Tua proudly. "Only wake it upquickly, please. "

What Rames did not add was that it would be impossible to retreat as thedoor had closed behind them, and there was no keyhole on its inner side. 

So they walked round the tank, but wherever it might lurk, the sleepingcrocodile refused to wake. 

"Let us get into the boat and look for it, " suggested Rames. "Perhaps itis hiding on the island. "

So he led her to the stone slope, where to her horror Tua saw theremains of the crocodile's last meal, a sight that caused her to forgether doubts and jump into the boat very quickly. Then Rames gave it apush and sprang in after her, so that they found themselves floatingon the water. Now, standing in the bow, the boy took an oar and paddledround the island, but still there were no signs of the crocodile. 

"I don't believe it is here at all, " he said, recovering his courage. 

"You might try the pigeon, " suggested Tua, who, now that there was lesssmell, felt her curiosity returning. 

This was a good thought upon which Rames acted at once. Taking the deadbird from the bag he spread out its wings to make it look as thoughit were alive, and threw it into the water, exclaiming, "Arise, O HolyCrocodile!"

Then with fearful suddenness, whence they knew not, that crocodilearose. An awful scaly head appeared with dull eyes and countlessflashing fangs, and behind the head cubit upon cubit of monstrous form. The fangs closed upon the pigeon and everything vanished. 

"That was the Holy Crocodile, " said Rames abstractedly as he stared atthe boiling waters, "which has lived here during the reigns of eightPharaohs, and perhaps longer. Now we have seen it. "

"Yes, " answered Tua, "and I never want to see it again. Get me awayquick, or I will tell your father. "

Thus adjured the boy, nothing loth, seized his oar, when suddenlythe ancient crocodile, having swallowed the dove, thrust up its snoutimmediately beneath them and began to follow the boat. Now Tua screamedaloud and said something about her Ka. 

"Tell it to keep off the crocodile, " shouted Rames as he worked the oarfuriously. "Nothing can hurt a Ka. "

But the crocodile would not be kept off. On the contrary, it thrust itsgrey snout and one of its claws over the stern of the boat in such afashion that Rames could no longer work the oar, dragging it almostunder water, and snapped with its horrible jaws. 

"Oh! it is coming in; we are going to be eaten, " cried Tua. 

At that moment the boat touched the landing-place and swung round, sothat its bow, where Tua was, struck the head of the crocodile, whichseemed to infuriate the beast. At least, it hurled itself upon the boat, causing the fore part to heel over, fill with water, and begin to sink. Then the little lad, Rames, showed the courage that was in him. Shoutingto Tua:

"Get on shore, get on shore!" he plunged past her and smote the hugereptile upon the head with the blade of his oar. It opened its hideousmouth, and he thrust the oar into it and held on. 

"Leave go, " cried Tua, as she scrambled to land. 

But Rames would not leave go, for in his brave little heart he thoughtthat if he did the crocodile would follow Tua and eat her. So he clungto the handle till it was wrenched from him. Indeed he did more, forseeing that the crocodile had bitten the wooden blade in two and, having dropped it, was still advancing towards the slope where it wasaccustomed to be fed, he leapt into the water and struck it in the eyewith his little fist. Feeling the pain of the blow the monster snappedat him, and catching him by the hand began to sink back into deep water, dragging the lad after it. 

Rames said nothing, but Tua, who already was at the head of the stage, looked round and saw the agony on his face. 

"Help me, Amen!" she cried, and flying back, grasped Rames by his leftarm just as he was falling over, then set her heels in a crack ofthe rock and held on. For one moment she was dragged forward till shethought that she must fall upon her face and be drowned or eaten withRames, but the next something yielded, and she and the boy tumbled in aheap upon the stones. They rose and staggered together to the terrace. As they went Tua saw that Rames was looking at his right hand curiously;also that it was covered with blood, and that the little finger was tornoff it. Then she remembered nothing further, except a sound of shoutsand of heavy hammering at the copper door. 

When she recovered it was to find herself in the house of Mermes withthe lady Asti bending over her and weeping. 

"Why do you weep, Nurse?" she asked, "seeing that I am safe?"

"I weep for my son, Princess, " she answered between her sobs. 

"Is he dead of his wounds, then, Asti?"

"No, O Morning Star, he lies sick in his chamber. But soon Pharaoh willkill him because he led her who will be Queen of Egypt into great dangerof her life. "

"Not so, " said Tua, springing up, "for he saved my life. "

As she spoke the door opened and in came Pharaoh himself, who had beensummoned hastily from the palace. His face was white and he shook withfear, for it had been reported to him that his only child was drowned. When he saw that she lived and was not even hurt, he could not containhis joy, but casting his arms about her, sank to his knees giving thanksto the gods and the guardian spirits. She kissed him, and studying hisface with her wise eyes, asked why he was so much afraid. 

"Because I thought you had been killed, my daughter. "

"Why did you think that, O my father, seeing that the great god, Amen, before I was born promised to protect me always, though it is true thathad it not been for Rames----"

Now at the mention of this name Pharaoh was filled with rage. 

"Speak not of that wicked lad, " he exclaimed, "now or ever more, for heshall be scourged till he dies!"

"My father, " answered Tua, springing up, "forget those words, for ifRames dies I will die also. It is I who am to blame, not he, for myKa warned me not to look upon the beast, but to Rames no Ka spoke. Moreover, when that evil god would have eaten me it was Rames who foughtwith it and offered himself to its jaws in my place. Listen, my father, while I tell you all the story. "

So Pharaoh listened, and when it was done he sent for Rames. Presentlythe boy was carried in, for he had lost so much blood that he could notwalk, and was placed upon a stool before him. 

"Slay me now, O Pharaoh, " he said in a weak voice, "for I have sinned. Moreover, I shall die happy since my spirit gave me strength to beat offthe evil beast from the Princess whom I led into trouble. "

"Truly you have done wickedly, " said Pharaoh, shaking his head at him, "and, therefore, perhaps, you will lose your hand and even your life. Yet, child, you have a royal heart, who first saved your playmate andthen, even in my presence, take all the blame upon yourself. ThereforeI forgive you, son of Mermes; moreover, I see that I was wise not tolisten to those who counselled that you should be put away at birth, "and bending over the boy, Pharaoh kissed him on the brow. 

Also he gave orders that the greatest physicians in the land shouldattend upon him and purge the poison of the crocodile's teeth fromhis body, and when he recovered--which save for the loss of the littlefinger of his right hand, he did completely--he sent him a sword witha handle of gold fashioned to the shape of a crocodile, in place of theknife which he had paid away for the pigeon, bidding him use it bravelyall his life in defence of her who would be his queen. Further, althoughhe was still so young, he gave to him the high title of Count in earnestof his love and favour, and with it a name that meant Defender of theRoyal Lady. 

After he had gone Asti the prophetess looked at the sword which Pharaohhad given to her son. 

"I see royal blood on it, " she said, and handed it back to Rames. 

But Rames and Tua were no more allowed to play together alone, foralways after this the Princess was accompanied by women of honour and anarmed guard. Also, within a year or two the boy was placed in chargeof a general to be brought up as a soldier, a trade that he liked wellenough, so that from this time forward he and Neter-Tua met but seldom. Still there was a bond between them which could not be broken byabsence, for already they loved each other, and every night and morningwhen Tua made her petitions to Amen, after praying for Pharaoh herfather, and for the spirit of her royal mother, Ahura, she prayed forRames, and that they might meet soon. For the months when her eyes didnot fall upon his face were wearisome to Tua. 

CHAPTER IV

THE SUMMONING OF AMEN

The years went by and the Princess Neter-Tua, who was called MorningStar of Amen, came at length to womanhood, and went through theceremonies of Purification. In all Egypt there was no maiden so wise andspirited or so lovely. Tall and slender was her shape, blue as the seawere her eyes, rosy like the dawn were her cheeks, and when she did notwear it in a net of gold, her black and curling hair fell almost to herwaist. Also she was very learned, for priests and priestesses taught herall things that she ought to know, together with the arts of playingon the harp and of singing and dancing, while her own excellent Spirit, that Ka which Amen had given her, instructed her in a deeper wisdomwhich she gathered unconsciously in sleep and waking dreams, as theslumbering earth gathers dew at night. 

Moreover, her father, the wise old Pharaoh, opened to her the craft ofstatesmanship, by help of which she might govern men and overthrow herenemies. Indeed, he did more, for when her education was finished, hejoined her with him in the government of Egypt, saying:

"I who always lacked bodily strength, grow aged and feeble. This mightycrown is too heavy for me to bear alone. Daughter, you must share itsweight. "

So the young Neter-Tua became a queen, and great was the ceremony of hercoronation. The high priests and priestesses, clothed in the robesand symbols of their gods and goddesses, addressed speeches to her andblessed her in their names, giving her every good gift and promising toher eternal life. Princes and nobles made her offerings; foreign chiefsand kings bowed before her by their ambassadors. The Counts and headmenof the Two Lands swore allegiance to her, and, finally, in the presenceof all the Court, Pharaoh himself set the double crown upon her browand gave her her throne-names of "Glorious in Ra and Hathor Strong inBeauty. "

So for a while Tua sat splendid on her golden seat while the peopleadored her, but in that triumphant hour her eyes searched for one faceonly, that of the tall and gallant captain, Rames, her foster-brother, and for a moment rested there content. Yes, their eyes met, those ofthe new-crowned Empress on her throne and of the youthful noble in thethrong below. Short was the greeting, for next instant she looked away, yet more full of meaning than whole days of speech. 

"The Queen does not forget what the child remembered, the goddess isstill a woman, " it seemed to say. And so sweet was that message thatRames staggered from the Court like one stricken by the sun. 

Night came at last, and having dismissed her secretaries, scribes andtire-women the weary girl, now clad in simple white, sat in her chamberalone. She thought of all the splendours through which she had passed;she thought of the glories of her imperial state, of the power that shewielded, and of the proud future which stretched before her feet. But most of all she thought of the face of the young Count Rames, theplaymate of her childhood, the man she loved, and wondered, ah! how shewondered, if with all her power she could ever draw him to her side. If not, of what use was this rule over millions, this dominion of herworld? They called her a goddess, and in truth, at times, she believedthat she was half-divine, but if so, why did her heart ache like that ofany common maid?

Moreover, was she really set above the misfortunes of her race? Coulda throne, however bright with gold, lift her above the sorrows of humankind? She desired to learn the truth, the very truth. Her mind wasurgent, it drove her on to search out things to come, to stand face toface with them, even if they were evil. Well, she believed she had thestrength, although, as yet, she had never called it to her aid. 

Also this thing could not be done alone. Tua thought a while, then goingto the door of her chamber she bade a woman who waited without summon toher the Lady Asti, priestess of Amen, Interpreter of Heaven. PresentlyAsti came, for now, as always, she was in attendance upon thenew-crowned queen, a tall and noble-looking woman with fine-cut featuresand black hair, that although she was fifty years of age, still showedno trace of grey. 

"I was in the Sanctuary when your Majesty summoned me, " she said, pointing to the sacred robe she wore. "Let your Majesty pardon me, therefore, if I have been long in coming, " and she bowed low before her. 

But the Queen lifted her up and kissed her, saying, "I am weary of those high titles whereof I have heard more than enoughto-day. Call me Tua, O my mother, for so you have ever been to me, fromwhose breast I drew the milk of life. "

"What ails you, my child?" asked Asti. "Was the crown too heavy for thisyoung head of yours?" she added, stretching out her delicate hand andstroking the black and curling hair. 

"Aye, Mother, the weight of it seemed to crush me with its gems andgold. I am weary and yet I cannot sleep. Tell me, why did Pharaoh summonthat Council after the feast? Mermes was one of them, so you must know. And why was not I, who henceforth rule with Pharaoh, present with him?"

"Would you learn?" said Asti with a little smile. "Well, as Queenyou have the right. It was because they discussed the matter of yourmarriage. "

For a moment a light shone upon Tua's face. Then she asked anxiously:

"My marriage, and with whom?"

"Oh! many names were mentioned, Child, since she who rules Egypt doesnot lack for suitors. "

"Tell me them quick, Asti. "

So she told them, there were seven in all, the Prince of Kesh, the sonsof foreign kings, great nobles, and a general of the army who claimeddescent from a former Pharaoh. 

As each name fell from Asti's lips Tua waved her hand, saying scornfulwords, such as "I know him not, " "Too old, " "Fat and hideous, " "Aforeign dog who spits upon our gods, " and so forth, adding at last:

"Go on. "

"That is all, Lady, no other name was mentioned, and the Counciladjourned to consider these. "

"No other name?"

"Do you then miss one, perchance, Tua?"

She made no answer, only her lips seemed to shape themselves to acertain sound that they did not utter. The two women looked each otherin the eyes, then Asti shook her head. 

"It may not be, " she whispered, "for many reasons, and amongst them thatby the solemn decree of long ago whereof I have told you, our blood isbarred for ever from the throne. None would dare to break it, not eventhe Pharaoh himself. You would bring my son to his death, Tua, whichsuch another look as you gave him in yonder hall would surely do. "

"No, " she answered slowly, "I would not bring him to his death, but tolife and honour and--love, and one day _I_ shall be Pharaoh. Only, Asti, if you betray me to him I swear that I will bring you to your death, although you are so dear. "

"I shall not betray you, " answered the priestess, smiling again. "Intruth, most Beautiful, I do not think there is any need, even if Iwould. Say now, why did a certain captain turn faint and leave the hallto-day when your eyes chanced to fall on him?"

"The heat, " suggested Tua, colouring. 

"Yes, it was hot, but he is stronger than most men and had borne itlong--like others. Still there are fires----"

"Because he was afraid of my majesty, " broke in Tua hurriedly. "You knowI looked very royal there, Mother. "

"Yes, doubtless fear moved him--or some other passion. Yet, Beloved, put that thought from your heart as I do. When you are Pharaoh you willlearn that a monarch is a slave to the people and to the law. Breathebut his name in love, and never will you see him more till you meetbefore Osiris. "

Tua hid her eyes in her hands for a moment, then she glanced up andthere was another look upon her face, a strange, new look. 

"When I am Pharaoh, " she answered, "there are certain matters in whichI will be my own law, and if the people do not like it, they may findanother Pharaoh. "

Asti started at her words, and a light of joy shone in her deep eyes. 

"Truly your heart is high, " she said; "but, oh! if you love me--andanother--bury that thought, bury it deep, or he will never live to seeyou placed alone upon the golden seat. Know, Lady, that already fromhour to hour I fear for him--lest he should drink a poisoned cup, lest at night he should chance to stumble against a spear, lest anarrow--shot in sport--should fall against his throat and none knowwhence it came. "

Tua clenched her hands. 

"If so, there should be such vengeance as Egypt has not heard of sinceMena ruled. "

"Of what use is vengeance, Child, when the heart is empty and the tombis sealed?"

Again Tua thought. Then she said:

"There are other gods besides Osiris. Now what do men call me, Mother?Nay, not my royal names. "

"They call you Morning Star of Amen; they call you Daughter of Amen. "

"Is that story true, Asti the Magician?"

"Aye, at least your mother dreamed the dream, for she told it to me andI have read its record, who am a priestess of Amen. "

"Then this high god should love me, should he not? He should hear myprayers and give me power--he should protect those who are dear to me. Mother, they say that you, the Mistress of secret things, can open theears of the gods and cause their mouths to speak. Mother, I command youas your Queen, call up my father Amen before me, so that I may talk withhim, for I have words to which he must listen. "

"Are you not afraid?" asked Asti, looking at her curiously. "He is thegreatest of all the gods, and to summon him lightly is a sacrilege. "

"Should a daughter fear her father?" answered Tua. 

"When the divine Queen your mother and Pharaoh knelt before him in hisshrine, praying that a child might be given to them, Amen did not deignto appear to them, save afterwards in a dream. Will you dare more thanthey? Lie down and dream, O Star of the Morning. "

"Nay, I trust no dreams which change like summer clouds and pass assoon, " answered the girl boldly. "If the god is my father, in the spiritor the flesh, I know not which, let him appear before me face to face. I ask his wisdom for myself and his favour for another. Call him, if youhave the power, Asti. Call him even if he slay me. Better that I shoulddie than----"

"Hush!" said Asti, laying her hand upon her lips, "speak not that name. Well, I have some skill, and for your sake--and another's--I will try, but not here. Perchance he may listen, perchance not, or, perchance, ifhe comes you and I must pay the price. Put on your robes, now, O Queen, and over them this veil, and follow me--if you dare. "

Along narrow passages they crept and down many a secret-stair, till atlength they came to a door at the foot of a long slope of rock. This door Asti unlocked and thrust open, then when they had entered, re-locked it behind them. 

"What is this place?" whispered Tua. 

"The burial crypt of the high priestesses of Amen, where it is said thatthe god watches. None have entered it for hard on thirty years. See herein the dust run the footsteps of those who bore the last priestess toher rest. "

She held up her lamp, and by the light of it Tua saw that they were in agreat cave painted with figures of the gods which had on either side ofit recesses. In each of these was set a coffin with a gilded face, andbehind it an alabaster statue of her who lay therein, and in front ofit a table of offerings. At the head of the crypt stood a small altar ofblack stone, for the rest the place was empty. 

Asti led Tua to a step in front of the altar and bidding her kneel, departed with the lamp which she hid away in some side chapel, so thatnow the darkness was intense. Presently, through the utter silence, Tuaheard her creep back towards her, for although she walked so softly thedust seemed to cry beneath her feet, and her every footstep echoed roundthe vaulted walls. Moreover, a glow came from her, the glow of her lifein that place of death. She passed Tua and knelt by the altar and theecho of her movements died away. Only it seemed to Tua that from each ofthe tombs to the right and to the left rose the Ka of her who was buriedthere, and drew near to watch and listen. She could not see them, shecould not hear them, yet she knew that they were there and was able tocount their number--thirty and two in all--while within herself rosea picture of them, each differing from the other, but all white, expectant, solemn. 

Now Tua heard Asti murmuring secret invocations that she did notunderstand. In that place and silence they sounded weird and dreadful, and as she hearkened to them, for the first time fear crept over her. Kneeling there upon her knees she bent her head almost to the dustand put up prayers to Amen that he might be pleased to hear her and tosatisfy the longings of her heart. She prayed and prayed till she grewfaint and weary, while always Asti uttered her invocations. But noanswer came, no deity appeared, no voice spoke. At length Asti rose, andcoming to her, whispered in her ear:

"Let us depart ere the watching spirits, whose rest we have broken, growwrath with us. The god has shut his ears. "

So Tua rose, clinging to Asti, for now, she knew not why, her fear grewand deepened. For a moment she stood upon her feet, then sank to herknees again, for there at the far end of the great tomb, near to thedoor by which they had entered, appeared a glow upon the darkness. Slowly it took form, the form of a woman clad in the royal robes ofEgypt, and bearing in its hand a sceptre. The figure of light advancedtowards them, so that presently they saw its face. Tua did not know theface, though it seemed to her to be like her own, but Asti knew it, andat the sight sank to the ground. 

Now the figure stood in front of them, a thing of light framed in thethick darkness, and now in a sweet, low voice it spoke. 

"Hail! Queen of Egypt, " it said. "Hail! Neter-Tua, Daughter of Amen. Artthou afraid to look on the spirit of her who bore thee, thou that didstdare to summon the Father of the gods to do thy bidding?"

"I am afraid, " answered Tua, shaking in all her limbs. 

"And thou, Asti the Magician, art thou afraid also, who but now wastbold enough to cry to Amen-Ra--'Come from thy high heaven and makeanswer'?"

"It is even so, O Queen Ahura, " murmured Asti. 

"Woman, " went on the voice, "thy sin is great, and great is the sin ofthis royal one at thy side. Had Amen hearkened, how would the two of youhave stood before his glory, who at the sight of this shape of mine thatonce was mortal like yourselves, crouch choking to the earth? I tellyou both that had the god arisen, as in your wickedness ye willed, there where ye knelt, there ye would have died. But he who knows all ismerciful, and in his place has sent me his messenger that ye may live tolook upon to-morrow's sun. "

"Let Amen pardon us!" gasped Tua, "it was my sin, O Mother, for Icommanded Asti and she obeyed me. On me be the blame, not on her, for Iam torn with doubts and fears, for myself and for another. I would knowthe future. "

"Why, O Queen Neter-Tua, why wouldst thou know the future? If hell yawnsbeneath thy feet, why wouldst thou peep through its golden doors beforethe time? The future is hid from mortals because, could they pierce itsveil, it would crush them with its terrors. If all the woes of life anddeath lay open the gaze, who would dare to live and who--oh! who coulddare to die?"

"Then woes await me, O thou who wast my mother?"

"How can it be otherwise? Light and darkness make the day, joy andsorrow make the life. Thou art human, be content. "

"Divine also, O Ahura, if all tales be true. "

"Then pay for thy divinity in tears and be satisfied. Content is theguerdon of the beast, but gods are wafted upwards on the wings of pain. How can that gold be pure which has not known the fire?"

"Thou tellest me nothing, " wailed Tua, "and it is not for myself I ask. I am fair, I am Amen's daughter, and splendid is my heritage. Yet, ODweller in Osiris, thou who once didst fill the place I hold to-day, Itell thee that I would pay away this pomp, could I but be sure that Ishall not live loveless, that I shall not be given as a chattel to onewhom I hate, that one--whom I do not hate--will live to call me--wife. Great dangers threaten him--and me, Amen is mighty; he is the potterthat moulds the clay of men; if I be his child, if his spirit isbreathed into me, oh! let him help me now. "

"Let thine own faith help thee. Are not the words of Amen, which hespake concerning thee, written down? Study them and ask no more. Loveis an arrow that does not miss its mark; it is the immortal fire from onhigh which winds and waters cannot quench. Therefore love on. Thou shaltnot love in vain. Queen and Daughter, fare thee well awhile. "

"Nay, nay, one word, Immortal. I thank thee, thou Messenger of thegods, but when these troubles come upon me--and another, when the seaof dangers closes o'er our heads, when shame is near and I am lonely, aswell may chance, then to whom shall I turn for succour?"

"Then thou hast one within thee who is strong to aid. It was given tothee at thy birth, O Star of Amen, and Asti can call it forth. Comehither, thou Asti, and swiftly, for I must be gone, and first I wouldspeak with thee. "

Asti crept forward, and the glowing shape in the royal robe bent overher so that the light of it shone upon her face. It bent over her andseemed to whisper in her ear. Then it held out its hands towards Tua asthough in blessing, and instantly was not. 

Once more the two women stood in Tua's chamber. Pale and shaken theylooked into each other's eyes. 

"You have had your will, Queen, " said Asti; "for if Amen did not come, he sent a messenger, and a royal one. "

"Interpret me this vision, " answered Tua, "for to me, at any rate, thatSpirit said little. "

"Nay, it said much. It said that love fails not of its reward, and whatmore went you out to seek?"

"Then I am glad, " exclaimed Tua joyfully. 

"Be not too glad, Queen, for to-night we have sinned, both of us, whodared to summon Amen from his throne, and sin also fails not of itsreward. Blood is the price of that oracle. "

"Whose blood, Asti? Ours?"

"Nay, worse, that of those who are dear to us. Troubles arise in Egypt, Queen. "

"You will not leave me when they break, Asti?"

"I may not if I would. The Fates have bound us together till the end, and that I think is far away. I am yours as once you were mine when youlay upon my breast, but bid me no more to summon Amen from his throne. "

CHAPTER V

HOW RAMES FOUGHT THE PRINCE OF KESH

Now for a whole moon there were great festivals in Thebes, and in all ofthese Neter-Tua, "Glorious in Ra, Hathor Strong in Beauty, MorningStar of Amen, " must take her part as new-crowned Queen of Egypt. Feastfollowed feast, and at each of them one of the suitors of her hand wasthe guest of honour. 

Then after it was done, Pharaoh her father and his councillors wouldwait upon her and ask if this man was pleasing to her. Being wise, Tuawould give no direct answer, only of most of them she was rid in thisway. 

She demanded that the writing of the dream of her mother, Ahura, shouldbe brought and read before her, and when it had been read she pointedout that Amen promised to her a royal lover, and that these chiefs andgenerals were not royal, therefore it was not of them that Amen spoke, nor did she dare to turn her eyes on one whom the god had forbidden toher. 

Of others who declared that they were kings, but who, being unable toleave their countries, were represented by ambassadors, she said thatnot having seen them she could say nothing. When they appeared at theCourt of Egypt, she would consider them. 

So at length only one suitor was left, the man whom she knew wellPharaoh and his councillors desired that she should take as husband. This was Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, whose father, an aged king, ruledat Napata, a great city far to the south, situated in a land that wascalled an island because the river Nile embraced it in its two arms. It was said that after Egypt this country was the richest in the wholeworld, for there gold was so plentiful that men thought it of less valuethan copper and iron; also there were mines in which beautiful stoneswere found, and the soil grew corn in abundance. 

Moreover, once in the far past, a race of Pharaohs sprung from this cityof Napata, had sat on the throne of Egypt, until at length the people ofEgypt, headed by the priests, had risen and overthrown them becausethey were foreigners and had introduced Nubian customs into the land. Therefore it was decreed by an unalterable law that none of their raceshould ever again wear the Double Crown. Of the descendants of thesePharaohs, Rames, Tua's playmate, was the last lawful child. 

But although the Egyptians had cast them down, at heart they alwaysgrieved over the rich territory of Napata, which was lost to them, forwhen those Pharaohs fell Kesh declared itself independent and set upanother dynasty to rule over it, of which dynasty Amathel Prince of Keshwas the heir. 

Therefore they hoped that it might come back to them by marriage betweenAmathel and the young Queen Neter-Tua. Ever since she was born the greatlords and councillors of Egypt, yes, and Pharaoh himself, seeing that hehad no son to whom he might marry her after the fashion of the country, had been working to this end. It was by secret treaty that the PrinceAmathel was present at the crowning of the Queen, of whose hand he hadbeen assured on the sole condition that he came to dwell with her atThebes. It is true that there were other suitors, but these, as all ofthem knew well, were but pawns in a game played to amuse the people. 

The king destined to take the great queen captive was Amathel and noother. Tua knew it, for had not Asti told her, and was it not because ofher fear of this man and her love for Rames that she had dared to committhe sacrilege of attempting to summon Amen from the skies? Still, asyet, the Pharaoh had not spoken to her of Amathel, nor had she met him. It was said that he had been present at her crowning in disguise, forthis proud prince gave out that were she ten times Queen of Egypt, he would not pledge himself to wed as his royal wife, one who wasdispleasing to him, and that therefore he must see her before he pressedhis suit. 

Now that he had seen her in her loveliness and glory, he announced thathe was well satisfied, which was but half the truth, for, in fact, shehad set all his southern blood on fire, and there was nothing that hedesired more than to call her wife. 

On the night which had been appointed for Amathel to meet his destinedbride, a feast had been prepared richer by far than any that wentbefore. Tua, feigning ignorance, on entering the great unroofed hall litwith hundreds of torches down all its length, and seeing the multitudesat the tables, asked of the Pharaoh, her father, who was the guest thathe would welcome with such magnificence which seemed worthy of a godrather than of a man. 

"My daughter, " answered the old monarch nervously, "it is none otherthan the Prince of Kesh, who in his own country they worship as divine, as we are worshipped here in Egypt, and who, in truth, is, or will be, one of the greatest of kings. "

"Kesh!" she answered, "I thought that we claimed sovereignty over thatland. "

"Once it was ours, Daughter, " said her father with a sigh, "or ratherthe kings of Kesh were also kings of Egypt, but their dynasty fellbefore my great-great-grandfather was called to the throne, and now butthree of their blood are left, Mermes, Captain of the Guard of Amen;Asti, the Seer and Priestess, his wife, your foster-mother and waitinglady, and the young Count Rames, a soldier in our army, who was yourplaymate, and as you may remember saved you from the sacred crocodile. "

"Yes, I remember, " said Tua. "But then why is not Mermes King of Kesh?"

"Because the people of the city of Napata raised up another house torule over them, of whom Amathel is the heir. "

"A usurping heir, surely, my father, if there be anything in blood. "

"Say not that, Tua, " replied Pharaoh sharply, "for then Mermes should bePharaoh in our place also. "

Tua made no reply, only as they took their seats in the golden chairs atthe head of the hall, she asked carelessly:

"Is this Prince of Kesh also a suitor for my hand, O Pharaoh?"

"What else should he be, my daughter? Did you not know it? Be graciousto him now, since it is decreed that you shall take him as a husband. Hush! answer not. He comes. "

As he spoke a sound of wild music arose, and at the far end of the greathall appeared a band of players gorgeously attired, who blew horns madefrom small tusks of the elephant, clashed brazen cymbals and beat gildeddrums. These advanced a little way up the hall and stood there playing, while after them marched a bodyguard of twenty gigantic Nubian soldierswho carried broad-bladed spears with shields of hippopotamus hidecuriously worked, and were clothed in tunics and caps of leopard-skin. 

Next appeared the Prince of Kesh himself, a short, stout, broad-shouldered young man, thick-featured, heavy-faced, and havinglarge, rolling eyes. He was clad in festal garments, and hung about withheavy chains of gold fastened with clasps of glittering stones, while from his crisp, black hair rose a tall plume of nodding ostrichfeathers. Fan bearers walked beside him, and the train of his long cloakwas borne by two black and hideous dwarfs, full-grown men but no tallerthan a child of eight. 

With one swift glance, while he was yet far away, Tua studied the manfrom head to foot, and hated him as she had never hated anyone before. Then she looked over his head, as from her raised seat upon the dais shewas able to do, and saw that behind him came a second guard of pickedEgyptian soldiers, and that in command of them, simply clad in hisscaled armour of bronze, and wearing upon his thigh the golden-handledsword that Pharaoh had given him, was none other than the young CountRames, her playmate and foster-brother, the man whom her heart loved. Atthe sight of his tall and noble form and fine-cut face rising above thecoarse, squat figure of the Ethiopian prince, Tua blushed rosy red, butPharaoh noting it, only thought, as others did, that it was because nowfor the first time her eyes fell upon him who would be her husband. 

Why, Tua wondered, was Rames chosen to attend upon the Prince Amathel?At once the answer rose in her mind. Doubtless it had been done togratify the pride of Amathel, not by Pharaoh, who would know nothingof such matters, but by some bribed councillor, or steward of thehousehold. Rames was of more ancient blood than Amathel, and by rightshould be the King of Kesh, as he should also be Pharaoh of Egypt;therefore, to humble him he was set to wait upon Amathel. 

Moreover, it was guessed that the young Queen looked kindly upon thisCount Rames with whom she had been nursed, and who, like herself, wasbeautiful to behold. Therefore, to abase him in her eyes he had beencommanded to appear walking in the train of Amathel and given chargeover his sacred person at the feast. 

In a moment Tua understood it all, and made a vow before her fatherAmen that soon or late those who had planned this outrage should pay itsprice, nor did she forget that promise in the after days. 

Now the Prince had mounted the dais and was bowing low to Pharaoh and toher, and they must rise and bow in answer. Then Pharaoh welcomed him toEgypt in few, well-chosen words, giving him all his titles and speakingmeaningly of the ancient ties which had linked their kingdoms, tieswhich, he prayed, might yet draw them close again. 

He ceased and looked at Tua who, as Queen, had also a speech to deliverthat had been given to her in writing. Although she remembered this wellenough, for the roll lay beside her, never a word would she read, butturned round and bade one of her waiting-ladies bring her a fan. 

So after a pause that seemed somewhat long Amathel delivered his answerthat was learned by rote, for it replied to "gentle words from the lipsof the divine Queen that made his heart to flower like the desert afterrain, " not one of which had she spoken. Thereon Tua, looking overthe top of her fan, saw Rames smile grimly, while unable to restrainthemselves, some of the great personages at the feast broke outlaughing, and bowed down their heads to hide their merriment. 

With an angry scowl the Prince turned and commanded that the giftsshould be brought. Now slaves advanced bearing cups of worked gold, elephants and other beasts fashioned in gold, and golden vases full ofincense, which he presented to Pharaoh on behalf of his father, the Kingof Kesh and himself, saying boastfully that in his country such thingswere common, and that he would have brought more of them had it not beenfor their weight. 

When Pharaoh had thanked him, answering gently that Egypt too was notpoor, as he hoped that he would find upon the morrow, the Prince, onhis own behalf alone, offered to the Queen other presents, amongthem pectorals and necklaces without price fashioned of amethysts andsapphires. Also, because she was known to be the first of musicians andthe sweetest-voiced lady in the land--for these were the greatest of thegifts that Tua had from Amen--he gave to her a wonderfully worked harpof ivory with golden strings, the frame of the harp being fashioned tothe shape of a woman, and two black female slaves laden with ornaments, who were said to be the best singers in the Southern Land. 

Now Pharaoh whispered to Tua to put on one of the necklaces, but shewould not, saying that the colour of the stones did not match her whiterobe and the blue lotus flowers which she wore. Instead, she thankedAmathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, toldthe royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind her, to bear them away and toplace them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured overthem, oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade themleave the ivory harp. 

Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began. At it Amathel drank much ofthe sweet wine of Asi or Cyprus, commanding Rames, who stood behind him, to fill his cup again and again, though whether he did this because hewas nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did notknow. At least, having no choice, Rames obeyed, though cup-filling wasno fitting task for a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh's guard. 

When the waiting women, clad in net worked with spangles of gold, had borne away the meats, conjurers appeared who did wonderful feats, amongst other things causing a likeness of Queen Neter-Tua wearing herroyal robes and having a star upon her brow, to arise out of a vase. 

Then, as they had arranged, they strove to do the same for the PrinceAmathel, but Asti who had more magic than all of them, watching behindTua's chair, put out her strength and threw a spell upon them. 

Behold! instead of the form of the Prince, which these conjurerssummoned loudly and by name, there appeared out of the vase a monkeywearing a crown and feathers that yet resembled him somewhat, whichblack and hideous ape stood there for a while seeming to gibber at them, then fell down and vanished away. 

Now some of the audience laughed and some were silent, but Pharaoh, notknowing whether this were a plot or an evil omen from the gods, frownedand looked anxiously at his guest. As it chanced, however, the Prince, fired with wine, was so engaged in staring at the loveliness of Tua, that he took no note of the thing, while the Queen looked upwards andseemed to see nothing. As for the conjurers, they fled from the hall, fearing for their lives, and wondering what strong spirit had enteredinto the vase and spoilt the trick which they had prepared. 

As they went singers and dancing women hurriedly took their place, tillTua, wearying of the stare of Amathel, waved her hand and said that shewished to hear those two Nubian slaves whose voices were said to be sowonderful. So they were brought forward with their harps, and havingprostrated themselves, began to play and sing very sweetly, Nubian songsmelancholy and wild, whereof few could understand the meaning. So welldid they sing, indeed, that when they had done, Neter-Tua said:

"You have pleased me much, and in payment I give you a royal gift. Igive you your freedom, and appoint that henceforth you shall sing beforethe Court, if you think fit to stay here, not as slaves but for hire. "

Then the two women prostrated themselves again before her Majesty andblessed her, for they knew that they could earn wealth by their gift, and the rich courtiers taking the Queen's cue, flung rings and ornamentsto them, so that in a minute they got more gold than ever they haddreamed of, who were but kidnapped slaves. But Prince Amathel grew angryand said:

"Some might have been pleased to keep the priceless gift of the bestsingers in the world. "

"Do you say that these sweet-voiced women are the best singers in theworld, O Prince?" asked Tua, speaking to him for the first time. "Nowif you will be pleased to listen, you provoke me to make trial of my ownsmall skill that I may learn how far I fall short of 'the best singersin the world. '"

Then she lifted up the ivory harp with the strings of gold and swepther fingers over it, trying its notes and adjusting them with the agatescrews, looking at Amathel all the while with a challenge in her lovelyeyes. 

"Nay, nay, my daughter, " said Pharaoh, "it is scarcely fitting that aqueen of Egypt should sing before all this noble company. "

"Why not, my father?" she asked. "To-night we all do honour to the heirof his Majesty of Kesh. Pharaoh receives him, Pharaoh's daughter acceptshis gifts, the highest in the land surround him, " then she paused andadded slowly, "one of blood more ancient than his own waits on him ascup-bearer, one whose race built up the throne his father fills, " andshe pointed to Rames, who stood near by holding the vase of wine. "Why, then, should not Egypt's queen seek to please our royal guest as bestshe may--since she has no other gift to give him?"

Then in the dead silence which followed this bold speech, whereof nonecould mistake the meaning, Neter-Tua, Morning Star of Amen, rose fromher seat. Pressing the ivory harp against her young breast, shebent over it, her head crowned with the crown of Upper Egypt whereonglistened the royal _urĉus_, a snake about to strike, and swept thewell-tuned strings. 

Such magic was in her touch that instantly all else was forgotten, eventhe Pharaoh leaned back in his golden chair to listen. Softly she struckat first, then by slow degrees ever louder till the music of the harprang through the pillared hall. Now, at length, she lifted up herheavenly voice and began to sing in a strain so wild and sweet that itseemed to pierce to the watching stars. 

It was a sad and ancient love-tale that she sang, which told how apriestess of Hathor of high degree loved and was beloved by a simplescribe whom she might not wed. It told how the scribe, maddened by hispassion, crept at night into the very sanctuary of the temple hoping tofind her there, and for his sacrilege was slain by the angry goddess. It told how the beautiful priestess, coming alone to make prayer in thesanctuary for strength to resist her love, stumbled over the lover'scorpse and, knowing it, died of grief. It told how Hathor, goddessof love, melted by the piteous sight, breathed back life into theirnostrils, and since they might not remain upon earth, wafted them to theUnder-world, where they awoke and embraced and dwell on for ever and foraye, triumphant and rejoicing. 

All had heard this old, old story, but none had ever heard it sodivinely sung. As Tua's pure and lovely voice floated over them thelisteners seemed to see that lover, daring all in his desire, creep intothe solemn sanctuary of the temple. They saw Hathor appear in her wrathand smite him cold in death. They saw the beauteous priestess with herlamp, and heard her wail her life away upon her darling's corpse; saw, too, the dead borne by spirits over the borders of the world. 

Then came that last burst of music thrilling and divine, and its rich, passionate notes seemed to open the heavens to their sight. There in thedeep sky they perceived the awakening of the lovers and their embraceof perfect joy, and when a glory hid them, heard the victorious chant ofthe priestess of love sighing itself away, faint and ever fainter, tillat length its last distant echoes died in the utter silence of the placeof souls. 

Tua ceased her music. Resting her still quivering harp upon the board, she sank back in her chair of state, outworn, trembling, while in herpale face the blue eyes shone like stars. There was stillness inthe hall; the spell of that magical voice lay on the listeners; noneapplauded, it seemed even that none dared to move, for men rememberedthat this wonderful young Queen was said to be daughter of Amen, Masterof the world, and thought that it had been given to them to hearken, notto a royal maiden, but to a goddess of the skies. 

Quiet they sat as though sleep had smitten them, only every man of theirnumber stared at the sweet pale face and at those radiant eyes. Drunkwith passion and with wine, Amathel, Prince of Kesh, leaned his heavyhead upon his hand and stared like the rest. But those eyes did not stayon him. Had he been a stone they could not have noted him less; theypassed over him seeking something beyond. 

Slowly he turned to see what it might be at which the Morning Star ofAmen gazed, and perceived that the young captain who waited on him, hewho was said to be of a race more ancient and purer than his own, hewhose house had reigned in the Southern Land when his ancestors were buttraffickers in gold, was also gazing at this royal singer. Yes, he bentforward to gaze as though a spell drew him, a spell, or the eyes ofthe Queen, and there was that upon his face which even a drunken Nubiancould not fail to understand. 

In the hands of Rames was the tall, golden vase of wine, and as Amathelthrust back his chair its topmost ivory bar struck the foot of thevase and tilted it, so that the red wine poured in a torrent over thePrince's head and gorgeous robes, staining him from his crest of plumesto his feet as though with blood. Up sprang the Prince of Kesh roaringwith fury. 

"Dog-descended slave!" he shouted. "Hog-headed brother of swine, is itthus that you wait upon my Royalty?" and with the cup in his hand hesmote Rames on the face, then drew the sword at his side to kill him. 

But Rames also wore a sword, that sword hafted with the golden crocodilewhich Pharaoh had given him long ago--that sword which Asti theforesighted had seen red with royal blood. With a wild, low cry hesnatched it from its sheath, and to avoid the blow that Amathel struckat him before he could guard himself, sprang backwards from the daisto the open space in the hall that had been left clear for the dancers. After him leapt Amathel calling him "Coward, " and next instant thepillars echoed, not with Tua's music but with the stern ringing ofbronze upon bronze. 

Now in their fear and amaze men looked up to Pharaoh, waiting his word, but Pharaoh, overcome by the horror of the scene, appeared to haveswooned; at least, he lay back in his chair with his eyes shut like oneasleep. Then they looked to the Queen, but Tua made no sign, only withparted lips and heaving breast watched, watched and waited for the end. 

As for Rames he forgot everything save that he, a soldier and a nobleof royal race, had been struck across the mouth by a black Nubian whocalled himself a prince. His blood boiled up in him, and through ared haze as it were, he saw Tua's glorious eyes beckoning him on to avictory. He saw and sprang as springs the lion of the desert, sprangstraight at the throat of Amathel. The blow went high, an ostrich plumefloated to the ground--no more, and Amathel was a sturdy fighter and hadthe strength of madness. Moreover, his was the longer weapon; it fellupon the scales of armour of Rames and beat him back, it fell againon his shoulder and struck him to his knee. It fell a third time, and glancing from the mail wounded him in the thigh so that the bloodflowed. Now a soldier of Pharaoh's guard shouted to encourage hiscaptain, and the Nubians shouted back, crying to their prince to slitthe hog's throat. 

Then Rames seemed to awake. He leapt from his knees, he smote and theblow went home, though the iron which the Nubian wore beneath his robestayed it. He smote again more fiercely, and now it was the bloodof Amathel that flowed. Then bending almost to the ground before theanswering stroke, he leapt and thrust with all the strength of younglimbs trained to war. He thrust and behold! between the broad shouldersof Amathel pierced from breast to back, appeared the point of theEgyptian's sword. For a moment the prince stood still, then he fellbackwards heavily and lay dead. 

Now, with a shout of rage the giants of the Nubian guard rushed at Ramesto avenge their master's death, so that he must fly backwards beforetheir spears, backwards into the ranks of the Pharaoh's guard. In aflash the Nubians were on them also and, how none could tell, a fearfulfray began, for these soldiers hated each other, as their fathers haddone before them, and there were none who could come between them, since at this feast no man bore weapons save the guards. Fierce was thebattle, but the Nubians lacked a captain while Rames led veterans ofThebes picked for their valour. 

The giants began to give. Here and there they fell till at length butthree of them were left upon their feet, who threw down their arms andcried for mercy. Then it was for the first time that Rames understoodwhat he had done. With bent head, his red sword in his hand, he climbedthe dais and knelt before the throne of Pharaoh, saying:

"I have avenged my honour and the honour of Egypt. Slay me, O Pharaoh!"

But Pharaoh made no answer for his swoon still held him. 

Then Rames turned to Tua and said:

"Pharaoh sleeps, but in your hand is the sceptre. Slay me, O Queen!"

Now Tua, who all this while had watched like one frozen into stone, seemed to thaw to life again. Her danger was past. She could never beforced to wed that coarse, black-souled Nubian, for Rames had killedhim. Yonder he lay dead in all his finery with his hideous giants abouthim like fallen trees, and oh! in her rebellious human heart she blessedRames for the deed. 

But as she, who was trained in statecraft, knew well enough, if he hadescaped the sword of Prince Amathel, it was but to fall into a perilfrom which there seemed to be no escape. This dead prince was the heirof a great king, of a king so great that for a century Egypt had daredto make no war upon his country, for it was far away, well-fortified andhard to come at across deserts and through savage tribes. Moreover, theman had been slain at a feast in Pharaoh's Court, and by an officer ofPharaoh's guard, which afterwards had killed his escort under the eyesof Egypt's monarchs, the hand of one of whom he sought in marriage. Sucha deed must mean a bitter war for Egypt, and to those who struck theblow--death, as Rames himself knew well. 

Tua looked at him kneeling before her, and her heart ached. Fiercely, despairingly she thought, throwing her soul afar to seek out wisdom anda way of escape for Rames. Presently in the blackness of her mind therearose a plan and, as ever was her fashion, she acted swiftly. Liftingher head she commanded that the doors should be locked and guarded sothat none might go in or out, and that those physicians who were amongstthe company should attend to the wounded, and to Pharaoh, who wasill. Then she called the High Council of the Kingdom, all of whom weregathered there about her, and spoke in a cold, calm voice, while thecompany flocked round to listen. 

"Lords and people, " she said, "the gods for their own purposes havesuffered a fearful thing to come to pass. Egypt's guest and his guardhave been slain before Egypt's kings, yes, at their feast and in theirvery presence, and it will be said far and wide that this has been doneby treachery. Yet you know well, as I do, that it was no treachery, but a mischance. The divine prince who is dead, as all of you saw, grew drunken after the fashion of his people, and in his drunkenness hestruck a high-born man, a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh, whoto do him greater honour was set to wait upon him, calling him by vilenames, and drew his sword upon him to kill him. Am I right? Did you seeand hear these things?"

"Aye, " answered the Council and the audience. 

"Then, " went on Tua, "this officer, forgetting all save his outragedhonour, dared to fight for his life even against the Prince of Kesh, andbeing the better man, slew him. Afterwards the servants of the Prince ofKesh attacked him and Pharaoh's guard, and were conquered and the mostof them killed, since none here had arms wherewith to part them. Have Ispoken truth?"

"Yea, O Queen, " they answered again by their spokesman. "Rames and theroyal guard have little blame in the matter, " and from the rest of themrose a murmur of assent. 

"Now, " went on Tua with gathering confidence, for she felt that all sawwith her eyes, "to add to our woes Pharaoh, my father, has been smittenby the gods. He sleeps; he cannot speak; I know not whether he will liveor die, and therefore it would seem that I, the duly-crowned Queen ofEgypt, must act for him as was provided in such a case, since the matteris very urgent and may not be delayed. Is it your will, " she added, addressing the Council, "that I should so act as the gods may show mehow to do?"

"It is right and fitting, " answered the Vizier, the King's companion, onbehalf of all of them. 

"Then, priests, lords and people, " continued the Queen, "what courseshall we take in this sore strait? Speaking with the voice of all ofyou and on your behalf, I can command that the Count Rames and all thoseother chosen men whom Pharaoh loves, who fought with him, shall be slainforthwith. This, indeed, " she added slowly, "I should wish to do, sincealthough Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no high-born mancan be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them werebut fighting to save their lives and to show the Nubians that we are notcowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and slain theheir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deedtheir lives are forfeit. "

She paused watching, while although here and there a voice answered"Yes" or "They must die, " from the rest arose a murmur of dissent. Forin their hearts the company were on the side of Rames and Pharaoh'sguards. Moreover, they were proud of the young captain's skill andcourage, and glad that the Nubians, whom they hated with an ancienthate, had been defeated by the lesser men of Egypt, some of whom weretheir friends or relatives. 

Now, while they argued among themselves Tua rose from her chair andwent to look at Pharaoh, whom the physicians were attending, chafing hishands and pouring water on his brow. Presently she returned with tearsstanding in her beautiful eyes, for she loved her father, and said in aheavy voice:

"Alas! Pharaoh is very ill. Set the evil has smitten him, and it ishard, my people, that he perchance may be taken from us and we mustbear such woe, because of the ill behaviour of a royal foreigner, for Icannot forget that it was he who caused this tumult. "

The audience agreed that it was very hard, and looked angrily at thesurviving Nubians, but Tua, conquering herself, continued:

"We must bear the blows that the fates rain on us, nor suffer ourprivate grief to dull the sword of justice. Now, as I have said, eventhough we love them as our brothers or our husbands, yet the Count Ramesand his brave comrades should perish by a death of shame, such a deathas little befits the flower of Pharaoh's guard. "

Again she paused, then went on in the midst of an intense silence, foreven the physicians ceased from their work to hearken to her decree, assupreme judge of Egypt. 

"And yet, and yet, my people, even as I was about to pass sentence uponthem, uttering the doom that may not be recalled, some guardian spiritof our land sent a thought into my heart, on which I think it rightto take your judgment. If we destroy these men, as I desire to destroythem, will they not say in the Southern Country and in all the nationsaround, that first they had been told to murder the Prince of Kesh andhis escort, and then were themselves executed to cover up our crime?Will it not be believed that there is blood upon the hands of Pharaohand of Egypt, the blood of a royal guest who, it is well known, waswelcomed here with love and joy, that he might--oh! forgive me, I am buta maiden, I cannot say it. Nay, pity me not and answer not till I haveset out all the case as best I may, which I fear me is but ill. It iscertain that this will be said--aye, and believed, and we of Egypt allcalled traitors, and that these men, who after all, however evil hasbeen their deed, are brave and upright, will be written in all the booksof all the lands as common murderers, and go down to Osiris with thatill name branded on their brows. Yes, and their shame will cling to thepure hands of Pharaoh and his councillors. "

Now at this picture the people murmured, and some of the noble womenthere began to weep outright. 

"But, " proceeded Tua with her pleading voice, "how if we were to takeanother course? How if we commanded this Count Rames and his companionsto journey, with an escort such as befits the Majesty of Pharaoh, to thefar city of Napata, and there to lay before the great king of that landby writings and the mouths of witnesses, all the sad story of the deathof his only son? How if we sent letters to this Majesty of Kesh, saying, 'Thou hast heard our tale, thou knowest all our woe. Now judge. If thouart noble-hearted and it pleases thee to acquit these men, acquit themand we will praise thee. But if thou art wroth and stern and it pleasesthee to condemn these men, condemn them, and send them back to us forpunishment, that punishment which thou dost decree. ' Is that plan good, my people? Can his Majesty of Kesh complain if he is made judge in hisown cause? Can the kings and captains of other lands then declare thatin Egypt we work murder on our guests? Tell me, who have so littlewisdom, if this plan is good, as I dare to say to you, it seems to me. "

Now with one voice the Council and all the guests, and especially theguards themselves who were on their trial, save Rames, who still kneltin silence before the Queen, cried out that it was very good. Yes; theyclapped their hands and shouted, vowing to each other that this youngQueen of theirs was the Spirit of Wisdom come to earth, and that herexcellent person was filled with the soul of a god. 

But she frowned at their praises and, holding up her sceptre, sternlycommanded silence. 

"Such is your decree, O my Council, " she cried, "and the decree of allyou here present, who are the noblest of my people, and I, as I am boundby my oath of crowning, proclaim and ratify it, I, Neter-Tua, who amnamed Star and Daughter of Amen, who am named Glorious in Ra, who amnamed Hathor, Strong in Beauty, who am crowned Queen of the Upper andthe Lower Land. I proclaim--write it down, O Scribes, and let itbe registered this night that the decree may stand while the worldendures--that two thousand of the choicest troops of Egypt shall sail upNile, forthwith, for Kesh, and that in command of them, so that allmay know his crime, shall go the young Count Rames, and with him thoseothers who also did the deed of blood. "

Now at this announcement, which sounded more like promotion thandisgrace, some started and Rames looked up, quivering in all his limbs. 

"I proclaim, " went on Tua quickly, "that when they are come to Napatathey shall kneel before its king and submit themselves to the judgmentof his Majesty, and having been judged, shall return and report to usthe judgment of his Majesty, that it may be carried out as his Majestyof Kesh shall appoint. Let the troops and the ships be made ready thisvery night, and meanwhile, save when he appears before us to take hisorders as general, in token of our wrath, we banish the Count Rames fromour Court and Presence, and place his companions under guard. "

So spoke Tua, and the royal decree having been written down swiftly andread aloud, she sealed and signed with her sign-manual as Queen, that itmight not be changed or altered, and commanded that copies of it shouldbe sent to all the Governors of the Nomes of Egypt, and a duplicateprepared and despatched with this royal embassy, for so she named it, tobe delivered to the King of Kesh with the letters of condolence, and thepresents of ceremony, and the body of Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, nowdivine in Osiris. 

Then, at length, the doors were thrown open and the company dispersed, Rames and the guard being led away by the Council and placed in safekeeping. Also Pharaoh, still senseless but breathing quietly, wascarried to his bed, and the dead were taken to the embalmers, whilstTua, so weary that she could scarcely walk, departed to her chambersleaning on the shoulder of the royal Nurse, Asti, the mother of Rames. 

CHAPTER VI

THE OATH OF RAMES AND OF TUA

Still robed Tua lay upon a couch, for she would not seek her bed, whileAsti stood near to her, a dark commanding figure. 

"Your Majesty has done strange things to-night, " said Asti in her quietvoice. 

Tua turned her head and looked at her, then answered:

"Very strange, Nurse. You see, the gods and that troublesome son ofyours and Pharaoh's sudden sickness threw the strings of Fate intomy hand, and--I pulled them. I always had a fancy for the pulling ofstrings, but the chance never came my way before. "

"It seems to me that for a beginner your Majesty pulled somewhat hard, "said Asti drily. 

"Yes, Nurse, so hard that I think I have pulled your son off thescaffold into a place of some honour, if he knows how to stay there, though it was the Council and the lords and the ladies, who thought that_they_ pulled. You see one must commence as one means to go on. "

"Your Majesty is very clever; you will make a great Queen--if you do notoverpull yourself. "

"Not half so clever as you were, Asti, when you made that monkey comeout of the vase, " answered Tua, laughing somewhat hysterically. "Oh! donot look innocent, I know it was your magic, for I could feel it passingover my head. How did you do it, Asti?"

"If your Majesty will tell me how you made the lords of Egypt consent tothe sending of an armed expedition to Napata under the command of a lad, a mere captain who had just killed its heir-apparent before their eyes, which decree, if I know anything of Rames, will mean a war between Keshand Egypt, I will tell you how I made the monkey come out of the vase. "

"Then I shall never learn, Nurse, for I can't because I don't know. Itcame into my mind, as music comes into my throat, that is all. Ramesshould have been beheaded at once, shouldn't he, for not letting thatblack boar tusk him? Do you think he poured the wine over Amathel's headon purpose?" and again she laughed. 

"Yes, I suppose that he should have been killed, as he would have beenif your Majesty had not chanced to be so fond----"

"Talking of wine, " broke in Tua, "give me a cup of it. The divine Princeof Kesh who was to have been my husband--did you understand, Asti, thatthey really meant to make that black barbarian my husband?--I say thatthe divine Prince, who now sups with Osiris, drank so much that I couldnot touch a drop, and I am tired and thirsty, and have still some thingsto do to-night. "

Asti went to a table where stood a flagon of wine wreathed in vineleaves, and by it cups of glass, and filling one of them brought it toTua. 

"Here's to the memory of the divine prince, and may he have left thetable of Osiris before I come there. And here's to the hand that senthim thither, " said Tua recklessly. Then she drained the wine, every dropof it, and threw the cup to the marble floor where it shattered intobits. 

"What god has entered into your Majesty to-night?" asked Asti quietly. 

"One that knows his own mind, I think, " replied Tua. "There, I feelstrong again, I go to visit Pharaoh. Come with me, Asti. "

When Tua arrived at the bedside of Pharaoh she found that the worst ofthe danger was over. Fearing for his life the physicians had bled him, and now the fit had passed away and his eyes were open, although he wasunable to speak and did not know her or anyone. She asked whether hewould live or die, and was told that he would live, or so his doctorsbelieved, but that for a long while he must lie quite quiet, seeing asfew people as possible, and above all being troubled with no business, since, if he were wearied or excited, the fit would certainly returnand kill him. So, rejoicing at this news which was better than she hadexpected, Tua kissed her father and left him. 

"Now will your Majesty go to bed?" asked Asti when she had returned toher own apartments. 

"By no means, " answered Tua, "I wear Pharaoh's shoes and have muchbusiness left to do to-night. Summon Mermes, your husband. "

So Mermes came and stood before her. He was still what he had beenin the old days when Tua played as an infant in his house, stern, noble-looking and of few words, but now his hair had grown white and hisface was drawn with grief, both for the sake of Rames, whose hot bloodhad brought him into so much danger, and because Pharaoh, who was hisfriend, lay between life and death. 

Tua looked at him and loved him more than ever, for now that he wastroubled some new likeness to Rames appeared upon his face which she hadnever seen before. 

"Take heart, noble Mermes, " she said gently, "they say that Pharaohstays with us yet a while. "

"I thank Amen, " he answered, "for had he died, his blood would have beenupon the hands of my House. "

"Not so, Mermes; it would have been upon the hands of the gods. Youspring from a royal line; say, what would you have thought of your sonif after being struck by that fat Nubian, he had cowered at his feet andprayed for his life like any slave?"

Mermes flushed and smiled a little, then said:

"The question is rather---What would you have thought, O Queen?"

"I?" answered Tua. "Well, as a queen I should have praised him much, since then Egypt would have been spared great trouble, but as a womanand a friend I should never have spoken to him again. Honour is morethan life, Mermes. "

"Certainly honour is more than life, " replied Mermes, staring at theceiling, perhaps to hide the look upon his face, "and for a little whileRames seems to be in the way of it. But those who are set high have farto fall, O Queen, and--forgive me--he is my only child. Now when Pharaohrecovers----"

"Rames will be far away, " broke in Tua. "Go, bring him here at once, andwith him the Vizier and the chief scribe of the Council. Take this ring, it will open all doors, " and she drew the signet from her finger andhanded it to him. 

"At this hour, your Majesty?" said Mermes in a doubtful voice. 

"Have I not spoken, " she answered impatiently. "When the welfare ofEgypt is at stake I do not sleep. "

So Mermes bowed and went, and while he was gone Tua caused Asti tosmooth her hair and change her robe and ornaments for others which, although she did not say so, she thought became her better. Then shesat her down in a chair of state in her chamber of audience, and waited, while Asti stood beside her asking no questions, but wondering. 

At length the doors were opened, and through them appeared Mermes andthe Vizier and the chief of the scribes, both of them trying to hidetheir yawns, for they had been summoned from their beds who were notwont to do state business at such hours. After them limped Rames, forhis wound had grown stiff, who looked bewildered, but otherwise just ashe had left the feast. 

Now, without waiting for the greetings of ceremony, Tua began toquestion the Vizier as to what steps had been taken in furtherance ofher decrees, and when he assured her that the business was on foot, wentinto its every detail with him, as to the ships and the officers and theprovisioning of the men, and so forth. Next she set herself to dictatedespatches to the captains and barons who held the fortresses on theUpper Nile, communicating to them Pharaoh's orders on this matter, andthe commission of Rames, whereby he, whose hands had done the ill, wasput in command of the great embassy that went to make amends. 

These being finished, she sent away the scribe to spend the rest of thenight in writing them in duplicate, bidding him bring them to her in theearly morning to be sealed. Next addressing Rames, she commanded him tostart on the morrow with those troops which were ready to Takensitabove the first Cataract of the Nile, which was the frontier fortress ofEgypt, and there wait until the remainder of the soldiers joined them, bearing with them her presents to the King of Kesh, and the embalmedbody of the Prince Amathel. 

Rames bowed and said that her orders should be obeyed, and the audiencebeing finished, still bowing and supported by Mermes, began to walkbackwards towards the door, his eyes fixed upon the face of Tua, who satwith bent head, clasping the arms of her chair like one in difficultyand doubt. When he had gone a few steps she seemed to come to somedetermination, for with an effort she raised herself and said:

"Return, Count Rames, I have a message to give you for the King of Keshwho, unhappy man, has lost his son and heir, and it is one that no otherears must hear. Leave me a while with this captain, O Mermes and Asti, and see that none listen to our talk. Presently I will summon you toconduct him away. "

They hesitated, for this thing seemed strange, then noting the look shegave them, departed through the doors behind the royal seat. 

Now Rames and the Queen were left alone in that great, lighted chamber. With bent head and folded arms he stood before her while she looked athim intently, yet seemed to find no words to say. At length she spoke ina sweet, low voice. 

"It is many years since we were playmates in the courts of the templeyonder, and since then we have never been alone together, have we, Rames?"

"No, Great Lady, " answered Rames, "for you were born to be a queen, andI am but a humble soldier who cannot hope to consort with queens. "

"Who cannot hope! Would you wish to then if you could?"

"O Queen, " answered Rames, biting his lips, "why does it please you tomake a mock of me?"

"It does not please me to do any such thing, for by my father Amen, Rames, I wish that we were children once more, for those were happydays before they separated us and set you to soldiering and me tostatecraft. "

"You have learnt your part well, Star of the Morning, " said Rames, glancing at her quickly. 

"Not better than you, playmate Rames, if I may judge from yoursword-play this night. So it seems that we both of us are in the way ofbecoming masters of our trades. "

"What am I to say to your Majesty? You have saved my life when it wasforfeit----"

"As once you saved mine when it was forfeit, and at greater risk. Lookat your hand, it will remind you. It was but tit for tat. And, friendRames, this day I came near to being eaten by a worse crocodile thanthat which dwells in the pool yonder. "

"I guessed as much, Queen, and the thought made me mad. Had it not beenfor that I should only have thrown him down. Now that crocodile will eatno more maidens. "

"No, " answered Tua, rubbing her chin, "he has gone to be eaten by Set, Devourer of Souls, has he not? But I think there may be trouble betweenEgypt and Kesh, and what Pharaoh will say when he recovers I am sure Ido not know. May the gods protect me from his wrath. "

"Tell me, if it pleases your Majesty, what is my fate? I have beennamed General of this expedition over the heads of many, I who am buta captain and a young man and an evil-doer. Am I to be killed on thejourney, or am I to be executed by the King of Kesh?"

"If any kill you on the journey, Rames, they shall render me an account, be it the gods themselves, and as for the vengeance of the King ofKesh--well, you will have two thousand picked men with you and the meansto gather more as you go. Listen now, for this is not in the decree orin the letters, " she added, bending towards him and whispering. "Egypthas spies in Kesh, and, being industrious, I have read their reports. The people there hate the upstart race that rules them, and the king, who alone is left now that Amathel is dead, is old and half-witted, forall that family drink too much. So if the worst comes to the worst, doyou think that you need be killed, you, " she added meaningly, "who, ifthe House of Amathel were not, would by descent be King of Kesh, as, ifI and my House were not, you might be Pharaoh of Egypt?"

Rames studied the floor for a little, then looked up and asked:

"What shall I do?"

"It seems that is for you to find out, " replied Tua, in her turnstudying the ceiling. "Were I in your place, I think that, if driven toit, _I_ should know what to do. One thing, however, I should _not_ do. Whatever may be the judgment of the divine King of Kesh upon you, andthat can easily be guessed, I should not return to Egypt with my escort, until I was quite sure of my welcome. No, I think that I should stop inNapata, which I am told is a rich and pleasant city, and try to put itsaffairs in order, trusting that Egypt, to which it once belonged, wouldin the end forgive me for so doing. "

"I understand, " said Rames, "that whatever happens, I alone am toblame. "

"Good, and of course there are no witnesses to this talk of ours. Haveyou also been taking lessons in statecraft in your spare hours, Rames, much as I have tried to learn something of the art of war?"

Rames made no answer, only these two strange conspirators looked at eachother and smiled. 

"Your Majesty is weary. I must leave your Majesty, " he said presently. 

"You must be wearier than I am, Rames, with that wound, which I thinkhas not been dressed, although it is true that we have both foughtto-night. Rames, you are going on a far journey. I wonder if we shallever meet again. "

"I do not know, " he answered with a groan, "but for my sake it is betterthat we should not. O Morning Star, why did you save me this night, whowould have been glad to die? Did not that Ka of yours tell you that Ishould have been glad to die, or my mother, who is a magician?"

"I have seen nothing of my Ka, Rames, since we played together in thetemple--ah! those were happy days, were they not? And your mother is adiscreet lady who does not talk to me about you, except to warn me notto show you any favour, lest others should be jealous and murder you. Shall you then be sorry if we do not meet again? Scarcely, I suppose, since you seem so anxious to die and be rid of me and all things that weknow. "

Now Rames pressed his hand upon his heart as though to still itsbeating, and looked round him in despair. For, indeed, that heart of hisfelt as though it must burst. 

"Tua, " he gasped desperately, "can you for a minute forget that you areQueen of the Upper and the Lower Land, who perhaps will soon be Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch in the world, and remember only that you are awoman, and as a woman hear a secret and keep it close?"

"We have been talking secrets, Rames, as we used to do, you remember, long ago, and you will not tell mine which deal with the State. Why, then, should I tell yours? But be short, it grows late, or rather early, and as you know, we shall not meet again. "

"Good, " he answered. "Queen Neter-Tua, I, your subject, dare to loveyou. "

"What of that, Rames? I have millions of subjects who all profess tolove me. "

He waved his hand angrily, and went on:

"I dare to love you as a man loves a woman, not as a subject loves aqueen. "

"Ah!" she answered in a new and broken voice, "that is different, is itnot? Well, all women love to be loved, though some are queens and someare peasants, so why should I be angry? Rames, now, as in past days, Ithank you for your love. "

"It is not enough, " he said. "What is the use of giving love? Loveshould be lent. Love is an usurer that asks high interest. Nay, not theinterest only, but the capital and the interest to boot. Oh, Star! whathappens to the man who is so mad as to love the Queen of Egypt?"

Tua considered this problem as though it were a riddle to which she wasseeking an answer. 

"Who knows?" she replied at length in a low voice. "Perhaps it costshim his life, or perhaps--perhaps he marries her and becomes Pharaoh ofEgypt. Much might depend on whether the queen chanced to care about sucha man. "

Now Rames shook like a reed in the evening wind, and he looked at herwith glowing eyes. 

"Tua, " he whispered, "can it be possible--do you mean that I am welcometo you, or are you but drawing me to shame and ruin?"

She made no answer to him in words, only with a certain gravedeliberation, laid down the little ivory sceptre that she held, andsuffering her troubled eyes to rest upon his eyes, bent forward andstretched out her arms towards him. 

"Yes, Rames, " she murmured into his ear a minute later, "I am drawingyou to whatever may be found upon this breast of mine, love, or majesty, or shame, or ruin, or the death of one or both of us, or all of themtogether. Are you content to take the chances of this high game, Rames?"

"Ask it not, Tua. You know, you know!"

She kissed him on the lips, and all her heart and all her youth were inthat kiss. Then, gently enough, she pushed him from her, saying:

"Stand there, I would speak with you, and as I have said, the time isshort. Hearken to me, Rames, you are right; I know, as I have alwaysknown, and as you would have known also had you been less foolish thanyou are. You love me and I love you, for so it was decreed where soulsare made, and so it has been from the beginning and so it shall be tothe end. You, a gentleman of Egypt, love the Queen of Egypt, and she isyours and no other man's. Such is the decree of him who caused us tobe born upon the same day, and to be nursed upon the same kind breast. Well, after all, why not? If love brings death upon us, as well maychance, at least the love will remain which is worth it all, and beyonddeath there is something. "

"Only this, Tua, I seek the woman not a throne, and alas! through me youmay be torn from your high place. "

"The throne goes with the woman, Rames, they cannot be separated. But, say, something comes over me; if that happened, if I were an outcast, awanderer, with nothing save this shape and soul of mine, and it were youthat sat upon a throne, would you still love me, Rames?"

"Why ask such questions?" he replied indignantly. "Moreover, your talkis childish. What throne can I ever sit on?"

A change fell upon her at his words. She ceased to be the melting, passionate woman, and became once more the strong, far-seeing queen. 

"Rames, " she said, "you understand why, although it tears my heart, I amsending you so far away and into so many dangers, do you not? It is tosave your life, for after what has chanced to-night in this fashion orin that here you would certainly die, as, had it not been for that planof mine you must have died two hours ago. There are many who hateyou, Rames, and Pharaoh may recover, as I pray the gods he will, andover-ride my will, for you have slain his guest who was brought here tomarry me. "

"I understand all of these things, Queen. "

"Then awake, Rames, look to the future and understand that also, if, asI think, you have the wit. I am sending you with a strong escort, amI not? Well, that King of Kesh is old and feeble, and you have a claimupon his crown. Take it, man, and set it on your head, and as King ofKesh ask the hand of Egypt's Queen in marriage. Then who would say younay--not Egypt's Queen, I think, or the people of Egypt who hunger forthe rich Southern Land which they have lost. "

So she spoke, and as these high words passed her lips she looked sosplendid and so royal that, dazzled by the greatness of her majesty. Rames bowed himself before her as before the presence of a god. Then, aware that she was trying him in the balance of her judgment, hestraightened himself and spoke to her as prince speaks to prince. 

"Star of Amen, " he said, "it is true that though here we are but yourhumble subjects, the blood of my father and of myself is as high asyours, and perhaps more ancient, and it is true that now yonder Amathelis dead, after my father, in virtue of those who went before us I havemore right than any other to the inheritance of Kesh. Queen, I hear yourwords, I will take it if I can, not for its own sake, but to win you, and if I fail you will know that I died doing my best. Queen, we partand this is a far journey. Perhaps we may never meet again; at the bestwe must be separated for long. Queen, you have honoured me with yourlove, and therefore I ask a promise of you, not as a woman only, butas Queen. I ask that however strait may be the circumstances, whateverreasons of State may push you on, while I live you will take no otherman to husband--no, not even if he offers you half the world in dower. "

"I give it, " she answered. "If you should learn that I am wed to any manupon the earth then spit upon my name as a woman, and as Queen cast meoff and overthrow me if you can. Deal with me, Rames, as in such a caseI will deal with you. Only be sure of your tidings ere you believe them. Now there is nothing more to say. Farewell to you, Rames, till we meetagain beneath or beyond the sun. Our royal pact is made. Come, seal itand begone. "

She rose and stretched out her sceptre to him, which he kissed as herfaithful subject. Next, with a swift movement, she lifted the golden_urĉus_ circlet from her brow and for a moment set it on his head, crowning him her king, and while it rested there she, the Queen ofEgypt, bent the knee before him and did him homage. Then she cast downcrown and sceptre, and as woman fell upon her lover's breast whilethe bright rays of morning, flowing suddenly through the easternwindow-place of that splendid hall, struck upon them both, clothing themin a robe of glory and of flame. 

Soon, very soon, it was done and Tua, seated there in light, watchedRames depart into the outer shadow, wondering when and how she wouldsee him come again. For her heart was heavy within her, and even in thishour of triumphant love she greatly feared the future and its gifts. 

CHAPTER VII

TUA COMES TO MEMPHIS

So that day Rames departed for Takensit with what ships and men could begot together in such haste. There, at the frontier post, he waited tillthe rest of the soldiers should join him, bringing with them the hastilyembalmed body of Prince Amathel whom he had slain, and the royalgifts to the King of Kesh. Then, without a moment's delay, he sailedsouthwards with his little army on the long journey, fearing lest if hetarried, orders might come to him to return to Thebes. Also he desiredto reach Napata before the heavy news of the death of the King's son, and without warning of the approach of Egypt's embassy. 

With Tua he had no more speech, although as his galley was rowed underthe walls of the palace, at a window of the royal apartments he sawa white draped figure that watched them go by. It was standing in theshadow so that he could not recognise the face, but his heart told himthat this was none other than the Queen herself, who appeared there tobid him farewell. 

So Rames rose from the chair in which he was seated on account of thehurt to his leg and saluted with his sword, and ordered the crew todo likewise by lifting up their oars. Then the slender figure bowed inanswer, and he went on to fulfil his destiny, leaving Neter-Tua, MorningStar of Amen, to fulfil hers. 

Before he sailed, however, Mermes his father and Asti his mother visitedhim in a place apart. 

"You were born under a strange star, my son, " said Mermes, "and I knownot whither it will lead you, who pray that it may not be a meteor whichblazes suddenly in the heavens and disappears to return no more. Allthe people talk of the favour the Queen has shown you who, instead ofordering you to be executed for the deed you did which robbed her of aroyal husband, has set you in command of an army, you, a mere youth, and received you in secret audience, an honour granted to very few. Fatethat has passed me by gives the dice to your young hand, but how thecast will fall I know not, nor shall I live to see, or so I believe. "

"Speak no such evil-omened words, my father, " answered Rames tenderly, for these two loved each other. "To me it seems more likely that it isI who shall not live, for this is a strange and desperate venture uponwhich I go, to tell to a great king the news of the death of his onlyson at my own hand. Mother, you are versed in the books of wisdom andcan see that which is hidden to our eyes. Have you no word of comfortfor us?"

"My son, " answered Asti, "I have searched the future, but with all myskill it will open little of its secrets to my sight. Yet I have learnedsomething. Great fortunes lie before you, and I believe that you and Ishall meet again. But to your beloved father bid farewell. "

At these words Rames turned his head aside to hide his tears, but Mermesbade him not to grieve, saying:

"Great is the mystery of our fates, my son. Some there be who tell usthat we are but bubbles born of the stream to be swallowed up by thestream, clouds born of the sky to be swallowed up by the sky, theoffspring of chance like the beasts and the birds, gnats that dance foran hour in the sunlight and are gone. But I believe it not, who holdthat the gods clothe us with this robe of flesh for their own purpose, and that the spirit within us has been from the beginning and eternallywill be. Therefore I love not life and fear not death, knowing thatthese are but doors leading to the immortal house that is prepared forus. The royal blood you have came to you from your mother and myself, but that our lots should have been humble, while yours, mayhap, will besplendid, does not move me to envy who perchance have been that you maybe. You go forth to fulfil your fortunes which I believe are great, Ibide here to fulfil mine which lead me to the tomb. I shall never seeyou in your power, if power comes to you, nor will your triumphantfootsteps stir my sleep. 

"Yet, Rames, remember that though you tread on cloth of gold and thebowed necks of your enemies, though love be your companion and diademsyour crown, though flatteries float about you like incense in a shrinetill, at length, you deem yourself a god, those footsteps of yours stilllead to that same dark tomb and through it on to Judgment. Be great ifyou can, but be good as well as great. Take no man's life becauseyou have the strength and hate him; wrong no woman because she isdefenceless or can be bought. Remember that the beggar child playing inthe sand may have a destiny more high than yours when all the earthlycount is reckoned. Remember that you share the air you breathe withthe cattle and the worm. Go your road rejoicing in your beauty and youryouth and the good gifts that are given you, but know, Rames, that atthe end of it I, who wait in the shadow of Osiris, I your father, shallask an account thereof, and that beyond me stand the gods of Justice totest the web that you have woven. Now, Rames, my son, my blessing andthe blessing of him who shaped us be with you, and farewell. "

Then Mermes kissed him on the brow and, turning, left the room, nor didthey ever meet again. 

But Asti stayed awhile, and coming to him presently, looked Rames in theeyes, and said:

"Mourn not. Separations are no new thing, death is no new thing; allthese sorrows have been on the earth for millions of years, and formillions of years yet shall be. Live out your life, rejoicing if thedays be good, content if they be but ill, regretting nothing save yoursins, fearing nothing, expecting nothing, since all things are appointedand cannot be changed. "

"I hear, " he answered humbly, "and I will not forget. Whether I succeedor fail you shall not be ashamed for me. "

Now his mother turned to go also, but paused and said:

"I have a gift for you, Rames, from one whose name may not be spoken. "

"Give it to me, " he said eagerly, "I feared that it was all but adream. "

"Oh!" replied Asti scanning his face, "so there was a dream, wasthere? Did it fall upon you last night when the daughter of Amen, myfoster-child, instructed you in secret?"

"The gift, " said Rames, stretching out his hand. 

Then, smiling in her quiet fashion, his mother drew from the bosomof her robe some object that was wrapped in linen and, touching herforehead with the royal seal that fastened it, gave it to Rames. Withtrembling fingers he broke the seal and there within the linen lay aring which for some years, as Rames knew, Tua had worn upon the firstfinger of her right hand. It was massive and of plain gold, and upon thebezel of it was cut the symbol of the sun, on either side of which knelta man and a woman crowned with the double crown of Egypt, and holdingin their right hands the looped Sign of Life which they stretched uptowards the glory of the sun. 

"Do you know who wore that ring in long past days?" asked Asti of Rameswho pressed it to his lips. 

He shook his head who remembered only that Tua had worn it. 

"It was your forefather and mine, Rames, the last of the royal rulers ofour line, who reigned over Egypt and also over the Land of Kesh. Awhile ago the embalmers re-clothed his divine body in the tomb, and thePrincess, who was present there with your father and myself, drew thisring off his dead hand and offered it to Mermes, who would not take it, seeing that it is a royal signet. So she wore it herself, and now forher own reasons she sends it to you, perhaps to give you authority inKesh where that mighty seal is known. "

"I thank the Queen, " he murmured. "I shall wear it always. "

"Then let it be on your breast till you have passed the frontier, lestsome should ask questions that you find it hard to answer. My son, " shewent on quickly, "you dare to love this queen of ours. "

"In truth I do, Mother. Did not you, who know everything, know that?Also it is your fault who brought us up together. "

"Nay, my son, the fault of the gods who have so decreed. But--does shelove you?"

"You are always with her, Mother, ask her yourself, if you need to ask. At least, she has sent me her own ring. Oh! Mother, Mother, guard hernight and day, for if harm comes to her, then I die. Mother, queenscannot give themselves where they will as other women can; it is policythat thrusts their husbands on them. Keep her unwed, Mother. Though itshould cost her her throne, still I say let her not be cast into thearms of one she hates. Protect her in her trial, if such should come;and if strength fails and the gods desert her, then hide her in the webof the magic that you have, and preserve her undefiled, for so shall Ibless your name for ever. "

"You fly at a rare bird, Rames, and there are many stronger hawks aboutbesides that one you slew; yes, royal eagles who may strike down thepair of you. Yet I will do my best, who have long foreseen this hour, and who pray that before my eyes shut in death, they may yet behold youseated on the throne of your forefathers, crowned with power and withsuch love and beauty as have never yet been given to man. Now hide thatring upon your heart and your secret in it, as I shall, lest you shouldreturn no more to Egypt. Moreover, follow your royal Star and no other. Whatever counsel she may have given you, follow it also, stirring not toright or left, for I say that in that maiden breast of hers there dwellsthe wisdom of the gods. "

Then holding up her hands over his head as though in blessing, Asti, too, turned and left him. 

So Rames went and was no more seen, and by degrees the talk as to thematter of his victory over the Prince of Kesh, and as to his appointmentby the whim of the maiden Queen to command the splendid embassy ofatonement which she had despatched to the old King, the dead man'sfather, died away for lack of anything to feed on. 

Tua kept her counsel well, nor was aught known of that midnightinterview with the young Count her general. Moreover, Napata was faraway, so far that starting at the season when it did, the embassy couldscarce return till two years had gone by, if ever it did return. Alsofew believed that whoever came back, Rames would be one of them, sinceit was said openly that so soon as he was beyond the frontiers ofEgypt, the soldiers had orders to kill him and take on his body as apeace-offering. 

Indeed, all praised the wit and wisdom of the Queen, who by this politicdevice, had rid herself of a troublesome business with as little scandalas possible, and avoided staining her own hands in the blood of afoster-brother. Had she ordered his death forthwith, they said, it wouldhave been supposed also that she had put him away because he was of aroyal race, one who, in the future, might prove a rival, or at leastcause some rebellion. 

Meanwhile greater questions filled the mouths of men. Would Pharaoh dieand leave Neter-Tua, the young and lovely, to hold his throne, and ifso, what would happen? It was a thousand years since a woman had reignedin Egypt, and none had reigned who were not wed. Therefore it seemednecessary that a husband should be found for her as soon as might be. 

But Pharaoh did not die. On the contrary, though very slowly, herecovered and was stronger than he had been for years, for the fit thatstruck him down seemed to have cleared his blood. For some three monthshe lay helpless as a child, amusing himself as a child does with littlethings, and talking of children whom he had known in his youth, or whensome of these chanced to visit him as old men, asking them to play withhim with tops or balls. 

Then one day came a change, and rising from his bed he commanded thepresence of his Councillors, and when they came, inquired of them whathad happened, and why he could remember nothing since the feast. 

They put him off with soft words, and soon he grew weary and dismissedthem. But after they had gone and he had eaten he sent for Mermes, theCaptain of the Guard of Amen and his friend, and questioned him. 

"The last thing I remember, " he said, "was seeing the drunken Prince ofKesh fighting with your son, that handsome, fiery-eyed Count Rames whomsome fool, or enemy, had set to wait upon him at table. It was a dog'strick, Mermes, for after all your blood is purer and more ancient thanthat of the present kings of Kesh. Well, the horror of the sight of myroyal guest, the suitor for my daughter's hand, fighting with an officerof my own guard at my own board, struck me as a butcher strikes an ox, and after it all was blackness. What chanced, Mermes?"

"This, Pharaoh: My son killed Amathel in fair fight, then those blackNubian giants in their fury attacked your guard, but led by Rames theEgyptians, though they were the lesser men, overcame them and slew mostof them. I am an old soldier, but never have I seen a finer fray----"

"A finer fray! A finer fray, " gasped Pharaoh. "Why this will mean awar between Kesh and Egypt. And then? Did the Council order Rames to beexecuted, as you must admit he deserved, although you are his father?"

"Not so, O Pharaoh; moreover, I admit nothing, though had he played acoward's part before all the lords of Egypt, gladly would I have slainhim with my own hand. "

"Ah!" said Pharaoh, "there speaks the soldier and the parent. Well, Iunderstand. He was affronted, was he not, by that bedizened black man?Were I in your place I should say as much. But--what happened?"

"Your Majesty having become unconscious, " explained Mermes, "her Majestythe Queen Neter-Tua, Glorious in Ra, took command of affairs accordingto her Oath of Crowning. She has sent an embassy of atonement of twothousand picked soldiers to the King of Kesh, bearing with them theembalmed body of the divine Amathel and many royal gifts. "

"That is good enough in its way, " said Pharaoh. "But why two thousandmen, whereof the cost will be very great, when a score would havesufficed? It is an army, not an embassy, and when my royal brother ofKesh sees it advancing, bearing with it the ill-omened gift of his onlyson's body, he may take alarm. "

Mermes respectfully agreed that he might do so. 

"What general is in command of this embassy, as it pleases you to callit?"

"The Count Rames, my son, is in command, your Majesty. "

Now weak as he was still, Pharaoh nearly leapt from his chair:

"Rames! That young cut-throat who killed the Prince! Rames who is thelast of the old rightful dynasty of Kesh! Rames, a mere captain, incommand of two thousand of my veterans! Oh, I must still be mad! Whogave him the command?"

"The Queen Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, she gave him the command, O Pharaoh. Immediately after the fray in the hall she uttered her decree and causedit to be recorded in the usual fashion. "

"Send for the Queen, " said Pharaoh with a groan. 

So Tua was summoned, and presently swept in gloriously arrayed, and onseeing her father sitting up and well, ran to him and embraced him andfor a long time refused to listen to his talk of matters of State. Atlength, however, he made her sit by him still holding his hand, andasked her why in the name of Amen she had sent that handsome youngfirebrand, Rames, in command of the expedition to Kesh. Then sheanswered very sweetly that she would tell him. And tell him she did, atsuch length that before she had finished, Pharaoh, whose strength as yetwas small, had fallen into a doze. 

"Now, you understand, " she said as he woke up with a start. "Theresponsibility was thrust upon me, and I had to act as I thought best. To have slain this young Rames would have been impossible, for allhearts were with him. "

"But surely, Daughter, you might have got him out of the way. "

"My father, that is what I have done. I have sent him to Napata, whichis very much out of the way--many months' journey, I am told. "

"But what will happen, Tua? Either the King of Kesh will kill him andmy two thousand soldiers, or perhaps he will kill the King of Kesh as hekilled his son, and seize the throne which his own forefathers held forgenerations. Have you thought of that?"

"Yes, my father, I thought of it, and if this last should happen throughno fault of ours, would Egypt weep, think you?"

Now Pharaoh stared at Tua, and Tua looked back at Pharaoh and smiled. 

"I perceive, Daughter, " he said slowly, "that in you are the makings ofa great queen, for within the silken scabbard of a woman's folly I seethe statesman's sword of bronze. Only run not too fast lest you shouldfall upon that sword and it should pierce you. "

Now Tua, who had heard such words before from Asti, smiled again butmade no answer. 

"You need a husband to hold you back, " went on Pharaoh; "some great manwhom you can love and respect. "

"Find me such a man, my father, and I will wed him gladly, " answered Tuain a sweet voice. "Only, " she added, "I know not where he may be soughtnow that the divine Amathel is dead at the hand of the Count Rames, ourgeneral and ambassador to Kesh. "

So when he grew stronger Pharaoh renewed his search for a husband meetto marry the Queen of Egypt. Now, as before, suitors were not lacking, indeed, his ambassadors and councillors sent in their names by twos andthrees, but always when they were submitted to her, Tua found somethingagainst everyone of them, till at last it was said that she must bedestined for a god since no mere mortal would serve her turn. But whenthis was reported to her, Tua only answered with a smile that she wasdestined to that royal lover of whom Amen had spoken to her mother in adream; not to a god, but to the Chosen of the god, and that when she sawhim, she felt sure she would know him at once and love him much. 

After some months had gone by Pharaoh, quite weary of this play, askedthe advice of his Council. They suggested to him that he should journeythrough the great cities of Egypt, both because the change mightcompletely re-establish his divine health, and in the hope that on hertravels the Queen Neter-Tua would meet someone of royal blood with whomshe could fall in love. For by now it was evident to all of them thatunless she did fall in love, she would not marry. 

So that very night Pharaoh asked his daughter if she would undertakesuch a journey. 

She answered that nothing would please her better, as she wearied ofThebes, and desired to see the other great cities of the land, to makeherself known to those who dwell in them, and in each to be proclaimedas its future ruler. Also she wished to look upon the ocean whereof shehad heard that it was so big that all the waters of the Nile flowinginto it day and night made no difference to its volume. 

Thus then began that pilgrimage which afterwards Tua recorded in thehistory of her reign on the walls of the wonderful temples that shebuilt. Her own wish was that they should sail south to the frontiers ofEgypt, since there she hoped that she might hear some tidings of Ramesand his expedition, whereof latterly no certain word had come. Thisproject, however, was over-ruled because in the south there wereno great towns, also the inhabitants of the bordering desert wereturbulent, and might choose that moment to attack. 

So in the end they went down and not up the Nile, tarrying for a whileat every great city, and especially at Atbu, the holy place where thehead of Osiris is buried, and tens of thousands of the great men ofEgypt have their tombs. Here Tua was crowned afresh in the very shrineof Osiris amidst the rejoicings of the people. 

Then they sailed away to On, the City of the Sun, and thence to makeofferings at the Great Pyramids which were built by some of the earlykings who had ruled Egypt, to serve them as their tombs. 

Neter-Tua entered the Pyramids to look upon the bodies of these Pharaohswho had been dead for thousands of years, and whose deeds were allforgotten, though her father would not accompany her there because theways were so steep that he did not dare to tread them. Afterwards, withAsti and a small guard of the Arab chiefs of the desert, she mounted adromedary and rode round them in the moonlight, hoping that she wouldmeet the ghosts of those kings, and that they would talk with her as theghost of her mother had done. But she saw no ghosts, nor would Asti tryto summon them from their sleep, although Tua prayed her to do so. 

"Leave them alone, " said Asti, as they paused in the shadow of thegreatest of the pyramids and stared at its shining face engraved frombase to summit with many a mystic writing. 

"Leave them alone lest they should be angry as Amen was, and tell yourMajesty things which you do not wish to hear. Contemplate their mightyworks, such as no monarch can build to-day, and suffer them to resttherein undisturbed by weaker folk. "

"Do you call these mighty works?" asked Tua contemptuously, for she wasangry because Asti would not try to raise the dead. "What are they afterall, but so many stones put together by the labour of men to satisfytheir own vanity? And of those who built them what story remains? Thereis none at all save some vain legends. Now if _I_ live I will rear agreater monument, for history shall tell of me till time be dead. "

"Perhaps, Neter-Tua, if you live and the gods will it, though formy part I think that these old stones will survive the story of mostdeeds. "

On the morrow of this visit to the Pyramids Pharaoh and the Queen hisdaughter made their state entry into the great white-walled city ofMemphis, where they were royally received by Pharaoh's brother, thePrince Abi, who was still the ruler of all this town and district. Asit chanced these two had not met since Abi, many years before, came toThebes, asking a share in the government of Egypt and to be nominated assuccessor to the throne. 

Like every other lord and prince, he had been invited to be present atthe great ceremony of the Crowning of Neter-Tua, but at the last momentsent his excuses, saying that he was ill, which seemed to be true. Atany rate, the spies reported that he was confined to his bed, thoughwhether sickness or his own will took him thither at this moment, therewas nothing to show. At the time Pharaoh and his Council wondered alittle that he had made no proposal for the marriage of one of his sons, of whom he had four, to their royal cousin, Neter-Tua, but decided thathe had not done so because he was sure that it would not be accepted. For the rest, during all this period Abi had kept quiet in his ownGovernment, which he ruled well and strongly, remitting his taxes toThebes at the proper time with a ceremonial letter of homage, and evenincreasing the amount of them. 

So it came about that Pharaoh, who by nature was kindly andunsuspicious, had long ago put away all mistrust of his brother, whoseambitions, he was sure, had come to an end with the birth of an heiressto the throne. 

Yet, when escorted only by five hundred of his guard, for this wasa peaceful visit, Pharaoh rode into the mighty city and saw howimpregnable were its walls and how strong its gates; saw also that thestreets were lined with thousands of well-armed troops, doubts which hedismissed as unworthy, did creep into his heart. But if he said nothingof them, Tua, who rode in the chariot with him, was not so silent. 

"My father, " she said in a low voice while the crowds shouted theirwelcome, for they were alone in the chariot, the horses of which wereled, "this uncle of mine keeps a great state in Memphis. "

"Yes, Daughter, why should he not? He is its governor. "

"A stranger who did not know the truth might think he was its king, my father, and to be plain, if I were Pharaoh, and had chosen to enterhere, it would have been with a larger force. "

"We can go away when we like, Tua, " said Pharaoh uneasily. 

"You mean, my father, that we can go away when it pleases the Princeyour brother to open those great bronze gates that I heard clash behindus--then and not before. "

At this moment their talk came to an end, for the chariot was stayedat the steps of the great hall where Abi waited to receive his royalguests. He stood at the head of the steps, a huge, coarse, vigorous manof about sixty years of age, on whose fat, swarthy face there wasstill, oddly enough, some resemblance to the delicate, refined-featuredPharaoh. 

Tua summed him up in a single glance, and instantly hated him even morethan she had hated Amathel, Prince of Kesh. Also she who had not fearedthe empty-headed, drunken Amathel, was penetrated with a strange terrorof this man whom she felt to be strong and intelligent, and whosegreat, greedy eyes rested on her beauty as though they could not tearthemselves away. 

Now they were ascending the steps, and now Prince Abi was welcoming themto his "humble house, " giving them their throne names, and sayinghow rejoiced he was to see them, his sovereigns, within the walls ofMemphis, while all the time he stared at Tua. 

Pharaoh, who was tired, made no reply, but the young Queen, staring backat him, answered:

"We thank you for your greeting, but then, my uncle Abi, why did younot meet us outside the gates of Memphis where we expected to findits governor waiting to deliver up the keys of Pharaoh's city to theofficers of Pharaoh?"

Now Abi, who had thought to see some shrinking child clothed in theemblems of a queen, looked astonished at this tall and royal maiden whohad so sharp a tongue, and found no words to answer her. So she sweptpast him and commanded to be shown where she should lodge in Memphis. 

They led her to its greatest palace that had been prepared for Pharaohand herself, a place surrounded by palm groves in the midst of the city, but having studied it with her quick eyes, she said that it did notplease her. So search was made elsewhere, and in the end she choseanother smaller palace that once had been a temple of Sekhet, thetiger-headed goddess of vengeance and of chastity, whereof the pylontowers fronted on the Nile which at its flood washed against them. Indeed, they were now part of the wall of Memphis, for the great unusedgateway between them had been built up with huge blocks of stone. 

Surrounding this palace and outside its courts, lay the old gardens ofthe temple where the priests of Sekhet used to wander, enclosed within alofty limestone wall. Here, saying that the air from the river would bemore healthy for him, Tua persuaded Pharaoh to establish himself and hisCourt, and to encamp the guards under the command of his friend Mermes, in the outer colonnades and gardens. 

When it was pointed out to the Queen that, owing to the lack ofdwelling-rooms, none which were fitting were left for her to occupy, shereplied that this mattered nothing, since in the old pylon tower weretwo small chambers hollowed in the thickness of its walls, which werevery pleasing to her, because of the prospect of the Nile and the wideflat lands and the distant Pyramids commanded from the lofty roofand window-places. So these chambers, in which none had dwelt forgenerations, were hastily cleaned out and furnished, and in them Tua andAsti her foster-mother, took up their abode. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE MAGIC IMAGE

That night Pharaoh and Tua rested in privacy with those members of theCourt whom they had brought with them, but on the morrow began a roundof festivals such as history scarcely told of in Egypt. Indeed, thefeast with which it opened was more splendid than any Tua had seen atThebes even at the time of her crowning, or on that day of blood andhappiness when Amathel and his Nubian guards were slain and she andRames declared their love. At this feast Pharaoh and the young Queen satin chairs of gold, while the Prince Abi was placed on her right hand, and not on that of Pharaoh as he should have been as host and subject. 

"I am too much honoured, " said Tua, looking at him sideways. "Why do younot sit by Pharaoh, my uncle?"

"Who am I that I should take the seat of honour when my sovereigns cometo visit me?" answered Abi, bowing his great head. "Let it be reservedfor the high-priest of Osiris, that Holy One whom, after Ptah, weworship here above all other deities, for he is clothed with the majestyof the god of death. "

"Of death, " said Tua. "Is that why you put him by my father?"

"Indeed not, " replied Abi, spreading out his hands, "though if a choicemust be made, I would rather that he sat near one who is old and mustsoon be called the 'ever-living, ' than at the side of the loveliestqueen that Egypt has ever seen, to whom it is said that Amen himself hassworn a long life, " and again he bowed. 

"You mean that you think Pharaoh will soon die. Nay, deny it not, Prince Abi, I can read your thoughts, and they are ill-omened, " said Tuasharply and, turning her head away, began to watch those about her. 

Soon she noticed that behind Abi amongst his other officers stood atall, grizzled man clad in the robes and cap of an astrologer, whoappeared to be studying everything, and especially Pharaoh and herself, for whenever she looked round it was to find his quick, black eyes fixedupon her. 

"Who is that man?" she whispered presently to Asti, who waited on her. 

"The famous astrologer, Kaku, Queen. I have seen him before when hevisited Thebes with the Prince before your birth. I will tell you of himafterwards. Watch him well. "

So Tua watched and discovered several things, among them that Kakuobserved everything that she and Pharaoh did, what they ate, to whomthey spoke, and any words which fell from their lips, such as those thatshe had uttered about the god Osiris. All of these he noted down fromtime to time on his waxen tablets, doubtless that he might make use ofthem afterwards in his interpretation of the omens of the future. 

Now, among the ladies of the Court who fanned Pharaoh and waited on himwas that dancing girl of Abi's who many years before had betrayed him atThebes, Merytra, Lady of the Footstool, now a woman of middle age, butstill beautiful, of whom, although Tua disliked her, Pharaoh was fondbecause she was clever and witty of speech and amused him. For thisreason, in spite of her history, he had advanced her to wealth andhonour, and kept her about his person as a companion of his lighterhours. Something in this woman's manner attracted Tua's attention, forcontinually she looked at the astrologer, Kaku, who suddenly awoke toher presence and smiled as though he recognised an old friend. Then, when it was the turn of another to take her place behind Pharaoh, Merytra drew alongside of Kaku, and under shelter of her broad fan, spoke to him quickly, as though she were making some arrangement withhim, and he nodded in assent, after which they separated again. 

The feast wore on its weary course till, at length, the doors opened andslaves appeared bearing the mummy of a dead man, which they set upon itsfeet in the centre of the hall, whereon a toast-master cried:

"Drink and be merry, all ye great ones of the earth, who know not howsoon ye shall come to this last lowly state. "

Now this bringing in of the mummy was a very ancient rite, but one thathad fallen into general disuse, so that as it chanced Tua, who had neverseen it practised before, looked on it with curiosity not unmingled withdisgust. 

"Why is a dead king dragged from his sepulchre back into the world oflife, my Uncle?" she asked, pointing to the royal emblems with which thecorpse was clothed. 

"It is no king, your Majesty, " answered Abi, "but only the bones of somehumble person, or perhaps a block of wood that wears the _urĉus_ andcarries the sceptre in honour of Pharaoh, our chief guest. "

Now Tua frowned, and Pharaoh, who had overheard the talk, said, smilingsadly:

"A somewhat poor compliment, my brother, to one who, like myself, isold and sickly and not far from his eternal habitation. Yet why should Igrumble at it who need no such reminder of that which awaits me and allof us?" and he leaned back in his chair and sighed, while Tua looked athim anxiously. 

Then Abi ordered the mummy to be removed, declaring, with manyapologies, that it had been brought there only because such was theancient custom of Memphis, which, unlike Thebes, did not change itsfashions. He added that this same body or figure, for he knew not whichit was, having never troubled to inquire, had been looked upon by atleast thirty Pharaohs, all as dead as it to-day, since it was thesame that was used at the royal feasts before, long ago, the seat ofgovernment was moved to Thebes. 

"If so, " broke in Tua, who was angry, "it is time that it should beburied, if flesh and bone, or burned if wood. But Pharaoh is wearied. Have we your leave to depart, my Uncle?"

Without answering, Abi rose, as she thought to dismiss the company. Butit was not so, for he raised a great, golden cup of wine and said:

"Before we part, my guests, let Memphis drink a welcome to the mightyLord of the Two Lands who, for the first time in his long and gloriousreign, honours it with his presence here to-day. As he said to me butnow, my royal brother is weak and aged with sickness, nor can we hopethat once his visit is ended, he will return again to the White-walledCity. But as it chances the gods have given him a boon which they deniedfor long, the lovely daughter who shares his throne, and who, as webelieve and pray, will reign after him when it pleases him to ascendinto the kingdom of Osiris. Yet, my friends, it is evil that the safeand lawful government of Egypt should hang on one frail life. Thereforethis is the toast to which I drink--that the Queen Neter-Tua, MorningStar of Amen, Hathor Strong in Beauty, who has rejected so many suitors, may before she departs from among us, find one to her liking, somehusband of royal blood, skilled in the art of rule, whose strength andknowledge may serve to support her woman's weakness and inexperience inthat sad hour when she finds herself alone. "

Now the audience, who well understood the inner meaning and objects ofthis speech, rose and cheered furiously, as they had been schooled todo, emptying their cups to Pharaoh and to Tua and shouting:

"We know the man. Take him, glorious Queen, take him, Daughter of Amen, and reign for ever. "

"What do they mean?" muttered Pharaoh, "I do not understand. Thank them, my daughter, my voice is weak, and let us begone. "

So Tua rose when at length there was silence and, looking round herwith flashing eyes, said in her clear voice that reached the furthestrecesses of the hall:

"The Pharaoh, my father, and I, the Queen of the Upper and the LowerLands, return thanks to you, our people of this city, for your loyalgreetings. But as for the words that the Prince Abi has spoken, weunderstand them not. My prayer is that the Pharaoh may still reign inglory for many years, but if he departs and I remain, learn, O people, that you have naught to fear from the weakness and inexperience of yourQueen. Learn also that she seeks no husband, nor when she seeks will sheever find one within the walls of Memphis. Rest you well, O people andyou, my Uncle Abi, as now with your good leave we will do also. "

Then, turning, she took her father by the hand and went without morewords, leaving Abi staring at his guests while his guests stared back athim. 

When Tua had reached the pylon tower, where she lodged, and her ladieshad unrobed her and gone, she called Asti to her from the adjoiningchamber and said:

"You are wise, my nurse, tell me, what did Abi mean?"

"If your Majesty cannot guess, then you are duller than I thought, "answered Asti in her quick, dry fashion, adding; "however, I will try totranslate. The Prince Abi, your noble uncle, means that he has trappedyou here, and that you shall not leave these walls save as his wife. "

Now fury took hold of Tua. 

"How dare he speak such words?" she gasped, springing to her feet. "I, the wife of that old river-hog, my father's brother who might be mygrandfather, that hideous, ancient lump of wickedness who boasts that hehas a hundred sons and daughters; I, the Queen of Egypt, whose birth wasdecreed by Amen, I--how dare you?" and she ceased, choking in her wrath. 

"The question is--how he dares, Queen. Still, that is his plot whichhe will carry through if he is able. I suspected it from the first, and that is why I always opposed this visit to Memphis, but you willremember that you bade me be silent, saying that you had determined tosee the most ancient city in Egypt. "

"You should not have been silent. You should have said what was in yourmind, even if I ordered you from my presence. Neither Abi nor any of hissons proposed for my hand when the others did, therefore _I_ suspectednothing----"

"After the fashion of women who have already given their hearts, Queen, and forget that they have other things to give--a kingdom, for instance. The snake does not roar like the lion, yet it is more to be feared. "

"Once I am out of this place it is the snake that shall have causeto fear, Asti, for I will break its back and throw it writhing to thekites. Nurse, we must leave Memphis. "

"That is not easy, Queen, since some ceremony is planned for each of thenext eight days. If Pharaoh were to go away without attending them, hewould anger all the people of the North which he has not visited sincehe was crowned. "

"Then let them be angered; Pharaoh can do as he wills. "

"Yes, Queen, at least, that is the saying. But do you think that Pharaohwishes to bring about a civil war and risk his crown and yours? Listen:Abi is very strong, and under his command he has a greater army thanPharaoh can muster in these times of peace, for in addition to histrained troops, all the thousands of the Bedouin tribes of the desertlook on him as lord, and at his word will fall on the wealth of Egyptlike famished vultures on a fatted ox. Moreover, here you have but aguard of five hundred men, whereas Abi's regiments, summoned to do youhonour, and his ships of war block the river and the southern road. Howthen will you leave Memphis without his good leave; how will you evensend messengers to summon aid which could not reach you under fiftydays?"

Now when she saw the greatness of the danger, Tua grew quite calm andanswered:

"You have done wrong, Asti; if you foresaw all these things of which Inever thought, you should have warned Pharaoh and his Council. "

"Queen, I did warn them, and Mermes warned them also, but they would notlisten, saying that they were but the idle dreams of one who strives topeep into the future and sees false pictures there. More, Pharaoh sentfor me himself, and whilst thanking me and Mermes my husband, told methat he had inquired into the matter and found no cause to distrust Abior those under his command. Moreover, he forbade me to speak to yourMajesty about it, lest, being but young and a woman, you might befrightened and your pleasure spoilt. "

"Who was his counsellor?" asked Tua. 

"A strange one, I think, Queen. You know his waiting-woman, Merytra, sheof whom he is so fond, and who stood behind him with a fan this night. "

"Aye, I know her, " replied Tua, with emphasis. "She was ever whisperingwith that tall astrologer at the feast. But does Pharaoh take counselwith waiting-ladies of his private household?"

"With this waiting-lady, it seems, Queen. Perhaps you have not heard allher story, in the year before your birth Merytra came up the Nile withAbi. She was then quite young and very pretty; one of Abi's women. Itseems that the Prince struck her for some fault, and being clever shedetermined to be revenged upon him. Soon she got her chance, for sheheard Abi disclose to the astrologer Kaku, that same man whom you sawto-night talking with her, a plan that he had made to murder Pharaoh anddeclare himself king, from which Kaku dissuaded him. Having this secretand being bold, she fled at once from the ship of Abi, and that nighttold Pharaoh everything. But he forgave Abi, and sent him home againwith honour who should have slain him for his treason. Only Merytraremained in the Court, and from that time forward Pharaoh, who trustedher and was caught by her wit and beauty, made it a habit to send forher when he wished to have news of Memphis where she was born, becauseshe seemed always to know even the most secret things that were passingin that city. Moreover, often her information proved true. "

"That is not to be wondered at, Nurse, seeing that doubtless it camefrom this Kaku, Abi's astrologer and magician. "

"No, Queen, it is not to be wondered at, especially as she paid backsecret for secret. Well, I believe that after I had warned Pharaoh ofwhat I knew, never mind how, he sent for Merytra, who laughed the taleto scorn, and told him that Abi his brother had long ago abandoned allambitions, being well content with his great place and power which oneof his sons would inherit after him. She told him also that the troopswere but assembled to do the greater honour to your Majesties who had nomore loyal or loving subject than the Prince Abi, whom for her part shehated with good cause, as she loved Pharaoh and his House--with goodcause. If there were any danger, she asked would she dare to put herselfwithin the reach of Abi, the man that she had once betrayed because herheart was pure and true, and she was faithful to her king. So Pharaohbelieved her, and I obeyed the orders of Pharaoh, knowing that if Idid not do so he would grow angry and perhaps separate me from you, mybeloved Queen and fosterling, which, now that Rames has gone, would, Ithink, have meant my death. Yet I fear that I have erred. "

"Yes, I fear also that you have erred, Asti, but everything is forgivento those who err through love, " answered Tua kindly and kissing her. "Oh, my father, Pharaoh! What god fashioned you so weak that an evilspirit in a woman's shape can play the rudder to your policy! Leave menow, Asti, for I must sleep and call on Amen to aid his daughter. Thesnare is strong and cunning, but, perchance, in my dreams he will showme how it may be broke. "

That night when the feast was ended Merytra, Pharaoh's favouredwaiting-maid, did not return with the rest of the royal retinue tothe temple where he lodged. As they went from the hall in state shewhispered a few words into the ear of the chief Butler of the Householdwho, knowing that she had the royal pass to come in and out as shewould, answered that the gate should be opened to her, and let her go. 

So covering her head with a dark cloak Merytra slipped behind a certainstatue in the ante-hall and waited till presently a tall figure, alsowrapped in a dark cloak, appeared and beckoned to her. She followed itdown sundry passages and up a narrow stair that seemed almost endless, until, at length, the figure unlocked a massive door, and when they hadpassed it, locked it again behind them. 

Now Merytra found herself in a very richly furnished room lit byhanging-lamps, that evidently was the abode of one who watched thestars and practised magic, for all about were strange-looking brazeninstruments and rolls of papyrus covered with mysterious signs, andsuspended above the table a splendid divining ball of crystal. Merytrasank into a chair, throwing off her dark cloak. 

"Of a truth, friend Kaku, " she said, so soon as she had got her breath, "you dwell very near the gods. "

"Yes, dear Merytra, " he answered with a dry chuckle, "I keep a kind ofhalf-way house to heaven. Perched here in my solitude I see and makenote of what goes on above, " and he pointed to the skies, "and retailthe information, or as much of it as I think fit, to the groundlingsbelow. "

"At a price, I suppose, Kaku. "

"Most certainly at a price, and I may add, a good price. No one thinksmuch of the physician who charges low fees. Well, you have managed toget here, and after all these years I am glad to see you again, lookingalmost as young and pretty as ever. Tell me your secret of eternalyouth, dear Merytra. "

Merytra, who was vain, smiled at this artful flattery, although, intruth, it was well deserved, for at an age when many Egyptians are old, she remained fresh and fair. 

"An excellent conscience, " she answered, "a good appetite and thevirtuous, quiet life, which is the lot of the ladies of Pharaoh'sCourt--there you have the secret, Kaku. I fear that you keep too latehours, and that is why you grow white and withered like a mummy--not butthat you look handsome enough in those long robes of yours, " she addedto gild the pill. 

"It is my labours, " he replied, making a wry face, for he too was vain. "My labours for the good of others, also indigestion and the draughtsin this accursed tower where I sit staring at the stars, which give merheumatism. I have got both of them now, and must take some medicine, "and filling two goblets from a flask, he handed her one of them, saying, "drink it, you don't get wine like that in Thebes. "

"It is very good, " said Merytra when she had drunk, "but heavy. If Itook much of that I think I should have 'rheumatism, ' too. Now tell me, old friend, am I safe, in this place? No, not from Pharaoh, he trustsme and lets me go where I will upon his business--but from his royalbrother. He used to have a long memory, and from the look of him I donot think that his temper has improved. You may remember a certain slapin the face and how I paid him back for it. "

"He never knew it was you, Merytra. Being a mass of self-conceit, hethought that you ran away because he had banished you from his royalpresence and presented you--to me. "

"Oh, he thought that, did he! What a vain fool!"

"It was a very dirty trick you played me, Merytra, " went on Kaku withindignation, for the rich wine coursing through his blood revived thesting of his loss. "You know how fond I always was of you, and indeed amstill, " he added, gazing at her admiringly. 

"I felt that I was not worthy of so learned and distinguished a man, "she replied, looking at him with her dark eyes. "I should only havehampered your life, dear Kaku, so I went into the household of that poorcreature, Pharaoh, instead--Pharaoh's Nunnery we call it. But you willnot explain the facts to Abi, will you?"

"No, I think not, Merytra, if we continue to get on as well as we doat present. But now you are rested, so let us come to business, forotherwise you will have to stop here all night and Pharaoh would beangry. "

"Oh, to Set with Pharaoh! Though it is true that he is a good paymaster, and knows the value of a clever woman. Now, what is this business?"

The old astrologer's face grew hard and cunning. Going to the door hemade sure that it was locked and drew a curtain over it. Then he took astool and sat himself down in front of Merytra, in such a position thatthe light fell on her face while his own remained in shadow. 

"A big business, Merytra, and by the gods I do not know that I shouldtrust you with it. You tricked me once, you have tricked Pharaoh foryears; how do I know that you will not play the same game once moreand earn me an order to cut my own throat, and so lose life and soultogether?"

"If you think that, Kaku, perhaps you will unlock the door and give mean escort home, for we are only wasting time. "

"I don't know what to think, for you are as cunning as you arebeautiful. Listen, woman, " he continued in a savage whisper, andclasping her by the wrist. "If you are false, I tell you that you shalldie horribly, for if the knife and poison fail, I am no charlatan, Ihave arts. I can make you turn loathsome to the sight and waste away, Ican haunt you at nights so that you may never sleep a wink, save infull sunshine, and I will do it all and more. If I die, Merytra, we gotogether. Now will you swear to be true, will you swear it by the oathof oaths?"

The spy looked about her. She knew Kaku's power which was famousthroughout Egypt, and that it was said to be of the most evil sort, andshe feared him. 

"It seems that this is a dangerous affair, " she replied uneasily, "and Ithink that I can guess your aim. Now if I help you, Kaku, what am _I_ toget?"

"Me, " he answered. 

"I am flattered, but what else?"

"After Pharaoh the greatest place and the most power in Egypt, as thewife of Pharaoh's Vizier. "

"The wife? Doubtless from what I have heard of you, Kaku, there would beother wives to share these honours. "

"No other wife--upon the oath, none, Merytra. "

She thought a moment, looking at the wizened but powerful-faced oldmagician, then answered:

"I will take the oath and keep my share of it. See that you keep yours, Kaku, or it will be the worse for you, for women have their own evilpower. "

"I know it, Merytra, and from the beginning the wise have held that thespirit dwells, not in the heart or brain or liver, but in the femaletongue. Now stand up. "

She obeyed, and from some hidden place in the wall Kaku produced a book, or rather a roll of magical writings, that was encased in iron, themetal of the evil god, Typhon. 

"There is no other such book as this, " he said, "for it was written bythe greatest of wizards who lived before Mena, when the god-kings ruledin Egypt, and I, myself, took it from among his bones, a terrible taskfor his Ka rose up in the grave and threatened me. He who can read inthat book, as I can, has much strength, and let him beware who breaks anoath taken on that book. Now press it to your heart, Merytra, and swearafter me. "

Then he repeated a very terrible oath, for should it be violated itconsigned the swearer to shame, sickness and misfortune in this world, and to everlasting torments in the next at the claws and fangsof beast-headed demons who dwell in the darkness beyond the sun, appointing, by name, those beings who should work the torments, andsummoning them as witnesses to the bond. 

Merytra listened, then said, "You have left out your part of the oath, Friend, namely, that youpromise that I shall be the only wife of Pharaoh's Vizier and hold equalpower with him. "

"I forgot, " said Kaku, and added the words. 

Then they both swore, touching their brows with the book, and as shelooked up again, Merytra saw a strange, flame-like light pulse inthe crystal globe that hung above her head, which became presentlyinfiltrated with crimson flowing through it as blood might flow from awound, till it glowed dull red, out of which redness a great eye watchedher. Then the eye vanished and the blood vanished, and in place of themQueen Neter-Tua sat in glory on her throne, while the nations worshippedher, and by her side sat a man in royal robes whose face was hidden in acloud. 

"What do you see?" asked Kaku, following her gaze to the crystal. 

She told him, and he pondered a while, then answered doubtfully:

"I think it is a good omen; the royal consort sits beside her. Only whywas his face hidden?"

"I am sure I do not know, " answered Merytra. "I think that strong, redwine of yours was doctored and has got into my head. But, come, we havesworn this oath, which I dare say will work in more ways than we guess, for such accursed swords have two edges to them. Now out with the plot, and throw a cloth over that crystal for I want to see no more pictures. "

"It seems a pity since you have such a gift of vision, " replied Kaku inthe same dubious voice. Yet he obeyed, tying up the shining ball in apiece of mummy wrapping which he used in his spells. 

"Now, " he said, "I will be brief. My fat master, Abi, means to bePharaoh of Egypt, and it seems that the best way to do so is by climbinginto his niece's throne, where most men would like to sit. "

"You mean by marrying her, Kaku. "

"Of course. What else? He who marries the Queen, rules in right of theQueen. "

"Indeed. Do you know anything of Neter-Tua?"

"As much as any other man knows; but what do you mean?"

"I mean that I shall be sorry for the husband who marries her againsther will, however beautiful and high-placed she may be. I tell you thatwoman is a flame. She has more strength in her than all the magiciansin Egypt, yourself among them. They say she is a daughter of Amen, and Ibelieve it. I believe that the god dwells in her, and woe be to him whomshe may chance to hate, if he comes to her as a husband. "

"That is Abi's business, is it not? Our business, Merytra, is to get himthere. Now we may take it this will not be with her consent. "

"Certainly not, Kaku, " she answered. "The gossip goes that she is inlove with young Count Rames, who fought and killed the Prince of Keshbefore her eyes, and now has gone to make amends to the king his fatherat the head of an army. "

"That may be true, Merytra. Why not? He is her foster-brother and ofroyal blood, bold, too, and handsome, they say. Well, queens have nobusiness to be in love. That is the privilege of humbler folk like youand me, Merytra. Say, is she suspicious--about Prince Abi, I mean?"

"I do not know, but Asti, her nurse and favourite lady, the wife ofMermes and mother of Rames, is suspicious enough. She is a greatermagician than you are, Kaku, and if she could have had her way Pharaohwould never have set foot in Memphis. But I got your letter andover-persuaded him, the poor fool. You see he thinks me faithful tohis House, and that is why I am allowed to be here to-night, to collectinformation. "

"Ah! Well, what Asti knows the Queen will know, and she is stronger thanPharaoh, and notwithstanding all Abi's ships and soldiers, may breakaway from Memphis and make war upon him. So it comes to this--Pharaohmust stay here, for his daughter will not desert him. "

"How will you make him stay here, Kaku? Not by----" and she glancedtowards the shrouded crystal. 

"Nay, no blood if it can be helped. He must not even seem to be aprisoner, it is too dangerous. But there are other ways. "

"What ways? Poison?"

"Too dangerous again. Now, if he fell sick, and he has been sick before, and could not stir, it would give us time to bring about the marriage, would it not? Oh! I know that he is well at present--for him, but lookhere, Merytra, I have something to show you. "

Then going to a chest Kaku took from it a plain box of cedar wood whichwas shaped like a mummy case, and, lifting off its lid, revealed withinit a waxen figure of the length of a hand. This figure was beautifullyfashioned to the living likeness of Pharaoh, and crowned with the doublecrown of Egypt. 

"What is it?" asked Merytra, shrinking back. "An _ushapti_ to be placedin his tomb?"

"No, woman, a magic Ka fashioned with many a spell out of yonder ancientroll, that can bring _him_ to the tomb if it be rightly used, as youshall use it. "

"I!" she exclaimed, starting. "How?"

"Thus: You, as one of Pharaoh's favourite ladies, have charge of thechamber where he sleeps. Now you must make shift to enter there aloneand lay this figure in his bed, that the breath of Pharaoh may enterinto it. Then take it from the bed and say these words, 'Figure, figure, I command thee by the power within thee and in the name of the Lordif Ill, that as thy limbs waste, so shall the limbs of him in whoselikeness thou art fashioned waste also. ' Having spoken thus, hold thelegs of the image over the flame of a lamp until it be half melted, andconvey the rest of it away to your own sleeping-place and hide it there. So it shall come about that during that night the nerves and musclesin the legs of Pharaoh will wither and grow useless to him, and he beparalysed and unable to stir. Afterwards, if it be needful, I will tellyou more. "

Now, bold though she was, Merytra grew afraid. 

"I cannot do it, " she said, "it is black sorcery against one who isa god, and will bring my soul to hell. Find some other instrument, orplace the waxen imp in the bed of Pharaoh yourself, Kaku. "

The face of the magician grew fierce and cruel. 

"Come with me, Merytra, " he said, and taking her by the wrist he led herto the open window-place whence he observed the stars. 

So giddy was the height at the top of this lofty tower that the housesbeneath looked small and far away, and the sky quite near. 

"Behold Memphis and the Nile, and the wide lands of Egypt gleaming inthe moonlight, and the Pyramids of the ancient kings. You wish to ruleover all these, like myself--do you not, Merytra?--and if you obey meyou shall do so. "

"And if I do not obey?"

"Then I will throw my spell upon you, and your senses shall leave youand you shall fall headlong to that white line, which is a street, andbefore to-morrow morning the dogs will have picked your broken bones, so that none can know you, for you have heard too much to go hence aliveunless it be to do my bidding. Oh, no! Think not to say 'I will' andafterwards deceive me, for that image which you take with you is myservant, and will keep watch on you and make report to me and to thegod, its master. Now choose. "

"I will obey, " said Merytra faintly, and as she spoke she thought thatshe heard a laugh in the air outside the window. 

"Good. Now hide the box beneath your cloak and drop it not, for if sothat which is within will call aloud after you, and they will kill youfor a sorceress. Unless my word come to you, lay the figure in Pharaoh'sbed to-morrow evening, and at the hour of moonrise hold its limbs inthe flame in your own chamber, and hide it away, and afterwards bring itback to me that I may enchant it afresh, if there be any need. Now come, and I will guard you to the gates of the old temple of Sekhet, wherePharaoh dwells. "

CHAPTER IX

THE DOOM OF PHARAOH

On the morrow when the lady Asti came to dress the Queen for thatday's ceremony, she asked her if Amen had given her the wisdom that shesought. 

"Not so, " answered the young Queen, "all he gave me was very bad dreams, and in every one of them was mixed up that waiting woman of my father, Merytra, of whom you spoke to me. If I believed in omens I should saythat she was about to bring some evil upon our House. "

"It may well be so, Queen, " answered Asti, "and in that case I thinkthat she is at the work. At any rate, watching from the little windowof my room, by the light of the moon I saw her return across the templecourt at midnight. Moreover, it seemed to me that she was carryingsomething beneath her robe. "

"Whence did she return?"

"From the city, I suppose. She has Pharaoh's pass, and can go in andout when she will. I have caused Mermes to question the officer of theguard, and he says that she came to the gate accompanied by a tall manwrapped in a dark cloak, who spoke with her earnestly, and left her. From this description I think it must have been the astrologer, Kaku, with whom she was talking at the feast. "

"That is bad news, Nurse. What else have you to tell?"

"Only this, Queen. The gates are guarded more closely even than wethought. I tried to send out a man to Thebes this morning with a messageon my own account--never mind what it was--and the sentries turned himback. "

"By the gods!" exclaimed Tua, "before I have reigned a year every gatein Memphis shall be melted down for cooking vessels, and I will settheir captains to work in the desert mines. Nay, such threats arefoolishness, I'll not threaten, I'll strike when the time comes, butthat is not yet. Can I speak with the Pharaoh?"

"No, Queen. He is up already giving audience to the nobles of Memphis, and trying cases from the Lower Land with his Counsellors; until it istime to start for this ceremony of the laying of the foundation-stone ofthe temple, whither you accompany him in state. Also it is as well--byto-night we may learn more. Come, let me set the crown upon your headthat these dogs of Memphis may know their mistress. "

The ceremony proved very wearisome. First there was the long chariotride through the crowded, shouting streets, Pharaoh and Abi going in thefirst chariot, and Tua, attended by Abi's eldest daughter, a round-eyedlady much older than herself, in the second. Next came the office ofthe priests of Amen, over which Neter-Tua as daughter of Amen andhigh-priestess, must preside, to dedicate the temple to the glory of thegod. Then the foundation deposit of little vases of offerings and modelsof workmen's tools, and a ring drawn from Pharaoh's hand engraved withhis royal name, were blessed and set by the masons in hollows preparedfor them, and the two great corner-stones let down, hiding them forever, and declared respectively by Pharaoh and by Neter-Tua, MorningStar of Amen, Joint Sovereign of Egypt, to be well and truly laid. 

Afterwards architects, those who "drew the line, " exhibited plans of thetemple, and received gifts from Pharaoh, and when these things were donecame the mid-day feast and speeches. 

At length all was over, and the great procession returned by anotherroute to the temple of Sekhet, where Pharaoh lodged, a very tediousjourney in the hot sun, since it involved a circuit of the endless wallsof Memphis, with stoppages before all the temples of the gods, at eachof which Pharaoh must make offerings. Nor, weary as he was, might herest, for in the outer court of the old shrine thrones had been set upand seated on them he and Tua must hear petitions till sunset and givejudgment, or postpone them for further consideration. 

At last there came to an end, but, as Pharaoh, tired out, rose from histhrone, Abi, his brother, who all this time had not left them, said thathe also had a private petition to prefer. So they went into an innercourt that had been a sanctuary, and sat down again, there being presentbesides the scribes only Pharaoh, the Queen, some councillors, Mermes, captain of the guard, and certain women of the royal household, among them Asti, the Queen's nurse, and Merytra, Pharaoh's favouriteattendant. With Abi were his astrologer, Kaku, his two eldest sons, anda few of the great officers of his government, also the high-priests ofthe temples of Memphis, and three powerful chiefs of the Desert tribes. 

"What is your prayer, my brother?" asked Pharaoh, as soon as the doorswere closed. 

"A great one, your Majesties, " answered the Prince, prostrating himself, "which for the good of Egypt, and for your own good, and for my good, who reverence you as a loyal subject, I pray that you will be pleased togrant. " Then he drew himself up and said slowly, "I am here to ask thehand of the glorious Queen Neter-Tua, daughter of Amen, in marriage. "

Now Pharaoh stared at him, while Tua, who knew well what was coming, turned her head aside, and asked a councillor who stood near, if in thehistory of the land any Queen of Egypt had ever married her uncle. 

The councillor who was noted for his historical studies, answered thatat the moment he could recall no such case. 

"Then, " said Tua coolly, and still addressing him, "it seems that itwould be scarcely wise to create a precedent which other poor youngwomen of the royal race might be called upon to follow. "

Pharaoh caught something of the words, though Abi did not for they werespoken in a low voice, and bethought him of a way out of his difficulty. 

"The Queen Neter-Tua sits at my side, and is co-regent with me of thiskingdom, her mind is my mind, and what she approves it is probable Ishall approve. Prefer your request to her, " he said. 

So Abi turned to the Queen, and laying his hands upon his heart, bowed, ogled, and began:

"A burning love of your most excellent Majesty moves me----"

"I pray you, my Uncle, " interrupted Tua, "correct your words, whichshould begin 'A burning love of your most excellent Majesty's throne andpower move me, ' and so on. "

Now Abi frowned while everyone else smiled, not excepting Pharaoh andthe astrologer, Kaku. Again he began his speech, but so confusedly thatpresently Tua stopped him for the second time, saying:

"I am not deaf, most noble prince, my Uncle. I heard the words you usedto Pharaoh, and even understood their import. In fact, I have alreadyconsulted our councillor here, a learned master of the law, as to thelegality of such an alliance as you propose, and he gives his judgmentagainst it. "

Now Abi glared at the Councillor, a humble, dusty old man who spent allhis life among rolls and chronicles. 

"May it please your Majesty, " this lawyer exclaimed in a thin agitatedvoice, "I only said there was no record of such a marriage that I canremember, though once I think a queen adopted a nephew, who afterwardsbecame Pharaoh. "

"It is the same thing, Friend, " replied Tua sweetly, "for that of whichthere is no record in the long history of Egypt must of necessity beillegal. Still, if my uncle here wishes to adopt me, I thank him, thoughhis lawful heirs may not, and the matter is one that can be considered. "

Now, guessing that he was being played with, Abi grew angry. 

"I have put a plain question to your Majesty, " he said, "and perhaps Iam worthy of a plain answer. As all men know, O Queen, it is time thatyou should be wed, and I offer myself as your husband. It is true that Iam somewhat older than you are----"

"In what year was the Prince Abi born, the same as yourself, did yousay?" asked Tua in an audible aside of the aged and learned Councillor, who thereon vanished behind the throne, and was seen no more. 

"But, " went on Abi, taking no notice of this interruption, "on the otherhand I have much to offer. I rule here, your Majesties, who am also ofthe royal blood, and there is some disaffection in the North, especiallyamong the great Bedouin tribes of the Desert who watch the frontier ofthe Kingdom. Now if this alliance comes about, and in days to be I situpon the double throne as King-Consort of Egypt, they will be loyal, andnorth and south will be united more closely than they ever were before. Whereas if it does not come about----" Here Kaku, pretending to brush afly from his face, caught his hand in Abi's robe, a signal at which hismaster paused. 

"Go on, my Uncle, I pray you, " said Tua. "If it does not come about, what then?"

"Then, Queen, there may be trouble. Nay, leave me alone, Magician, Iwill speak the truth, chance what may. Pharaoh, you have reigned formany years; yes, forty times has the Nile overflowed its banks since welaid our divine father in the tomb. Now, during all those years but onechild has been born to you, and that after I came to Thebes to pray youto name me as your heir. Know, Pharaoh, that there are many who findthis strange, and wonder whether this beautiful queen, who is calledDaughter of Amen, and resembles you so little in body or in mind, sitsrightfully on the throne of Egypt. If I marry her these questioningswill cease. If I do not marry her the whisperings of men may grow to awind that will blow the crown from off her head. "

Now a grasp of fear and wonder rose from all who heard this bold andtreasonable speech, and Tua, reddening to the eyes, bent forward asthough to answer. But before ever a word had passed her lips Pharaohsprang from his seat transformed with rage. All his patient gentlenesswas gone, and he looked so fierce and royal that everyone present there, even Abi himself, quailed before him. 

"Is it for this that I have borne with you for so long, my brother?" hecried, rending at his robes. "Is it for this that I spared you years agoin Thebes, when your life was forfeit for your treachery? Is it forthis that I have suffered you to rise to great honour, and to rule herealmost as a king in my city of Memphis? Was it not enough that I shouldsit quiet, while you, an old man, the son of our father's barbarianslave, the loose-living despot, dare to ask for the pure hand of Egypt'sQueen in marriage, you, her uncle, who might well be her grandfatheralso? Must I also hear your foul mouth beslime her royal birth, andthe honour of her divine mother, and spit sneers at Amen, Father of thegods? Well, Amen shall deal with you when you come to the doors of hisEternal House, but here on earth I am his son and servant. Mermes, callmy guards, and arrest this man and hold him safe. At Thebes, whither wedepart to-morrow, he shall be judged according to our law. "

Now Mermes blew a shrill call on the silver whistle that hung about hisneck, and, springing forward, seized the Prince by the arm. Abi drew hissword to cut him down, and at the sight of the blade, all who werewith him rushed to the door to escape, sweeping before them certain ofPharaoh's ladies, among them the waiting-woman, Merytra. But before everthey could pass it, the guards who had heard the signal of Mermes, ranin with lifted spears, driving them back again. Leaping upon Abi, theytore the sword from his hand, and threw him to the ground, huddling therest together like frightened sheep. 

"Bind this traitor and keep him safe, for to-morrow he accompanies us toThebes, " said Pharaoh. 

"What of his sons, and those with him, your Majesty?" asked the officerof the guard. 

"Let them go, " answered Pharaoh wearily, "for they have not sinnedagainst us. Let them go, and take warning from their master's fate. "

Now, as it chanced in the confusion, Merytra had been pushed againstKaku. 

"Hearken, " whispered the astrologer into the woman's ear. "Do as I bidyou last night, and all will yet be well. Do it or die. Do you hear me?"

"I hear, and I will obey, " answered Merytra in the same low voice. 

Then they were separated, for the guards took Kaku by the arm and thrusthim out of the temple together with the sons of Abi. 

An hour later Mermes and Asti stood before Pharaoh, and prayed him thathe would depart from Memphis that very night, saying that such was thecounsel also of the Queen and of his officers. But Pharaoh was tiredout, and would not listen. 

"To-morrow, when I have slept, will be time enough, " he answered. "Moreover, shall I fly from my own city like a thief when naught isready for our journey? Why do you press me to such a coward's act?" headded peevishly. 

"For this reason, your Majesty, " answered Mermes. "We are sure there isa plot to keep you here. This afternoon you could not have gone, had youtried, but to-night, Abi, being a prisoner, his people are dismayed, andhaving no leader will open the gates. By to-morrow one may be found, andthey will be double-barred and guarded. "

"What!" asked the King scornfully, "do you mean that I am a prisoneralso, and here in Egypt, which I rule? Nay, good friends, at Pharaoh'sword those gates will open. Or if they do not, I will pull down Memphisstone by stone, and drive out its people to share their caves withjackals. Do they think because I am kind and gentle, that I cannot liftthe sword if there be need? Have they forgotten how I smote those rebelsin my youth, and gave their cities to the flames, and set my yoke onSyria, that aided them. We march to-morrow, and not before. I havespoken. "

Now Mermes bowed and turned to go, since when those words had passedPharaoh's lips it was not lawful to answer them. Yet Asti dared to doso. 

"O Pharaoh, " she said, "be not wrath with your servant. Pharaoh, as youknow, I have skill in divination, the spirits of the dead whisper attimes in my ears of things that are to be. It seemed to me just now whenhaving left the presence of the Queen, my foster-child, I stood a whilealone in the darkness, that the divine Majesty of the great lady, theroyal wife, Ahura, who was my friend and mistress, stood beside me andsaid:

"'Go, Asti, to Pharaoh, and say to Pharaoh that great danger threatenshim and our royal daughter. Say to him--Fly from Memphis, lest there heshould be prepared for burial, and the Star of Amen hidden by a cloud ofshame. Bid him beware of one about his throne, and of that evil magicianwith whom she made a pact last night. '"

Now Pharaoh looked at Asti and said:

"O dreamer of dreams, interpret your own dream. Who is she about mythrone of whom I should beware, and who is the magician with whom shemade a pact?"

"The divine Queen did not tell me, Pharaoh, " answered Asti stubbornly, "but my own skill tells me. She is Merytra, your favourite, and themagician is Kaku, whom she visited last night. "

"What!" exclaimed Pharaoh, laughing. "That long-legged old astrologerwith the painted cap who ran so fast when his master was taken? Why! heis nothing but a spy who has been in my pay for years; a charlatan whopretends to knowledge that he may win the secrets of his Prince. AndMerytra, too, Merytra, who in bygone times warned me of this Abi'sfoolish plot. Asti, you are high-born and wise, one whom I love, andhonour much, as does the Queen, my daughter, but you can still bejealous, as I have noted long. Asti, be not deceived, it was jealousy ofMerytra that whispered in your ears, not the spirit of the divineAhura. Now go and take your terrors with you, for this dark conspirator, Merytra, waits in my chamber to unrobe me, and talk me to sleep with herpleasant jests and gossip. "

"Pharaoh has spoken, I go, " said Asti in her quiet voice. "May Pharaoh'srest be sweet, and his awaking happy. "

That night Tua could not sleep. Whenever she shut her eyes visions rosebefore her mind, terrifying, fantastic visions in all of which thefat and hideous Abi played a part. Thus she saw again the scene at herfather's fatal feast to the Priest of Kesh, when Asti by her magic hadcaused the likeness of a monkey to come from the juggler's vase. Onlynow it was Abi who emerged from the vase, a terrible Abi, with a redsword in his hand, and Pharaoh's crown upon his head. He leapt from themouth of the vase, he devoured her with his greedy eyes, with stealthysteps he came to seize her, and she could not stir an inch, somethingheld her fast upon her throne. 

She could bear it no more--she opened her eyes, stared at the darkness, and out of the darkness came voices, telling of death and war. Shethrust her fingers into her ears, and tried to fix her thoughts onRames, that bright-eyed, light-footed lover of hers, whom she so longedto see again, without whom she was so lonely and undefended. 

"Where was Rames?" she wondered. "What fate had overtaken him? Something inher seemed to answer--Death. Oh! if Rames were dead, what should she do?Of what use was it to be Queen of Egypt, the first woman in the world, if Rames were dead?"

Loneliness, insufferable loneliness seemed to get a hold of her. Sheslipped from her bed, and through the doorway of her little pylonchamber. Now she was upon the narrow stair, and in face of her was thatother chamber where Asti slept. Someone was talking with her! PerhapsMermes was with his wife, and if so she could not enter. No, it wasAsti's voice, and, listening, she could hear her murmuring prayers orinvocations in solemn tones. She pushed open the door and entered. Alittle lamp burned in the room, and by its feeble light she saw thewhite-robed Asti, whose long hair fell about her, standing with upturnedeyes and arms outstretched to Heaven. Suddenly Asti saw her also, thoughbut dimly for she stood in the dense shadow, and knew her not. 

"Advance, O thou Ghost, and declare thyself, for never was thy help moreneeded, " she said. 

"It is no ghost, but I, " said Tua. "What dealings are these that youhave with ghosts at this deadest hour of the night, Asti? Do not enoughterrors encompass us that you must needs call on your familiar spiritsto add to them?"

"I call on the spirits to save us from them, Queen, for, like you, Ithink that we are set in the midst of perils. This night is full ofsorcery; I scent it in the air, and strive to match spell with spell. But why do you not sleep?"

"I cannot, Asti, I cannot. Fear has got hold of me. Oh! I would that wehad never come to this hateful Memphis, or set eyes upon its ill-omenedlord, that foul brute who seeks to make a wife of me. "

"Be not afraid, Lady, " said Asti, throwing her arms about Tua's slightand quivering form. "To-morrow morning we march; I have it from Pharaoh, and already the guard make preparations, while as for the accursed Abi, he is in prison. "

"There is no prison that will hold him, Asti, save the grave. Oh! whydid not my Father command him to be slain, as I would have done? Then, at least, we should be free of him, and he could never marry me. "

"Because it was otherwise decreed, O Neter-Tua, and Pharaoh must fulfilhis fate and ours, for though he is so gentle, none can turn him. "

As she spoke the words, somewhere, far beneath them, arose a cry, avoice of one in dread or woe, and with it the sound of feet upon thestairs. 

"What passes?" said Asti, leaping to the door. 

"Pharaoh is dead or dying, " answered the terrified voice without. "Lether Majesty come to Pharaoh. "

They threw on their garments, they ran down the narrow stair and acrossthe halls till they came to the chamber of Pharaoh. There upon hisbed he lay and about him were the physicians of his Court. He wasspeechless, but his eyes were open, and he knew his daughter, for, raising his hand feebly, he beckoned to her, and pointed at his feet. 

"What is it, man?" she asked of the head physician, who, by way ofanswer, lifted the linen on the bed, and showed her Pharaoh's legs andfeet, white and withered as though with fire. 

"What sickness is this?" asked Tua again. 

"We know not, O Queen, " answered the physician, "for in all our liveswe have never seen its like. The flesh is suddenly wasted, and the limbsare paralysed. "

"But I know, " broke in Asti. "This is not sickness, it is sorcery. Pharaoh has been smitten by some foul spell of the Prince Abi, or of hiswizards. Say, who was with him last?"

"It seems that the Lady of the Footstool, Merytra, sang him to sleep, aswas her custom, " answered the physician, "and left him about two hoursago, so say the guard. When I came in to see how his Majesty rested butnow, I found him thus. "

Now Tua lifted up her head and spoke, saying:

"My divine Father is helpless, and therefore again I rule alone inEgypt. Hear me and obey. Let the Prince Abi be brought from hisprison to the inner hall, for I would question him at once. Let thewaiting-woman, Merytra, be brought also under guard with drawn swords. "

The officer of the watch bowed and departed to do the bidding of herMajesty, while others went to light the hall. 

Soon he returned to an outer chamber whither Tua had withdrawn herselfwhile the physicians examined Pharaoh. 

"O Queen, " he said, with a frightened face, "be not wrath, butthe Prince Abi has gone. He has escaped out of his prison, and thewaiting-woman, Merytra, is gone also. "

"How came this about?" asked Tua in a cold voice. 

"O Queen, the small gate was open, for people passed in and out of itcontinually, making preparation for to-morrow's march, it seems thatabout an hour ago the lady Merytra came to the gate and showed Pharaoh'ssignet to the officer, saying that she was on Pharaoh's business. Withher went a fat man dressed in the robe of a master of camels that in thedarkness the officer thought was a certain Arab of the Desert who hasbeen to and fro about the camels. It is believed that this man wasnone other than the Prince Abi, dressed in the Arab's robe, and that heescaped from his cell by some secret passage which was known to him, a passage of the old priests. The Arab, whose robes he wore, cannot befound, but perhaps he is asleep in some corner. "

"Bar the gates, " said Tua, "and let none pass in or out. Asti, take menwith you, and go search the room where Merytra slept. Perchance she hasreturned again. "

So Asti went, and a while after re-appeared carrying something envelopedin a cloth. 

"Merytra has gone, O Queen, " she said in an ominous voice, "leaving thisbehind hidden beneath her bed, " and she placed the object on a table. 

"What is it? The mummy of a child?" asked Tua, shrinking back. 

"Nay, Queen, the image of a man. "

Then throwing aside the cloth Asti revealed the waxen figure shaped tothe exact likeness of Pharaoh, or rather what remained of it, for thelegs were molten and twisted, and in them could be seen the bones ofivory and the sinews of thin wire, about which they had been moulded. Also beneath the chin where the tongue would be, sharp thorns hadbeen thrust up to the root of the mouth. The thing was life-like andhorrible, and as it was, so was the dumb and stricken Pharaoh on hisbed. 

Neter-Tua hid her eyes for a while, and leaned against the wall, thenshe drew herself up and said:

"Call the physicians and the members of the Council, and those who canbe spared of the officers of the guard, that everyone of them may seeand bear witness to the hideous crime which has been worked againstPharaoh by his brother, the Prince Abi, and the wizard Kaku, and theiraccomplice, the woman Merytra. "

So they were called, and came, and when they saw the dreadful thinglying in its waxen whiteness before them, they wailed and cursed thosewho had wrought this abominable sorcery. 

"Curse them not, " said Neter-Tua, "who are already accursed, and givenover to the Devourer of Souls when their time shall come. Make a recordof this deed, O Scribes, and do it swiftly. "

So the scribes wrote the matter down, and the Queen and others who werepresent signed the writings as witnesses. Then Neter-Tua commanded thatthey should take the image and destroy it before it worked more evil, and a priest of Osiris who was present seized it and departed. 

But Neter-Tua went to Pharaoh's room and knelt by his bed, watching him, for he seemed to be asleep. Presently he awoke, and looked round himwildly, moving his lips. For a while he could not speak, then of asudden his voice burst from him in a hoarse, unnatural cry. 

"They have bewitched me! I burn, I burn!" he screamed, rolling himselfto and fro upon the bed. "Avenge me, my daughter, and fear nothing, forthe gods are about you. I see their awful eyes. Oh! I burn, I burn!"

Then his head fell back, and the peace of death descended on histortured brow. 

Tua kissed his dead brow, and knelt at his side in prayer. After alittle while she rose and said:

"It has pleased Pharaoh, the just and perfect, to depart to hiseverlasting habitation in Osiris. Make it known that this god is dead, and that I rule alone in Egypt. Send hither the priest of Osiris, thathe may repeat the Ritual of Departing, and you, physicians, do youroffice. "

So the priest came, but at the door Asti caught him by the hand andasked:

"How did you destroy the image of wax?"

"I burned it upon the altar in the old sanctuary of this temple, " heanswered. 

"O, Fool!" said Asti, "you should have buried it. Know that with theenchanted thing you have burned away the life of Pharaoh also. "

Then that priest fell swooning to the ground, and another had to besummoned to utter the Ritual of Departing. 

CHAPTER X

THE COMING OF THE KA

Now it was morning, and while the physicians embalmed the body ofPharaoh as best they could, Tua consulted with her officers. Long andearnest was that council, for all of them felt that their danger wasvery great. Abi had escaped, and if he were re-taken, none knew betterthan he that his death and that of all his House would be the reward ofhis crimes and sorceries which could only be covered up in one way--bymarriage with the Queen of Egypt. Moreover, he had thousands of soldiersin the city and around it, all of them sworn to his service, whereas theroyal guard was but five companies, each of a hundred men, trapped in asnare of streets and stone. 

One of them suggested that they should break a way through the wall ofthe temple, and escape to the royal barges that lay moored on the Nilebeneath them, and this plan was approved. But when they went to setabout the work it was seen that these barges had been seized and werealready sailing away up the river. So but two alternatives remained--tobide within the fortifications of the old temple, and send outmessengers for help, or to march through the city boldly, break down thegates if these were shut against them, seize boats, and sail up the Nilefor some loyal town, or if that could not be done, to take their chancein the open lands. 

Now some favoured one scheme, and some the other, so that at last thedecision was left with her Majesty. She thought awhile, then said:

"Here I will not stay, to be starved out as we must ere ever an armycould be gathered to rescue us, and be given into the power of that vileand wicked man, the murderer of the good god, my father. Better thatI should die fighting in the streets, for then at least I shall passundefiled to join him in his eternal habitation beyond the sun. We marchat midnight. "

So they bowed beneath her word, and made ready while the women of hishousehold raised a death-wail for Pharaoh, and criers standing on thehigh towers proclaimed the accession of Neter-Tua, Morning-Star of Amen, Glorious in Ra, Hathor, Strong in Beauty, as sole Lord and Sovereign ofthe North and South, and of Egypt's subject lands. Again and again theyproclaimed it, and of the multitudes who listened some cheered, but themost remained silent, fearing the vengeance of their Prince, whom theheralds summoned to do homage, but who made no sign. 

Night came at last. At a signal the gates were opened, and through them, borne upon the shoulders of his Councillors, preceded by a small bodyof guards, and followed by his women and household, went the remains ofPharaoh, in a coffin roughly fashioned from the sycamore timbers of thetemple. With solemn step and slow, they went as though they feared noharm, the priests and singers chanting some ancient, funeral hymn. Nextfollowed the baggage bearers, and after these the royal bodyguard in themidst of whom the Queen, clad in mail, as a man, rode in a chariot, andwith her the waiting-lady, Asti, wife of Mermes. 

At first all went well, for the great square in front of the temple wasempty. The procession of the body of Pharaoh passed it, and vanisheddown the street that led to the main gate, a mile away. Now the guardformed into line to enter this street also, when suddenly, barring themouth of it, appeared great companies of men who had been hidden inother streets. 

A voice cried "Halt!" and while the guards re-shaped themselves into asquare about the person of the Queen, an embassy of officers, among whomwere recognised the four lawful sons of Abi, advanced and demanded inthe Prince's name that her Majesty should be given over to them, saying that she would be treated with all honour, and that those whoaccompanied her might go free. 

"Answer that the Queen of Egypt does not yield herself into the hands ofrebels, and of murderers; then fall on them, and slay them all, " criedNeter-Tua when Mermes, her captain, had given her this message. 

So he went forward and returned the answer, and next moment a flight ofarrows from the Queen's guard laid low the four sons of Abi, and most ofthose who were with them. 

Then the fight began, one of the fiercest that had been known in Egyptfor many a generation. The royal regiment, it is true, was but small, but they were picked men, and mad with despair and rage. Moreover, Tuathe Queen played no woman's part that night, for when these charged, striving to cut a path through the opposing hosts, she charged withthem, and by the moonlight was seen standing like an angry goddess inher chariot, and loosing arrows from her bow. Also no hurt came to heror those with her, or even to the horses that drew her. It was as thoughshe were protected by some unseen strength, that caught the sword cutsand turned aside the points of spears. 

Yet it availed not, for the men of Abi were a multitude, and the royalguard but very few. Slowly, an ever-lessening band, they were pressedback, first to the walls of the old temple of Sekhet, and then withinits outer court. Now all who were left of them, not fifty men under thecommand of Mermes, strove to hold the gate. Desperately they fought, andone by one went down to death beneath the rain of spears. 

Tua had dismounted from her chariot, and leaning on her bow, for all herarrows were spent, watched the fray with Asti at her side. With a yellthe troops of Abi rushed through the gate, killing as they came. Now, surrounded by all who remained to her, not a dozen men, they were drivenback through the inner courts, through the halls, to the pylon stairs. 

Here the last stand was made. Step by step they held the stairs, tillat length there were left upon their feet only Tua, Asti and Mermes, herhusband, who was sorely wounded in many places. At the little landingbetween the rooms of the Queen and Asti while the assailants paused amoment, the Captain Mermes, mad with grief and pain, turned and kissedhis wife. Next he bowed before the Queen, saying:

"What a man may do, I have done to save your Majesty. Now I go to makereport to Pharaoh, leaving you in charge of Amen, who shall protect you, and to Rames, my son, the heritage of vengeance. Farewell, O Daughter ofAmen, till I see your star rise in the darkness of the Under-World, andto you, beloved wife, farewell. "

Then, uttering the war-cry of his fathers, those Pharaohs who once hadruled in Egypt, the tall and noble Mermes grasped his sword in both hishands, and rushed upon the advancing foe, slaying and slaying until hehimself was slain. 

"Come with me, O Wife of a royal hero, " said Tua to Asti, who hadcovered her eyes with her hand, and was leaning against the wall. 

"Widow, not wife, Queen. Did you not see his spirit pass?"

Then Tua led her up more steps to the top of the pylon tower, where Astisank down moaning in her misery. Tua walked to the outermost edge of thetower and stood there waiting the end. It was the moment of dawn. Onthe eastern horizon the red rim of the sun arose out of the desert ina clear sky. There upon that lofty pinnacle, clad in shining mail, andwearing a helm shaped like the crown of Lower Egypt, Tua stood in itsglorious rays that turned her to a figure of fire set above a world ofshadow. The thousands of the people watching from the streets below, andfrom boats upon the Nile, saw her, and raised a shout of wonder and ofadoration. 

"The Daughter of Amen-Ra!" they cried. "Behold her clad in the glory ofthe god!"

Soldiers crept up the stairs to the pylon roof and saw her also, while, now that the fray was ended, with them came the Prince Abi. 

"Seize her, " he panted, for the stairs were steep and robbed him of hisbreath. 

But the soldiers looked and shrank back before the Majesty of Egypt, wrapped in her robe of light. 

"We fear, " they answered, "the ghost of Pharaoh stands before her. "

Then Neter-Tua spoke, saying:

"Abi, once a Prince of Egypt and Hereditary Lord of Memphis, but now anoutcast murderer, black with the blood of your King, and of many a loyalman, hear me, the anointed Queen of Egypt, hear me, O man upon whom Idecree the judgment of the first and second death. Come but one stepnear to my Majesty, and before your eyes, and the eyes of all themultitude who watch, I hurl myself from this hideous place into thewaters of the Nile. Yet ere I go to join dead Pharaoh, and side by sidewith him to lay our plaint against you before the eternal gods, listento our curse upon you. From this day forward a snake shall prey uponyour vitals, gnawing upwards to your heart. The spirits of Pharaoh andof all his servants whom you have slain shall haunt your sleep; nevershall you know one more hour of happy rest. Through life henceforth youshall fly from a shadow, and if you climb a throne, it shall be sucha one as that on which I stand encircled with the perilous depths ofdarkness. Thence you shall fall at last, dying by a death of shame, andthe evil gods shall seize upon you, O Traitor, and drag you to the mawof the Eater-up of Souls, and therein you shall vanish for ever foraye, you and all your House, and all those who cling to you. Thus saithNeter-Tua, speaking with the voice of Amen who created her, her fatherand the god of gods. "

Now when the soldiers heard these dreadful words, one by one they turnedand crept down the stairs, till at last there were left upon the pylonroof only the Queen, Asti crouching at her feet, and the monstrous Abi, her uncle. 

He looked at her, and thrice he tried to speak but failed, for the wordschoked in his throat. A fourth time he tried, and they came hoarsely:

"Take off your curse, O mighty Queen, " he said, "and I will let you go. I am old, to-night all my lawful sons are dead; take off your curse, leave me in my Government, and though I desire you more than the throneof Egypt, O Beautiful, still I will let you go. "

"Nay, " answered the Queen, "I cannot if I would. It is not I who spoke, but a Spirit in my mouth. Do your worst, O son of Set. The curse remainsupon you. "

Now Abi shook in the fury of his fear, and answered:

"So be it, Star of Amen, having nothing more to dread I will do myworst. Pharaoh my enemy is dead, and you, his daughter, shall be my wifeof your own free will, or since no man will lay a finger upon you, herein this tower you shall starve. Death is not yet; I shall have my day, it is sworn to me. Reign with me if you will, or starve without me ifyou will--I tell you, Daughter of Amen, that I shall have my day. "

"And I tell you, Son of Set, that after the day comes the long terror ofthat night which knows no morrow. "

Then finding no answer, he too turned and went. 

When he was gone Neter-Tua stood a while looking down upon the thousandsof people gathered in the great square where the battle had been fought, who stared up at her in a deadly silence. Then she descended from thecoping-stone, and, taking Asti by the arm, led her from the roof to thelittle chamber where she had slept. 

Six days had gone by, and Queen Neter-Tua starved in the pylon tower. Till now the water had held out for there was a good supply of itin jars, but at last it was done, while, as for food, they had eatennothing except a store of honey which Asti took at night from the beesthat hived among the topmost pylon stones. That day the honey was donealso, and if had not been, without water to wash it down they could haveswallowed no more of the sickly stuff. Indeed, although in after yearsin memory of its help, Neter-Tua chose the bee as her royal symbol, never again could she bring herself to eat of the fruit of its labours. 

"Come, Nurse, " said Tua, "let us go to the roof, and watch the settingof Ra, perhaps for the last time, since I think that we follow himthrough the Western Gates. "

So they went, supporting each other up the steps, for they grew weak. From this lofty place they saw that save on the Nile side of it whichwas patrolled by the warships of Abi, all the temple was surrounded by adouble ring of soldiers, while beyond the soldiers, on the square wherethe great fight had been, were gathered thousands of the people whoknew that the starving Queen was wont to appear thus upon the pylon atsunset. 

At the sight of her, clad in the mail which she still wore, a murmurrose from them like the murmur of the sea, followed by a deep silencesince they dared not declare the pity which moved them all. In the midstof this silence, whilst the sun sank behind the Pyramids of the ancientkings, Neter-Tua lifted up her glorious voice and sang the evening hymnto Amen-Ra. As the last notes died away in the still air, again themurmur rose while the darkness gathered about the pylon, hiding her fromthe gaze of men. 

Hand in hand as they had come, the two deserted women descended thestair to their sleeping-place. 

"They dare not help us, Asti, " said Tua, "let us lie down and die. "

"Nay, Queen, " answered Asti, "let us turn to one that giveth help tothe helpless. Do you remember the words spoken by the shining spirit ofAhura the Divine?"

"I remember them, Asti. "

"Queen, I have waited long, since the spell she whispered to me may beused once only, but now I am sure that the moment is at hand when thatwhich dwells within you must be called forth to save you. "

"Then call it forth, Asti, " answered Tua wearily, "if you have thepower. If not, oh! let us die. But say, whom would you summon? The gloryof Amen or the ghost of Pharaoh, or Ahura, my mother, or one of theguardian gods?"

"None of these, " answered Asti, "for I have been bidden otherwise. Lieyou down and sleep, my fosterling, for I have much to do in the hours ofdarkness. When you awake you shall learn all. "

"Aye, " said Tua, "when I awake, if ever I do awake. Is it in your mindto kill me in my sleep, Asti? Is that your command? Well, if so, I shallnot blame you, for then I will break this long fast of mine with Pharaohand the divine mother, Ahura, who bore me, and together in the pleasantFields of Peace we will wait for Rames, my lover and your son. Being aqueen, they will give my burial in my father's tomb, and that is all Icrave of them, and of this weary world. Sing me to rest, Nurse, as youwere wont to do when I was little, and, if it be your will, tarry notlong behind me. "

So she laid herself down upon the bed, and, taking her hand that hadgrown so thin, the tall and noble Asti bent over her in the darkness, and began to sing a gentle chant or lullaby. 

Tua's eyes closed, her breath came slow and deep. Then Asti the magicianceased her song and, gathering up her secret strength, put out herprayers, prayer after prayer, till at length all her soul was pure, andshe dared to utter the awful spell that Ahura had whispered in her ear. At the muttered, holy words wild voices cried through the night, thesolid pylon rocked, and in the city the crystal globe into which Kakuand Merytra gazed was suddenly shattered between them, and, white withterror at he knew not what, Abi sprang from his couch. 

Then Asti also sank into sleep or swoon, and all was silent in thatchamber, silent as the grave. 

Neter-Tua awoke. Through the pylon window-place crept the firstgrey light of dawn. Her eyes searching the gloom fell first upon thedark-robed figure of Asti sleeping in a chair, her head resting uponher hand. Then a brightness drew them to the foot of her bed, and there, clothed in a faint, white light, that seemed as though it were drawnfrom the stars and the moon, wearing the Double Crown, and arrayed inall the royal robes of Egypt, she saw--_herself_. 

Now Tua knew that she dreamed, and for a long while lay still, for itpleased her, starved and wretched as she was, a prisoner in the hands ofher foes, a netted bird, to let her fancy dwell upon this splendid imageof what she had been before an evil fate, speaking with the voice ofMerytra, Lady of the Footstool, had beguiled dead Pharaoh to Memphis. Ifthings had gone well with her, she should be as that image was to-day, that image which wore her crown and robes of state, yes, and her veryjewels. Such were the changes of fortune even in the lives of princeswhose throne seemed to be set upon a rock, princes whom the god of godshad fathered. Never before in her young life had the thing come so hometo her, for until now, even through the hunger and the fear, her pridehad borne her up. But in this chilly hour that precedes the dawn, thehour when, as they say, men are wont to die, it was otherwise with her. Her end was near--she knew it and understood that between the mightiestmonarch in the world and the humblest peasant maid at the last there isno difference, save perchance a difference of the soul within. 

Here she lay, a shadow, who must choose between a miserable end bythirst and hunger, or a loathsome marriage. And what availed it that shewas called Morning-Star of Amen, she the only child of Pharaoh and ofhis royal wife, and that when she was dead they would grant her a statefuneral, and inscribe her name among the lists of kings, while Abi, thefoul usurper, sat upon her throne. Here on the bed lay what she was, there at the foot of it stood what she should be if the gods had notdeserted her. 

Her poor heart was filled with bitterness like a cup with vinegar, bitterness flowed through her in the place of blood. It seemed hardto die so young, she whom men named a god; to die robbed of her crown, robbed of her vengeance, and taking with her her deep, unfruitful love. Would she and Rames meet beyond the grave, she wondered? Would they wedand bear children there, who should rule as Pharaohs in the Under-world?Would Osiris redeem her mortal flesh, and Amen the Father, receive her;or would she rush down into everlasting blackness where sleep is all inall?

Oh! for one hour of strength and freedom, one short hour while at thehead of her armies she rolled down upon rebellious Memphis in her might, and trod its high walls flat, and gave its palaces to the flames, and cast its accursed prince to the jaws of crocodiles. Her sunk eyesflashed at the thought of it, and her wasted bosom heaved, and lo! theeyes of that royal queen of her dreams flashed also as though in answer, and on its breast the jewels rose as though pride or anger lifted them. 

Then this marvel came to pass, for the beautiful face--could her ownever have been so beautiful?--the imperial face, bent forward a little, and from the red lips came a soft voice, her own rich voice, that said:

"Speak your will, Queen, and it shall be done. I, who stand here, amyour servant to command, O Morning-Star, O Amen's royal child. "

Tua sat up in her bed and laughed at the vision. 

"My will!" she said. "O Dream, why do you mock me? Let me think. What ismy will? Well, Dream, it is that of the beggar at the gate--I desire adrink of water, and a crust of bread. "

"They are there, " answered the figure, pointing with the crystal sceptrein her hand to the table beside the couch. 

Idly enough Tua looked, and so it was! On the table stood pure waterin a silver cup, and by it cakes of bread upon a golden platter. Shestretched out her hand, for surely this fantasy was pleasant, and tookthat ghost of a silver cup, her own cup that Pharaoh had given her as achild, and brought it to her lips and drank, and lo! water pure andcold flowed down her throat, until at length even her raging thirst wassatisfied. Then she stretched out her hand again, and took the loavesof bread, and ate them hungrily till all were gone, and as she swallowedthe last of them, exclaimed in bitter shame:

"Oh! what a selfish wretch am I who have drunk and eaten all, leavingnothing for my foster-mother, Asti, who lies asleep, and dies of want asI did. "

"Fear not, " answered the Dream. "Look, there are more for Asti. " And itwas true, for the silver cup brimmed once more with cold water, and onthe golden platter were other cakes. 

Now the Dream spoke again:

"Surely, " it said, "there were other wishes in your heart, OMorning-Star, than that for human sustenance?"

"Aye, O Dream, I wished for vengeance upon Abi, the traitor, Abithe murderer of my father, who would bring me to the last shame ofwomanhood. I wished for vengeance upon Abi, and all who cling to him. "

The bright figure bowed, stretching out its jewelled hands, andanswered:

"I am your servant to obey. It shall be worked, O Queen, such vengeanceas you cannot dream of, vengeance poured drop by drop like poison in hisveins, the torment of disappointed love, the torment of horrible fear, the torment of power given and snatched away, the torment of a deathof shame, and the everlasting torment of the Eater-up of Souls--thisvengeance shall be worked upon Abi and all who cling to him. Was therenot another wish in your heart, O Morning-Star, O Queen divine?"

"Aye, " answered Tua, "but I may not speak it all even to myself insleep. "

"It shall be given to you, O Morning-Star. You shall find your lovethough far away beyond the horizon, and he shall return with you, andyou twain shall rule in the Upper and the Lower Land, and in all thelands beyond with glory such as has not been known in Egypt. "

Now, at length, Tua seemed to awake. She rubbed her eyes and looked. There was the sleeping Asti; there on the table beside her were thewater and the bread; there at the foot of the couch, glimmering in thelow lights of dawn, was the glorious figure of herself draped in thesplendid robes. 

"Who, and what are you?" she cried. "Are you a god or a spirit, or areyou but a mocking vision caught in the web of my madness?"

"I am none of these things, O Morning-Star, I am yourself. I am that Kawhom our father Amen gave to you at birth to dwell with you and protectyou. Do you not remember me when as a child we played together?"

"I remember, " answered Tua. "You warned me of the danger of the sacredcrocodile in the Temple tank, but since then I have never seen you. Whatgives you the strength to appear in the flesh before me, O Double?"

"The magic of Asti with which she has been endowed from on high to saveyou, Neter-Tua, that gives me strength. Know that although you cannotalways see me, I am your eternal companion. Through life I go withyou, and when you die I watch in your tomb, perfect, incorruptible, preserving your wisdom, your loveliness, and all that is yours, untilthe day of resurrection. I have power, I have the secret knowledge whichdwells in you, although you cannot grasp it; I remember the Past, theinfinite, infinite Past that you forget, I foresee the Future, theendless, endless Future that is hidden from you, to which the life youknow is but as a single leaf upon the tree, but as one grain of sand inthe billions of the Desert. I look upon the faces of the gods, and heartheir whisperings; Fate gives me his book to read; I sleep secure in thepresence of the Eternal who sent me forth, and to whom at last I returnagain, my journey ended, my work fulfilled, bearing you in my holy arms. O Morning-Star, the spells of Asti have clothed me in this magic flesh, the might of Amen has set me on my feet. I am here, your servant, toobey. "

Now, amazed, bewildered, Tua called out:

"Awake, Nurse, awake, for I am mad. It seems to me that a messenger fromon high, robed in my own flesh, stands before me and speaks with me. "

Asti opened her eyes, and, perceiving the beautiful figure, rose and didobeisance to it, but said no word. 

"Be seated, " said the Ka, "and hear me, time is short. I awoke at thesummons, I came forth, I am present, I endure until the spell is takenoff me, and I return whence I came. O Interpreter, speak the will of herof whom I am, that I may do it in my own fashion. There is food--eat anddrink, then speak. "

So Asti ate and drank as Tua had done, and when she had finished andwas satisfied, behold! the cup and the platter vanished away. Next in aslow, quiet voice she spoke, saying:

"O Shadow of this royal Star, by my spells incorporate, this is ourcase: Here we starve in misery, and without the gate Abi waits the end. If the Queen lives, he will take her who hates him to be his wife; ifshe dies he will seize her throne. Our wisdom is finished. What must wedo to save this Star that it may shine serene until its appointed hourof setting?"

"Is that all you seek?" asked the Double, when she had finished. 

"Nay, " broke in Tua hurriedly, "I would not shine alone, I seek anotherStar to share my sky with me. "

"Have you faith and will you obey?" asked the Double again. "For withoutfaith I can do nothing. "

Now Asti looked at Tua who bowed her head in assent to an unspokenquestion, then she answered:

"We have faith, we will obey. "

"So be it, " said the Shadow. "Presently Abi will come to ask whether theQueen consents to be his wife, or whether she will bide here until shedies. I who wear the fashion of the Queen will go forth and be his wife, oh! such a wife as man never had before, " and as she spoke the words anawful look swept across her face, and her deep eyes flamed. "Ill goes itwith the mortal man who weds a wraith that hates him and is commanded towork his woe, " she added. 

Now Asti and Tua understood and smiled, then the Queen said:

"So you will sit in my seat, O Shadow, and as your lord, Abi will sit onPharaoh's throne and find it hard. But what of Egypt and my people?"

"Fear not for Egypt and your people, O Morning Star. With these it shallgo well enough until you come back to claim them. "

"And what of my companion and myself?" asked Tua. 

The Double raised her sceptre, and pointed to the open window-spacebetween them, beneath which, hundreds of feet beneath, ran the milkywaters of the river. 

"You shall trust yourselves to the bosom of Father Nile, " she answeredsolemnly. 

Now the Queen and Asti stared at each other. 

"That means, " said Tua, "that we must trust ourselves to Osiris, fornone can fall so far and live. "

"Think you so, O Star? Where, then, is that faith you promised, withoutwhich I can do nothing? Nay, I tell no more. Do my bidding, or let mego, and deal with Abi as it pleases you. Choose now, he draws near, " andas she spoke the words they heard the bronze gates of the temple clashupon their hinges. 

Tua shivered at the sound, then sprang from the couch, and drew herselfto her full height, exclaiming:

"For my part I have chosen. Never shall it be said that Pharaoh'sdaughter was a coward. Better the breast of Osiris than the arms ofAbi, or slow death in a dungeon. In Amen and in thee, O Double, I put mytrust. "

The Shadow looked from her to Asti, who answered briefly:

"Where my Lady goes there I follow, knowing that Mermes always waits. What shall we do?"

The Ka motioned to them to stand together in the narrow winding-place, and this they did, their arms about each other. Next she lifted hersceptre and spoke some word. 

Then fire flashed before their eyes, a rush of wind beat upon theirbrows, and they knew no more. 

CHAPTER XI

THE DREAM OF ABI

On the night of the drawing-forth of the Ka of Neter-Tua, Kaku thewizard, and Merytra the spy, she who had been Lady of the Footstool toPharaoh, sat together in that high chamber where Merytra had vowed hervow, and received the magic image. 

"Why do you look so disturbed?" asked the astrologer of his accomplicewho glanced continually over her shoulder, and seemed very ill at ease. "All has gone well. If Set himself had fashioned that image, it couldnot have done its work more thoroughly. "

"Thoroughly, indeed, " broke in Merytra in an angry voice. "You havetricked me, Wizard, I promised to help you to lame Pharaoh, not tomurder him!"

"Hush! Beloved, " said Kaku nervously, "murder is an ugly word, andmurderers come to ugly ends--sometimes. Is it your fault if an accursedfool of a priest chose to burn the mannikin upon an altar, and thusbring this god to his lamented end?"

"No, " answered Merytra, "not mine, or the priest's, but yours, and thathog, Abi's; and Set's the master of both of you. But I shall get theblame of it, for the Queen and Asti know the truth, and soon or late itwill come out, and they will burn me as a sorceress, sending me to theUnderworld with the blood of Pharaoh upon my hands. Pharaoh who neverdid me aught but good. And then, what will happen to me?"

Evidently Kaku did not know, for he rose and stood opposite to her, scratching his lean chin and smiling in a sickly, indeterminate fashionthat enraged Merytra. 

"Cease grinning at me like an ape of the rocks, " she said, "and tell me, what is to be the end of this evil business?"

"Why trouble about ends, Fair One?" he asked. "They are always a longway off; indeed, the best philosophers hold that there is no such thingas an end. You know the sacred symbol of a snake with its tail in itsmouth that surrounds the whole world, but begins where it ends, and endswhere it begins. It may be seen in any tomb----"

"Cease your talk of snakes and tombs, " burst in Merytra. "The thought ofthem makes me shudder. "

"By all means, Beloved. I have always held that we Egyptians dwell toomuch on tombs, and--whatever it may be that lies beyond them, whichafter all remains a matter of doubt--fortunately. So let us turn fromtombs and corpses to palaces and life. As I said just now, although wegrieve over the accident of Pharaoh's death, and that of all his guard--and I may add, of Abi's four legitimate sons, things have gonewell for us. To-day I have received from the Prince, in writing, myappointment as Vizier, and first King's companion, to come into forcewhen he mounts the throne as he must do, and to-day you have receivedfrom me, with all the usual public rites and ceremonies, the name ofwife, as I promised that you should. Merytra, you are the wife of thegreat Vizier, the pre-eminent lord, the sole Companion of the King ofEgypt, a high position for one who after all during the late reign wasbut Pharaoh's favourite, and Lady of the Footstool. "

"A footstool of silk is more comfortable to sit on than a state chairfashioned of blood-stained swords. Hearken you, Kaku! I am afraid. Yousay that you are the greatest of seers, and can read the future. Well, I desire to know the future, so if you are not a charlatan, show it tome. "

"A charlatan! How can you suggest it, Merytra, remembering the adventureof the image?"

"That may have been an accident. Pharaoh was sickly for years, and hada stroke before. If you are not a cheat show me the future in that magiccrystal. I would learn the worst, so that I may know how to meet it whenit comes. "

"Well, Wife, we will try, though to see such high visions the spiritshould be calm, which I fear yours is not--nay, be not angry. We willtry, we will try. Sit here now, and gaze, and above all be silent whileI say the appropriate spells. "

So the ball of crystal having been set upon the table, the pair staredinto it as Kaku muttered his charms and invocations. For a long whileMerytra saw nothing, till suddenly a shadow gathered in the ball, whichslowly cleared away, revealing the image of dead Pharaoh clothed in hismummy wrappings. As she started back to scream the image seemed to looseits hands from the cloths that bound them, and strike outwards, whereonthe crystal suddenly shattered, so that the pieces of it flew aboutthe room, one of which struck her on the mouth, knocking out two of herfront teeth, and gashing her lips. 

Merytra uttered a cry, and fell backwards to the floor, while Kakusprang from his chair as though to run away, then thought better of it, and stood still, shivering with fear. 

"What was that?" said Merytra, rising from the ground, and wiping theblood from her cut mouth. 

"I do not know, " answered Kaku, in a quavering voice. "It would seemthat the gods deny to us that knowledge of the future which you sought. Be content with the present, Merytra. "

"Content with the present, " she screamed, infuriated. "Look at whatthe present has given me--a mouthful of blood and teeth. I, who wasbeautiful, am spoiled for ever; I am become an old hag. Pharaoh burstthe ball with his hand, and threw the pieces at me. I saw him do it, andyou set him there. Wretch, I will pay you back for this evil trick, " andspringing at Kaku, she tore of his astrologer's cap, and the wig beneathit, and beat his bald head with them till he cried for mercy. 

It was at this moment that the door opened, and through it, breathless, white with terror, half-clothed, appeared none other than the PrinceAbi. 

"What passes here?" he gasped, sinking into a chair. "Is this the wayyou conduct your midnight studies, Kaku?"

"Certainly not, most high Lord, " replied the astrologer, trying to bowwith his eye fixed on Merytra, who stood by him, the torn wig in herhand, in the act of striking. "Certainly not, exalted Prince. A domesticdifference, that is all. This wild cat of a woman whom I have marriedhaving met with an accident, gave way to her devilish temper. "

"Repeat that, " exclaimed Merytra, "and I will throw you from thewindow-place to find out whether your sorceries can make paving-stonesas soft as air. See, Lord, what he has done to me by his accursedwizardry, " and she exhibited her two front teeth in her shaking hand. "I say that he set the spirit of Pharaoh whom he beguiled me to do todeath, in the crystal, for I saw him there wrapped in his mummy clothes, and caused dead Pharaoh to burst the crystal and stone me with itsfragments. "

"Be silent, Woman, " shouted Abi, "or I will have you beaten with rods, till your feet hurt more than your mouth. What is this about the spiritof Pharaoh, Kaku? Is he everywhere, for know, it is of Pharaoh, thedweller in Osiris, that I came to speak to you. "

"Most exalted Ruler of the North, Son of Royal Blood, Hereditary Countwho shall be King----"

"Cease your titles, Knave, " exclaimed Abi, "and listen, for I needcounsel, and if you cannot give it I will find one who can. Just now Ilay on my bed asleep, and a dreadful vision came to me. I dreamed that Iwoke up, and feeling a weight on the bed beside me turned to learnwhat it was, and saw there the body of my brother, Pharaoh, in hisdeath-wrappings----"

"As I saw him in the ball, " broke in Merytra. "Did he pelt you also, OAbi?"

"Nay, Woman, he did worse, he spoke to me. He said--'You, my brother, towhom I forgave all your sins, you and the woman-snake that I cherishedin my bosom, and your servant, the black-souled magician, heraccomplice, have done me miserably to death, and set the Queen of boththe Lands, Amen's royal child, to starve in yonder tower with the noblelady Asti, until she dies or takes you to be her husband--you, heruncle, who seek her beauty and my throne. Now I have a message foryou from the gods, who write down these things in their eternal booksagainst the day of judgment, when we all shall meet and plead our causebefore them, Osiris the Redeemer standing on the right hand, and theEater-up of Souls standing on the left. 

"'This is the message, O Abi--Go to the Temple of Sekhet at the dawn. There you shall find that Royal Loveliness which you desire. Take it tobe your wife as you desire, for it shall not say you nay. Be wedded tothat Loveliness with pomp before all the eyes of Egypt, and reign byright of that Royalty, until you meet one Rames, son of Mermes, whomyou also murdered, and with him a certain Beggar-man who is charged withanother message for you, O Abi. Ascend the Nile to Thebes, and lay thisbody of mine in the splendid tomb which I have made ready and sit inmy seat, and do those things which that Royal Loveliness you have wed, commands to you, for It you shall obey. But hasten, hasten, Abi, tohollow for yourself a grave, and let it be near to mine, for when youare dead this my Ka would come to visit you, as it does to-night. '

"Then the Ka or the body of Pharaoh--I know not which it was--ceasedfrom speaking, and lay there a while staring at me with its cold eyes, till at length the spirits of my four sons who are dead entered thechamber and, lifting up the shape, carried it away. I awoke, shakinglike a reed in the wind, and ran hither up a thousand steps to find youbrawling with this low-born slut, dead Pharaoh's worn-out shoe that inbygone years I kicked from off my foot. "

Now Merytra would have answered, for she loved not such names, butthe two men looked at her so fiercely that her rage died, and she wassilent. 

"Read me this vision, Man, and be swift, for the torment of it hauntsme, " went on Abi. "If you cannot I strip you of your offices, and giveyour carcase to the rods until you find wisdom. It was you who set meon this path, and by the gods you shall keep me safe in it or die byinches. "

Now, seeing his great danger, Kaku grew cold and cunning. 

"It is true, O Prince, " he said, "that I set you on this path, this highand splendid path, and it is true also that from the beginning I havekept you safe in it. Had it not been for me and my counsel, long agoyou would have become but a forgotten traitor. Remember that night atThebes, when in your pride you desired to smite at the heart of Pharaoh, and how I held your hand, and remember how, many a time, my wisdom hasbeen your guide, when left to your own rash folly you must have failedor perished. It is true also, Prince, that in the future as in the past, with me and by me you stand or fall. Yet if you think otherwise, findsome wiser man to lead you, and wait the end. All the rods in Egyptcannot be broken on my back, O Abi. Now shall I speak who alone haveknowledge, or will you seek another counsellor?"

"Speak on, " answered Abi sullenly, "we are fish in the same net, andshare each other's fortune to the end, whether it be Set's gridiron orfat Egypt's pleasure pond. Fear not, what I have promised you shall havewhile it is mine to give. "

"Just now you promised rods, " remarked Kaku, making a wry face andreplacing the remains of his wig upon his bald head, "but let that pass. Now as to this dream of yours, I find its meaning good. How did Pharaohcome to you? Not as a living spirit, but in the fashion of a dead man, and who cares for dead men?"

"I do, for one, when they cut my mouth with broken crystals, "interrupted Merytra, who was bathing her wounds in a basin of water. 

"Would that they had cut your tongue instead of your lips, Woman, "snarled Abi. "Continue, Kaku, and heed her not. "

"And what was his message?" went on the magician. "Why, that you shallmarry the Majesty of Egypt, and rule in her right and sit in the seatof kings. Are not these the very things that you desire, and have workedfor years to win?"

"Yes, Kaku, but you forget all that about one Rames, and the tomb that Imust hollow, and the rest. "

"Rames? Merytra here can tell you of him, Prince. He is the madcap youngCount who killed the Prince of Kesh, and was sent by Neter-Tua far tothe South-lands, that the barbarians there might make an end of himwithout scandal. If ever he should come back with the Beggar-man andhis message, which is not likely, you can answer him with the halter hedeserves. "

"Aye, Kaku, but how will the Queen answer him? There are storiesafloat----"

"Lies, every one of them, Prince. She would have executed him at oncehad it not been for the influence of Mermes, and her foster-mother, Asti. This Rames has in him the royal blood of the last dynasty, and theStar of Amen is not one who will share her sky with a rival star, unlesshe be her lawful Lord, which is your part. If Rames or the foul Beggarbrings you any message it will be that you are King of Kesh as well asof Egypt, and then you can kill him and take the heritage. A fig forRames and its stalk for the Beggar!"

"Perhaps, " replied Abi more cheerfully, "at any rate I do not fear thatrisk; but how about all Pharaoh's talk of tombs?"

"Being dead, Prince, it is natural that the mind of his Ka should runon tombs, and his own royal burial, which as a matter of policy we mustgive to him. Besides there the prophesy was safe, since to these sametombs all must come, especially those of us who have seen the Nile riseover sixty times--as I have, " he added hastily. "When we reach the tombit will be time to deal with its affairs; till then let us be contentwith life, and the good things it offers, such as thrones, and find thelove of the most beautiful woman in the world, and the rest. Harvestyour corn when it is ripe, Prince, and do not trouble about next year'scrop or whether in his grave Pharaoh's Double eats white bread or brown. Pharaoh's daughter--or Amen's--is your business, not his ghost. "

"Yes, good soothsayer, " said Abi, "she is my business. But one morequestion. Why did that accursed mummy speak of her as 'It'--in my dreamI mean--as though she were no woman, but something beyond woman?"

For a moment Kaku hesitated, for the point was hard to answer, then hereplied boldly:

"Because as I believe, Prince, this Queen with whom the gods arerewarding your deserts is in truth more than woman, being Amen's verydaughter, and therefore in those realms whence the dream came, she isknown not as woman, but by her title of Royal Loveliness. Oh!" went onKaku, simulating an enthusiasm that in truth did not glow within hisbreast, "great and glorious is your lot, King of the world, and splendidthe path which I have opened to your triumphant feet. It was I whoshowed you how Pharaoh might be trapped in Memphis, being but a poorfool easy to deceive, and it was I--or rather Merytra yonder--who ridyou of him. And now it is I, the Master whom you threatened with rods, that alone can interpret to you the happy omen of a dream which youthought fearsome. Think of the end of it, Prince, and banish everydoubt. Who bore away the shape of Pharaoh? Why the spirits of your sons, thus symbolising the triumph of your House. "

"At least they will have no share in it, Kaku, for they are dead, " saidAbi with a groan, for he had loved his sons. 

"What of that, Prince? They died bravely, and we mourn them, but hereagain Fortune is with you, for had they lived trouble might have arisenbetween them and those other sons which the Queen of Egypt shall bear toyou. "

"Mayhap, mayhap, " replied Abi, waving his hand, for the subject waspainful to him, "but this Queen is not yet my wife. She is starving inyonder tower, and what am I to do? If I try to force my presence uponher, she will destroy herself as she swore, and if I leave her there anylonger, being mortal, she must die. Moreover, I dare not, for even thesefolk of Memphis, who love me, begin to murmur. Egypt's Queen is Egypt'sQueen, and they will not suffer that she should perish miserably, beingbeautiful and young, and one who takes all hearts. This night at sunsetthey gathered in tens of thousands round the tower to hear her sing thatevening hymn to Ra, and afterwards marched past my palace, shoutingin the darkness, 'Give food to Her Majesty, and free her, or we will. 'Moreover, by now the news must have come to Thebes, and there a greatarmy will gather to liberate or avenge her. What am I to do, Prophet?"

"Do what dead Pharaoh bade you in your dream, Prince. At the hour ofdawn go to the Temple of Sekhet, where you will find the Queen becomeobedient to your wishes, for did not the dream declare that she will notsay you nay? Then lead her to your palace, and marry her in the faceof all men, and rule by right of her Majesty and of your own conqueringarm. "

"It can be tried, " said Abi, "for then, at least, we shall learn whattruth there is in dreams. But what of this Asti her companion?"

"Asti has been an ill guide to her Majesty, Prince, " replied Kaku, rubbing his chin as he always did when there was mischief in his mind. "Moreover, she is advanced in years, and must be weak with grief andhunger. If she still lives Merytra here will take her in charge and carefor her. You are old friends, are you not, Merytra?"

"Very, " answered that lady with emphasis, "like the cat and the birdwhich were pets of the same master. Well, we shall have much to say toeach other. Only, beware, Husband, Asti is no weakling. Your magic maybe strong, but hers is stronger, for she is a great priestess and drawsit from gods--not devils. "

So it came about that at dawn Prince Abi, clad in magnificent robes, andaccompanied by Councillors, among them Kaku, and by a small guard, wascarried in a litter to the gates of the old temple of Sekhet, being tooheavy to walk so far, and there descended. As there were none to defendthem these gates were opened easily enough, and they passed through, leaving the guard without. When they came to the inner court, Abistopped and asked where they should search. 

"In one place only, your Highness, " answered Kaku, "that pylon towerwhich overlooks the Nile, for there her Majesty starves with Asti. "

"Pylon tower, " grumbled Abi. "Have I not climbed enough steps thisnight? Still, lead on. "

So they went to the narrow stair, up which the thin Kaku ran like a cat, while the officers pushed and led the huge Abi behind him. On the thirdlanding they all halted at Abi's command. 

"Hurry not, " he said in a thick whisper. "Her Majesty dwells on the nextfloor of this hateful tower, and since Asti is with her she cannot besurprised. Beware, then, of frightening her by your sudden appearance, lest she should run to the top of the pylon, and hurl herself into theNile, as she has sworn that she will do. Halt now, and I will call toher when I have got my breath. "

So after a while he called, saying:

"O Queen, cease to starve yourself in this miserable abode, and comedown to dwell in plenty with your faithful subject. "

He called it once, and twice, and thrice, but there was no answer. NowAbi grew afraid. 

"She must have perished, " he said, "and Egypt will demand her blood atmy hands. Kaku, go up and see what has happened. You are a magician, andhave nothing to fear. "

But the astrologer thought otherwise, and hesitated, till Abi in a ragelifted his cedar wand to strike him on the back. Then he went, step bystep, slowly, pausing at each step to address prayers and praises to herMajesty of Egypt. At length he came to the door of the Queen's chamber, and kneeling down, peeped into it, to see that it was quite empty. Nexthe crawled across the landing to the chamber opposite, that whichhad been Asti's, and found it empty also. Then, made bold by fear, heascended to the pylon roof. But here, too, there was no one to be seen. So he returned, and told Abi, who shouted:

"By Ptah, great Lord of Memphis! either she has escaped to raise Egypton me, or she has sought death in the Nile to raise the gods upon me, which is worse. So much for your interpretation of dreams, O Cheat. "

"Wait till you are sure before you call me such names, Prince, " repliedKaku indignantly. "Let us search the temple, she may be elsewhere. "

So they searched it court by court, and chamber by chamber, till theycame to that inner hall in front of the Sanctuary where Pharaoh had setup his throne while he sojourned at Memphis. This hall was a dark place, into which light flowed only through the gratings in the clerestory, being roofed in with blocks of granite laid upon its lotus-shapedcolumns. Now, at the hour of sunrise, the gloom in it was still deep, so deep that the searchers felt their way from pillar to pillar, seeingnothing. Presently, however, a ray of light from the rising sun spedthrough the opening shaped like the eye of Osiris in the eastern wall, and as it had done for thousands of years, struck upon the shrine ofthe goddess, and the throne that was set in front of it, revealing thethrone, and seated thereon Neter-Tua, her Majesty of Egypt. 

Glorious she looked indeed, a figure of flame set in the midst ofdarkness. The royal robe she wore glittered in the sunlight, glitteredher sceptre, her jewels, and the _urĉi_ on her Double Crown, but morethan all of them glittered her fierce and splendid eyes. Indeed, there was something so terrible in those eyes that the beholders whodiscovered them thus suddenly, shrank back, whispering to each otherthat here sat a goddess, not a woman. For in her calmness, her proudbeauty and her silence, she seemed like an immortal, one victorious whohad triumphed over death, not a woman who for seven days had starvedwithin a tower. 

They shrank back, they huddled themselves together in the doorway, andthere remained whispering till the growing light fell on them also. Butthe figure on the throne took no heed, only stared over their heads asthough it were lost in mystery and thought. 

At length Kaku, gathering courage, said to Abi:

"O Prince, there is your bride, such a bride as never man had before. Gonow and take her, " and all the others echoed:

"Go now, O Prince, and take her. "

Thus adjured for very shame's sake Abi advanced, looking often behindhim, till he came to the foot of the throne, and stood there bowing. 

For a long while he stood bowing thus, till he grew weary indeed, forhe knew not what to say. Then suddenly a clear and silvery voice spokeabove him, asking:

"What do you here, Lord of Memphis? Why are you not in the cell wherePharaoh bound you? Oh! I remember--the footstool-bearer, Merytra, yourpaid spy, let you out, did she not? Why is she not here with Kaku theSorcerer, who fashioned the enchanted image that did Pharaoh to death?Is it because she stays to doctor those false lips of hers that werecut last night before you went to ask yonder Kaku to interpret a certaindream which came to you?"

"How did you learn these things? Have you spies in my palace, O Queen?"

"Yes, my uncle, I have spies in your palace and everywhere. What Amensees his daughter knows. Now you have come to lead me away to be yourwife, have you not? Well, I await you, I am ready. Do it if you dare!"

"If I dare? Why should I not dare, O Queen?" asked Abi in a doubtfulvoice. 

"Surely that question is one for you to answer, Count of Memphis and itssubject nomes. Yet tell me this--why did the magic crystal burst asunderwithout cause in the chamber of Kaku last night, and why do you supposethat Kaku interpreted to you all the meaning of your dream--he who willnever tell the truth unless it be beneath the rods?"

"I do not know, Queen, " answered Abi, "but with Kaku I can speaklater, if need be after the fashion you suggest, " and he glanced at themagician wrathfully. 

"No, Prince Abi, you know nothing, and Kaku knows nothing, save thatrods break the backs of snakes, unless they can find a wall to hide in, "and she pointed to the astrologer slinking back into the shadow. "Noone knows anything save me, to whom Amen gives wisdom with sight of thefuture, and what I know I keep. Were it otherwise, O Abi, I could tellyou things that would turn your grey hair white, and to Kaku and Merytrathe spy, promise rewards that would make the torture-chamber seem a bedof down. But it is not lawful, nor would they sound pleasant in thisbridal hour. "

Now while Kaku between his chattering teeth muttered the words ofProtection in the shadow, Abi and his courtiers stared at this terriblequeen as boys seeking wild fowls' eggs in the reeds, and stumbling ona lion, stare ere they fly. Twice, indeed, the Prince turned lookingtowards the door and the pleasant light without, for it seemed to himthat he was entering on a dark and doubtful road. Then he said:

"Your words, O Queen, cut like a two-edged sword, and methinks theyleave a poison in the wound. Say now, if you are human, how it comesabout that after seven days of want your flesh is not minished nor hasyour beauty waned. Say also who brought to you those glorious robes youwear here in this empty temple, and where is your foster-mother, Asti?"

"The gods fed me, " answered the Queen gently, "and brought me theserobes that I might seem the more worthy of you, O Prince. And as forAsti, I sent her to Cyprus to fetch a scent they make there and nowhereelse. No, I forgot, it was yesterday she went to bring the scent fromCyprus that now is on my hair; to-day she is in Thebes, seeing to abusiness of mine. That is no secret, I will tell it you--it is as tothe carving of all the history of his murder and betrayal in the firstchamber of the Pharaoh's tomb. "

Now at these magical and ill-omened words the courage of the companyleft them, so that they began to walk backwards towards the door, Abigoing with them. 

"What!" cried the Queen in a voice of sorrow that yet seemed ladenwith mockery. "Would you leave me here alone? Do my power and my wisdomfrighten you? Alas! I cannot help them, for when the full vase is tiltedthe wine will run out, and when light is set behind alabaster, then thewhite stone must shine. Yet am I one meet to adorn the palace of theKing, even such a king as you shall be, O Abi, whom Osiris loves. See, now, I will dance and sing to you as once I sang to the Prince of Keshbefore the sword of Rames took away his life, so that you may judge ofme, Abi, you, who have looked upon so many lovely women. "

As she spoke, very slowly, so slowly that they could scarcely see hermove, she glided from the throne, and standing before them, began tomove her feet and body, and to chant a song. 

What were the words of that song none could ever remember, but to everyman there present it opened a door in his heart, and brought back theknowledge of youth. She whom he had loved best danced before him, hertender hands caressed him; the words she sang were sighs which the deadhad whispered in his ears. Even to Abi, old, unwieldy and steeped incunning, these soft visions came, although it is true that it seemed tohim that this lovely singer led him to a precipice, and that when sheceased her song and appeared to vanish, to seek her he leapt into theclouds that rushed beneath. 

Now the dance was done, and the last echoes of the music died awayagainst the ancient walls whence the images of Sekhet the cat-headedwatched them with her cruel smile of vengeance. The dance was done, andthe beautiful dancer stood before them unflushed, unheated, but laughinggently. 

"Now go, divine Prince, " she said, "and you his followers, go, all ofyou, and leave me to my lonely house, until Pharaoh sends for me toshare that new realm which he inherits beyond the West. "

But they would not go and could not if they would, for some power boundthem to her, while, as for Abi he scarce could take his eyes from her, but heedless of who heard them, babbled out his passion at her feet, while the rest glowered on him jealously. She listened always smilingthat same smile that was so sweet, yet so inhuman. Then when he stoppedexhausted, at last she spoke, saying:

"What! do you love now more greatly than you fear, as the divine Princeof Kesh loved after Amen's Star had sung to him. May your fate behappier, O noble Abi, but that, since it is not lawful that I shouldtell it to you, you shall discover. Abi, there shall be a royal marriagein Memphis of such joy and feasting as has not been known in the historyof the Northern or the Southern Land, and for your allotted span youshall sit by the side of Egypt's Queen and shine in her light. Have younot earned the place by right of blood, O conqueror of Pharaoh, and didnot Pharaoh promise it to you in your sleep? Come, the sun of this newday shines, let us walk in it, and bid farewell to shadows. "

CHAPTER XII

THE ROYAL MARRIAGE

A strange rumour ran through Memphis. It was said that the Queen hadyielded; it was said that she would marry the Prince Abi, that shewas already at the great White House waiting to be made a bride. Menwrangled about in the streets. They swore that it could not be true, forwould this high lady, the anointed Pharaoh of Egypt, take her father'smurderer, and her own uncle to husband? Would she not rather die in herprison tower on which night by night they had seen her stand and sing?In their hearts they thought that she should die, for thus they hadsummed her up, this pure, high-hearted daughter of Amen, whom Fate hadcaught in an evil net. Yes, being men they held that she ought to die, and leave a story in the world, whereof Egypt could be proud for ever. 

But their wives and daughters mocked at them. After all she was but awoman, they argued, and was it likely that she would throw aside thepomp of rule and the prospect of long years in order to steal away intothe shadows of a forgotten tomb? Henceforth, it was true, she must takesecond place, for Abi would be a stern master to her. Still, any placewas better than a funeral barge. She had felt the pinch of hunger yonderin that old temple; her fierce spirit had been tamed; she had kissed therod, and after long years of waiting, Abi would be Pharaoh in Egypt. 

The dispute grew hot, for even those men who rebelled against her, intheir hearts had set her high, and grieved to think of her, the divineLady, bowing her neck to the common yoke of circumstance, and sellingherself for safety, and a seat on the steps of her own throne. But thewomen mocked on, and showed them that as they had always said, she wasno better than others of her sex. 

Presently the matter was settled, for heralds appeared crying throughoutthe city that the marriage would take place in the great hall of theWhite House one hour before sundown. Then the women laughed in triumph, and the men were silent. 

It was the appointed hour, and that hall was filled to overflowing byall who could gain entrance there. Between the towering obelisks thatstood on either side the open cedar doors, folk hung upon its steps likehiving bees; the vast square without and all the streets that led to itwere black with them. Here, it is true, they could see nothing, stillthey fought for the merest foothold, and some of those who fell neverrose again. At the head of the hall were set two thrones, the greaterand the richer throne for Abi the Prince, the lesser throne forNeter-Tua the Queen. He had arranged it thus since Kaku the cunningpointed out to him that from the first he should show the people that itwas he who ruled, and not Pharaoh's daughter. 

It was the appointed hour, and at some signal from every temple top rangout the blare of trumpets. Thrice they sounded, and echoed into silencein that hot, still air, thus announcing that in the temple of Hathor, and the presence of the priests of all the gods, the hands of Abi andNeter-Tua had been joined in marriage. 

Another rumour began to run among the crowd; like the ring set circlingby a stone in water it spread from mouth to mouth, ever widening as itwent. 

Marvels had happened in the temple of Hathor, that was the rumour. Moreover it gave details: that the High-Priest had handed to the bridethe accustomed lotus-bud, the flower of the goddess, and lo! it openedin her hand. Also, it was said, that presently the stem of it turnedto a sceptre of gold, and the cup of the bloom to sapphire stones moreperfect far than any from the desert mines. 

Nor was this all, so went the tale, for when, as he must, the bridegroomAbi offered the white dove to Hathor in her shrine, a hawk swept throughthe doorway and smote it in his very hand. Yes, there in the gloom ofthe shrine smote it and left it dead, blood running from its beak andbreast, dead upon the knees of the goddess; left it and was gone again!

Now what hawk, asked the people of each other, dare such a deed asthis, unless in truth it was sent by the hawk-headed Horus, the son ofAmen-Ra. 

Soon these matters were forgotten for the moment, since now it was knownthat the royal pair were entering the great White Hall, there to showthemselves to the people, and receive the homage of the nobles, chiefs, and captains. First, advancing by the covered way which led from thetemple of Hathor, appeared the priests in their robes, chanting as theywalked, followed by the masters of ceremonies, butlers, and heralds. Next, surrounded by his officers and guard, came the Prince Abi himself, accompanied by his vizier, Kaku, he whose magic was said to have broughtPharaoh to his end. 

Not all his pomp nor the splendour of his apparel, whereof thewhiteness, as many noted, was spotted with ill-omened blood, nor eventhe royal crown which now, for the first time, was set upon his huge, round head, could hide from those who watched that this bridegroom wasill at ease. Even as he stood there, bowing in answer to the obsequiousshouts of the multitude, the sceptre in his fat hand shook, and his redlips blanched and trembled. Still he smiled and bowed on, till at lengththe shouting died away, and quiet fell upon the place. 

Abi was forgotten, they waited the coming of the Queen, and though noherald called her advent, yet every heart of all those thousands feltthat she drew near to them. Look! Yonder she stood. They had watchedclosely enough, yet none saw her come, doubtless because the shadowswere thick. But there she stood, quite alone upon the edge of the daisin front of the two thrones, and, oh! she was different from what theyhad expected. Thus now she wore no gorgeous robes, but only a simplegarment of purest white, cut low upon her bosom, where the red rays ofthe sinking sun, striking up the hall, revealed to every eye that darkmole shaped like the Cross of Life, which was her wondrous birthmark. But two ornaments adorned her, the double snakes of royalty, golden withred eyes, set in front of her tall white head-dress, which none butshe might wear, the crowns of Upper and of Lower Egypt, and of allthe subject lands, and in her hand a sceptre fashioned of gold, andsurmounted by a lotus-bloom of sapphire, that sceptre of which rumourhad told the magic tale. 

Yes, she was different. They had thought to see a woman weak and pale, her eyes still red with grief, her face still stained with tears, onewho had been tamed by misfortune, hunger, and the fear of death, whenceshe had bought herself by marriage with her conqueror. But it was notso, for never had the Star of Amen shone half so beautiful, never hadthey seen such majesty in those deep blue eyes that looked them throughand through as though they read the secret heart of every one of them. Her tall and lovely form had not wasted, her cheeks were red with theglow of health; power and dignity flowed from her presence, fear seemedbeneath her feet. 

Now no voice was lifted up; they stared at her, and, smiling a little, she answered them with her calm eyes till their heads sank beneath hergaze. Then at length in the midst of that dead, oppressive silence whichnone dared to break, she turned, and they heard the sweep of her silkenrobe upon the alabaster floor. 

With an effort two chamberlains stepped forward, their wands of officein their hands, to lead her to her seat, but she waved them back, andsaid in her clear voice:

"Nay, here I am alone; of all the millions who serve her, not one isleft to lead Amen's daughter and Egypt's Queen to her rightful place. Therefore she takes it of her own strength, now and for evermore. "

Then very slowly, still in the midst of silence, she mounted the greaterthrone that had been prepared for Abi, and there seated herself andwaited. 

Now murmuring rose among the courtiers and Kaku whispered into Abi'sear, while the multitude held its breath. Abi stamped his foot andissued orders which all seemed to fear to execute. At length he steppedforward, addressing the Queen in a hoarse voice. 

"Lady, " he said, "doubtless you know it not, but that place is mine;your seat is on my left. Be pleased to take it. "

"Why so, Prince Abi?" she asked quietly. 

"Lady, " he answered, "because the husband takes precedence of the wife, and, " he added with savage meaning, "the conqueror of the conquered. "

"The conqueror of the conquered?" she repeated after him in a musingvoice. "Should you not have said--the murderer of the murdered and hisseed? Nay, Prince Abi, you are wrong. The sovereign of Egypt by rightdivine, takes precedence of her vassal, even though it has pleased thegods, whose will she has come to execute, to command her to give to himthe name of husband until that will is more fully known. Come now and dohomage to your Queen, and after you those slaves of yours who dared tolift the sword against her. "

Then a great tumult arose, a tumult of rage and of dismay, for well nighall in that vast place were partners in this crime, and knew that ifNeter-Tua prevailed death yawned wide for them. 

They shouted to Abi to take no heed of her. They shouted to him to tearher from the throne, to kill her, and seize the crown. They drew theirswords and raged like an angry sea. Those who were loyal among them toPharaoh's House, and those who feared turmoil, began to work their waybackwards, and slipped by twos and threes out of the great open doors, till Tua had no friend left in all that hall. But ever as they went, others of the turbulent and the rebellious who had been concerned in theslaughter of Pharaoh's guard, took their place, pouring in from the mobwithout. 

Wild desert-dwellers of the Bedouin tribes, who for thousands of yearshad been the bitter enemies of Egypt; descendants of the Hyksos, whoseforefathers had ruled the land for a dozen generations, and at last beendriven out; those Hyksos whose blood ran in Abi's veins, and who lookedto him to lift them up again; evil-doers who had sought shelter in hisregiments; hook-nosed Semites from the Lebanon; black, barbarian savagesfrom the shores of Punt--with such as these was that hall filled. 

Abi was the hope of every one of them; to him they looked for the spoilsof Egypt, and before them on Abi's throne they saw a woman who stoodbetween them and their ends, who in her ancient pride dared to demandthat he, her husband, should do homage to her, and who to-morrow, if sheconquered, would give them to the sword. 

"Tear her to pieces!" they screamed, "the bastard whom childless Pharaohpalmed off upon the land! She is a sorceress who keeps fat on air--anevil spirit. Away with her! Or if you fear, then let us come!"

At length they had roared themselves hoarse; at length they grew still. Then Abi, who all this while had stood there hesitating, and now andagain turning to hearken to Kaku who whispered in his ear, looked up atTua and spoke. 

"You see and you hear, Queen, " he said. "My people mistrust you, andthey are a rough people, I cannot hold them back for long. If once theyget at you, very soon that sweet body of yours will be in more fragmentsthan was Osiris after Set had handled him. "

Now Tua, who hitherto had sat still and indifferent, like one who takesno heed, seemed to awake, and answered:

"A bad example, Prince, for Osiris rose again, did he not?" Then sheleaned back and once more was silent. 

"Do you still desire that I should do homage to you, Queen, I, yourhusband?" he asked presently. 

"Why not?" she replied. "I have spoken. A decree of Pharaoh may not bechanged, and though a woman, I am--Pharaoh. "

Now Abi went white with rage, and turned to his guard to bid them dragher from the throne. But she who was watching him, suddenly liftedher sceptre and spoke in a new voice, a clear, strong voice that rangthrough the hall, and even reached those who were gathered on the stepswithout. 

"There is a question between you and me, O People, " she said, "and it isthis--Shall I, your Queen, rule in Egypt, as my fathers ruled, or shallyonder man rule whom by the decree of Amen I have taken for husband? Nowyou who for the most part have the Hyksos blood running in your veins, as he has, desire that he should rule, and you have slain the good god, my father, and would make Abi king over you, and see me his handmaid, one to give him children of my royal race, no more. See, you are amultitude and my legions are far away, and I--I am alone, one lamb amongthe jackals, thousands and thousands of jackals who for a long whilehave been hungry. How, then, shall I match myself against you?"

"You cannot, " shouted a wild-eyed spokesman. "Come down, lamb, and kneelbefore the lion, Abi, or we, the jackals, will rend you. We will notacknowledge you, we who are of the fierce Hyksos blood. While theobelisks stand that were set up by the great Hyksos Pharaoh whosedescendant was Abi's mother, while the obelisks stand that are set therefor all eternity, we will not acknowledge you. Come down and take yourplace in our lord's harem, O Pharaoh's bastard daughter. "

"Ah!" Tua repeated after him, "while the obelisks stand that the Hyksosthief set up you will not acknowledge me, Pharaoh's bastard daughter!"

Then she paused and seemed to grow disturbed; she sighed, wrung herhands a little, and said in a choking voice:

"I am but one woman alone among you. My father, Pharaoh, is dead, andyou bid me lay down my rank and henceforth rule only through him whotrapped Pharaoh and brought him to his end. What, then, can I do?"

"Be a good maid and obey your husband, Bastard, " mocked a voice, andduring the roar of laughter that followed Tua looked at the speaker, anofficer of Abi's, who had taken a great part in the slaughter of theirescort. 

Very strangely she looked at him, and those who stood by the man notedthat his lips became white, and that he turned so faint that had it notbeen for the press about him he would have fallen. Presently he seemedto recover, and asked the priests who were near to let him join theircircle, as among the outer throng the heat was too great for him tobear. Thereon one of them nodded and made room for him, and he passedin, which Tua noted also. 

Now she was speaking again. 

"Ill names to throw at Egypt's anointed queen, crowned and accepted bythe god himself in the sanctuary of his most holy temple, " she said, hereyes still resting on the brutal soldier. "Yet it is your hour, and shemust bear them who has no friends in Memphis. Oh! what shall I do?" andagain she wrung her hands. "Good People, it was sworn to me that Amen, greatest of the gods, set his spirit within me when I was born, andvowed that he would help me in the hour of my need. Of your grace, then, give me space to pray to Amen. Look, " and she pointed before her, "yonder sinks the red ball of the sun; soon, soon it will be gone--giveme until it enters the gateways of the West to pray to Amen, and then ifno help comes I will bow me to your bidding, and do homage to this noblePrince of the Hyksos blood, who snared Pharaoh his brother, and by helpof his magicians and of his spy, Merytra, brought him to his end. "

"Yes, my people, give her the space she asks, " called Abi, who fearednothing from Amen, a somewhat remote personage, and was afraid lest sometumult should happen in the course of which this lovely, new-made wifeof his might be slain or injured. 

So they gave her the space of time she asked. Standing up, Tua raisedher arms and eyes towards heaven, and began to pray aloud:

"Hear me, Amen my Father, in the House of thy Rest, as thou hast swornto do. O Amen my Father, thou seest my strait. Is it thy will that thydaughter should degrade herself and thee before this man who slew hisking and brother, to whom thou hast commanded her to give the name ofhusband? If it be so, I will obey; but if it be not so, then show thyword by might or marvel, and cause him and his folk who mock my majestyand name me bastard, to bow down before me. O Amen, they deny thee intheir hearts who worship other gods, as did the barbarians who begatthem and threw down thy shrines in Egypt, but I know that thou sentestme forth, and in thee I put my trust, aye, even if thou slay me. Amen myFather, yonder sinks that glory in which thou dost hide thy spirit. Now, ere it be gone and night falls upon the world, declare thyself in suchfashion that all men may know that indeed I am thy child; or if this bethy decree, desert me and Egypt, and leave me to my shame. "

She ended her prayer and, sinking back upon the throne, rested her chinupon her hand, and gazed steadily upon the splendour of the sinking sun. Nor did she gaze alone, for every man in that vast hall turned himselfabout, and stared at its departing glory. There in the red light theystood, and stared, and since the place was open to the sky, the shadowsof the two towering obelisks without fell on them like the shadows ofswords whereof the points met together at the foot of Tua's throne. Theydid not believe that anything would happen, no, not even the priestsbelieved it who here at Memphis, the city of Ptah, thought little ofAmen, the god of Thebes. They thought that this piteous prayer was buta last cry of dying faith wrung from a proud and fallen woman in herwretchedness. 

And yet, and yet they stared, for she had spoken with a strangecertainty like one who knew the god, and was she not named Star ofAmen, and were there not wondrous tales as to her birth, and had not alotus-bloom seemed to turn to gold and jewels in the hand of this young, anointed Queen who bore the Cross of Life upon her breast? No, nothingwould happen, but still they stared. 

It was a very strange sunset. For days the heat had been great, but nowit was fearful, also a marvellous stillness reigned in heaven and earth. Nothing seemed to stir in all the city, no dog barked, no child cried, no leaf quivered upon the tall palms; it might have been a city of thedead. 

Dense clouds arose upon the sky, and moved, though no wind blew. Wherethe sun's rays touched them they were gold and red and purple, but abovethese of an inky blackness. They took strange shapes those clouds, andmarshalled themselves like a host gathering for battle. There were thecommanders moving quickly to and fro; there the chariots, and there thesullen lines of footmen with their gleaming spears. Now one cloud higherthan the rest seemed to shoot itself across the arch of heaven, and itsfashion was that of a woman with outspread hair of gold. Her feet stoodupon the sun, her body bent itself athwart the sky, and upon the farhorizon in the east her hands held the pale globe of the rising moon. 

The watchers were frightened at this cloud. "It is Isis with the moon inher arms, " said one. "Nay, it is the mother goddess Nout brooding uponthe world, " answered another. And though they only spoke softly, in thatawful silence their voices reached Tua on the throne, and for the firsttime her face changed, for on it came a cold, curious smile. 

Kaku began to whisper into Abi's ear, and there was fear in the eyes ofboth of them. He pointed with his finger at two stars, which of a suddenshone out through the green haze above the sunset glow, and then turnedand looked at the Queen, urging his master eagerly. At last Abi spoke. 

"Ra is set, " he said. "Come, let us make an end of all this folly. "

"Not yet, " answered Tua quietly, "not yet awhile. "

As she said the words, of a sudden, as though at a given signal, all thelong lines of palm trees that grew in the rich gardens upon the riverbanks were seen to bow themselves towards the east, as though they didobeisance to the Queen upon her throne. Thrice they bowed thus, withouta wind, and then were straight and still once more. Next the cloudsrushed together as though a black pall had been drawn across theheavens, only in the west the half-hidden globe of the sun shone onthrough an opening in them, shone like a great and furious eye. By slowdegrees it sank, till nothing was left save a little rim of fire. Allthe hall grew dark, and through the darkness Neter-Tua could be heardcalling on the name of Amen. 

"Ra is dead!" shouted a voice. "Have done, Bastard, Ra is dead!"

"Aye, " she answered in a cold triumphant cry, "but Amen lives. Beholdhis sword, ye Traitors!"

As the words left her lips the heavens were cleft in twain by a fearfulflash of lightning, and in it the people saw that once again thepalm-trees bowed themselves, this time almost to the ground. Then with aroar the winds were loosed, and beneath their feet the solid earth beganto heave as though a giant lifted it. Thrice it heaved like a heavingwave, and the third time through the thick cover of the darkness thererose a shriek of terror and of agony followed by the awful crash offalling stones. 

Now the whole sky seemed to melt in fire, and in that fierce light wasseen Tua, Star of Amen, seated on her throne, holding her sceptre to theheavens, and laughing in triumphant merriment. Well might she laugh, forthe two great obelisks without the gate that the old Hyksos lion had setup there to stand "to all eternity, " had fallen across the low pylonsand the doors and crushed them. On to the heads of those who watchedbeneath they had fallen, shattering in their fall and carrying death tohundreds. Beneath the electrum cap of one of them that had been hurledfrom it in its descent right into the circle of the priests, lay ashapeless mass. It was that man who had mocked the Queen and turnedfaint beneath her gaze. 

Through the western ruin of the hall those who were left alive withinit fled out, a maddened mob, trampling each other to death by scores, fighting furiously to escape the vengeance of Amen and his daughter. Within the enclosure the priests lay prostrate on their faces, eachpraying to his god for mercy. In front of the throne, upon his knees, the royal crown shaken from his head, Abi grasped the feet of Neter-Tuaand screamed to her to forgive and spare him, whilst above, shining likefire, That which sat upon the throne pointed with her sceptre at theruin and the rout, and laughed and laughed again. 

Soon all were gone save the mumbling priests, the dying, the dead, andAbi with his officers. 

The clouds rolled off, the moon and the stars shone out, filling theplace with gentle light. Then Tua spoke, looking down at the wretchedAbi who grovelled before her. 

"Say, now, Husband, " she asked, "who is god in Egypt?"

"Amen your father, " he gasped. 

"And who is Pharaoh in Egypt?"

"You, and no other, O Queen. "

"Ah!" she said, "it was over that matter that we quarrelled, did we not?which forced me, whom you thought so helpless, to find helpers. Look, there are their footsteps; they walk heavily, do they not, my Uncle?"and she nodded towards the huge fragments of the broken obelisks. 

He glanced behind him at his ruined hall, at the dying and the dead. "You are Pharaoh and no other, " he repeated with a shudder. "Give breathto your servant, and let him live on in your shadow. "

"The first is not mine to give, " she answered coldly, "though perchanceit may please Amen to hold you back a little while from that placewhere you must settle your account with him who went before me, and hiscompanions who died in your streets. I hope so, for you have work to do. As for the second--arise, you Priests and Officers, and see this Princeof yours do homage to the Queen of Egypt. "

They rose, and clung to each other trembling, for all the heart was outof them. Then she pointed to her foot with the sceptre in her hand, and in their presence Abi knelt down and kissed her sandal. After himfollowed the others, the priests, the captains, the head-stewards, andthe butlers, till at length came Kaku, the astrologer, who prostratedhimself before her, trembling in every limb. But him she would notsuffer even to touch her sandals. 

"Tell me, " she said, drawing back her foot, "you who are a magician, andhave studied the secret writings, how does it chance that you still liveon, when for lesser crimes so many lie here dead, you who are stainedwith the blood of Pharaoh?"

Hearing these words from which he presaged the very worst, Kaku beat hishead upon the ground, babbling denials of this awful crime, and at thesame time began to implore pardon for what he said he had not committed. 

"Cease, " she exclaimed, "and learn that your life is spared for a while, yes, and even Merytra's. Also you will retain your office of Vizier--fora while. "

Now he began to pour out thanks, but she stopped him, saying:

"Thank me not, seeing that you do not know the end of this matter. Perchance it is hidden from you lest you should go mad, you and yourwife, Merytra, she who was the Pharaoh's Lady of the Footstool, and sanghim to sleep. Look at me, Wizard, and tell me, who am I?" and she bentdown over him. 

He glanced up at her, and their eyes met, nor could he turn his headaway again. 

"Come, " she said, "as you may have learned to-night, I also have someknowledge of the hidden things. For otherwise, why did the earth shakeand the everlasting pillars fall at my bidding? Now, between two ofa trade there should be no secrets, so I will tell you something thatperhaps you have already guessed, since I am sure that you will notrepeat it even to your master or to Merytra. For I will add this--thatthe moment you repeat it will be the moment of your death, and thebeginning of that punishment which here I withhold. Now, in the Name ofthe Eater-up of Souls, listen to me, O fashioner of waxen images!" and, bending down, she whispered into his ear. 

Another instant, and, stark horror written on his face, the tall shapeof Kaku was seen reeling backward, like to a drunken man. Indeed, hadnot Abi caught him he would have fallen over the edge of the dais. 

"What did she tell you?" he muttered, for the Queen, who seemed to haveforgotten all about him, was looking the other way. 

But, making no answer, Kaku wrenched himself free and fled the place. 

CHAPTER XIII

ABI LEARNS THE TRUTH

A moon had gone by, and on the first day of the new month Kaku theVizier sat in the Hall of the Great Officers at Memphis, checking thepublic accounts of the city. It was not easy work, for during the pastten days twice these accounts had been sent back to him by the commandof the Queen, or the Pharaoh as she called herself, with requestsfor information as to their items, and other awkward queries. Abi hadoverlooked such matters, recognising that a faithful servant was worthyof his hire--provided that he paid himself. But now it seemed thatthings were different, and that the amount received was the exact amountthat had to be handed over to the Crown, neither more nor less. Well, there was a large discrepancy which must be made up from somewhere, or, in other words, from Kaku's private store. 

In a rage he caused the two head collectors of taxes to be broughtbefore him, and as they would not pay, bade the executioners throwthem down and beat them on the feet until they promised to produce themissing sums, most of which he himself had stolen. 

Then, somewhat soothed, he retired from the hall into his own office, tofind himself face to face with Abi, who was waiting for him. So changedwas the Prince from his old, portly self, so aged and thin and miserabledid he look, that in the dusk of that chamber Kaku failed to recognisehim. Thinking that he was some suppliant, he began to revile him andorder him to be gone. Then the fury of Abi broke out. 

Rushing at him, he seized the astrologer by the beard and smote him onthe ears, saying: "Dog, is it thus that you speak to your king? Well, onyou at least I can revenge myself. "

"Pardon, your Majesty, " said Kaku, "I did not know you in these shadows. Your Majesty is changed of late. "

"Changed!" said Abi, letting him go. "Who would not be changed whosuffers as I do ever since I listened to your cursed counsel, and triedto climb into the seat of Pharaoh? Before that I was happy. I had mysons, I had my wives, as many as I wished. I had my revenues and armies. Now everything has gone. My sons are dead, my women are driven away, myrevenues are taken from me, my armies serve another. "

"At least, " suggested Kaku, "you are Pharaoh, and the husband of themost beautiful and the wisest woman in the world. "

"Pharaoh!" groaned Abi. "The humblest mummy in the common city vaultsis a greater king than I am, and as for the rest----" and he stopped andgroaned again. 

"What is the matter with your Majesty?" asked Kaku. 

"The matter is that I have fallen under the influence of an evilplanet. "

"The Star of Amen, " suggested the astrologer. 

"Yes, the Star of Amen, that lovely Terror whom you call my wife. Man, she is no wife to me. Listen--there in the harem I went into the chamberwhere she was, none forbidding me, and found her sitting before hermirror and singing, clothed only in a thin robe of white, and her darkhair--O Kaku, never did you see such hair--which fell almost to theground. She smiled on me, she spoke me fair, she drew me with thoseglittering eyes of hers--yes, she even called me husband, and sighedand talked of love, till at length I drew near to her and threw my armsabout her. "

"And then----"

"And then, Kaku, she was gone, and where her sweet face should have beenI saw the yellow, mummied head of Pharaoh, he who is with Osiris, thatseemed to grin at me. I opened my arms again, and lo! there she sat, laughing and shaking perfume from her hair, asking me, too, what ailedme that I turned so white, and if such were the way of husbands?

"Well, that was nigh a month ago, and as it began, so it has gone on. Iseek my wife, and I find the mummied head of Pharaoh, and all the whileshe mocks me. Nor may I see the others any more, for she has caused themto be hunted hence, even those who have dwelt with me for years, sayingthat she must rule alone. "

"Is that all?" asked Kaku. 

"No, indeed, for as she torments me, so she torments every other man whocomes near to her. She nets them with smiles, she bewitches them withher eyes till they go mad for love of her, and then, still smiling, shesends them about their business. Already two of them who were leaders inthe great plot have died by their own hands, and another is mad, whilethe rest have become my secret but my bitter foes, because they love myQueen and think that I stand between her and them. "

"Is that all?" asked Kaku again. 

"No, not all, for my power is taken from me. I who was great, afterPharaoh the greatest in all the land, now am but a slave. From morningto night I must work at tasks I hate; I must build temples to Amen, Imust dig canals, I must truckle to the common herd, and redress theirgrievances and remit their taxes. More, I must chastise the Bedouin whohave ever been my friends, and--next month undertake a war against thatKing of Khita, with whom I made a secret treaty, and whose daughter thatI married has been sent back to him because I loved her. "

"And then?" asked Kaku. 

"Oh! then when the Khita have been destroyed and made subject to Egypt, then her Majesty purposes to return in state to Thebes 'to attend to thefashioning of my sepulchre' since, so she says, this is a matter thatwill not bear delay. Indeed, already she makes drawings for it, horribleand mystic drawings that I cannot understand, and brings them to me tosee. Moreover, Friend, know this, out of it opens another smaller tombfor _you_. Indeed, but this morning she sent an expedition to the desertquarries to bring thence three blocks of stone, one for my sarcophagus, one for yours, and one for that of your wife, Merytra. For she saysthat after the old fashion she purposes to honour both of you with thesegifts. "

At these words Kaku could no longer control himself, but began to walkup and down the room, muttering and snatching at his beard. 

"How can you suffer it?" he said at length, "You who were a greatprince, to become a woman's slave, to be made as dirt beneath her feet, to be held up to the mockery of those you rule, to see your wives andhousehold driven away from you, to be tormented, to be mocked, to lookon other men favoured before your eyes, to be threatened with earlydeath. Oh! how can you suffer it? Why do you not kill her, and make anend?"

"Because, " answered Abi, "because I dare not, since if I dreamed ofsuch a thing she would guess my thought and kill _me_. Fool, do you notremember the fall of the eternal obelisks upon my captains, and whatbefell that man who mocked her, calling her Bastard, and sought refugeamong the priests? No, I dare not lift a finger against her. "

"Then, Prince, you must carry your yoke until it wears through to themarrow, which will be when that sepulchre is ready. "

"Not so, " answered Abi, shivering, "for I have another plan; it is ofit that I am come to speak with you. Friend Kaku, _you_ must kill her. Listen: you are a master of spells. The magic which prevailed againstthe father will overcome the daughter also. You have but to make a waxenimage or two and breathe strength into them, and the thing is done, andthen--think of the reward. "

"Indeed I am thinking, most noble Prince, " replied the astrologer withsarcasm. "Shall I tell you of that reward? It would be my death by slowtorture. Moreover, it is impossible, for if you would know the truth, she cannot be killed. "

"What do you mean, Fool?" asked Abi angrily. "Flesh and blood must bowto death. "

A sickly smile spread itself over Kaku's thin face as he answered:

"A saying worthy of your wisdom, Prince. Certainly the experience ofmankind is that flesh and blood must bow to death. Yes, yes, flesh andblood!"

"Cease grinning at me, you ape of the rocks, " hissed the enraged Abi, "or I will prove as much on your mocking throat, " and snatching out hissword he threatened him with it, adding: "Now tell me what you mean, or----"

"Prince, " ejaculated Kaku, falling to his knees, "I may not, I cannot. Spare me, it is a secret of the gods. "

"Then get you gone to the gods, you lying cur, and talk it over withthem, " answered Abi, lifting the sword, "for at least she will not blameme if I send you there. "

"Mercy, mercy!" gasped Kaku, sprawling on the ground, while his lordheld the sword above his bald head, thinking that he would choose speechrather than death. 

It was at this moment, while the astrologer's fate trembled in thebalance, that a sound of voices reached their ears, and above themthe ring of a light, clear laugh which they knew well. Forgetting hispurpose, Abi stepped to the window-place, and looked through the openingof the shutters. Presently he turned, beckoning to Kaku, and whispered:

"Come and look; there is always time for you to die. "

The Vizier heard, and, creeping on his hands and knees to thewindow-place, raised himself and peeped through the shutter. Thiswas what he saw. In the walled garden below, the secret garden of thepalace, stood the queen Neter-Tua, and the sunlight piercing through theboughs of a flowering tree, fell in bright bars upon her beauty. She wasnot alone, for before her knelt a man wearing the rich robes of a noble. Kaku knew him at once, for although still young, he was Abi's favouritecaptain, an officer whom he loved, and had raised to high placebecause of his wit and valour, having given him one of his daughtersin marriage. Also he had played a chief part in the great plot againstPharaoh, and it was he who had dealt the death-blow to Mermes, thehusband of the lady Asti. 

Now he was playing another part, namely that of lover to the Queen, for he clasped the hem of her robe in his hands, and kissed it with hislips, and pleaded with her passionately. They could catch some of hiswords. 

He had risked his life to climb the wall. He worshipped her. He couldnot live without her. He was ready to do her bidding in all things--togather a band and slay Abi; it would be easy, for every man was jealousof the Prince, and thought him quite unworthy of her. Let her give himher love, and he would make her sole Pharaoh of Egypt again, and becontent to serve her as a slave. At least let her say one kind word tohim. 

Thus he spoke, wildly, imploringly, like a man that is drunk withpassion and knows not what he says or does, while Neter-Tua listenedcalmly, and now and again laughed that light, low laugh of hers. 

At length he rose and strove to take her hand, but, still laughing, shewaved him back, then said suddenly:

"You slew Mermes when he was weak with wounds, did you not, and he wasmy foster-father. Well, well, it was done in war, and you must bea brave man, as brave as you are handsome, for otherwise you wouldscarcely have ventured here where a word of mine would give you to yourdeath. And now get you gone, Friend, back to my Lord's daughter who isyour wife, and if you dare--tell her where you have been and why, youwho are so brave a man, " and once more she laughed. 

Again he began his passionate implorings, begging for some token, tillat length she seemed to melt and take pity on him, for stretching outher hand, she chose a flower from the many that grew near, and gaveit to him, then pointed to the trees that hid the wall, among whichpresently he vanished, reeling in the delirium of his joy. 

She watched him go, smiling very strangely, then, still smiling, lookeddown at the bush whence she had plucked the flower, and Kaku noted thatit was one used only by the embalmers to furnish coronals for the dead. 

But Abi noted no such thing. Forgetting his quarrel with Kaku and allelse, he gasped, and foamed in his jealous rage, muttering that he wouldkill that captain, yes, and the false Queen, too, who dared to listento a tale of love and give the lover flowers. Yes, were she ten timesPharaoh he would kill her, as he had the right to do, and, the nakedsword still in his hand, he turned to leave the place. 

"If that is your will, Lord, " said Kaku in a strained voice, "bidehere. "

"Why, man?" asked Abi. 

"Because her Majesty comes, " he answered, "and this chamber is quiet andfitting. None enter it save myself. "

As he spoke the words the door opened, and closed again, and before themstood Neter-Tua, Star of Amen. 

In the dusk of that room the first thing that seemed to catch her eyewas the bared blade in Abi's hand. For a moment she looked at it andhim, also at Kaku crouching in the corner, then asked in her quietvoice:

"Why is your sword drawn, O Husband?"

"To kill you, O Wife, " he answered furiously, for his rage mastered him. 

She continued to look at him a little while and said, smiling in herstrange fashion:

"Indeed? But why more now than at any other time? Has Kaku's counselgiven you courage?"

"Need you ask, shameless woman? Does not this window-place open on toyonder garden?"

"Oh! I remember, that captain of yours--he who slew Mermes, yourdaughter's husband who made love to me--so well that I rewarded him witha funeral flower, knowing that you watched us. Settle your account withhim as you and his wife may wish; it is no matter of mine. But I warnyou that if you would take men's lives for such a fault as this, soonyou will have no servants left, since they all are sinners who desire tousurp your place. "

Then Abi's fury broke out. He cursed and reviled her, he called her byill names, swearing that she should die, who bewitched all men and wasthe love of none, and who made him a mock and a shame in the sight ofEgypt. But Neter-Tua only listened until at length he raved himself tosilence. 

"You talk much and do little, " she said at length. "The sword is in yourhand, use it, I am here. "

Maddened by her scorn he lifted the weapon and rushed at her, only toreel back again as though he had been smitten by some power unseen. Herested against the wall, then again rushed and again reeled back. 

"You are a poor butcher, " she said at length, "after so many years ofpractice. Let Kaku yonder try. I think he has more skill in murder. "

"Oh! your Majesty, " broke in the astrologer, "unsay those cruel words, you who know that rather than lift hands against you I would die athousand times. "

"Yes, " she answered gravely, "the Prince Abi suggested it to you butnow, did he not, after you had suggested it to him, and you refused--foryour own reasons?"

Then the sword fell from Abi's hand, and there was silence in thatchamber. 

"What were you talking of, Abi, before you peeped through the shuttersand saw that captain of yours and me together in the garden, and why didyou wish to kill this dog?" she went on presently. "Must I answer foryou? You were talking of how you might be rid of me, and you wished tokill him because he did not dare to tell you why he could not do thedeed, knowing that if he did so he must die. Well, since you desire toknow, you shall learn, and now. Look on me, wretched Man, whom men namemy husband. Look on me, accursed Slave, whom Amen has given into myhand to punish here upon the earth, until you pass to his yonder in theUnder-world. "

He looked up, and Kaku looked also, because he could not help it, butwhat they saw they never told. Only they fell down upon their faces, both of them, and groaned; beating the floor with their foreheads. 

At length the icy terror seemed to be lifted from their hearts, and theydared to glance up again, and saw that she was as she had been, a mostroyal and lovely woman, but no more. 

"What are you?" gasped Abi. "The goddess Sekhet in the flesh, or Isis, Queen of Death, or but dead Tua's ghost sent here for vengeance?"

"All of them, or none of them, as you will, though, Man, it is true thatI am sent here for vengeance. Ask the Wizard yonder. He knows, and Igive him leave to say. "

"_She is the Double of Amen's daughter_, " moaned Kaku. "She is her Kaset free to bring doom upon those who would have wronged her. She isa ghost armed with the might of the gods, and all we who have sinnedagainst dead Pharaoh and her and her father Amen are given into her handto be tormented and brought to doom. "

"Where, then, is Neter-Tua, who was Queen of Egypt?" gasped Abi, rollinghis great eyes. "Is she with Osiris?"

"I will tell you, Man, " answered the royal Shape. "She is not dead--shelives, and is gone to seek one she loves. When she returns with him anda certain Beggar, then I shall depart and you will die, both of you, for such is the punishment decreed upon you. Until then, arise and do mybidding. "

CHAPTER XIV

THE BOAT OF RA

Tua, Star of Amen, opened her eyes. For some time already she had lainas one lies between sleep and waking, and it seemed to her that sheheard the sound of dipping oars, and of water that rippled gentlyagainst the sides of a ship. She thought to herself that she dreamed. Doubtless she was in her bed in the palace at Thebes, and presently, when it was light, her ladies would come to waken her. 

In the palace at Thebes! Why, now she remembered that it was monthssince she had seen that royal city, she who had travelled far sincethen, and come at last to white-walled Memphis, where many terriblethings had befallen her. One by one they came into her mind; the snare, Pharaoh's murder by magic, the battle, and the slaughter of her guards, the starvation in the tower, with death on one hand, and the hateful Abion the other; the wondrous vision of that spirit who wore her face, andsaid she was the guardian Ka given to her at birth, the words it spoke, and her dread resolve; and last of all Asti and herself standing inthe lofty window niche, then a flame of fire before her face, and thatfearful downward rush. 

Oh! without a doubt it was over; she was dead, and these dreams andmemories were such as come to the dwellers in the Under-world. Only thenwhy did she hear the sound of lapping water, and of dipping oars?

Very slowly she opened her eyes, for Tua greatly feared what she mightsee. Light flowed upon her, the light of the moon which hung in a clearsky like some great lamp of gold. By it she saw that, robed all inwhite, she lay upon a couch in a pavilion, whereof the silken curtainswere drawn back in front, and tied to gilded posts. At her side, wrappedin a grey robe, lay another figure, which she knew for Asti. It wasstill, so still that she was sure it must be dead, yet she knew thatthis was Asti. Perchance Asti dreamed also, and could hear in herdreams; at least, she would speak to her. 

"Asti, " she whispered, "Asti, can you hear me?"

The grey figure at her side stirred, and the head turned towards her. Then the voice of Asti, none other, answered:

"Aye, Lady, I hear and see. But say, where are we now?"

"In the Under-world, I think, Asti. Oh! that fire was death, and now wejourney to the Place of Souls. "

"If so, Lady, it is strange that we should still have eyes and flesh andvoices as mortal women have. Let us sit up and look. "

So they sat up, their arms about each other, and peered through the opencurtains. Behold! they were on a ship more beautiful than any they hadever seen, for it seemed to be covered with gold and silver, while sweetodours floated from its hold. Their pavilion was set in the centre ofthe ship and looking aft, they perceived lines of white-clad rowersseated at their oars in the shadow of the bulwarks, and on the highstern--also robed in white--a tall steersman whose face was veiled, behind whom in the dim glimpses of the moon, they caught sight of a wideand silvery river, and on its distant banks palms and temple towers. 

"It is the Boat of Ra, " murmured Tua, "which bears us down the River ofDeath to the Kingdom behind the Sun. "

Then she sank back upon her cushions, and once more fell into swoon orsleep. 

Tua woke again, and lo! the sun was shining brightly, and at her sidesat Asti watching her. Moreover, in front of them was set a table spreadwith delicate food. 

"Tell me what has chanced, Nurse, " she said faintly, "for I ambewildered, and know not in what world we wander. "

"Our own, Queen, I think, " answered Asti, "but in charge of those whoare not of it, for surely this is no mortal boat, nor do mortals guideher to her port. Come, we need food. Let us eat while we may. "

So they ate and drank heartily enough, and when they had finished evendared to go out of the pavilion. Looking around them they saw that theystood upon a high deck in the midst of a great ship, but that this shipwas enclosed with a net of silver cords in which they could find noopening. Looking through its meshes they noted that the oars wereinboard, and the great purple sails set upon the mast, also that therowers were gone, perchance to rest beneath the deck, while on theforecastle of the ship stood the captain, white-robed and masked, andaft the steersman, also still masked, so that they could see nothing oftheir faces. Now, too, they were no longer sailing on a river, but downa canal bordered by banks of sand on either side, beyond which stretcheddesert farther than the eye could reach. 

Asti studied the desert, then turned and said:

"I think I know this canal, Lady, for once I sailed it as a child. Ithink it is that which was dug by the Pharaohs of old, and repairedafter the fall of the Hyksos kings, and that it runs from Bubastis tothat bay down which wanderers sail towards the rising sun. "

"Mayhap, " answered Tua. "At least, this is the world that bore us and noother, and by the mercy of Amen and the power of my Spirit we are stillalive, and not dead, or so it seems. Call now to the captain on yonderdeck; perhaps he will tell whither he bears us in his magic ship. "

So Asti called, but the captain made no sign that he saw or heard her. Next she called to the steersman, but although his veiled face wastowards them, he also made no sign, so that at last they believed eitherthat these were spirits or that they were men born deaf and dumb. In theend, growing weary of staring at this beautiful ship, at the canal andthe desert beyond it, and of wondering where they were, and how theycame thither, they returned to the pavilion to avoid the heat of thesun. Here they found that during their absence some hand unseen hadarranged the silken bed-clothing on their couches and cleared away thefragments of their meal, resetting the beautiful table with other foods. 

"Truly here is wizardry at work, " said Tua, as she sank into aleather-seated ivory chair that was placed ready. 

"Who doubts it?" answered Asti calmly. "By wizardry were you born; bywizardry was Pharaoh slain; by wizardry we are saved to an end that wecannot guess; by wizardry, or what men so name, does the whole worldmove; only being so near we see it not. "

Tua thought a while, then said:

"Well, this golden ship is better than the sty of Abi the hog, nor do Ibelieve that we journey to no purpose. Still I wonder what that spiritwho named herself my Ka does on the throne of Egypt; also how we came onboard this boat, and whither we sail. "

"Wonder not, for all these things we shall learn in due season, and formy part, although I hate him I am sorry for Abi, " answered Asti drily. 

So they sat there in the pavilion watching the desert, over the sandsof which their ship seemed to move, till at length the sun grew low, and they went to walk upon the deck. Then they returned to eat of thedelicious food that was always provided for them in such plenty, and atnightfall sought their couches, and slept heavily, for they needed rest. 

When they awoke again, it was daylight, though no sun shone through theskies, and their vessel rolled onward across a wide and sullen sea outof sight of land. Also the silken pavilion about them was gone, andreplaced by a cabin of massive cedar wood, though of this, being satedwith marvels, Tua and Asti took little note. Indeed, having neither ofthem been on an angry ocean before, a strange dizziness overcame them, which caused them to sleep much and think little for three whole daysand nights. 

At length, one evening as the sun sank, they perceived that the violentmotion of the vessel had ceased with the roaring of the gale above, which for all this while had driven them onward at such fearful speed. Venturing from their cedar house, they saw that they had entered themouth of a great river upon the banks of which grew enormous trees thatsent out long crooked roots into the water, and that among these rootscrouched crocodiles and other noisome reptiles. Also the white-robedoarsmen had appeared again, and, as there was no wind, rowed the ship upthe river, till at length they came to a spit of sand which jutted outinto the stream, and here cast anchor. 

Now Tua's and Asti's desire for food returned to them, and they ate. Just as they had finished their meal, and the sun was sinking suddenly, there appeared before them two masked men, each of whom bore a basketin his hand. Asti began to question them, but like the captain andthe steersman, they seemed to be deaf and dumb. At least they made noanswer, only prostrated themselves humbly, and pointed towards the shorewhere now Tua saw a fire burning on a rock, though who had lit it shedid not know. 

"They mean us to leave the ship, " said Asti. "Come, Queen, let us followour fortunes, for doubtless these are high. "

"As you will, " answered Tua, "seeing that we should scarcely have beenbrought here to no end. "

So they accompanied the men to the side of that splendid vessel, for nowthe netting that confined them had been removed, to find that a gangwayhad been laid from its bulwark to the shore. As they stepped on tothis gangway their masked companions handed to each of them one of thebaskets, then again bowed humbly and were gone. Soon they gained thebank, and scarcely had their feet touched it when the gangway waswithdrawn, and the great oars began to beat the muddy water. 

Round swung the ship, and for a minute hung in midstream. There stoodthe captain on the foredeck, and there was the steersman at the helm, and the red light of the sinking sun turned them into figures of flame. Suddenly with a simultaneous motion these men tore off their masks sothat for a moment Asti and Tua saw their faces--and behold! the face ofthe captain was the face of Pharaoh, Tua's father, and the face of thesteersman was the face of Mermes, Asti's husband. 

For one moment only did they see them, then a dark cloud hid the dyingsun, and when it passed that ship was gone, whither they knew not. 

The two women looked at each other, and for the first time were muchafraid. 

"Truly, " said Tua, "we are haunted if ever mortals were, for yonder shiphas ghosts for mariners. "

"Aye, Lady, " answered Asti, "so have I thought from the first. Still, take heart, for these ghosts once were men who loved us well, anddoubtless they love us still. Be sure that for no ill purpose have webeen snatched out of the hand of Abi, and brought living and unharmed bythe shades of Pharaoh your sire, and Mermes my husband, to this secretshore. See, yonder burns a fire, let us go to it, and await what maybefall bravely, knowing that at least it can be naught but good. "

So they went to the rock and, darkness being come, sat themselves downby the fire, alongside of which lay wood for its replenishment, and nearthe wood soft robes of camel-hair to shield them from the cold. These robes they put on with thankfulness, and, having fed the flame, bethought them of and opened the baskets which were given to them whenthey left the ship. The first basket, that which Asti held, they foundto contain food, cakes, dried meats and dates, as much as one womancould carry. But the second, that which had been given to Tua, wasotherwise provided, for in the mouth of it lay a lovely harp of ivorywith golden strings, whereof the frame was fashioned to the shape of awoman. Tua drew it out and looked at it by the light of the fire. 

"It is my own harp, " she said in an awed voice, "the harp that thePrince of Kesh, whom Rames slew, brought as a gift to me, to the notesof which I sang the Song of the Lovers but just before the giver died. Yes, it is my own harp that I left in Thebes. Say, now, Nurse, how cameit here?"

"How came _we_ here?" answered Asti shortly. "Answer my question and Iwill answer yours. "

Then, laying down the harp, Tua looked again into her basket andfound that beneath a layer of dried papyrus leaves were hidden pearls, thousands of pearls of all sizes, and of such lustre and beauty as shehad never seen. They were strung upon threads of silk, all those of alike size being set upon a single thread, except the very biggest, whichwere as great as a finger nail, or even larger, that lay wrapped upseparately in cloth at the bottom of the basket. 

"Surely, " said Tua, amazed, "no Queen in all the earth ever had a dowerof such priceless pearls. Moreover, what good they and the harp can beto us in this forest I may not guess. "

"Doubtless we shall discover in due course, " answered Asti; "meanwhile, let us thank the gods for their gifts and eat. "

So they ate, and then, having nothing else to do, lay down by the fireand would have slept. 

But scarcely had they closed their eyes when the forest seemed to awake. First from down by the river there came dreadful roarings which theyknew must be the voice of lions, for there were tame beasts of this sortin the gardens at Thebes. Next they heard the whines and wimperings ofwolves and jackals, and mingled with them great snortings such as aremade by the rhinoceros and the river-horse. 

Nearer, nearer came these awful sounds, till at length they saw yelloweyes moving like stars in the darkness at the edge of the forest, whilecross the patch of sand beneath their rock galloped swift shapes whichhalted and sniffed towards them. Also on the river side of them appearedhuge, hog-like beasts, with gleaming tusks, and red cavernous mouths, and beyond these again, crashing through the brushwood, a gigantic brutethat bore a single horn upon its snout. 

"Now our end is at hand, " said Tua faintly, "for surely these creatureswill devour us. "

But Asti only threw more wood upon the fire and waited, thinking thatthe flame would frighten them away. Yet it did not, for so curious, orso hungry were they, that the lions crept and crept nearer, and stillmore near, till at length they lay lashing their tails in the distancealmost within springing distance of the rock, while on the farther sideof these, like a court waiting on its monarch, gathered the hyenas andother beasts. 

"They will spring presently, " whispered Tua. 

"Did the Spirits of the divine Pharaoh your father, and of Mermes mylord, bring us here in the Boat of Ra that we should be devoured by wildanimals, like lost sheep in the desert?" asked Asti. Then, as though byan inspiration, she added, "Lady, take that harp of yours, and play andsing to it. "

So Tua took the harp and swept its golden chords, and, lifting up herlovely voice, she began to sing. At first it trembled a little, but bydegrees, as she forgot all save the music, it grew strong, and rang outsweetly in the silence of the forest, and the great, slow-moving river. And lo! as she sang thus, the wild brutes grew still, and seemed tolisten as though they were charmed. Yes, even a snake wriggled out frombetween the rocks and listened, waving its crested head to and fro. 

At length Tua ceased, and as the echoes died away the brutes, every oneof them, turned and vanished into the forest or the river, all save thesnake that coiled itself up and slept where it was. So stillness cameagain, and Tua and Asti slept also, nor did they wake until the sun wasshining in the heavens. 

Then they arose wondering, and went down over the patch of sand that wasmarked with the footprints of all the beasts to the river's brink, anddrank and washed themselves, peering the while through the mists, forthey thought that perchance they would see that golden ship with theveiled crew which had carried them from Memphis, returned and awaitingthem in midstream. 

But no ship was there; nothing was there except the river-horses whichrose and sank, and the crocodiles on the mud-banks, and the wildfowlthat flighted inward from the sea to feed. So they went back to theashes of their fire and ate of the food in Asti's basket, and, when theyhad eaten, looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Then Tua said:

"Come, Nurse, let us be going. Up the river and down the river we cannotwalk, for there are nothing but weeds and mud, so we must strike outthrough the forest, whither the gods may lead us. "

Asti nodded, and, clad in the light warm clothes of camel-hair, they setthe baskets upon their heads after the fashion of the peasant women ofEgypt and started forward, the harp of ivory and of gold hanging uponTua's back. 

For hour after hour they marched thus through the forest, threadingtheir path between the big boles of the trees, and heading always forthe south, for that way ran the woodland glades beyond which was densebush. Great apes chattered above them in the tree tops, and nowand again some beast of prey crossed their path and vanished in theunderwood, but nothing else did they see. At length, towards midday, theground began to rise, and the trees grew smaller and farther apart, tillat last they reached the edge of a sandy desert, and walked out to alittle oasis, where the green grass showed them they would find water. In this oasis there was a spring, and by the edge of it they sat downand drank, and ate of their store of food, and afterwards slept a while. 

Suddenly Tua, in her sleep, heard a voice, and, awaking with astart, saw a man who stood near by, leaning on a thornwood staff andcontemplating them. He was a very strange man, apparently of great age, for his long white hair fell down upon his shoulders, and his whitebeard reached to his middle. Once he must have been very tall, but nowhe was bent with age, and the bones of his gaunt frame thrust out hisragged garments. His dark eyes also were horny, indeed it seemed asthough he could scarcely see with them, for he leaned forward to peer attheir faces where they lay. His face was scored by a thousand wrinkles, and almost black with exposure to the sun and wind, but yet of amarvellous tenderness and beauty. Indeed, except that it was far moreancient, and the features were on a larger and a grander scale, itreminded Tua of the face of Pharaoh after he was dead. 

"My Father, " said Tua, sitting up, for an impulse prompted her to namethis wanderer thus, "say whence do you come, and what would you withyour servants?"

"My Daughter, " answered the old man in a sweet, grave voice, "I comefrom the wilderness which is my home. Long have I outlived all those ofmy generation, yes, and their children also. Therefore the wildernessand the forest that do not change are now my only friends, since theyalone knew me when I was young. Be pitiful now to me, for I am poor, sopoor that for three whole days no food has passed my lips. It was thesmell of the meat which you have with you that led me to you. Give me ofthat meat, Daughter, for I starve. "

"It is yours, O----" and she paused. 

"I am called Kepher. "

"Kepher, Kepher!" repeated Tua, for she thought it strange that abeggar-man should be named after that scarabĉus insect which among theEgyptians was the symbol of eternity. "Well, take and eat, O Kepher, "she said, and handed him the basket that contained what was left to themof their store. 

The beggar took it, and having looked up to heaven as though to ask ablessing on his meal, sat down upon the sand and began to devour thefood ravenously. 

"Lady, " said Asti, "he will eat it all, and then we shall starve inthis desert. He is a locust, not a man, " she added, as another cakedisappeared. 

"He is our guest, " answered Tua gravely, "let him take what we have togive. "

For a while Asti was silent, then again she broke out into remonstrance. 

"Peace, Nurse, " replied Tua, "I have said that he is our guest, and thelaw of hospitality may not be broken. "

"Then the law of hospitality will bring us to our deaths, " mutteredAsti. 

"If so, so let it be, Nurse; at least this poor man will be filled, andfor the rest, as always, we must trust to Amen our father. "

Yet as she spoke the words tears gathered in her eyes, for she knew thatAsti was right, and now that all the food was gone, on which with carethey might have lived for two days or more, soon they would faint, andperish, unless help came to them, which was not likely in that lonesomeplace. Once, not so long ago, they had starved for lack of sustenance, and it was the thought of that slow pain so soon to be renewed, thatbrought the water to her eyes. 

Meanwhile Kepher, whose appetite for one so ancient was sharp indeed, finished the contents of the basket down to the last date, and handed itback to Tua with a bow, saying:

"I thank you, Daughter; the Queen of Egypt could not have entertainedme more royally, " and he peered at her with his horny eyes. "I who havebeen empty for long, am full again, and since I cannot reward you I prayto the gods that they will do so. Beautiful Daughter, may you never knowwhat it is to lack a meal. "

At this saying Tua could restrain herself no more. A large tear from hereyes fell upon Kepher's rough hand as she answered with a little sob:

"I am glad that you are comforted with meat, but do not mock us, Friend, seeing that we are but lost wanderers who very soon must starve, sincenow our food is done. "

"What, Daughter?" asked the old man in an astonished voice, "what? Can Ibelieve that you gave all you had to a beggar of the wilderness, and satstill while he devoured it? And is it for this reason that you weep?"

"Forgive me, Father, but it is so, " answered Tua. "I am ashamed of suchweakness, but recently my friend here and I have known hunger, very sorehunger, and the dread of it moves me. Come, Asti, let us be going whileour strength remains in us. "

Kepher looked up at the name, then turned to Tua and said:

"Daughter, your face is fair, and your heart is perfect, since otherwiseyou would not have dealt with me as you have done. Still, it seemsthat you lack one thing--undoubting faith in the goodness of the gods. Though, surely, " he added in a slow voice, "those who have passed yonderlion-haunted forest without hurt should not lack faith. Say, now, howcame you there?"

"We are ladies of Egypt, " interrupted Asti, "or at least this maiden is, for I am but her old nurse. Man-stealing pirates of Phoenicia seized uswhile we wandered on the shores of the Nile, and brought us hither intheir ship, by what way we do not know. At length they put into yonderriver for water, and we fled at night. We are escaped slaves, no more. "

"Ah!" said Kepher, "those pirates must mourn their loss. I almost wonderthat they did not follow you. Indeed, I thought that you might beother folk, for, strangely enough, as I slept in the sand last night, acertain spirit from the Under-world visited me in my dreams, and toldme to search for one Asti and another lady who was with her--I cannotremember the name of that lady. But I do remember the name of thespirit, for he told it to me; it was Mermes. "

Now Asti gave a little cry, and, springing up, searched Kepher's facewith her eyes, nor did he shrink from her gaze. 

"I perceive, " she said slowly, "that you who seem to be a beggar arealso a seer. "

"Mayhap, Asti, " he answered. "In my long life I have often noted thatsometimes men are more than they seem--and women also. Perhaps you havelearned the same, for nurses in great houses may note many things ifthey choose. But let us say no more. I think it is better that we shouldsay no more. You and your companion--how is she named?"

"Neferte, " answered Asti promptly. 

"Neferte, ah! Certainly that was not the name which the spirit used, though it is true that other name began with the same sound, or so Ithink. Well, you and your companion, Neferte, escaped from those wickedpirates, and managed to bring certain things with you, for instance, that beautiful harp, wreathed with the royal _urĉi_, and--but what is inthat second basket?"

"Pearls, " broke in Tua quickly. 

"And a large basket of pearls. Might I see them? Oh! do not be afraid, Ishall not rob those whose food I have eaten, it is against the custom ofthe desert. "

"Certainly, " answered Tua. "I never thought that you would rob us, forif you were of the tribe of thieves, surely you would be richer, andless hungry than you seem. I only thought that you were almost blind, Father Kepher, and therefore could not know the difference between apearl and a pebble. "

"My feeling still remains to me, Daughter Neferte, " he answered with alittle smile. 

Then Tua gave him the basket. He opened it and drew out the strings ofpearls, feeling them, smelling and peering at them, touching them withhis tongue, especially the large single ones which were wrapped up bythemselves. At length, having handled them all, he restored them to thebasket, saying drily:

"It is strange, indeed, Nurse Asti, that those Syrian man-stealersattempted no pursuit of you, for here, whether they were theirs or not, are enough gems to buy a kingdom. "

"We cannot eat pearls, " answered Asti. 

"No, but pearls will buy more than you need to eat. "

"Not in a desert, " said Asti. 

"True, but as it chances there is a city in this desert, and not so veryfar away. "

"Is it named Napata?" asked Tua eagerly. 

"Napata? No, indeed. Yet, I have heard of such a place, the City of Goldthey called it. In fact, once I visited it in my youth, over a hundredyears ago. "

"A hundred years ago! Do you remember the way thither?"

"Yes, more or less, but on foot it is over a year's journey away, andthe path thither lies across great deserts and through tribes of savagemen. Few live to reach that city. "

"Yet I will reach it, or die, Father. "

"Perhaps you will, Daughter Neferte, perhaps you will, but I think notat present. Meanwhile, you have a harp, and therefore it is probablethat you can play and sing; also you have pearls. Now the inhabitants ofthis town whereof I spoke to you love music. Also they love pearls, andas you cannot begin your journey to Napata for three months, when therain on the mountains will have filled the desert wells, I suggest thatyou would do wisely to settle yourselves there for a while. Nurse Astihere would be a dealer in pearls, and you, her daughter, would be amusician. What say you?"

"I say that I should be glad to settle myself anywhere out of thisdesert, " said Tua wearily. "Lead us on to the city, Father Kepher, ifyou know the way. "

"I know the way, and will guide you thither in payment for that goodmeal of yours. Now come. Follow me. " And taking his long staff he strodeaway in front of them. 

"This Kepher goes at a wonderful pace for an old man, " said Tuapresently. "When first we saw him he could scarcely hobble. "

"Man!" answered Asti. "He is not a man, but a spirit, good or bad, Idon't know which, appearing as a beggar. Could a man eat as much ashe did--all our basketful of food? Does a man talk of cities that hevisited in his youth over a hundred years ago, or declare that my deadhusband spoke to him in his dreams? No, no, he is a ghost like thoseupon the ship. "

"So much the better, " answered Tua cheerfully, "since ghosts have beengood friends to us, for had it not been for them I should have been deador shamed to-day. "

"That we shall find out at the end of the story, " said Asti, who wascross and weary, for the heat of the sun was great. "Meanwhile, followon. There is nothing else to do. "

For hour after hour they walked, till at length towards evening, whenthey were almost exhausted, they struggled up a long rise of sand androcks, and from the crest of it perceived a large walled town set in agreen and fertile valley not very far beneath them. Towards this townKepher, who marched at a distance in front, guided them till theyreached a clump of trees on the outskirts of the cultivated land. Herehe halted, and when they came up to him, led them among the trees. 

"Now, " he said, "drop your veils and bide here, and if any should cometo you, say that you are poor wandering players who rest. Also, if itpleases you, give me a small pearl off one of those strings, that I maygo into the city, which is named Tat, and sell it to buy you food and aplace to dwell in. "

"Take a string, " said Tua faintly. 

"Nay, nay, Daughter, one will be enough, for in this town pearls arerare, and have a great value. "

So she gave him the gem, or rather let him take it from the silk, whichhe re-fastened very neatly for one who seemed to be almost blind, andstrode off swiftly towards the town. 

"Man or spirit, I wonder if we shall see him again?" said Asti. 

Tua made no answer--she was too tired, but resting herself against thebole of a tree, fell into a doze. When she awoke again it was to seethat the sun had sunk, and that before her stood the beggar Kepher, andwith him two black men, each of whom led a saddled mule. 

"Mount, Friends, " he said, "for I have found you a lodging. "

So they mounted, and were led to the gate of the city which at the wordof Kepher was opened for them, and thence down a long street to a housebuilt in a walled garden. Into this house they entered, the black menleading off the mules, to find that it was a well-furnished place with atable ready set in the ante-room, on which was food in plenty. They ateof it, all three of them, and when they had finished Kepher bade a womanwho was waiting on them, lead them to their chamber, saying that hehimself would sleep in the garden. 

Thither then they went without more questions, and throwing themselvesdown upon beds which were prepared for them, were soon fast asleep. 

CHAPTER XV

TUA AND THE KING OF TAT

In the morning, after Tua and Asti had put on the clean robes that layto their hands, and eaten, suddenly they looked up and perceived thatKepher, the ancient beggar of the desert, was in the room with them, though neither of them had heard or seen him enter. 

"You come silently, Friend, " said Asti, looking at him with a curiouseye. "A Double could not move with less noise, and--where is yourshadow?" she added, staring first at the sun without, and then at thefloor upon which he stood. 

"I forgot it, " he answered in his deep voice. "One so poor as I amcannot always afford a shadow. But look, there it is now. And for therest, what do you know of Doubles which those who are uninstructedcannot discern? Now I have heard of a Lady in Egypt who by some chancebore your name, and who has the power, not only to see the Double, butto draw it forth from the body of the living, and furnish it with everysemblance of mortal life. Also I have heard that she who reigns in Egyptto-day has such a Ka or Double that can take her place, and none knowthe difference, save that this Ka, which Amen gave her at her birth, works the vengeance of the gods without pity or remorse. Tell me, FriendAsti, when you were a slave-woman in Egypt did you ever hear talk ofsuch things as these?"

Now he looked at Asti, and Asti looked at him, till at length he movedhis old hands in a certain fashion, whereon she bowed her head and wassilent. 

But Tua, who was terrified at this talk, for she knew not what wouldbefall them if the truth were guessed, broke in, saying:

"Welcome, Father, however it may please you to come, and with or withouta shadow. Surely we have much to thank you for who have found us thisfine house and servants and food--by the way, will you not eat again?"

"Nay, " he answered, smiling, "as you may have guessed yesterday, I touchmeat seldom; as a rule, once only in three days, and then take my fill. Life is so short that I cannot waste time in eating. "

"Oh!" said Tua, "if you feel thus whose youth began more than a hundredyears ago, how must it seem to the rest of us? But, Father Kepher, whatare we to do in this town Tat?"

"I have told you, Maiden. Asti here will deal in pearls and other goods, and you will sing, but always behind the curtain, since here in Tat youmust suffer no man to see your beauty, and least of all him who rulesit. Now give me two more pearls, for I go out to buy for you otherthings that are needful, and after that perhaps you will see me nomore for a long while. Yet if trouble should fall upon you, go to thewindow-place wherever you may be, and strike upon that harp of yours, and call thrice upon the name of Kepher. Doubtless there will be somelistening who will hear you and bring me the news in the Desert, where Idwell who do not love towns, and then I may be able to help you. "

"I thank you, my Father, and I will remember. But pardon me if I ask howcan one so----" and she paused. 

"So old, so ragged and so miserable give help to man or woman--that iswhat you would say, Daughter Neferte, is it not? Well, judge not fromthe outward seeming; good wine is often found in jars of common clay, and the fire hid in a rough flint can destroy a city. "

"And therefore a wanderer who can swallow his own shadow can aid anotherwanderer in distress, " remarked Tua drily. "My Father, I understand, who although I am still young, have seen many things and ere now beendragged out of deep water by strange hands. "

"Such as those of Phoenician pirates, " suggested Kepher. "Well, good-bye. I go to purchase what you need with the price of these pearls, and thenthe Desert calls me for a while. Remember what I told you, and donot seek to leave this town of Tat until the rain has fallen on themountains, and there is water in the wells. Good-bye, Friend Asti, also;when I come again we will talk more of Doubles, until which time maythe great god of Egypt--he is called Amen, is he not?--have you and yourLady in his keeping. "

Then he turned and went. 

"What is that man?" asked Tua when they had heard the door of the houseclose behind him. 

"Man?" answered Asti. "I have told you that he is no man. Do men unfoldtheir shadows like a garment? He is a god or a ghost, wearing a beggar'sshape. "

"Man or ghost, I like him well for he has befriended us in our need, Nurse. "

"That we shall know when he has done with us, " answered Asti. 

An hour later, whilst they were still talking of Kepher and all themarvels that had befallen them, porters began to arrive, bearing bundleswhich, when opened, were found to contain silks and broideries in goldand silver thread, and leather richly worked, such as the Arabs make, and alabaster pots of ointments, and brass work from Syria, and copperjars from Cyprus, with many other goods, all very costly, and in numbermore than enough for a wealthy trader's store. 

These goods the porters set out on the mats and shelves of the largefront room of the house that opened to the street, which room seemed tohave been built to receive them. Then they departed, asking no fees, and there appeared a man riding a fine white horse, who dismounted, and, bowing low towards the screen of pierced wood-work behind which Tua andAsti were hidden, laid a writing upon a little table, and rode away. When he had gone Asti opened the door in the screen and took the writingwhich she found she could read well enough, for it was in the Egyptiancharacter and language. 

It proved to be the title-deed of the house and garden conveyed to themjointly, and also of the rich goods which the porters had brought. Atthe foot of this document was written--

"Received by Kepher the Wanderer in payment of the above house and landand goods, three pearls and one full meal of meat and dates. "

Then followed the seal of Kepher in wax, a finely cut scarabĉus holdingthe symbol of the sun between its two front feet. 

"A proud seal for a tattered wanderer, though it is but his name writ inwax, " said Tua. 

But Asti only answered:

"If small pearls have such value in this city, what price will the largeones bring? Well, let us to our business, for we have time upon ourhands, and cannot live upon pearls and costly stuffs. "

So it happened that Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, Queen of Egypt, and Astiher Nurse, the Mistress of Magic, became merchants in the town of Tat. 

This was the manner of their trade. For one hour in the morning, and onein the afternoon, Asti, heavily veiled, and a woman of the servants whomthey had found in the house, would sit on stools amidst the goods andtraffic with all comers, selling to those who would buy, and takingpayment in gold dust or other articles of value, or buying from thosewho would sell. Then when the hour drew towards its close Tua wouldsweep her harp behind the screen that hid her and begin to sing, whereonall would cease from their chaffering and listen, for never before hadthey heard so sweet a voice. Indeed, at these times the broad streetin front of their house was packed with people, for the fame of thissinging of hers went through the city and far into the country thatlay beyond. Then the traffic came to an end, with her song, and leavingtheir goods in charge of the servants, Tua and Asti departed to the backrooms of the house, and ate their meals or wandered in the large, walledgarden that lay behind. 

Thus the weeks went on and soon, although they sold few of the pearls, and those the smallest, for of the larger gems they said little ornothing, they began to grow rich, and to hoard up such a weight of goldin dust and nuggets, and so many precious things, that they scarcelyknew what they should do with them. Still Tat seemed to be a peacefulcity, or at the least none tried to rob or molest them, perhaps becausea rumour was abroad that these strangers who had come out of the Unknownwere under the protection of some god. 

There was nothing to show how or why this rumour had arisen in the city, but on account of it, if for no other reason, these pearl-merchants, as they were called, suffered no wrong, and although they were onlyundefended women, whatever credit they might give, the debt was alwayspaid. Also their servants, to whom they added as they had means, wereall faithful to them. So there they remained and traded, keeping theirsecrets and awaiting the appointed hour of escape, but never venturingto leave the shelter of their own walls. 

Now, as it happened, when they came thither the King of Tat was awaymaking war upon another king whose country lay upon the coast, but afterthey had dwelt for many weeks in the place, this King, who was namedJanees, returned victorious from his war and prepared to celebrate atriumph. 

While he was making ready for this triumph his courtiers told him ofthese pearl-merchants, and, desiring pearls for his adornment on thatgreat day, he went in disguise to the house of those who sold them. Asit chanced he arrived late, and requested to see the gems just as Tua, according to her custom, was playing upon her harp. Then she began tosing, and this King Janees, who was a man of under forty years of age, listened intently to her beautiful voice, forgetting all about thepearls that he had come to buy. Her song finished, the veiled Asti rose, and bowing to all the company gathered in the street, bade her servantsshut up the coffers and remove the goods. 

"But I would buy pearls, Merchant, if you have such to sell, " saidJanees. 

"Then you must return this afternoon, Purchaser, " replied Asti, scanninghis pale and haughty face, "for even if you were the King of Tat I wouldnot sell to you out of my hours. "

"You speak high words, Woman, " exclaimed Janees angrily. 

"High or low, they are what I mean, " answered Asti, and went away. 

The end of it was that this King Janees returned at the evening hour, led thither more by a desire to hear that lovely voice again than topurchase gems. Still he asked to see pearls, and Asti showed him somewhich he thrust aside as too small. Then she produced those that werelarger, and again he thrust them aside, and so it went on for a longwhile. At length from somewhere in her clothing Asti drew two of thebiggest that she had, perfect pearls of the size of the middle nail ofa man's finger, and at the sight of these the eyes of Janees brightened, for such gems he had never seen before. Then he asked the price. Astianswered carelessly that it was doubtless more than he would wish topay, since there were few such pearls in the whole world, and she nameda weight in gold that caused him to step back from her amazed, for itwas a quarter of the tribute that he had taken from his new-conqueredkingdom. 

"Woman, you jest, " he said, "surely there is some abatement. "

"Man, " she answered, "I jest not; there is no abatement, " and shereplaced the pearls in her garments. 

Now he grew very angry, and asked:

"Did you know that I am the King of Tat, and if I will, can take yourpearls without any payment at all?"

"Are you?" asked Asti, looking at him coolly. "I should never haveguessed it. Well, if you steal my goods, as you say you can, you will beKing of Thieves also. "

Now those who heard this saying laughed, and the King thought it best tojoin in their merriment. Then the bargaining went on, but before it wasfinished, at her appointed hour Tua began to sing behind the screen. 

"Have done, " said the King to Asti, "to-morrow you shall be paid yourprice. I would listen to that music which is above price. "

So Janees listened like one fascinated, for Tua was singing her best. Step by step he drew ever nearer to the screen, though this Asti didnot notice, for she was engaged in locking up her goods. At lengthhe reached it, and thrusting his fingers through the openings in thepierced woodwork, rested his weight upon it like a man who is faint, asperhaps he was with the sweetness of that music. Then of a sudden, bycraft or chance, he swung himself backward, and with him came the frailscreen. Down it clattered to the floor, and lo! beyond it, unveiled, butclad in rich attire, stood Tua sweeping her harp of ivory and gold. Likesunlight from a cloud the bright vision of her beauty struck the eyes ofthe people gathered there, and seemed to dazzle them, since for a whilethey were silent. Then one said:

"Surely this woman is a queen, " and another answered:

"Nay, she is a goddess, " but ere the words had left his lips Tua wasgone. 

As for Janees the King, he stared at her open-mouthed, reeling a littleupon his feet, then, as she fled, turned to Asti, saying:

"Is this Lady your slave?"

"Nay, King, my daughter, whom you have done ill to spy upon. "

"Then, " said Janees slowly, "I who might do less, desire to make thisdaughter of yours my Queen--do you understand, Merchant of Pearls--myQueen, and as a gift you shall have as much gold again as I havepromised for your gems. "

"Other kings have desired as much and offered more, but she is not foryou or any of them, " answered Asti, looking him in the face. 

Now Janees made a movement as though he would strike her, then seemed tochange his mind, for he replied only:

"A rough answer to a fair offer, seeing that none know who you are orwhence you come. But there are eyes upon us. I will talk with you againto-morrow; till then, rest in peace. "

"It is useless, " began Asti, but he was already gone. 

Presently Asti found Tua in the garden, and told her everything. 

"Now I wish that Kepher of the Desert were at hand, " said Tua nervously, "for it seems that I am in a snare, who like this Janees no better thanI did Abi or the Prince of Kesh, and will never be his Queen. "

"Then I think we had better fly to the wilderness and seek him therethis very night, for, Lady, you know what chances to men who look uponyour loveliness. "

"I know what chanced to the Prince of Kesh, and what will chance to Abiat the hands of one I left behind me, I can guess; perhaps this Janeeswill fare no better. Still, let us go. "

Asti nodded, then by an afterthought went into the house and asked somequestions of the servants. Presently she returned, and said:

"It is useless; soldiers are already stationed about the place, and someof our women who tried to go out have been turned back, for they saythat by the King's order none may leave our door. "

"Now shall I strike upon the harp and call upon the name of Kepher, ashe bade me?" asked Tua. 

"I think not yet awhile, Lady. This danger may pass by or the nightbring counsel, and then he would be angry if you summoned him fornaught. Let us go in and eat. "

So they went in, and while they sat at their food suddenly they hearda noise, and looking up, perceived by the light of the lamp that womenwere crowding into the room led by two eunuchs. 

Tua drew a dagger from her robe and sprang up, but the head eunuch, anold, white-haired man, bowed low before her, and said:

"Lady, you can kill me if you will, for I am unarmed, but there are manymore of us without, and to resist is useless. Hearken; no harm shall bedone to you or to your companion, but it is the King's desire that oneso royal and beautiful should be better lodged than in this placeof traffic. Therefore he has commanded me to take you and all yourhousehold and all your goods to no less a place than his own palace, where he would speak with you. "

"Sheathe the dagger and waste no words upon these slaves, Daughter, "said Asti. "Since we have no choice, let us go. "

So after they had veiled and robed, they suffered themselves to be ledout and placed in a double litter with their pearls and gold, while theKing's women collected all the rest of their goods and took them awaytogether with their servants, leaving the house quite empty. Then, guarded by soldiers, they were borne through the silent streets tillthey came to great gates which closed behind them, and having passed upmany stairs, the litter was set down in a large and beautiful room litwith silver lamps of scented oil. Here, and in other rooms beyond, they found women of the royal household and their own servants alreadyarranging their possessions. 

Soon it was done, and food and wine having been set for them, they wereleft alone in that room, and stood looking at each other. 

"Now shall I strike and call?" said Tua, lifting the harp which she hadbrought with her. "Look, yonder is a window-place such as that of whichKepher spoke. "

"Not yet, I think, Lady. Let us learn all our case ere we call forhelp, " and as the words left her lips the door opened, and through it, clad in his royal robes, walked Janees the King. 

Now in the centre of this great room was a marble basin filled with purewater which, perhaps, had served as the bath of the queens who dweltthere in former days, or, perhaps, was so designed for the sake ofcoolness in times of heat. Tua and Asti stood upon one side of thisbasin, and to the other came the King, so that the water lay betweenthem. Thrice he bowed to Tua, then said:

"Lady, who, as your servants tell me, are known as Neferte, a maiden ofEgypt, and for lack of the true name, doubtless this will serve, Lady, I come to ask your pardon for what must seem to you to be a grievouswrong. O Lady Neferte, this must be my excuse, that I have no choice. Byfortune, good or ill, I know not which, this day I beheld your face, and now but one desire is left to me, to behold it again, and for all mylife. Lady, the Goddess of Love, she, whom in Egypt you name Hathor, hasmade me her slave, so that I no longer think of pomp or power or wealth, or of other women, but of you and you only. Lady, I would do you noharm, for I offer you half my throne. You and you alone shall be myQueen. Speak now. "

"King Janees, " answered Tua, "what evil spirit has entered into you thatyou should wish to make a Queen of a singing-girl, the daughter of amerchant who has wandered to your city? Let me go, and keep that highplace for one of the great ones of the earth. Send now to Abi, who Ihave heard rules as Pharaoh in Egypt, and ask a daughter of his blood, for they say that he has several; or to some of the princes of Syria, orto the King of Byblos by Lebanon, or to the lords of Kesh, or acrossthe desert to the Emperor of Punt, and let this poor singing-girl go herways. "

"This poor singing-girl, " repeated Janees after her, "who, or whosemother, " and he bowed to Asti with a smile, "has pearls to sell that areworth the revenue of a kingdom; this singing-girl, the ivory figure onwhose harp is crowned with the royal _urĉi_ of Egypt; this singing-girlwhose chiselled loveliness is such as might be found perhaps among thedaughters of ancient kings; this singing-girl whose voice can ravishthe hearts of men and beasts! Well, Lady Neferte, I thank you for yourwarning, still I am ready to take my chance, hoping that my childrenwill not be made ashamed by the blood of such a singing-girl as this, who, as I saw when that screen fell, has stamped upon her throat theholy sign they worship on the Nile. "

"I am honoured, " answered Tua coldly, "yet it may not be. Among my ownhumble folk I have a lover, and him I will wed or no man. "

"You have a lover! Then hide his name from me, lest presently I shouldplay Set to his Osiris and rend him into pieces. You shake your head, knowing doubtless that the man is great, yet I tell you that I willconquer him and rend him into pieces for the crime of being loved byyou. Listen now! I would make you my Queen, but Queen or not, mine youshall be who lie in my power. I will not force you, I will give youtime. But if on the morning of the third day from this night you stillrefuse to share my throne, why, then you shall sit upon its footstool. "

Now, in her anger, Tua threw back her veil, and met him eye to eye. 

"You think me great, " she said, "and truly you are right, for whateveris my rank, with me go my gods, and in their strength my innocence isgreat. Let me be, you petty King of Tat, lest I lift up my voice toheaven, and call down upon you the anger of the gods. "

"Already, Lady, you have called down upon me the anger of a goddess, that Hathor of whom I spoke, and for the rest I fear them not. Let themdo their worst. On the third night from this night, as Queen or slave, I swear that you shall be mine. This woman here, whom you call yourmother, shall be witness to my oath, and to its end. "

"Aye, King, " broke in Asti, "I will be witness, but as to the end ofthat oath I do not know it yet. Would you like to learn? In my owncountry I was held to have something of a gift, I mean in the way ofmagic. It came to me, I know not whence, and it is very uncertain--attimes it is my servant, and at times I can do nothing. Still, for yoursake, I would try. Is it your pleasure to see that end of which youspoke, the end of your attempt to force yonder maiden to be your queenor love?"

"Aye, Woman, " answered Janees, "if you have a trick, show it--why not?"

"So be it, King; but, of course, I have your word that you willnot blame me if by any chance the trick should not prove to yourliking--your royal word. Now stand you there, and look into this waterwhile I pray our gods, the gods of my own country, to be gracious, andto show you what shall be your state at this same hour on the thirdnight from now, which you say and hope shall be the night of yourwedding. Sing, my Daughter, sing that old and sacred song which I havetaught you. It will serve to while away the tedium of our waiting untilthe gods declare themselves, if such be their will. "

Then Asti knelt down by the pool, and bent her head, and stretched outher hands over the water, and Tua touched the strings of her harp andbegan to chant very solemnly in an unknown tongue. The words of thatchant were low and sweet, yet it seemed to Janees that they fell likeice upon his hot blood, and froze it within his veins. At first he kepthis eyes fixed upon her beauty, but by slow degrees something drew themdown to the water of the pool. 

Look! A mist gathered on its blackness. It broke and cleared and there, as in a mirror, he saw a picture. He saw himself lying stripped anddead, a poor, naked corpse with wide eyes that stared to heaven, andgashed throat and sides whence the blood ran upon the marble floor ofhis own great hall, ruined by fire, with its scorched pillars pointinglike fingers to the moon. There he lay alone, and by him stood a hound, his own hound, that lifted up its head and seemed to howl. 

The last words of Tua's chant died away, and with them that picturepassed. Janees leapt back from the edge of the pool, glaring at Asti. 

"Sorceress!" he cried, "were you not my guest who names herself themother of her who shall be my Queen, I swear that to-night you shoulddie by torture in payment of this foul trick of yours. "

"Yet as it is, " answered Asti, "I think that I shall not die, sincethose who call upon the gods must not quarrel with their oracle. Moreover, I know now what you saw, and it may be nothing but a fantasyof your brain or of mine. Now let us sleep, I pray you, O King, for weare weary, and leave its secrets to the future. In three days we shallknow what they may be. "

Then, without another word, Janees turned and left them. 

"What was it that lay in the pool, Nurse?" asked Tua. "I saw nothing. "

"The shadow of a dead man, I think, " answered Asti grimly. "Some jealousgod has looked upon this poor King whose crime is that he desires you, and therefore he must die. Of a truth it goes ill with your lovers, OStar of Amen, and sometimes I wonder if one who is dear to me will meetwith better fortune at those royal eyes of yours. If ill befalls him Ithink that at the last I may learn to hate you, whom from the first Icherished. "

Now at the thought that she might bring death to Rames also, Tua's tearsbegan to gather, and her voice choked in her throat. 

"Say not such evil-omened words, " she sobbed, "since you know well thatif he is taken hence for whose sake I endure all these things, then Imust follow him over the edge of the world. Moreover, you are unjust. Did I slay the Prince of Kesh, or was it another?"

"Another, Queen, but for your sake. "

"And would you have had me wed Abi the hog, the murderer of my father, and of your lord? Again, was it I who but now showed this barbarianchief a shadow in the water, or was it Asti the witch, Asti theprophetess of Amen? Lastly, will the man die, if die he must, because heloves me, which, being a woman I can forgive him, or because he laid thehands of violence upon me to force me to be his queen or mistress, whichI forgive him not? Oh! Asti, you know well I am not as other women are. Perchance it is true that some blood that is not human runs in me; atleast I fulfil a doom laid on me before my birth, and working woe orworking weal, I go as my feet are led by ghosts and gods. Why, then, doyou upbraid me?" and she ceased and wept outright. 

"Nay, nay, be comforted, I upbraid you not, " answered Asti, drawing herto her breast. "Who am I that I should cast reproaches at Amen's Starand daughter and my Queen? I know well that the house of your fate isbuilt, that sail you up stream or sail you down stream, you must passits gate at last. It was fear for Rames that made me speak so bitterly, Rames my only child, if, indeed, he is left to me, for I who have somuch wisdom cannot learn from man or spirit whether he lives here orwith Osiris, since some black veil hangs between our souls. I fear lestthe gods, grown jealous of that high love of yours, should wreak theirwrath upon him who has dared to win it, and bring Rames to the gravebefore his time, and the thought of it rends my heart. "

Now it was Tua's turn to play the comforter. 

"Surely, " she said, "surely, my Foster-mother, you forget the promise ofAmen, King of the Gods, which he made ere I was born, to Ahura who boreme, that I should find a royal lover, and that from his love and mineshould spring many kings and princes, and that this being so, Rames mustlive. "

"Why must he live, Lady, seeing that even if he can be called royal, there are others?"

"Nay, Asti, " murmured Tua, laying her head upon her breast, "for methere are no others, nor shall any child of mine be born that does notname Rames father. Whatever else is doubtful, this is sure. ThereforeRames lives, and will live, or the King of the gods has lied. "

"You reason well, " said Asti, and kissed her. Then she thought for amoment, and added: "Now to our work, it is the hour. Take the harp, go to the window-place, and call as the beggar-man bade you do in yourneed. "

So Tua went to the window-place and looked down on the great courtyardbeneath that was lit with the light of the moon. Then she struck on theharp, and thrice she cried aloud:

"_Kepher! Kepher! Kepher!_"

And each time the echo of her cry came back louder and still more loud, till it seemed as though earth and heaven were filled with the sound ofthe name of Kepher. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE BEGGAR AND THE KING

It was the afternoon of the third day. Tua and Asti, seated in thewindow-place of their splendid prison, looked through the wooden screendown into the court below, where, according to his custom at this hour, Janees the King sat in the shadow to administer justice and hear thepetitions of his subjects. The two women were ill at ease, for the timeof respite had almost passed. 

"Night draws near, " said Tua, "and with it will come Janees. Look how heeyes this window, like a hungry lion waiting to be fed. Kepher has madeno sign; perchance after all he is but a wandering beggar-man filledwith strange fancies, or perchance he is dead, as may well happen at hisage. At least, he makes no sign, nor does Amen, to whom I have prayedso hard, send any answer to my prayers. I am forsaken. Oh! Asti, you whoare wise, tell me, what shall I do?"

"Trust in the gods, " said Asti. "There are still three hours to sundown, and in three hours the gods, to whom time is nothing, can destroy theworld and build it up again. Remember when we starved in the pylon towerat Memphis, and what befell us there. Remember the leap to death and theBoat of Ra, and those by whom it was captained. Remember and trust inthe gods. "

"I trust--in truth I trust, Asti, but yet--oh! let us talk of somethingelse. I wonder what has chanced in Memphis since we left it in sostrange a fashion? Do you think that awful Ka of mine queens it therewith Abi for a husband? If so, I almost grieve for Abi, for she hadsomething in her eyes which chilled my mortal blood, and yet you say sheis a part of me, a spirit who cannot die, cast in my mould, and given tome at birth. I would I had another Ka, and that you could draw it forthagain, Asti, to bewitch this Janees, and hold him while we fled. See, that case draws to an end at length. Janees is giving judgment, orrather his councillor is, for he prompts him all the time. Can you nothear his whispers? As for Janees himself, his thoughts are here, I feelhis eyes burn me through this wooden screen. He is about to rise. Why!Who comes? Awake, Nurse, and look. "

Asti obeyed. There in the gate of the court she saw a tall man, white-bearded, yellow-faced, horny-eyed, ancient, who, clad in atattered robe, leaned upon his staff of thornwood, and stared about himblindly as though the sun bewildered him. The guards came to thrusthim away, but he waved his staff, and they fell back from him as thoughthere were power in that staff. Now his slow, tortoise-like eyes seemedto catch sight of the glittering throne, and of him who sat upon it, and with long strides he walked to the throne and halted in front of it, again leaning on his staff. 

"Who is this fellow, " asked Janees in an angry voice, "who stands hereand makes no obeisance to the King?"

"Are you a king?" asked Kepher. "I am very blind. I thought you were buta common man such as I am, only clad in bright clothes. Tell me, whatis it like to be a king, and have all things beneath your feet. Do youstill hope and suffer, and fear death like a common man? Is the fleshbeneath your gold and purple the same as mine beneath my rags? Do oldmemories torment you, memories of the dead who come no more? Can youfeel griefs, and the ache of disappointment?"

"Do I sit here to answer riddles, Fool?" answered Janees angrily. "Turnthe fellow out. I have business. "

Now guards sprang forward to do the King's bidding, but again Kepherwaved his staff, and again they fell back. Certainly it seemed as thoughthere were power in that staff. 

"Business, King, " he said. "Not of the State, I think, but with onewho lodges yonder, " and he nodded towards the shuttered room whence Tuawatched him. "Well, that is three hours hence after the sun has set, soyou still have time to listen to my prayer, which you will do, as it isof this same lady with whom you have business. "

"What do you know of the lady, you old knave, and of my dealings withher?" asked Janees angrily. 

"Much of both, O King, for I am her father, and--shall I tell the rest?"

"Her father, you hoary liar!" broke in Janees. 

"Aye, her father, and I have come to tell you that as our blood is moreancient than yours, I will not have you for a son-in-law, any more thanthat daughter of mine will have you for a husband. "

Now some of the courtiers who heard these words laughed outright, butJanees did not laugh, his dark face turned white with rage, and hegasped for breath. 

"Drag this madman forth, " he shouted at length, "and cut out hisinsolent tongue. "

Again the guards sprang forward, but before ever they reached him Kepherwas speaking in a new voice, a voice so terrible that at the sound of itthey stopped, leaving him untouched. 

"Beware how you lay a finger on me, you men of Tat, " he cried, "for howknow you who dwells within these rags? Janees, you who call yourself aKing, listen to the commands of a greater king, whose throne is yonderabove the sun. Ere night falls upon the earth, set that maiden upon whomyou would force yourself and her companion and all her goods withoutyour southern gate, and leave them there unharmed. Such is the commandof the King of kings, who dwells on high. "

"And what if I mock at the command of this King?" asked Janees. 

"Mock not, " replied Kepher. "Bethink you of a certain picture that thelady Asti showed you in the water, and mock not. "

"It was but an Egyptian trick, Wizard, and one in which I see you hada hand. Begone, I defy you and your sorceries, and your King. To-nightthat maid shall be my wife. "

"Then, Janees, Lord of Tat, listen to the doom that I am sent to decreeupon you. To-night you shall have another bride, and her name is Death. Moreover, for their sins, and because their eyes are evil, and they haverejected the worship of the gods, many of your people shall accompanyyou to darkness, and to-morrow another King, who is not of your House, shall rule in Tat. "

Kepher ceased speaking, then turned and walked slowly down the court ofjudgment and through its gates, nor did any so much as lift a finger tostay him, for now about this old man there seemed to be a majesty whichmade them strengthless. 

"Bring that wizard back and kill him here, " shouted Janees presently, as the spell passed off them, and like hounds from a leash they sprangforward to do the bidding of the King. 

But without the walls they could not find him. A woman had seen himhere, a child had seen him there, some slaves had watched him passyonder, and ran away because they noted that he had no shadow. Atlength, after many a false turn, they tracked him to the southern gate, and there the guard said that just such a beggar-man had passed throughas they were about to close the gate, vanishing into the sandstorm whichblew without. They followed, but so thickly blew that sand that theylost each other in their search, and but just before sundown returnedto the palace singly, where in his rage the king commanded them to bebeaten with rods upon their feet. 

Now the darkness came, and at the appointed hour Janees, hardening hisheart, went up into the chamber where dwelt Tua and Asti, leaving hisguard of eunuchs at the door. The lamps were lit within that chamber, and the window-places closed, but without the desert wind howled loudly, and the air was blind with sand. On the farther side of the marblebasin, as once before, Tua and Asti stood awaiting him. 

"Lady, " he said, "it is the appointed hour, and I seek your answer. "

"King, " replied Tua, "hear me, and for your own sake--not for mine. Iam more than I seem. I have friends in the earth and air, did not one ofthem visit you to-day in yonder court? Put away this madness and let mebe, for I wish you good, not evil, but if you so much as lay a fingeron me, then I think that evil draws near, or at the best I die by my ownhand. "

"Lady, " replied Janees in a cold voice, "have done with threats; I awaityour answer. "

"King, " said Tua, "for the last time I plead with you. You think that Ilie to save myself, but it is not so. I would save you. Look now, " andshe threw back her veil and opened the wrappings about her throat. "Lookat that which is stamped upon my breast, and think--is it well to offerviolence to a woman who bears this holy seal?"

"I have heard of such a one, " said Janees hoarsely, for the sight ofher beauty maddened him. "They say that she was born in Thebes, and ofa strange father, though, if so, how came she here? I am told that shereigns as Pharaoh in Egypt. "

"Ask that question of your oracles, O King, but remember that rumourdoes not always lie, and let the daughter of that strange father go. "

"There is another who claims to be your father, Lady, if by now mysoldiers have not scourged him to his death--a tattered beggar-man. "

"Whom those soldiers could not touch or find, " broke in Asti, speakingfor the first time. 

"Well, " went on Janees, without heeding her, "whether your father be abeggar or a god, or even if you are Hathor's self come down from heavento be the death of men, know that I take you for my own. For the thirdtime, answer, will you be my Queen of your own choice, or must my womendrown yonder witch in this water at your feet, and drag you hence?"

Now Tua made no answer. She only let fall her veil, folded her arms uponher breast, and waited. But Asti, mocking him, cried in a loud voice, that he might hear above the howling of the hurricane without:

"Call your women, King, for the air is full of sand that chokes mythroat, and I long for the water which you promise me. "

Then, in his fury, Janees turned, and shouted:

"Come hither, Slaves, and do what I have commanded you. "

As he spoke the door burst open, and through it, no longer clad in rags, but wearing a white robe and head-dress, walked Kepher the Wanderer, while after him, their red swords in their hands, came savage-lookingchiefs, bearded, blank-faced, round-eyed, with gold chains that clankedupon their mail, captains of the Desert, men who knew neither fear normercy. 

Janees looked and understood. He snatched out his sword, and for amoment stayed irresolute, while the great men ringed him round andwaited, their eyes fixed on Kepher's face. 

"Spare him, Father, if it may be so, " said Tua, "since love has made himmad. "

"Too late!" answered Kepher solemnly. "Those who will not accept thewarning of the gods must suffer the vengeance of the gods. Janees, youwho would do violence to a helpless woman, your palace burns, yourcity is in my keeping, and the few who stood by you are slain. Janees, to-morrow another shall rule in your place. Amen the Father has decreedyour doom. "

"Aye, " echoed Janees heavily, "too late! Mortals cannot fight againstthe gods that make their sport of them. Some god commanded that I shouldlove. Some god commands that I shall die. So be it, I am glad to die;would that I had not been born to know grief and death. Tell me, OProphet, what evil power is there which ordains that we must be born andsuffer?"

Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leavingJanees ringed round by those stern-faced men. 

"Farewell, Lady, " he called to Tua as she passed. "Here and hereafterremember this of Janees, King of Tat, that he who might have saved hislife chose to die for love of you. "

Then they went and saw him no more. 

They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they foundguards and eunuchs lying dead; they passed down the stairways, andthrough the tall gates where more soldiers lay dead, and lookingbehind them, saw that the palace was in flames. They reached the squarewithout, and at the command of Kepher entered into a litter, and wereborne by black slaves whither they knew not. 

All that night they were borne, awake or sleeping, till at length themorning came, and they descended from the litter to find themselves inan oasis of the wilderness surrounded by a vast army of the desert men. Of the city of Tat they could see nothing; like a dream it had passedout of their lives, nor did they ever hear of it and its king again. Only in the pavilion that had been provided for them they found theirpearls and gold, and Tua's ivory harp. 

They laid themselves down and slept, for they were very weary, only towake when once more the day had dawned. Then they rose and ate of thefood that had been placed by them, and went out of the tent. In theshadow of some palm trees stood Kepher, awaiting them, and with himcertain of the stern-faced, desert chiefs, who bowed as they advanced. 

"Hearken, Lady Neferte, and you, O Asti her companion, " said Kepher tothem, "I must depart, who, this matter finished, have my bread to begfar from here. Yet, fear not, for know that these Lords of the Desertare your servants, and for this reason were they born, that they mayhelp you on your way. Repeat your orders, " he continued, addressing thechiefs. 

Then the captain of them all said:

"Wanderer, known to our fathers' grandfathers, Guardian of our race bywhom we live and triumph, these are your commands: That we lead thisdivine Lady and her companion a journey of many moons across the desertsand mountains, till at length we bring her to the gates of the City ofGold, where our task ends. While one man of us remains alive they shallbe obeyed. "

"You hear, " said Kepher to Tua. "Put your trust in these men. Go inpeace in the day time, and sleep in peace at night, for be sure thatthey shall not fail you. But if they, or any other should perchancebring you into trouble, then strike upon the harp and call the name youknow, as you called it in the house of Janees the mad, and I think thatone will come to you. Lords of the Desert, whose great grandsires wereknown to me, and who live by my wisdom, this divine Lady is in yourkeeping. See that you guard her as you should, and when the journey isdone, return and make report to me. Farewell. "

Then, lifting his staff, without speaking another word to Tua or toAsti, Kepher strode away from amongst them, walking through the ranksof the Desert men who forced their camels to kneel and saluted him as hepassed. Presently they saw him standing alone upon a ridge, and lookingtowards them for a while. Then of a sudden he was gone. 

"Who is that man, O Captain, at whose bidding the wilderness swarmswith tribesmen and kings are brought to doom?" asked Asti when she hadwatched him disappear. 

"Lady, " he answered, "I cannot tell you, but from the beginning he hasbeen Master of the Desert, and those who dwell therein. At his word thesandwind blows as it blew yesterday to cover our advance, at his wordthe fountains spring and tribes grow great or sink to nothingness. Wethink that he is a spirit who moves where he lists, and executes thedecrees of heaven. At the least, though they but see him from time totime, all the dwellers in the wilderness obey him, as we do, and illdoes it go, as you have learned, with those dwellers in cities who knownot the power which breathes beneath that tattered robe. "

"I thank you, " answered Asti. "I think with you that this Wanderer isa spirit, and a great one, so great that I will not name his name. Captains, my Lady is ready to march towards the City of Gold, whitheryou will lead us. "

For day after day, for week after week, for month after month, theymarched southward and westward across the Desert, and in the centreof their host, mounted upon camels, rode Tua and Asti veiled. Once thehillmen attacked them in a defile of some rugged mountains, but theybeat them back, and once there was a great battle with other tribes ofthe wilderness, who, hearing that they had a goddess among them, soughtto capture her for themselves. These tribes also they defeated withslaughter, for when the fight hung in the balance Tua herself headed thecharge of her horsemen, and at the sight of her in her white robes theenemy fled amazed. Once also they camped for two whole months in anoasis, waiting till rain should fall, for the country beyond lackedwater. At length it came, and they went on again, on and on over theendless lands, till on a certain night they pitched their tent upon ahill. 

At the first brightening of the dawn Tua and Asti went out, and there, beneath them, near to the banks of a great river, which they knew forthe Nile, they saw the pyramids and the temples of Napata the Golden, the southern city of Amen, and thanked the gods who had brought themhere in safety. 

While they still gazed upon its glories in the red light of the risingsun the captain of the desert men appeared, and bowed before them. 

"Divine Lady, " he said, "woman or goddess, whichever you may be, we havefulfilled the command given to us by Kepher, the ancient King of theWilderness. Beneath you lies Napata whither we have journeyed throughso many weary months, but we would draw no nearer to its walls, who fromgeneration to generation are sworn not to enter any city save in war. Lady, our task is done, and our men murmur to be led back to their ownplace, where their wives and children await them, ere, thinking that weare enemies, the people of Napata sally forth to attack us. "

"It is well, " answered Tua. "I thank you and the gods shall give youyour reward. Leave us, and go back to your homes, but before you go, take a gift from me. "

Then she sent for the gold that they had gathered in their tradingin the city of Tat, and gave it to be divided among them, a great andprecious treasure. Only the pearls she kept, with a little of the gold. So the captains saluted her, and in the mists of the morning they andtheir swarthy host stole away, and soon were hidden in a cloud of dust. 

From the backs of their camels Tua and Asti watched them go like a dreamof the night. Then with no word spoken between them, for their lips weresealed with hope and wonder, wrapping themselves in their dark cloaks, they rode down to the highway by the banks of the Nile, which led to thewalls of Napata. Mingling with other travellers, they passed through theField of Pyramids, and coming to the beautiful northern gate that wascovered over with gold, waited there, for this gate was not yet opened. A woman who led three asses laden with green barley and vegetables, which she purposed to sell in the market-place, fell into talk withthem, asking them whence they came. 

Asti answered, from the city of Meroe, adding that they were singers anddealers in pearls. 

"Then you have come to the right place, " answered the woman, "for pearlsare rare at Napata, which is so far from the sea; also it is said thatthe young King loves singing if it be good. "

"The young King?" asked Asti. "What is his name, and where is the oldking?"

"You cannot have dwelt long in Meroe, Strangers, " answered the womansuspiciously, "or you would know that the old King dwells with Osirisbeneath yonder pyramid, where the general of the Pharaoh of Egypt, he who rules here now, buried him after the great battle. Oh! it is astrange story, and I do not know the rights of it who sell my stuff andtake little heed of such things. But at the last high Nile before onethis general came with three thousand soldiers of Egypt, and the bodyof the Prince of Kesh, whom it seems he had slain somewhere, it is saidbecause both of them sought the favour of the Queen of Egypt. As theytell, this was the command of that Queen--that he should submit himselfto the King of Napata to be judged for his crime. This he did, and theKing in his fury commanded that he should be hanged from the mast of thesacred boat of Amen. The general answered that he was ready to be hangedif the King could hang him. Then there was a war between the people ofNapata and the Egyptians, aided by many of the soldiers of the city whohated their master and rebelled against his rule, which was ever cruel. The end of it was that the Egyptians and the rebels won, and the Kinghaving fallen in the fight, they crowned the Egyptian general in hisplace. 

"His name?--Oh, I forget it, he has so many, but he is a goodly man tolook at, and all love him although he is mad. See, the gates are open atlast. Farewell, " and dragging her asses by the halter, the peasant womanmingled with the crowd and was gone. 

Tua and Asti also mingled with the crowd, and rode on up a wide streettill they came to a square planted round with trees, on one side ofwhich was built a splendid palace. Here they halted their camels, notknowing whither they should go, and as they stood irresolute the gatesof the palace opened and through them came a body of horsemen clad inarmour. 

"See the writing on their shields, " whispered Asti. 

Tua looked and read, and lo! there in the royal cartouche was her ownname, and after it new titles--Queen of the Upper and the Lower Land, Opener of the Gates of the South, Divine Lady of Napata by grace ofAmen, Father of the Gods. 

"It seems that I have subjects here, " she murmured, "who elsewhere havenone, " then ceased. 

For now through the gate rode one mounted on a splendid horse, whoseshape seemed familiar to her even while he was far away. 

"Who is that?" faltered Tua. 

"My heart tells me it is Rames my son, " answered Asti, grasping at hersaddle-rope. 

CHAPTER XVII

TUA FINDS HER LOVER

Rames it was without a doubt; Rames grown older and stern and sad offace, but still Rames, and no other man, and oh! their eyes swam andtheir hearts beat at the sight of him. 

"Say, shall we declare ourselves?" asked Asti. 

"Nay, " answered Tua, "not here and now. He would not believe, and wecannot unveil before all these men. Also, first I desire to learn more. Let him pass. "

Rames rode on till he came opposite to where the two women sat on theirwhite camels beneath a tree, when something seemed to attract his gazeto them. He looked once carelessly and turned his head away. He looked asecond time, and again turned his head, though more slowly. He lookeda third time, and his eyes remained fixed upon those two veiled womenseated on their camels beneath the trees. Then, as though acting uponsome impulse, he pulled upon his horse's bit, and rode up to them. 

"Who are you, Stranger Ladies, " he asked, "who own such fine camels?"

Tua bowed her head that the folds of her veil might hide her shape, butAsti answered in a feigned voice:

"Sir, both of us are merchants, and one is a harper and a singer. We have travelled hither up the Nile to the Golden City because weunderstand that in Napata pearls are rare, and such we have to sell. Also we were told that the new King of this city loved good singing, and my companion, who sings and harps, learned her art in Egypt, even atThebes the holy. But who are you, Sir, that question us?"

"Lady, " answered Rames, "I am an Egyptian who holds this town on behalfof the Queen of Egypt whom once I knew. Or perhaps I should say that Ihold it on behalf of the Pharaoh of Egypt, since my spies tell me thatthe Star of Amen has taken Abi, Prince of Memphis, to husband, althoughthey add that he finds her a masterful wife, " and he laughed bitterly. 

"Sir, " replied Asti, "it is long since we left holy Thebes, some yearsindeed, and we know nothing of these things, who ply our trade fromplace to place. But if you are the governor of this town, show us, wepray you, as countrywomen of yours, where we may lodge in safety, andat your leisure this afternoon permit that we exhibit our pearls beforeyou, and when that is done, and you have bought or refused them, as youmay wish, that my companion should sing to you some of the ancient songsof Egypt. "

"Ladies, " answered Rames, "I am a soldier who would rather buy swordsthan pearls. Also, as it chances, I am a man who dwells alone, onein whose household no women can be found. Yet because you are of mycountry, or by Amen I know not why! I grant you your request. I go outto exercise this company in the arts of war, but after sundown you shallcome to my palace, and I will see your wares and hear your songs. Tillthen, farewell. Officer, " he added to a captain who had followed him, "take these Egyptians and their camels and give them a lodging in theguest-house, where they will not be molested, and at sundown bring themto me. "

Then, still staring at them as though they held his eyes in theirhearts, Rames departed, and the captain led them to their lodging. 

It was the hour of sundown, and Tua, adorned in beautiful white raiment, broidered with royal purple, that she carried in her baggage on thecamel, with her long hair combed out and scented, a necklace of greatpearls upon her bosom, a veil flung over her head, and her harp of goldand ivory in her hand, waited to be led before Rames. Asti, his mother, waited also, but she was clad in a plain black robe, and over herhead was a black veil. Presently that captain who had shown them theirlodging, came to them and asked if they were ready to be led before theViceroy of Napata. 

"Viceroy?" answered Asti, "I thought he was a King. "

"So he is, my good Woman, " replied the captain, "but it his fancy tocall himself the Viceroy of Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, wife of Abi theUsurper who rules in Egypt. A mad fancy when he might be a Pharaoh onhis own account, but so it is. "

"Well, Sir, " said Asti, "we merchants have nothing to do with these highmatters; lead us to this Pharaoh, or General, or Viceroy, with whom wehope to transact business. "

So the captain conducted them to a side gate of the palace, and thencethrough various passages and halls, in some of which Tua recognisedofficers of her own whom she had commanded to accompany Rames, to anapartment of no great size, where he bade them be seated. Presently adoor opened, and through it came Rames, plainly dressed in the uniformof an Egyptian general, on which they saw he wore no serpent crestor other of the outward signs of royalty. Only on his right hand thatlacked the little finger, gleamed a certain royal ring, which Tuaknew. With him also were several captains to whom he talked of militaryaffairs. 

Seeing the two women, he bowed to them courteously, and asked them toforgive him for having kept them waiting for him. Then he said:

"What was it that you wished to show me, Ladies? Oh! I remember, precious stones. Well, I fear me that you have brought them to a badmarket, seeing that although Napata is called the City of Gold, sheneeds all her wealth for her own purposes, and I draw from it only ageneral's pay, and a sum for the sustenance of my household, which issmall. Still, let me look at your wares, for if I do not buy myself, perhaps I may be able to find you a customer. "

Now when they saw the young man's noble face and bearing, and heard hissimple words, the hearts of Asti and Tua, his mother and his love, beatso hard within their breasts that for a while they could scarcely speak. Glad were they, indeed, that the veils they wore hid their troubledfaces from his eyes, which, as in the morning, lingered on themcuriously. 

At length, controlling herself with an effort, Asti answered:

"Perchance, Lord, the Great Lady your wife, or the ladies yourcompanions, will buy if you do not. "

"Have I not already told you, Merchant, " asked Rames angrily, "that Ihave no wife, and no companions that are not men?"

"You said so, Sir, " she replied humbly, always speaking in her feignedvoice, "yet forgive us if we believed you not, since in our journeyingsmy daughter and I have seen many princes, and know that such a thing iscontrary to their nature. Still we will show you our wares, for surelyall the men in Napata are not unmarried. "

Then, without more ado, she drew out a box of scented cedar and, openingit, revealed a diadem of pearls worked into the shape of the royal_urĉus_, which they had fashioned thus at Tat, and also a few of theirlargest single gems. 

"Beautiful, indeed, " said Rames, looking at them, "though there is butone who has the right to wear this crown, the divine Queen of the Upperand the Lower Land, " and he sighed. 

"Nay, Lord, " replied Asti, "for surely her husband might wear it also. "

"It would sit but ill on the fat head of Abi, from all I hear, Lady, " hebroke in, laughing bitterly. 

"Or, " went on Asti, taking no heed of his words, "a general who hadconquered a great country could usurp it, and find none to reprove him, especially if he himself happened to be of the royal blood. "

Now Rames looked at her sharply. 

"You speak strange words, " he said, "but doubtless it is by chance. Merchant, those pearls of yours are for richer men than I am, shut themin the box again, and let the lady, your daughter, sing some old song ofEgypt, for such I long to hear. "

"So be it, Lord, " answered Asti. "Still, keep the diadem as a gift, since it was made for you alone, and may yet be useful to you--who canknow? It is the price we pay for liberty to trade in your dominions. Nay, unless you keep it my daughter shall not sing. "

"Let it lie there, then, most princely Merchant, and we will talk of thematter afterwards. Now for the song. "

Then, her moment come at last, Tua stood up, and holding the ivory harpbeneath her veil, she swept its golden chords. Disguising her voice, as Asti had done, she began to sing, somewhat low, a short and gentlelove-song, which soon came to an end. 

"It is pretty, " said Rames, when she had finished, "and reminds me ofI know not what. But have you no fuller music at your command? If so, Iwould listen to it before I bid you good-night. "

She bent her head and answered almost in a whisper:

"Lord, if you wish it, I will sing you the story of one who dared toset his heart too high, and of what befell him at the hands of an angrygoddess. "

"Sing on, " he answered. "Once I heard such a story--elsewhere. "

Then Tua swept her harp and sang again, but this time with all herstrength and soul. As the first glorious notes floated from her lipsRames rose from his seat, and stood staring at her entranced. On wentthe song, and on, as she had sung it in the banqueting hall of Pharaohat Thebes, so she sang it in the chamber of Rames at Napata. The scribedared the sanctuary, the angry goddess smote him cold in death, thehigh-priestess wailed and mourned, the Queen of Love relented, and gavehim back his life again. Then came that last glorious burst when, liftedup to heaven, the two lovers, forgiven, purged, chanted their triumph tothe stars, and, by slow degrees, the music throbbed itself to silence. 

Look! white-faced, trembling, Rames clung to a pillar in his chamber, while Tua sank back upon her chair, and the harp she held slipped fromher hand down upon the floor. 

"Whence came that harp?" he gasped. "Surely there are not two such inthe world? Woman, you have stolen it. Nay, how can you have stolen themusic, and the voice as well? Lady, forgive me, I have no thought ofevil, but oh! grant me a boon. Why, I will tell you afterwards. Grant mea boon--let me look upon your face. "

Tua lifted her hands, and undid the fastening of her veil, which slippedfrom her to her feet, showing her in the rich array of a prince ofEgypt. His eyes met her beautiful eyes, and for a while they gazed uponeach other like folk who dream. 

"What trick is this?" he said angrily at last. "Before me stands theStar of Amen, Egypt's anointed Queen. The harp she bears was the royalgift of the Prince of Kesh, he who fell that night beneath my sword. Thevoice is Egypt's voice, the song is Egypt's song. Nay, how can it be?I am mad, you are magicians come to mock me, for that Star, Amen'sdaughter, reigns a thousand miles away with the lord she chose, Abi, herown uncle, he who, they say, murdered Pharaoh. Get you gone, Sorceress, lest I cause the priests of Amen, whereof you also make a mock, to castyou to the flames for blasphemy. "

Slowly, very slowly, Tua opened the wrappings about her throat, revealing the Sign of Life that from her birth was stamped above herbosom. 

"When they see this holy mark, think you that the priests of Amen willcast me to the flames, O Royal Son of Mermes?" asked Tua softly. 

"Why not?" he answered. "If you have power to lie in one thing, you havepower to lie in all. She who can steal the loveliness of Egypt's self, can also steal the signet of the god. "

"Say, did you, O Rames, also steal that other signet on your hand, aQueen's gift, I think, that once a Pharaoh wore? Say also how did youlose the little finger of that hand? Was it perchance in the maw of acertain god that dwells in the secret pool of a temple at holy Thebes?"

So Tua spake, and waited a while, but Rames said nothing. He opened hismouth to answer, indeed, but a dumbness sealed his lips. 

"Nurse, " she went on presently, "I cannot persuade this Lord that I amEgypt and no other. Try you. "

So Asti loosed her black veil, and let it fall about her feet. He staredat her noble features and grey hair, then, uttering a great cry of"Mother, my Mother, who they swore to me was dead in Memphis, " he flunghimself upon her breast, and there burst into weeping. 

"Aye, Rames, " said Asti presently, "your Mother, she who bore you, andno other woman, and with her one who because her royal heart loves younow as from the first, from moon to moon for two whole years has bravedthe dangers of the desert, and of wicked men, till at last Amen herfather brings her safely to your side. Now do you believe?"

"Aye, " answered Rames, "I believe. "

"Then, O faithful Captain, " said Tua, "take this gift from Egypt'sQueen, which a while ago you thrust aside, and be its Lord and mine, "and lifting the diadem of pearls crested with the royal _urĉi_ she setit on his brow, as once before she had done in that hour of dawn whenshe vowed herself to him in Thebes. 

It was night, and all their wonderful story had been told. 

"Such is our tale, Rames my Son, " said Asti, "and long may you searchbefore you find another that will match it. Now tell us yours. "

"It is short, Mother, " he answered. "Obeying the commands of her Majestyyonder, " and he bowed towards Tua, who sat at the further side of thetable at which they ate, "I travelled up the Nile to this city. Asthe old king, the father of the Prince of Kesh, would have slain me Iattacked him first by the help of my Egyptians and his own subjects, and--well, he died. Moreover, none regretted him, for he was a badking, and I stepped into his place, and ever since have been engaged inrighting matters which they needed. Long ago I would have returnedto Egypt and reported myself, only my spies told me of all that hadhappened there. They told me, for instance, of the murder of Pharaoh, by the witchcraft of Abi and his companions; and they told me thatPharaoh's daughter, the Star of Amen, forgetting all things and the oathshe swore to me, had married her old uncle Abi that she might save herlife and power. "

"And you believed them, Rames?" asked Tua reproachfully. 

"What else could I do but believe, Lady, seeing that those same spiesswore that they had seen your Majesty seated upon your throne atMemphis, and elsewhere, and causing Abi to run to and fro like a littledog, and do your bidding in all things? How could I know that it wasyour Double, and not yourself that married Abi?"

"I think that Abi knows to-day, " answered Tua, "since it seems that a Kamakes but a bad wife to any man. But now what shall we do?"

"Will you not first marry me, Lady?" suggested Rames. "Afterwards, wecan think. "

"Aye, " she answered, "I will marry you as I have promised, but in oneplace only, the temple of Amen in Egypt. First win me back my throne, then ask for my hand. "

"It shall be done, " he answered, "though how I know not, seeing thatanother sits upon that throne of yours, who, perhaps, will not bewilling to bid it farewell. "

"We will send her a message, Son, " said Asti. "Now leave us, for we mustsleep. "

"Where is your messenger, Mother?" asked Rames as he went. 

"Have you known me all these years, my Son, and not learned that I haveservants whom you cannot see?" answered Asti. 

It was midnight, and in their chamber of the palace of Rames, Asti andTua knelt side by side in prayer to Amen, Father of the Gods. Then, their petitions finished, Asti rose to her feet, and once again, as inthe pylon tower at Memphis, uttered the awful words that in bygone dayshad been spoken to her by the spirit of Ahura the divine in Osiris. 

There was a sound as of whispering, a sound as of beating wings. Lo!in the shadow beyond the lamplight a mist gathered that brightened bydegrees and took shape, the shape of a royal woman clad in the robesand ornaments of Egypt's Queen, whose face was as the face of Neter-Tua, only prouder and more unearthly. In silence it stood before themscanning them with its glittering eyes. 

"Whence come you, O Double?" asked Asti. 

"From that place where your command found me, O Mistress of SecretThings, from the house of Abi at Thebes, wherein he seems to rule asPharaoh, " the Form answered in its cold voice. 

"How fares it with Abi and with Egypt, O Double?"

"With Abi it fares but ill; he wastes in toil and fear and longings, and knows no happy hour. But with Egypt it fares well. Never, O Ladyof Strength, was she more great than she is to-day, for in all things Ihave fulfilled the commandments that were laid upon me, and now I desireto rest in that bosom whence I came, " and she pointed to Tua, who stoodand watched. 

"Not yet, O Double, for there is still work for you to do, and then youshall be at peace till the day of the last Awakening. Hearken: Returnto Thebes, and tell a false tale in the ears of Abi and his councillors. Say that Rames the Egyptian, who has seized the rule of Kesh, hasdeclared himself Pharaoh of Egypt by right of race, and your husbandby the promise of him who ruled before you whom Abi did to death. Causethis Abi to gather a great army, and to march southward to make an endof Rames. But secretly whisper into the ears of the generals of thisarmy, that it is true the divine Pharaoh who is gone promised you inmarriage to Rames with your own consent, and by the command of Amen, Father of the Gods, and of your Spirit. Whisper to them that Amen iswrath with Abi because of his crime, as he will show them in due season, and that those who rebel against him shall have his love and favour. Atthe Gateway of the South, whence the Nile rushes northward between greatwalls of rock, Rames shall meet the army of Abi. With him will come herof whom you are, and I whom you must obey; also perchance another whois greater than all of us. There at the Gateway of the South your taskshall be accomplished, and you shall find the rest you seek. It issaid. "

"I hear the command, and it shall be done, " answered the Ka in its cold, passionless voice. "Only, Lady of the Secrets, Doer of the Will Divine, delay not, lest, outworn, I should break back like a flame to yonderbreast that is my home, slaying as I come, and leaving wreck behind me. "

Then as the figure had appeared, so also it disappeared, growing faintby degrees, and vanishing away into the night out of which it came. 

It was morning at Thebes, and Abi sat in the great hall of Pharaohtransacting business of the State, while at his side stood Kaku theVizier. Changed were both of them, indeed, since they had plotted thedeath of their guest and king at Memphis, for now Abi was so worn withwork and fear and wretchedness, that his royal robes hung about him inloose folds, while Kaku had become an old, old man, who trembled as hewalked. 

"Is the business finished, Officer?" asked Abi impatiently. 

"Nay, Mighty Lord, " answered Kaku, "there is still enough to keep yousitting here till noon, and after that you must receive the Council andthe Embassies. "

"I will not receive them. Let them wait till another day. Knave, wouldyou work me to death, who have never known an hour's rest or peace sincethe happy time when I ruled as Prince of Memphis?"

"Lord, " answered Kaku, bowing humbly, "weary or no you must receivethem, for so it has been decreed by her Majesty the Queen, whose commandmay not be broken. "

"The Queen!" exclaimed Abi in a low voice, rolling his hollow eyesaround him as though in fear. "Oh, Kaku, would that I had never beheldthe Queen. I tell you that she is not a woman, as indeed you know well, but a fiend with a heart of ice, and the venomous cunning of a snake. Iam called Pharaoh, yet am but her puppet to carry out her decrees. I amcalled her husband, yet she is still no wife to me, or to any, althoughall men love her, and by that love are ofttimes brought to doom. Lastnight again she vanished from my side as I sat listening to her orders, and after a while, lo! there she was as before, only, as it seemed tome, somewhat weary. I asked her where she had been and she answered:'Further than I could travel in a year to visit one she loved as much asshe hated me. Now who can that be, Kaku?'"

"Rames, I think, Lord, he who has made himself King of Kesh, " repliedKaku in an awed whisper. "Without a doubt she loved the man when she wasa woman, though whom she loves now the evil gods know alone. We are inher power, and must work her will, for, Lord, if we do not we shall die, and I think that neither of us desires to die, since beyond that gatedead Pharaoh waits for us. "

At these words Abi groaned aloud, wiping the sweat from his blanchedface with the corner of his robe, and saying:

"There you speak truly. Go, call the scribes, and let us get on with theQueen's business. "

Kaku turned to obey, when suddenly heralds entered the empty hall, crying:

"Her Majesty the Queen waits without with a great company, and humblycraves audience of her good lord, the divine Pharaoh of the Upper andthe Lower Land. "

Abi and Kaku looked at each other, and despair was in their eyes. 

"Let her Majesty enter, " said the King in a low voice. 

The heralds retired, and presently through the cedar doors appearedthe Queen in state. She was splendid to behold, splendid in her proudbeauty, splendid in her dress, and in her royal ornaments. On she sweptup the hall, attended by Merytra, who bore her fan and cushion, forit was her pleasure that this woman should wait upon her day and nightwithout pause or rest, although she who had once been so handsome nowwas worn almost to nothingness with toil and terror. Behind Merytra cameguards and high-priests, and after them the great lords of the Council, who were called the King's Companions and the generals of the army. 

On she swept up the hall till reaching the foot of the throne whereonAbi sat, she motioned to Merytra to place the cushion upon its step, andknelt, saying:

"I am come as a loyal wife to make a humble prayer to Pharaoh my Lord inthe presence of his Court. "

"Rise and speak on, Great Lady, " answered Abi. "It is not fit that youshould kneel to me. "

"Nay, it is most fit that Pharaoh's Queen should kneel to Pharaoh whenshe seeks his divine favour. " Yet she rose, and, seating herself in achair that had been brought, spoke thus:

"O Pharaoh, last night I dreamed a dream. I dreamed of the Count Rames, son of Mermes, the last of that royal race which ruled before our Housein Egypt. I mean that man who slew the Prince of Kesh in this very hall, and whom, my Father being sick, I sent to Napata, to be judged bythe King of Kesh, but who, it seems, overthrew that king and took hiskingdom in the name of Egypt. 

"I dreamed that this bold and able man, not satisfied with the richkingdom of Kesh, has made a scheme to attack Egypt; to slay you, mostglorious Lord, to proclaim himself Pharaoh by right of ancient blood, and more--to take me, your faithful wife, to be his wife, and therebysecure his throne. "

"Without doubt, Queen, this turbulent Rames might think of suchthings, " said Abi, "and so far your dream may be true; yet it shouldbe remembered that at present he is at Napata, which is a very long wayoff, and has probably only a small army at his command, so why shouldyou trouble about what he thinks?"

"O Pharaoh, that was not all my dream, for in it I saw two pictures. Thefirst was of this bold Rames attacking Thebes, and conquering it, yes, and dragging me away to be his wife over your very corpse, O Pharaoh. The second was of you and your army meeting him at the Gate of the SouthLand, and slaying him, and taking possession of the kingdom of Kesh, andits golden city, and ruling them for Egypt, until you die. "

"Here be two dreams, O Queen, " said Abi. "Tell us now, which would youfollow, for both of them cannot be right?"

"How can I know, Pharaoh, and how can you know? Yet by your side standsone who will know, for he is the first of magicians, and a choseninterpreter of the heart of the gods. Grant that he may make this matterclear, " and she pointed to Kaku, who stood by the throne. 

"Divine Lady, " stammered Kaku, "the thing is too high for me. I have nomessage, I cannot tell you----"

"You were ever over-modest, Kaku, " said the Queen. "Command him, OPharaoh, to shed the light of his wisdom on us, for without doubt heknows the truth. "

"Yes, yes, " said Abi, "he knows it, he knows everything. Kaku, delaynot, interpret the dream of her Majesty. "

"I cannot, I will not, " spluttered the old astrologer. "Ask my wife, theLady Merytra there, she is wiser than I am. "

"My good friend Merytra has already told me her mind, " said the Queen, "now we wait for yours. A prophet must speak when the gods call on him, or, " she added slowly, "he must cease to be a prophet who betrays thegods by hiding their high counsel. "

Now Kaku could find no way of escape, so, since he feared the very nameof Rames, within himself he determined that he would interpret thedream in the sense that Pharaoh should await the attack of this Rames atThebes, and while every ear listened to him, thus began his tale. Yet ashe spoke he felt the glittering eyes of that spirit who was called theQueen, fix themselves upon him and compel his tongue, so that he saidjust what he did not mean to say. 

"A light shines in me, " he cried, "and I see that the second vision ofher Majesty is the true vision. You must go up with your army to theGate of the South, O Pharaoh, and there meet this usurper, Rames, thatthese matters may be brought to their appointed end. "

"Their appointed end? What appointed end?" shouted Abi. 

"Doubtless that which her Majesty dreamed, " answered Kaku. "At least, it is laid upon me to tell you that you must go up to the Gate of theSouth. "

"Then I wish that the Gate of the South were laid upon you also, O EvilProphet, " exclaimed Abi. "For two years only have I ruled in Egypt, andlo! three wars have been my portion, a war against the people of Syria, a war against the desert men, and a war against the Nine Bow barbariansthat invaded the Low Lands. Must I now, in my age, undertake another waragainst the terrible sons of Kesh also? Let this dog, Rames, come, ifcome he will, and I will hang him here at the gates of Thebes. "

"Nay, nay, O Pharaoh, " replied Kaku, "it is laid upon me to tell youthat you must hang him in the desert hundreds of miles away from Thebes. That is the interpretation of the vision; that is the command of thegods. "

"The gods have spoken by the mouth of their prophet, " cried the Queen ina thrilling, triumphant voice. "Now Pharaoh, Priests, Councillors, andCaptains of Egypt, let us make ready to travel to the Gate of the South, and there hang the dog Rames in the desert land, that thus Egypt andEgypt's King and Egypt's Queen may be freed from danger, and rest inpeace, and the wealth of the City of Gold be divided amongst you all. "

"Aye, aye, " answered the Priests, Councillors, and Captains, the shrillvoice of Kaku leading the chorus, still against his will, "let us go upat once, and let her Majesty accompany us. "

"Yes, " said the Queen, "I will accompany you, for though I be but awoman, shall I shrink from what Pharaoh, my dear Lord, dares? We willsail at the new moon. "

That night Abi and Kaku stood face to face. 

"What is this that you have done?" asked Abi. "Do you not remember thewords which dead Pharaoh spoke in the awful vision that came to me thatnight at Memphis, when he bade me take the Royal Loveliness which Idesired to be my wife? Do you not remember that he bade me also reignin her right until I met 'one Rames, Son of Mermes' and with him aBeggar-man who is charged with another message for me?"

"I remember, " answered Kaku in a hollow voice. 

"What, then, is this message, Man, that will come from Rames or theBeggar? Is it not the message of my death and yours, of us whose tombswere finished but yesterday?"

"It may be so, Lord. "

"Then why did you interpret the dream of the Queen in the sense that Imust hurry southwards to meet this very Rames--and my doom?"

"Because I could not help it, " groaned Kaku. "That spirit who is calleda Queen compelled me. Abi, there is no escape for us; we are in the netof Fate--unless, unless you dare----" and he looked meaningly at thesword that hung by Pharaoh's side. 

"Nay, Kaku, " he answered, "I dare not. Let us live while we may, knowingwhat awaits us beyond the gate. "

"Aye, " moaned Kaku, "beyond the Gate of the South, where we shall findRames the Avenger, and that Beggar who is charged with a message forus. "

CHAPTER XVIII

THE JUDGMENT OF THE GODS

Three more months had gone by, and the great host of Pharaoh wasencamped beyond the Southern Gate, and the warships of Pharaoh wereanchored thick on either bank of the Nile. There they lay prepared forbattle, for spies had reported to them that the general, Rames, Lord ofKesh, was advancing northward swiftly, though with so small an army thatit could easily be destroyed. Therefore Abi waited there to destroy itwithout further toil, nor did his terrible Queen gainsay him. She alsoseemed content to wait. 

One evening as the sun sank it was told to them that the troops of Rameshad appeared, and occupied the mountains on the right bank of the Nile, being encamped around that temple of Amen which had stood there forthousands of years. 

"Good, " said the Queen. "To-morrow Pharaoh will go up against him andmake an end of this matter. Is it not so, Pharaoh?" and she looked athim with her glittering eyes. 

"Yes, yes, " answered Abi, "the sooner the better, for I am worn out, andwould return to Thebes. Yet, " he added in a weak, uncertain voice, "Imisdoubt me of this war, I know not why. What is it that you stare at inthe heavens so fixedly, O Kaku?"

Now the eyes of the Council were turned on Kaku the Vizier, and theyperceived that he was much disturbed. 

"Look, " he said, pointing with a trembling finger towards the skies. 

They looked, and saw hanging just above the evening glow a very brightand wonderful star, and near to it, another, paler star which presentlyit seemed to cover. 

"The Star of Amen, " gasped Kaku in a voice that shook, "and your star, OPharaoh. The Star of Amen eats it up, your star goes out, and will neverbe seen again by living man. Oh! Abi, that which I foresaw years andyears ago has come to pass. Your day is done, and your night is at hand, O Abi. "

"If so, " shouted Abi in his rage and terror, "be sure of this, Dog--thatyou shall share it. "

As he spoke a sound of screams drew near, and presently into the midstof them rushed Merytra, the wife of Kaku. 

"The vengeance of the gods, " she screamed, "the vengeance of the gods!Listen, Abi. But now this very evening as I slept in my pavilion, who can never sleep at night, there appeared to me the spirit of deadPharaoh, of Pharaoh whom we slew by magic, and he said: 'Tell themurderer, Abi, and the wizard-rogue, Kaku, your husband, that I summonboth of them to meet me ere another sun is set, and Woman, come you withthem. ' Death is at our door, Abi, death and the terrible vengeance ofthe god!" and Merytra fell down foaming in a fit. 

Now Abi went mad in the extremity of his fear. 

"They are sorcerers, " he shouted, "who would bewitch me. Take them andkeep them safe, and let Kaku be beaten with rods till he comes to hisright mind again. To-morrow, when I have slain Rames, I will hang thismagician at my mast-head. "

But the Queen only laughed and repeated after him:

"Yes, yes, my good Lord, to-morrow, when you have killed Rames, thismagician shall hang at your mast-head. Fear not, whatever chances I willsee that it is done. "

Merytra, recovered from her madness, lay upon a bed, when a womanentered and stood over her. Looking up she saw it was the Queen. 

"Hearken to me, " said the Queen in an icy voice, "and tell the wordsI speak to Abi. The time is accomplished, and I leave him. If he wouldlook again upon Neter-Tua, Morning Star of Amen, the Great Lady ofEgypt, let him seek her in the camp of Rames. There he shall find her inthe temple of Amen, which is set upon the mountain in the midst of thecamp. "

Then she was gone. 

Merytra rose from the bed, and called to the guards to lead her to Abi. So loudly did she call, saying that she had a message for him which mustnot be delayed, that at length one went and told him of her words, andhe came to her. 

"What is it now, Sorceress?" he asked. "Have you dreamed more ill-omeneddreams?"

"Nay, Pharaoh, " she answered, "but the Queen has fled to Rames, " andword for word she repeated what had been told her. 

"It is a lie, " said Abi. "How can she have fled through a triple line ofguards?"

"Search, then, and see, O Pharaoh. "

So Abi searched, but though none had seen her pass, and none had gonewith her, the Queen could not be found. 

It was midnight, and while they still searched, by the light of the moona tall figure clad in tattered robes, who bore a thornwood staff inhis hand, and had a white beard that fell down below his middle, wasperceived walking to and fro about the camp. 

"Who is that fellow?" asked Abi, and as he spoke the figure cried aloudin a great voice:

"Listen, Councillors, Captains, and Soldiers of Egypt, to the command ofAmen, spoken by the lips of his messenger, Kepher the Wanderer. Lift nosword against Rames, Lord of Kesh, for he is my servant, and shall bePharaoh over you, and husband of your Queen, and father of kings tocome. Seize Abi the usurper, the murderer of Pharaoh, his brother, andKaku the sorcerer, and Merytra the traitress, and lead them at the dawnto my temple upon yonder hill, where I will declare my commands toyou in the sanctuary of the temple. So shall peace be upon you and allEgypt, and the breath of life remain in your nostrils. "

Now hearing these fearful words, and remembering dead Pharaoh's prophecyof a Beggar who should bring a message to him, Abi drew his sword andrushed at the man. But ere ever he came there, the Wanderer was gone, and lo! they heard him repeating his message far away. Thither they ranalso, but now the words of doom were being called upon the ships, andon their prows they saw his tall shape stand--first on this and then onthat. 

"It is the gods who speak, " cried the priests, "let us obey the gods!"and suddenly they flung themselves upon Abi and bound him, and Kakuand Merytra they bound also, waiting for the dawn. But of the tall, white-bearded man in beggar's robes they saw and heard no more. 

At that same time Tua slept in a chamber of the temple upon the hill, while Asti watched her. Presently a wind blew in the chamber, and Asti, looking up, became aware of a Shape that she knew well, the very shapeof Tua who slept upon the bed. 

"What is your will, O Double?" asked Asti. 

"My will is that you give me rest, " answered the Ka. "My task isaccomplished, I am weary. Speak the secret words of power that you have, and let me return to her from whom I came, and in her bosom sleep tillthe great Day of Awakening. "

So Asti, knowing that she was commanded so to do, uttered those secretwords, and as she spoke them the glorious Shape seemed to grow faintand fade away. Only Tua rose upon her bed, stretched out her arms andsighed, fell back again and slept heavily until the morning. Then sheawoke, asking what had befallen her, for she was changed. 

"This has befallen, Queen. That which went forth from you by the commandof Amen has returned to you again, its duty done. Rise up now and adornyourself, for this is your day of victory and marriage. "

As the sun rose Tua went forth more beautiful than the morning, and atthe gates of the temple found Rames awaiting her, clad in his armour, while from the mists below came a sound as of an army approaching. 

"What passes?" asked Tua, looking at him, and there was more love in herblue eyes than there is water in the Nile at flood. 

"I think that Abi attacks us, Lady, " he said, bowing the knee to her, "and I am fearful for you, for our men are few, and his are many. "

"Be not afraid of Abi, or of anything, O Rames, though it is true thatthis day you must lose your liberty, " she answered with a sweet andgentle smile, and he wondered at her words. 

Then, before he could speak again, two of the captains of his outpostsran in and reported that without were priests and heralds, who came inpeace from the army of Abi. 

"Summon the officers, and let them be admitted, " said Rames, "but becareful, all of you, lest this embassy should hide some trick of war. Come, Queen, it is to you that they should speak, and not to me, who ambut a general of your province, Kesh, " and he followed her to the innercourt, where, in front of the sanctuary, was a chair, on which, at hisprayer, she seated herself, as a mighty Queen should do. 

Now, conducted by his own officers, the embassy entered, bearing withthem three closed litters, and Tua and Rames noted that among thatembassy were the greatest generals, and the most holy priests of Egypt. At a given sign they prostrated themselves before the glory of theQueen, all save the soldiers who bore the litters. Next, from amongtheir ranks out stepped the venerable High-Priest of Amen at Thebes, andstood before Tua with bowed head till, with a motion of her hand, shecommanded him to speak. 

"O Morning-Star of Amen, " he began, "after you left our camp last nighta messenger came to us from the Father of the Gods----"

"Stay, O High-Priest, " broke in Tua. "I did not leave your camp whonever tarried there, and who for two long years have set no foot uponthe holy soil of Egypt. No, not since I fled from Memphis to save myselffrom death, or what is worse--the defilement of a forced marriage withAbi, my Uncle, and Pharaoh's murderer. "

Now the High-Priest turned and stared at those behind him, and all whowere present stared at the Queen. 

"Pardon me, " he said, "but how can this thing be, seeing that for thosetwo years we have seen your Majesty day by day living among us as thewife of Abi?"

Now Tua looked at Asti, who stood at her side, and the tall and nobleAsti looked at the High-Priest, saying:

"You know me, do you not?"

"Aye, Lady, " he answered, "we know you. You were the wife of Mermes, the last shoot of a royal tree, and you are the mother of the LordRames yonder, against whom we came out to make war. We know you well, O greatest of all the seers in Egypt, Mistress of Secret Things. But webelieved that you had perished in the temple of Sekhet at Memphis, thattemple where Pharaoh died. Now we understand that, being a magician, youonly vanished thence. "

"What bear you there?" asked Asti, glancing at the litters. 

"Bring forth the prisoners, " said the High-Priest. 

Then the curtains were drawn, and the soldiers lifted from the littersAbi, Kaku, and Merytra, who were bound with cords, and stood them ontheir feet before the Queen. 

"These are the very murderers of Pharaoh, my Father, who would have alsobrought me to shame. Why are my eyes affronted with the sight of them?"asked Tua indignantly. 

"Because the Messenger of the Gods, clothed as a Beggar-man, commandedit, your Majesty, " answered the High-Priest. "Now we understand thatthey are brought hither to be judged for the murder of Pharaoh, the goodgod who was your father. "

"Shall a wife sit in judgment on her husband?" broke in Abi. 

"Man, " said Tua, "I never was your wife. How can I have been your wife, who have not seen you since the death of Pharaoh? Listen, now, allof you, to the tale of that marvel which has come to pass. At mybirth--you, O High-Priest, should know it well--Amen gave to me a Ka, aSelf within myself, to protect me in all dangers. The dangers came uponme, and Asti the Magician, my foster-mother, speaking the words that hadbeen taught to her by the spirit of the divine Ahura who bore me, calledforth that Ka of mine, and left it where I had been, to be the wife ofAbi, such a wife, I think, as never man had before. But me, Amen, myfather, rescued, and with me Asti, bearing us in the Boat of the Sun tofar lands, and protecting us in many perils, till at length we came tothe city of Napata, where we found a certain servant of mine whom, as itchances, I--love, " and she looked at Rames and smiled. 

"Meanwhile, my Shadow did the work to which it was appointed, ruling forme in Egypt, and drawing on Abi to his ruin. But last night It returnedto me, and will be seen no more by men, except, perchance, in my tombafter I am dead. Judge you if my tale be true, and whether I am indeedNeter-Tua, Daughter of Amen, " and opening the wrappings about herthroat, she showed the holy sign that was stamped above her breast, adding:

"The High-Priest yonder should know this mark, for he saw it at mybirth. "

Now the aged man drew near, looked, and said:

"It is the sign. Here shines the Star of Amen and no other. Still we donot understand. Tell us the tale, O Asti. "

So Asti stood forward, and told that tale, omitting nothing, and thenRames told his tale, whereto Tua the Queen added a little, and, althoughere they finished the sun was high, none wearied in listening save onlyAbi, Kaku, and Merytra, who heard death in every word. 

It was done at length, and a great silence fell upon the place, for thetongues of men were tied. Presently, the High-Priest, who all this whilehad stood with bent head, lifted up his eyes to heaven, crying:

"O Amen, Father of the Spirit of this Queen, show now thy will, that wemay learn it and obey. "

For a while there was silence, till suddenly a sound was heard in thedark sanctuary where stood the statue of the god, a sound as of a sticktapping upon the granite floor. Then the curtains of that sanctuarywere drawn, and standing between them there appeared the figure of anancient, bearded man, with stony eyes, who was clad in a beggar's robe. It was he who had met Tua and Asti in the wilderness and eaten up theirfood. It was he who had saved them in the palace of the desert king. Itwas he who but last night had walked the camp of Abi. 

"I am that Messenger whom men from the beginning have called Kepher, "he said. "I am the Dweller in the wilderness whom your fathers knew, andyour sons shall know. I am he who seeks for charity and pays it back inlife and death. I am the pen of Thoth the Recorder, I am the scourge ofOsiris. I am the voice of Amen, god above the gods. Hearken you peopleof Egypt--not for a little end have these things come to pass, but thatye may learn that there is design in heaven, and justice upon earth, and, after justice, judgment. Pharaoh, the good servant of the gods, wasbasely murdered by his own kin whom he trusted. Neter-Tua, his daughter, and daughter of Amen, was condemned to shame, Rames of the royal racewas sent forth to danger or to death, far from her he loved, and wholoved him by that divine command which rules the hearts of men. This isthe command of the gods--Let these twain be wed and take Egypt as theirheritage, and call down upon it peace and greatness. But as forthese murderers and wizards"--and he pointed to Abi, to Kaku, and toMerytra--"let them be placed in the sanctuary of Amen, to await what heshall send them. "

So spoke Kepher the Messenger, and departed whence he came, nor in thatgeneration did any see him more. 

Then they took up Abi, Kaku, and Merytra, and cut their bonds. Theythrew them into the dark sanctuary before the great stone image of thegod. They shut the electrum doors upon them, and left them there wailingand cursing, while the High-Priest of Amen joined the hands of Rames andof Tua, and declared them to be man and wife for ever. 

Now, after these things were done, the Pharaoh and his Queen drovethrough the hosts of Egypt in their golden chariot, and receivedthe homage of the hosts ere they departed northwards for Thebes. Atnightfall they returned again and sat side by side at the marriagefeast, and once more Tua swept her harp of ivory and gold, and sang theancient song of him who dared much for love, and won the prize. 

So in the dim, forgotten years, their joy fell on Rames and on Tua, Morning-Star of Amen, which still with them remains in the new immortalkingdom that they have won long and long ago. 

But when in the morning Asti the wise dared to open the great doors andpeer into the sanctuary of Amen, she saw a dreadful sight. For thereat the feet of the effigy of the god lay Abi, who slew his brother, andKaku the sorcerer, and Merytra the traitress, dead, slain by their ownor by each other's hand, and the stony eyes of the god stared down uponthem.