Morning Star.......................................................................................................................................................1

H. Rider Haggard .....................................................................................................................................1

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's masters of the language and lore of the great people who in these

latter days arise from their holy tombs to instruct us in the secrets of history and faith.

With doubt I submitted to you this story, asking whether you wished to accept pages that could not, I feared,

be free from error, and with surprise in due course I read, among other kind things, your advice to me to

"leave it exactly as it is." So I take you at your word, although I can scarcely think that in paths so remote and

Whatever may be the shortcomings, therefore, that your kindness has concealed from me, since this tale was

so fortunate as to please and interest you, its first critic, I offer it to you as an earnest of my respect for your

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 the owner of the said "Double" goes upon a long journey and achieves sundry

adventures, is, in fact, to take a liberty with Doubles. Yet I believe that this is scarcely the case. The Ka or

Double which Wiedermann aptly calls the "Personality within the Person" appears, according to Egyptian

theory, to have had an existence of its own. It did not die when the body died, for it was immortal and

awaited the resurrection of that body, with which, henceforth, it would be reunited and dwell eternally. To

quote Wiedermann again, "The Ka could live without the body, but the body could not live without the Ka . .

. . . it was material in just the same was as the body itself." Also, it would seem that in certain ways it was

superior to and more powerful than the body, since the Egyptian monarchs are often represented as making

offerings to their own Kas as though these were gods. Again, in the story of "Setna and the Magic Book,"

translated by Maspero and by Mr. Flinders Petrie in 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 miles away, and converses with the prince who comes to steal the magic

Although I know no actual precedent for it, in the case of a particularly powerful Double, such as was given

in this romance to Queen NeterTua by her spiritual father, Amen, the greatest of the Egyptian gods, it

seems, therefore, legitimate to suppose that, in order to save her from the abomination of a forced marriage

with her uncle and her father's murderer, the Ka would be allowed to anticipate matters a little, and to play

It must not be understood, however, that the fact of marriage with an uncle would have shocked the Egyptian

mind, since these people, and especially their royal Houses, made a habit of wedding their own brothers and

I may add that there is authority for the magic waxen image which the sorcerer Kaku and his accomplice used

to bewitch Pharaoh. In the days of Rameses III., over three thousand years ago, a plot was made to murder

the king in pursuance of which such images were used. "Gods of wax . . . . . . for enfeebling the limbs of

people," which were "great crimes of death, the great abomination of the land." Also a certain "magic roll"

was brought into play which enabled its user to "employ the magic powers of the gods."

Still, the end of these wizards was not encouraging to others, for they were found guilty and obliged to take

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 own time, and in West Africa, as a fetish, is still pierced with pins or nails, 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, as it has appeared to a traveller in that country and a student of its records. If NeterTua never

sat upon its throne, at least another daughter of Amen, a mighty queen, Hatshepu, wore the crown of the

Upper and the Lower Lands, and sent her embassies to search out the mysteries of Punt. Of romance also, in

high places, there must have been abundance, though the shortcut records of the religious texts of the priests

At any rate, so believing, in the hope that it may interest readers of today, I have ventured to discover and

present one such romance, whereof the motive, we may be sure, is more ancient, by far, than the old

Egyptians, namely, the triumph of true love over great difficulties and dangers. It is pleasant to dream that the

gods are on the side of such lovers, and deign for their sakes to work the miracles in which for thousands of

years mankind has believed, although the scientist tells us that they do not happen.

How large a part marvel and magic of the most terrible and exalted kind played in the life of Old Egypt and

of the nations with which she fought and 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 an article of faith that the Divinity, which

they worshipped under so many names and symbols, made use of such mysterious means to influence or

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 his ship of state to a quay beneath the outermost walls of the mighty city of

Uast or Thebes, which we moderns know as Luxor and Karnac on the Nile. Abi, a large man, very dark of

skin, for his mother was one of the hated Hyksos barbarians who once had usurped the throne of Egypt, sat

upon the deck of his ship and stared at the setting sun which for a few moments seemed to rest, a round ball

of fire, upon the bare and rugged mountains, that ring round the Tombs of the Kings.

He was angry, as the slavewomen, who stood on either side fanning him, could see well enough by the

scowl on his coarse face and the fire in his large black eyes. Presently they felt it also, for one of them, staring

at the temples and palaces of the wonderful city made glorious by the light of the setting sun, that city of

which she had heard so often, touched his head with the feathers of her fan. Thereon, as though glad of an

excuse to express his illhumour, Abi sprang up and boxed her ears so heavily that the poor girl fell to the

"Awkward cat," he cried, "do that again and you shall be flogged until your 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 girl rose, and with her fellow slave ran swiftly to the ladder that led to the waist of the ship.

"He called me a cat," Merytra hissed through her white teeth to her companion. "Well, if so, Sekhet the

"Yes," answered the other, "and he said that we were both uglywe, whom every lord who comes near the

"Then why don't they buy us? Abi would sell his daughters, much more his fanbearersat 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. Have your fling while you can, I say. Who knows at which corner Osiris, Lord of

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

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

"Master of the Stars," said Merytra, "we have a message for you. No, do not look at my cheek, please, the

marks are not magical, only those of the divine fingers of the glorious hand of the most exalted Prince Abi,

son of the Pharaoh happily ruling in Osiris, etc., etc., etc., of the right, royal blood of Egyptthat is on one

side, and on the other of a divine lady whom Khem the Spirit, or Ptah the Creator, thought fit to dip in a vat

"Hem!" said Kaku glancing nervously over his shoulder. Then, seeing that there was no one near, he added,

"you had better be careful what you say, my dear. The royal Abi does not like to hear the colour of his late

"Well," he answered, "if I had been in his place I would rather have kissed it, for it is pretty, decidedly

"There, Sister," said the girl, "I always told you that rough shells have sweet nuts inside of them. Thank you

for your compliment, Master of learning. 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,

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

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

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

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

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

A minute later this searcher of the heavens, a tall, hooknosed man, was prostrating himself before Abi in his

pavilion on the upper deck, so low that his Syrianshaped cap fell from his bald head.

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

"Indeed, I thought I heard them giggling with you down there. What did you call me? Royal Son of the Sun?

That is Pharaoh's name! Have the stars shown you?" and he looked at him eagerly.

"No, Prince, not exactly that. I did not think it needful to search them on a matter which seems established,

"More or less," answered Abi gloomily. "What do you mean by your 'more or less'? Here am I at the

turningpoint of my fortunes, not knowing whether I am to be Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Lands, or

only the petty lord of a city and a few provinces in the Delta, and you satisfy my hunger for the truth with an

"If your Majesty will be pleased to tell his servant exactly what you desire to know, perhaps I may be able to

"Majesty! Well, I desire to know by what warrant you call me 'Majesty,' who am only Prince of Memphis.

"Certainly, certainly. How could I disobey? I observed them all last night, 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 is you. Man," he added fiercely, "if you dare to lie to me I will cut your head off

and take it to Pharaoh as a traitor's; and your body shall lie, not in that fine tomb which you have made, but in

the belly of a crocodile whence there is no resurrection. Do you understand? Then let us come to the point.

Look, the sun sets there behind the Tombs of Kings, where the departed Pharaohs of Egypt take their rest till

the Day of Awakening. It is a bad omen for me, I know, who wished to reach this city in the morning when

Ra was in the House of Life, the East, and not in 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 must come after all. Tell me,

"I think so, Prince; at least, so says your planet. Look, yonder, it springs to life above you," and he pointed to

"You are keeping something back from me," said Abi, searching Kaku's face with his fierce eyes. "Shall I

sleep in the tomb of Pharaoh, in my own everlasting house that I shall have made ready to receive me?"

"Son of Ra, I cannot say," answered the astrologer. "Divine One, I will be frank with you. Though you be

wrath, yet will I tell you the truth as you command me. An evil influence is at work in your House of Life.

Another star crosses and recrosses your path, and though for a long time you seem to swallow it up, yet at

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

"Say rather against two gods, for with the star of Amen goes the star of Hathor, Queen of Love. Not for many

periods of thousands of years have they been together, but now they draw near to each other, and so will

remain for all your life. Look," and Kaku pointed to the Eastern horizon where a faint rosy glow still lingered

As they watched this glow melted, and there in the pure heavens, lying just 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 only were they seen; then they vanished beneath the line

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

"Well, Fool, what of it?" exclaimed Abi. "They are far enough from my star; moreover, it is they that sink,

"Aye, Prince, but in a year to come they will certainly eclipse that star of yours. Prince, Amen and Hathor are

against you. Look, I will show you their journeyings on this scroll and you shall see where they eat you up

yonder, yes, yonder over the Valley of dead Kings, though twenty years and more must go by ere then, and

take this for your comfort, during those years you shine alone," and he began to unfold a papyrus roll.

"You cheat!" he said. "Do you think to frighten me with this nonsense about stars? Here is my star," and he

drew the short sword at his side and shook it over the head of the trembling Kaku. "This sharp bronze is the

"I have told the truth as I see it," answered the poor astrologer with some dignity, "but if you wish, O Prince,

that in the future I should indeed prophesy pleasant things to you, why, it can be done easily enough.

Moreover, it seems to me that this horoscope of yours is not so evil, seeing that it gives to you over twenty

years of life and power, more by far than most men can expectat your age. If after that come troubles and

"That is so," replied Abi mollified. "It was my illtemper, everything has gone cross today. Well, a gold

cup, my own, shall pay the price of it. Bear me no illwill, I pray you, learned scribe, and above all tell me no

falsehood as the message of the stars you serve. It is the truth I seek, the truth. If only she may be seen, and

Rejoicing at the turn which things had taken, and especially at the promise of the priceless cup which he had

long coveted, Kaku bowed obsequiously. He picked up his crumpled roll and was about to retire when

through the gloom of the falling night, some men mounted upon asses were seen riding over the mud flats

"The captain of my guard," said Abi, who saw the starlight gleam upon a bronze helmet, "who brings me

Pharaoh's answer. Nay, go not, bide and hear it, Kaku, and give us your counsel on it, your true counsel."

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

"Lord, he says that he will receive you, though as he did not send for you, he thinks that you can scarcely

come upon any necessary errand, as he has heard long ago of your victory over the desertdwelling

barbarians, and does not want the offering of the salted heads of their officers which you bring to him."

"Good," said Abi contemptuously. "The divine Pharaoh was ever a woman in such matters, as in others. Let

him be thankful that he has generals who know how to make war and to cut off the heads of his enemies in

"Lord," added the captain, "that is not all Pharaoh's message. He says that it has been reported to him that you

are accompanied by a guard of three hundred soldiers. These soldiers he refuses to allow within the gates. He

directs that you shall appear before his Majesty attended by five persons only."

"Indeed," answered Abi with a scornful laugh. "Does Pharaoh fear, then, lest I should capture him and his

"No, Prince," answered the captain bluntly; "but I think he fears lest you should kill him and declare yourself

"Ah!" said Abi, "as next of blood. Then I suppose that there are still no 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 girls without number, but never a one of them had an infant on her breast or

"Ah!" said Abi again. Then he walked forward out of the pavilion whereof the curtains were drawn back, and

By now night had fallen, and the great moon, rising from the earth as it were, 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, towered to the tender sky. In the window places of

palaces and of ten thousand homes lamps shone like stars. From gardens, streets and the courts of temples

floated the faint sound of singing and of music, while on the great embattled walls the watchmen called the

It was a wondrous scene, and the heart of Abi swelled as he gazed upon it. What wealth lay yonder, and what

power. There was the glorious house of his brother, Pharaoh, the god in human form who for all his godship

had never a child to follow after him when he ascended to Osiris, as he who was sickly probably must do

Yes, but before then a miracle might happen; in this way or in that a successor to the throne might be found

and acknowledged, for were not Pharaoh and his House beloved by all the priests of Amen, and by the

people, 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 had put it in his father's heart to give him a princess of the Hyksos for a mother,

the Hyksos, whom the Egyptians loathed, when he had the fairest women of the world from whom to choose?

Well, it was done and could not be undone, though because of it he might lose his heritage of the greatest

throne in all the earth. Also was it not to this fierce Hyksos blood that he owed his strength and vigour?

Why should he wait? Why should he not set his fortune on a cast? He had three hundred soldiers with him,

picked men and brave, children of the sea and the desert, sworn to his House and interests. It was a time of

festival, those gates were illguarded. Why should he not force them at the dead of night, make his way to

the palace, cause Pharaoh to be gathered to his fathers, and at the dawn discover himself seated upon

Pharaoh'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 as though already he felt upon it the weight of the double crown. Then he turned

"I am minded to strike a blow," he said. "Say now, my officer, would you and the soldiers follow me into the

heart of yonder city tonight to win a throneor a grave? If it were the first, you should be the general of all

my army, and you, astrologer, should become vizier, yes, after Pharaoh you two should be the greatest men in

"A venturesome deed, Prince," said the captain at length; "yet with such a prize to win I think that I would

dare it, though for the soldiers I cannot speak. First they must be told what is on foot, and out of so many,

how know we that the heart of one or more would not fail? A word from a traitor and before this time

"Prince," said Kaku, "put such thoughts from you. Bury them deep. Let them 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 hell opening

beneath our feet. Yes, hell would be our home if we dared to lift hand against the divine person of the

Pharaoh. I say that the gods themselves would fight against us. Let it be, Prince, let it be, and you shall have

many years of rule, who, if you strike now, will win nothing but a crown of shame, a nameless grave, and the

As he spoke Abi considered the man's face and saw that all craft had left it. This was no charlatan that spoke

"So be it," he answered. "I accept your judgment, and will wait upon my fortune. 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 I make ready. Perhaps tomorrow I may

"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 tomorrow two hours after

"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 my heart, and with a whisper could bring doom upon me."

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

"Life is sweet to all men, Prince," he said significantly, "and we have never given you cause to doubt us."

"No," answered Abi, "had it been otherwise I should have struck first and spoken afterwards. Only you must

swear by the oath which may not be broken 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 and the redeemer.

"Captain," said Abi, "you have served me well. Your pay is doubled, and I confirm the promise that I made to

"Master of the stars, my gold cup is yours. Is there aught else of mine that you desire?"

"That slave," answered the learned man, "Merytra, whose ears you boxed just now"

"How do you know that I boxed her ears?" asked Abi quickly. "Did the stars tell you that also? Well, I am

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

It was morning at Thebes, and the great city glowed in the rays of the newrisen sun. In a royal barge sat Abi

the prince, splendidly apparelled, and with him Kaku, his astrologer, his captain of the guard and three other

of his officers, while in a second barge followed slaves who escorted two chiefs and some fair women

captured in war, also the chests of salted heads and hands, offerings to Pharaoh.

The whiterobed rowers bent to their oars, and the swift boat shot forward up the Nile through a double line

of ships of war, all of them crowded with soldiers. Abi looked at these ships which Pharaoh had gathered

there to meet him, and thought to himself that Kaku had given wise counsel when he prayed him to attempt

no rash deed, for against such surprises clearly Pharaoh was well prepared. He thought it again when on

reaching the quay of cut stones he saw foot and horsemen marshalled there in companies and squadrons,

and on the walls above hundreds of other men, all armed, for now he saw what would have happened to him,

if with his little desperate band he had tried to pierce that iron ring of watching soldiers.

At the steps generals met him in their mail and priests in their full robes, bowing and doing him honour. Thus

royally escorted, Abi passed through the open gates and the pylons of the splendid temple dedicated to the

Trinity of Thebes, "the House of Amen in the Southern Apt," where gay banners fluttered from the pointed

masts, up the long street bordered with tall houses set in their gardens, till he came to the palace wall. Here

more guards rolled back the brazen gates which in his folly of a few hours gone he had thought that he could

force, and through the avenues of blooming trees he was led to the great pillared hall of audience.

After the brightness without, that hall seemed almost dark, only a ray of sunshine flowing from an

unshuttered space in the clerestory above, fell full on the end of it, and revealed the crowned Pharaoh and his

queen seated in state upon their thrones of ivory and gold. Gathered round and about him also were scribes

and councillors and captains, and beyond these other queens in their carved chairs and attended, each of

them, by beautiful women of the household in their gala dress. Moreover, behind the thrones, and at intervals

between the columns, stood the famous Nubian guard of two hundred men, the servants of the body of

The centre of all this magnificence was Pharaoh, on him the sunlight beat, to him every eye was turned, and

where his glance fell there heads bowed and knees were bent. A small thin man of about forty years of age

with a puckered, kindly and anxious face, and a brow that seemed to sink beneath the weight of the double

crown that, save for its royal snakecrest of hollow gold, was after all but of linen, a man with thin, nervous

hands which played amongst the embroideries of his golden robesuch was Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch

in the world, the ruler whom millions that had never seen him worshipped as a god.

Abi, the burly framed, thicklipped, darkskinned, roundeyed Abi, born of the same father, stared at him

with wonderment, for years had passed since last they met, and in the palace when they were children a gulf

had been set between the offspring of a royal mother and the child of a Hyksos concubine taken into the

Household for reasons of state. In his vigour, and the might of his manhood, he stared at this weakling, the

son of a brother and a sister, and the grandson of a brother and a sister. Yet there was something in that gentle

eye, an essence of inherited royalty, before which his rude nature bowed. The body might be contemptible,

Abi advanced to the steps of the throne and knelt there, till after a little pause Pharaoh stretched out the

"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 all wounds andwelcome, son of my father. I need not ask if you are

"Hail to your divine Majesty!" answered Abi in his deep voice. "Health and strength be with you, Holder of

the Scourge of Osiris, Wearer of the Feathers of Amen, Mortal crowned with the glory of Ra."

"I thank you, Prince," answered Pharaoh gently, "and that health and strength I need, who fear that I shall

only find them when I have yielded up the Scourge of Osiris whereof you speak to him who lent it me. But

enough of myself. Let us to business, afterwards we will talk of such matters together. Why have you left

your government at Memphis without leave asked, to visit me here in my City of the Gates?"

"Be not wrath with me," answered Abi humbly. "A while ago, in obedience to your divine command, I

attacked the barbarians who threatened your dominions 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 dust before me. Two of their kings I

captured with their womenthey wait without, to be slain by your Majesty. I bring with me the heads of a

hundred of their captains and the hands of five hundred of their soldiers, in earnest of the truth of my word.

Let them be spread out before you. I report to your divine Majesty that those barbarians are no more, that for

a generation, at least, I have made the land safe to your uttermost dominions in the north. Suffer that the

heads and the hands be brought in and counted out before your Majesty, that the smell of them may rise like

"No, no," said Pharaoh, "my officers shall count them without, for I love not such sights of death, and I take

your word for the number. What payment do you ask for this service, my brother, for with great gifts would I

Before he answered Abi looked at the beautiful queen, Ahura, who sat at Pharaoh's side, and at the other

"Your Majesty," he said, "I see here many wives and ladies, but royal children I do not see. Grantfor

doubtless they are in their own chambersgrant, O Pharaoh, that they may be led hither that my eyes may

feed upon their loveliness, and that I may tell of them, each of them, to their cousins who await me at

At these words a flush as of shame spread itself over the lovely face of Ahura, the royal wife, the Lady of the

Two Lands; while the women turned their heads away whispering to each other bitterly, for the insult hurt

"Prince Abi, to affront those whom the gods have smitten, be they kings or peasants, is an unworthy deed

which the gods will not forget. You know well that I have no children. Why then do you ask me to show you

"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 certain that there would be some mothers. Therefore I asked to be sure before I

proffered a petition which now I will make to you not for my own sake but for Egypt's and yours, O Pharaoh.

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

"Your Majesty has told me," replied Abi bowing, "that the gods, being wrath, have denied you children. Not

so much as one girl of your blood have they given to you to fill your throne after you when in due season it

pleases you to depart to Osiris. Were it otherwise, were there even but a single womanchild of your divine

race, I would say nothing, I would be silent as the grave. But so it is, and though your queens be fair and

many, so it would seem that it must remain, since the ears of the gods having been deaf to your pleadings for

so long, although you have built them glorious temples and made them offerings without count, will scarcely

now be opened. Even Amen your father, Amen, whose name you bear, will perform no miracle for you, O

Pharaoh, who are so great that he has decreed that you shall shine alone like the full moon at night, not

Now Ahura the Queen, who all this while had been listening intently, spoke for the first time in a quick angry

"How know you that, Prince of Memphis? Sometimes the gods relent and that which they have withheld for a

space, they give. My lord lives, and I 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 that it will be so, for who am I that I

should know the purpose of the kings of heaven? If but one girl be born of you and Pharaoh, then I take back

my words and give to you that title which for many years has been written falsely upon your thrones and

Now Ahura would have answered again, for this sneering taunt stung her to the quick. But Pharaoh laid his

"Continue, Prince and brother. We have heard from you that which we already know too wellthat I am

childless. Tell us what we do not know, the desire of your heart which lies hid beneath all these words."

"But of a mother who was not divine," broke in Ahura; "of a mother taken from a race that has brought many

"Pharaoh," went on Abi without heeding her, "you grow weak; heaven desires you, the earth melts beneath

you. In the north and in the south many dangers threaten Egypt. Should you die suddenly without an heir,

barbarians will flow in from the north and from the south, and the great ones 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 to rule with you and in the hearing of all the

earth name me and my sons as your successors, so that our royal race may continue for generation after

Now, as the meaning of this bold request sank into their hearts, all the court there gathered gasped and

whispered, while the Queen Ahura in her anger crushed the lotus flower which she held in her hand and cast

it to the floor. Only Pharaoh sat still and silent, his head bent and his eyes shut as though in prayer. For a

minute or more he sat thus, and when he lifted his pale, pure face, there was a smile upon it.

"Abi, my brother," he said in his gentle voice, "listen to me. There are those who filled this throne before me,

who on hearing such words would have pointed to you with their sceptres, whereon, Abi, those lips of yours

would have grown still for ever, and you and your name and the names 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 of your

heart to me. Still, Abi, you have not told us all of them. You have not told us, for instance," he went on

slowly, and in the midst of an intense silence, "that but last night you debated whether it would not be

possible with that guard of yours to break into my palace and put me to the sword and name yourself

Pharaohby right of blood, Abi; yes, by right of bloodmy blood shed by you, my brother."

As these words left the royal lips a tumult arose in the hall, the women and the great officers sprang up, the

captains stepped forward drawing their swords to avenge so horrible a sacrilege. But Pharaoh waved his

"Who has dared to whisper a lie so monstrous?" And he glared first at Kaku and then at the captain of his

"Suspect not your officers, Prince," went on the Pharaoh, still smiling, "for on my royal word they are

innocent. Yet, Abi, a pavilion set upon the deck of a ship is no good place to plot the death of kings. Pharaoh

has many spies, also, at times, the gods, to whom as you say he is so near, whisper tidings to him in his sleep.

Suspect not your officers, Abi, although I think that to yonder Master of the Stars who stands behind you, I

should be grateful, since, had you attempted to execute this 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 shall have 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

slave whom your master gave to you last night after he had punished her for no fault?"

Kaku prostrated himself before the glory of Pharaoh, understanding at last that it was the lost girl Merytra

who had overheard and betrayed them. But heeding him no more, his Majesty went on.

"Abi, Prince and brother, I forgive you a deed that you purposed but did not attempt. May the gods and the

spirits of our fathers forgive you also, if they will. Now as to your demand. You are my only living brother,

and therefore I will weigh it. Perchance, if I should die without issue, although you are not all royal, although

there flows in your veins a blood that Egypt hates; although you could plot the murder of your lord and king,

it may be well that when I am gone you should fill my place, for you are brave and of the ancient race on one

side, if baseborn on the other. But I am not yet dead, and children may still come to me. Abi, will you be a

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

"Then kneel here, and by the dreadful Name swear that you will lift no hand 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 lord and

lawful Pharaoh. In the presence of all this company, swear, knowing that if you break the oath in letter or in

spirit, then all the gods of Egypt shall pour their curse upon your head in life, and in death shall give you over

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

It was night. Dark and solemn was the innermost shrine of the vast temple, the "House of Amen in the

Northern Apt," which we call Karnak, the very holy of holies where, fashioned of stone, and with the

feathered crown upon his head, stood the statue of Amenra, father of the gods. Here, where none but the

highpriest and the royalties of Egypt might enter, Pharaoh and his wife Ahura, wrapped in brown cloaks like

common folk, knelt at the feet of the god and prayed. With tears and supplications did they pray that a child

There in the sacred place, lit only by a single lamp which burned from age to age, they told the story of their

grief, whilst high above them the 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 that went before them. They told of the mocking

words of Abi who had demanded to see their children, the children that were not; they told of their terror of

the people who demanded that an heir should be declared; they told of the doom that threatened their ancient

house, which from Pharaoh to Pharaoh, all of one blood, for generations had worshipped in this place. They

promised gifts and offerings, stately temples and wide lands, 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 a child to fill the seat of my lord the King, and then if thou wilt, take my

But the god made no answer, and wearied out at length they rose and departed. At the door of the sanctuary

"The god gave no sign, O Highpriest," said Pharaoh sadly; "no voice spoke to us."

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

"To me, watching without," he said, "a voice seemed to speak, though what it said I may not reveal. Go to

your palace now, O Pharaoh, and O Queen Ahura, and take your rest side by side. I think that in your sleep a

sign will come to you, for Amen is pitiful, and loves his children who love him. According to that sign so

speak to the Prince Abi, speak without 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, they found their litters, and were borne along the great avenue of ramheaded

It was past midnight. Deep darkness and heavy silence lay upon Thebes, broken only by dogs howling at the

stars and the occasional challenge of soldiers on the walls. Side by side in their golden bed the wearied

Pharaoh and his queen slept heavily. Presently Ahura woke. She started up in the bed; she stared at the

darkness about her with frightened eyes; she stretched out her hand and clasping Pharaoh by the arm,

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

"O Pharaoh, I have dreamed a dream, if indeed it were but a dream. It seemed to me that the darkness opened,

and that standing in the darkness I saw a Glory which had neither shape nor form. Yet a voice spoke from the

Glory, a low, sweet voice: 'Queen Ahura, my daughter,' it said, 'I am that Spirit to whom thou and thy

husband did pray this night in the sanctuary of my temple. It seemed to both of you that your prayers

remained unheard, yet it was not so, as my priest knew well. Queen Ahura, thou and Pharaoh thy husband

have put your trust in me these many years, 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 and glorious as no woman was before her, for I

clothe her with health and power and wisdom. She shall rule over the Northern and the Southern Lands; 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 she shall tread her enemy beneath her feet. A royal lover shall

come to her also, and she shall rejoice in his love and from it shall spring many kings and princes.

NeterTua, Morning Star, shall be her name, and highpriestess of Amenno lessshall be her office, for

she is my child whom I have taken from heaven and sent down to earth; the child that I have given to Pharaoh

and to thee, and I love her and appoint the good goddesses to be her companions, and command Osiris to

"'Behold, in token of these things I lay my symbol on thy breast, and on her breast also shall that symbol be.

When I lift it from thee and thou dost open thy eyes, then awaken Pharaoh at thy side and let these my words

"Then, O Pharaoh," went on Ahura, "from the Glory there came forth a hand, and in the hand was the Symbol

of Life shining as though with fire, and the hand laid it upon my breast and it burned me as though with fire,

and I awoke and lo! darkness was all about me, nothing but darkness, and at my side I heard you sleeping."

Now when Pharaoh had listened to this dream, he kissed the queen and blessed her because of its good omen,

and clapped his hands to summon the women of honour who slept without. They ran in bearing lights, and by

the lights he saw that beneath the throat of the Queen upon her fair skin, appeared a red mark, and the shape

of it was the shape of the Sign of Life; yes, there was the loop, and beneath the loop the cross.

Then Pharaoh commanded that the chief of his scribes should come to him with papyrus and writing tools,

and that the highpriest of Amen should be brought swiftly from the temple. So the scribe came to the

bedchamber of the King, and in the presence of the highpriest all the words of Amen were written down,

not one of them was omitted, and Pharaoh and the Queen signed the roll, and the highpriest witnessed it

and, copies having been made, bore it away to hide it in the secret treasury of Amen. But the mark of the

Cross of Life remained upon the breast of the Queen Ahura till the day that she died.

Now in the morning Pharaoh summoned his Court and commanded that the Prince Abi should be brought

"Son of my father," he said, "I have considered your request that I should take you to rule with me on the

throne of Egypt, and name you and your sons to be Pharaohs after me, and it is refused. Know that it has been

revealed to me and to the royal wife, Ahura, by the greatest of the gods, that a daughter shall be born to us in

due season, who shall be called Morning Star of Amen, and that she and her seed shall be Pharaohs after me.

Therefore rejoice with us and return to your government, Prince Abi, and be happy in our love, and in the

Now Abi shook with anger, for he thought that all this tale was a trick and a snare. But knowing that his peril

was great there in the hand of Pharaoh, he answered only that when this Morning Star arose, his star should

do it reverence, though as the words passed his lips he remembered the prophecy of his astrologer Kaku, that

"You think that I speak falsely, Prince Abi, yes, that I stain my lips with lies," said Pharaoh with indignation.

"Well, I forgive you this also. Go hence and await the issue and know by this sign that truth is in my heart.

When the Princess NeterTua is born, upon her breast shall be seen the symbol of the Sign of Life. Depart

So Abi returned to the whitewalled city of Memphis and sat there sullenly, putting it about that a plot was

on foot to deprive him of his heritage. But Kaku shook his head, saying in secret that the Star, NeterTua,

At the appointed time to Ahura, the royal wife, was born a child, a girl with a fresh and lovely face and

waving hair and eyes that from the first were blue like the summer sky at even. Also on her breast was a mole

of the length of a finger nail, which mole was shaped like the holy Sign of Life.

Now Pharaoh and his house and the priests in every temple, and indeed all Egypt went mad with joy, though

there were many who in secret mourned over the sex of the infant, whispering that a man and not a woman

should wear the Double Crown. But in public they said nothing, since the story of this child had gone abroad

and folk declared that it was sent by the gods, and divine, and that the goddesses, Isis, Nepthys, and Hathor,

with Khemu, the Maker of Mankind, were seen in the birth chamber, glowing like gold.

Also Pharaoh issued a decree that wherever the name of the Queen Ahura was graven in all the land, to it

should be added the title "By the will of Amen, Mother of his Morning Star," and that a new hall should be

built in the temple of Amen in the Northern Apt, and all about it carved the story of the coming of Prince Abi

But Ahura never lived to see this glorious place, since from the hour of her daughter's birth she began to sink.

On the fourteenth day, the day of purification, she bade the nurse bring the beautiful babe, and gazed at 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 Ka protect it well through the dangers of life and death until the hour of resurrection.

Then she said that she heard Amen calling to her to pay the price which she had promised for the gift of the

divine child, the price of her own life, and smiled upon Pharaoh her husband, and died happily with a radiant

Now joy was turned to mourning, and during all the days of embalming Egypt wept for Ahura until, at length,

the time came when her body was rowed across the Nile to the splendid tomb which she had made ready in

the Valley of the Queens, causing masons and artists to labour at it without cease. For Ahura knew from the

day of her vision that she was doomed to die, and remembered that the tombs of the dead remain as the live

hands leave them, since few waste gold and toil upon the eternal house of one who is dead.

So Ahura was buried with great pomp and all her jewels, and Pharaoh, who mourned 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 was borne

across the Nile, he built it up for ever, and poured sand over the rock, so that none should find its place until

Meanwhile, the infant grew and flourished, and when it was six months old, was taken to the college of the

Now on the day of the birth of the Princess NeterTua, there happened another birth with which our story has

to do. The captain of the guard of the temple of Amen was one Mermes, who had married his own half

sister, Asti, the enchantress. As was well known, this Mermes was by right and true descent the last of that

house of Pharaohs which had filled the throne of Egypt until their line was cast down generations before by

the dynasty that now ruled the land, whereof the reigning Pharaoh and his daughter NeterTua alone

remained. A long while past, in the early days of his reign, his council has whispered in Pharaoh's ear that he

should kill Mermes and his sister, lest a day should come when they rebelled against him, proclaiming that

they did so by right of blood. But Pharaoh, who was gentle and hated murder, instead of slaying Mermes sent

Then Mermes, a noblelooking man as became the stock from which he sprang, prostrated himself and said,

"O Pharaoh, why should you kill me? It has pleased the gods to debase my House and to set up yours. Have I

ever lifted up my heel against you because my forefathers were kings, or plotted with the discontent to

overthrow you! See, I am satisfied with my station, which is that of a noble 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 your

true and humble servants. Dip not your hands in our innocent blood, O Pharaoh, lest the gods send a curse

When Pharaoh heard these words, his heart was moved in him, and he stretched out his sceptre for Mermes to

"Mermes," he said, "you are an honourable man, and my equal in blood if not in place. For their own

purposes the gods raise up one and cast down another that at last their ends may be fulfilled. I believe that

you will work no harm against me and mine, and, therefore, I will work no harm against you and your sister

Then Pharaoh offered high rank and office to him, but Mermes would not take them, answering that if he did,

envy would be stirred up against him, and in this way or that bring him to his death, since tall trees are the

first to fall. So in the end Pharaoh made Mermes Captain of the Guard of Amen, and gave him land and

houses enough to enable him to live as a noble of good estate, but no more. Also he became a friend of

Pharaoh and one of his inner Council, to whose voice he always listened, for Mermes was a truehearted

Afterwards Mermes married Asti, but like Pharaoh for a long while he remained childless, since he took no

other wives. On the day of the birth of the Princess Tua, the Morning Star of Amen, however, Asti bore a son,

a royallooking child of great strength and beauty and very fair in colour, as tradition said that the kings of

Whereon Asti, his mother, forgetting her caution in her joy, or perhaps inspired by the gods, for from her

"Yes, and I think that this head and a crown will come close together," and she kissed him and named him

As it chanced a spy overheard this saying and reported it to the Council, 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 the words of

omen that Asti had spoken, and because she had given her son a royal name, naming him after the majesty of

Ra, as though he were indeed the child of a king. But Pharaoh would not, asking with his soft smile whether

they wished him to baptise his daughter in the blood of another infant who drew his first breath upon the

"Ra sheds his glory upon all, and this highborn boy may live to be a friend in need to her whom Amen has

given to Egypt. Let things befall as the gods decree. Who am I that I should make myself a god and destroy a

So the boy Rames lived and throve, and Mermes and Asti, when they came to hear of these things, thanked

Now the house of Mermes, as Captain of the Guard, was within the wall of the great temple of Amen, near to

the palace of the priestesses of Amen where the Princess NeterTua was nurtured. Thus it came about that

when the 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 in whose veins ran royal blood. So Asti was Tua's foster mother, and

night 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 and speak together, and later, as children, they became playmates.

Thus from the first these two loved each other, as brother and sister love when they are twins. But although

the boy was bold and brave, this little princess always had the mastery of him, not because she was a princess

and heir to the throne of Egyptfor all the high titles they gave her fell idly on her ears, nor did she think

anything of the bowings of courtiers and of priestsbut from some strength within herself. She it was that

set the games they played, and when she talked he was obliged to listen, for although she was so sound and

Thus she had what she called her "silent hours" when she would suffer no one to come near her, not her

ladies or her fostermother, Asti herself, nor even Rames. Then, followed by the women at a distance, she

would wander among the great columns of the temple and study the sculptures on 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 fashioned

in granite and in alabaster. This she would do even in the solemn moonlight when mortals were afraid to

"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 the beginning of the world; also they frighten me, especially when Ra is

"They are not dull, and they do not frighten me," answered Tua; "they talk to me, and although I cannot

"I do not know. I think it is their spirits that talk, telling me stories which happened before I was born and that

shall happen after I am dead, yes, and after they seem to be dead. Now be silentI say that they talk to

"For me it would be more than enough," said the boy, "but then I am not called Child of Amen, who only

When Rames was seven years of age, every morning he was taken to school in the temple, where the priests

taught him to write with pens of reed upon tablets of wood, and told him more about the gods of Egypt than

he ever wanted to hear again. During these hours, except when she was being instructed by the great ladies of

the Court, or by highpriestesses, Tua was left solitary, since by the command of Pharaoh no other children

were allowed to play with her, perhaps because there were none in the temple of her age whose birth was

Once when he came back from his school in the evening Rames asked her if she had not been lonely without

"Just like me, except that it throws no shadow, and only comes when I am quite by myself, and then, although

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

A little while after this talk something happened that caused Rames to change his mind about Kas, or at any

rate the Ka of Tua. In a hidden court of the temple was a deep pool of water with cemented sides, where, it

was said, lived a sacred crocodile, an enormous beast that had dwelt there for hundreds of years. Rames and

Tua having heard of this crocodile, often talked of it and longed to see it, but could not for there was a high

wall round the tank, and in it a door of copper that was kept locked, except when once in every eight days the

priests took in food to the crocodileliving goats and sheep, and sometimes a calf, none of which ever came

Now one day Rames watching them return, saw the priest, who was called Guardian of the Door, put his hand

behind him to thrust the key with which he had just locked the door, into his wallet, and missing the mouth of

the wallet, let it fall upon the sand, then go upon his way knowing nothing of what he had done.

When he had gone in a great hurry, for he was a fat old priest and the dinner hour was at hand, Rames

pounced upon the key and hid it in his robe. Then he sought out the princess and said,

"Morning Star, this evening, when I come back from school and am allowed to play with you, we can look at

the wonderful beast in the tank, for look, I have the key which that fat priest will not search for till seven days

are gone by, before which I can take it to him, saying that I found it in the sand, or perhaps put it back into his

When she heard this Tua's eyes shone, since above all things she desired to see this holy monster. But in the

evening when the boy came running to her eagerlyfor he had thought of nothing but the crocodile all day,

and had bought a pigeon from a schoolfellow with which to feed the brutehe found Tua in a different

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

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

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

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

"I cannot, Rames, for it is me. Moreover, if Set took it, he would take me also, and you are wicked to wish

Now the boy began to cry with vexation, sobbing out that she was not to be trusted, and that he had paid

away his bronze knife, which Pharaoh had given him when last he visited the temple, for a pigeon to tempt

the beast to the top of the water, so that they might see it, although the knife was worth many pigeons, and

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

"It's taken already," he answered. "It fluttered so that I had to sit on it 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 and stiff.

"As you did not mean to kill it, that makes a difference," said Tua judicially. "Well, perhaps my Ka did not

mean that we should not have one peep, and it is a pity to waste the poor pigeon, which then will have died

Rames agreed that it would be the greatest of pities, so the two children slipped away through the trees of the

garden into the shadow of the wall, along which they crept till they came to the bronze door. Then guiltily

enough Rames put the great key into the lock, and with the help of a piece of wood which he had also made

ready, that he set in the ring of the key to act as a lever, the two of them turning together shot back the heavy

Taking out the key lest it should betray them, they opened the door a little and squeezed themselves through

into the forbidden place. No sooner had they done so than almost they wished themselves back again, for

there was something about the spot that frightened them, to say nothing of the horrible smell which made Tua

feel ill. It was a great tank, with a little artificial island in its centre, full of slimy water that looked almost

black because of the shadow of the high walls, and round it ran a narrow stone path. At one spot in this path,

however, where grew some danklooking trees and bushes, was a slope, also of stone, and on the slope with

its prow resting in the water a little boat, and in the boat, oars. But of the crocodile there was nothing to be

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

"Stench," answered Rames. "I smell nothing except the lilies on the water. Let us wake it up, it would be silly

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

What Rames did not add was that it would be impossible to retreat as the door had closed behind them, and

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

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

So he led her to the stone slope, where to her horror Tua saw the remains of the crocodile's last meal, a sight

that caused her to forget her doubts and jump into the boat very quickly. Then Rames gave it a push and

sprang in after her, so that they found themselves floating on the water. Now, standing in the bow, the boy

took an oar and paddled round the island, but still there were no signs of the crocodile.

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

This was a good thought upon which Rames acted at once. Taking the dead bird from the bag he spread out

its wings to make it look as though it were alive, and threw it into the water, exclaiming, "Arise, O Holy

Then with fearful suddenness, whence they knew not, that crocodile arose. An awful scaly head appeared

with dull eyes and countless flashing fangs, and behind the head cubit upon cubit of monstrous form. The

"That was the Holy Crocodile," said Rames abstractedly as he stared at the boiling waters, "which has lived

here during the reigns of eight Pharaohs, and perhaps longer. Now we have seen it."

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

Thus adjured the boy, nothing loth, seized his oar, when suddenly the ancient crocodile, having swallowed

the dove, thrust up its snout immediately beneath them and began to follow the boat. Now Tua screamed

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

But the crocodile would not be kept off. On the contrary, it thrust its grey snout and one of its claws over the

stern of the boat in such a fashion that Rames could no longer work the oar, dragging it almost under water,

At that moment the boat touched the landingplace and swung round, so that its bow, where Tua was, struck

the head of the crocodile, which seemed 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

"Get on shore, get on shore!" he plunged past her and smote the huge reptile upon the head with the blade of

his oar. It opened its hideous mouth, and he thrust the oar into it and held on.

But Rames would not leave go, for in his brave little heart he thought that if he did the crocodile would

follow Tua and eat her. So he clung to the handle till it was wrenched from him. Indeed he did more, for

seeing that the crocodile had bitten the wooden blade in two and, having dropped it, was still advancing

towards the slope where it was accustomed to be fed, he leapt into the water and struck it in the eye with his

little fist. Feeling the pain of the blow the monster snapped at him, and catching him by the hand began to

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

"Help me, Amen!" she cried, and flying back, grasped Rames by his left arm just as he was falling over, then

set her heels in a crack of the rock and held on. For one moment she was dragged forward till she thought that

she must fall upon her face and be drowned or eaten with Rames, but the next something yielded, and she and

the boy tumbled in a heap 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 torn off it. Then she remembered nothing further, except a sound of shouts and of heavy

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

"No, O Morning Star, he lies sick in his chamber. But soon Pharaoh will kill him because he led her who will

As she spoke the door opened and in came Pharaoh himself, who had been summoned hastily from the

palace. His face was white and he shook with fear, 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 contain his joy, but casting his

arms about her, sank to his knees giving thanks to the gods and the guardian spirits. She kissed him, and

"Why did you think that, O my father, seeing that the great god, Amen, before I was born promised to protect

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

"My father," answered Tua, springing up, "forget those words, for if Rames dies I will die also. It is I who am

to blame, not he, for my Ka 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 fought with it and offered himself to its jaws in

So Pharaoh listened, and when it was done he sent for Rames. Presently the boy was carried in, for he had

lost so much blood that he could not walk, 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 off the 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 and then,

even in my presence, take all the blame upon yourself. Therefore I forgive you, son of Mermes; moreover, I

see that I was wise not to listen to those who counselled that you should be put away at birth," and bending

Also he gave orders that the greatest physicians in the land should attend upon him and purge the poison of

the crocodile's teeth from his body, and when he recoveredwhich save for the loss of the little finger of his

right hand, he did completelyhe sent him a sword with a handle of gold fashioned to the shape of a

crocodile, in place of the knife which he had paid away for the pigeon, bidding him use it bravely all his life

in defence of her who would be his queen. Further, although he was still so young, he gave to him the high

title of Count in earnest of his love and favour, and with it a name that meant Defender of the Royal Lady.

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

But Rames and Tua were no more allowed to play together alone, for always after this the Princess was

accompanied by women of honour and an armed guard. Also, within a year or two the boy was placed in

charge of a general to be brought up as a soldier, a trade that he liked well enough, so that from this time

forward he and NeterTua met but seldom. Still there was a bond between them which could not be broken

by absence, for already they loved each other, and every night and morning when Tua made her petitions to

Amen, after praying for Pharaoh her father, and for the spirit of her royal mother, Ahura, she prayed for

Rames, and that they might meet soon. For the months when her eyes did not fall upon his face were

The years went by and the Princess NeterTua, who was called Morning Star of Amen, came at length to

womanhood, and went through the ceremonies of Purification. In all Egypt there was no maiden so wise and

spirited or so lovely. Tall and slender was her shape, blue as the sea were her eyes, rosy like the dawn were

her cheeks, and when she did not wear it in a net of gold, her black and curling hair fell almost to her waist.

Also she was very learned, for priests and priestesses taught her all things that she ought to know, together

with the arts of playing on the harp and of singing and dancing, while her own excellent Spirit, that Ka which

Amen had given her, instructed her in a deeper wisdom which she gathered unconsciously in sleep and

Moreover, her father, the wise old Pharaoh, opened to her the craft of statesmanship, by help of which she

might govern men and overthrow her enemies. Indeed, he did more, for when her education was finished, he

"I who always lacked bodily strength, grow aged and feeble. This mighty crown is too heavy for me to bear

So the young NeterTua became a queen, and great was the ceremony of her coronation. The high priests and

priestesses, clothed in the robes and symbols of their gods and goddesses, addressed speeches to her and

blessed her in their names, giving her every good gift and promising to her eternal life. Princes and nobles

made her offerings; foreign chiefs and kings bowed before her by their ambassadors. The Counts and

headmen of the Two Lands swore allegiance to her, and, finally, in the presence of all the Court, Pharaoh

himself set the double crown upon her brow and gave her her thronenames of "Glorious in Ra and Hathor

So for a while Tua sat splendid on her golden seat while the people adored her, but in that triumphant hour

her eyes searched for one face only, that of the tall and gallant captain, Rames, her fosterbrother, and for a

moment rested there content. Yes, their eyes met, those of the newcrowned Empress on her throne and of

the youthful noble in the throng below. Short was the greeting, for next instant she looked away, yet more full

"The Queen does not forget what the child remembered, the goddess is still a woman," it seemed to say. And

so sweet was that message that Rames staggered from the Court like one stricken by the sun.

Night came at last, and having dismissed her secretaries, scribes and tirewomen the weary girl, now clad in

simple white, sat in her chamber alone. She thought of all the splendours through which she had passed; she

thought of the glories of her imperial state, of the power that she wielded, and of the proud future which

stretched before her feet. But most of all she thought of the face of the young Count Rames, the playmate of

her childhood, the man she loved, and wondered, ah! how she wondered, 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 her world? They called

her a goddess, and in truth, at times, she believed that she was halfdivine, but if so, why did her heart ache

Moreover, was she really set above the misfortunes of her race? Could a throne, however bright with gold, lift

her above the sorrows of human kind? She desired to learn the truth, the very truth. Her mind was urgent, it

drove her on to search out things to come, to stand face to face with them, even if they were evil. Well, she

believed she had the strength, although, as yet, she had never called it to her aid.

Also this thing could not be done alone. Tua thought a while, then going to the door of her chamber she bade

a woman who waited without summon to her the Lady Asti, priestess of Amen, Interpreter of Heaven.

Presently Asti came, for now, as always, she was in attendance upon the newcrowned queen, a tall and

noblelooking woman with finecut features and black hair, that although she was fifty years of age, still

"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.

"I am weary of those high titles whereof I have heard more than enough today. Call me Tua, O my mother,

"What ails you, my child?" asked Asti. "Was the crown too heavy for this young head of yours?" she added,

"Aye, Mother, the weight of it seemed to crush me with its gems and gold. I am weary and yet I cannot sleep.

Tell me, why did Pharaoh summon that Council after the feast? Mermes was one of them, so you must know.

"Would you learn?" said Asti with a little smile. "Well, as Queen you have the right. It was because they

"Oh! many names were mentioned, Child, since she who rules Egypt does not lack for suitors."

So she told them, there were seven in all, the Prince of Kesh, the sons of foreign kings, great nobles, and a

As each name fell from Asti's lips Tua waved her hand, saying scornful words, such as "I know him not,"

"Too old," "Fat and hideous," "A foreign dog who spits upon our gods," and so forth, adding at last:

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

She made no answer, only her lips seemed to shape themselves to a certain sound that they did not utter. The

"It may not be," she whispered, "for many reasons, and amongst them that by the solemn decree of long ago

whereof I have told you, our blood is barred for ever from the throne. None would dare to break it, not even

the Pharaoh himself. You would bring my son to his death, Tua, which such another look as you gave him in

"No," she answered slowly, "I would not bring him to his death, but to life and honour andlove, 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,

"I shall not betray you," answered the priestess, smiling again. "In truth, most Beautiful, I do not think there

is any need, even if I would. Say now, why did a certain captain turn faint and leave the hall today when

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

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

"Yes, doubtless fear moved himor some other passion. Yet, Beloved, put that thought from your heart as I

do. When you are Pharaoh you will learn that a monarch is a slave to the people and to the law. Breathe but

Tua hid her eyes in her hands for a moment, then she glanced up and there was another look upon her face, a

"When I am Pharaoh," she answered, "there are certain matters in which I will be my own law, and if the

"Truly your heart is high," she said; "but, oh! if you love meand anotherbury that thought, bury it deep,

or he will never live to see you placed alone upon the golden seat. Know, Lady, that already from hour to

hour I fear for himlest he should drink a poisoned cup, lest at night he should chance to stumble against a

spear, lest an arrow shot in sportshould fall against his throat and none know whence it came."

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

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

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

"Aye, at least your mother dreamed the dream, for she told it to me and I have read its record, who am a

"Then this high god should love me, should he not? He should hear my prayers and give me powerhe

should protect those who are dear to me. Mother, they say that you, the Mistress of secret things, can open the

ears of the gods and cause their mouths to speak. Mother, I command you as your Queen, call up my father

Amen before me, so that I may talk with him, for I have words to which he must listen."

"Are you not afraid?" asked Asti, looking at her curiously. "He is the greatest of all the gods, and to summon

"When the divine Queen your mother and Pharaoh knelt before him in his shrine, praying that a child might

be given to them, Amen did not deign to appear to them, save afterwards in a dream. Will you dare more than

"Nay, I trust no dreams which change like summer clouds and pass as soon," answered the girl boldly. "If the

god is my father, in the spirit or 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 you have the power, Asti. Call him even if he slay

"Hush!" said Asti, laying her hand upon her lips, "speak not that name. Well, I have some skill, and for your

sakeand another'sI will try, but not here. Perchance he may listen, perchance not, or, perchance, if he

comes you and I must pay the price. Put on your robes, now, O Queen, and over them this veil, and follow

Along narrow passages they crept and down many a secretstair, till at length 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, relocked it

"The burial crypt of the high priestesses of Amen, where it is said that the god watches. None have entered it

for hard on thirty years. See here in the dust run the footsteps of those who bore the last priestess to her rest."

She held up her lamp, and by the light of it Tua saw that they were in a great cave painted with figures of the

gods which had on either side of it recesses. In each of these was set a coffin with a gilded face, and behind it

an alabaster statue of her who lay therein, and in front of it a table of offerings. At the head of the crypt stood

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 that now the darkness was intense. Presently, through the utter silence, Tua heard her

creep back towards her, for although she walked so softly the dust seemed to cry beneath her feet, and her

every footstep echoed round the vaulted walls. Moreover, a glow came from her, the glow of her life in that

place of death. She passed Tua and knelt by the altar and the echo of her movements died away. Only it

seemed to Tua that from each of the tombs to the right and to the left rose the Ka of her who was buried there,

and drew near to watch and listen. She could not see them, she could not hear them, yet she knew that they

were there and was able to count their numberthirty and two in all while within herself rose a picture of

Now Tua heard Asti murmuring secret invocations that she did not understand. 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 dust and put up prayers to Amen that he might be

pleased to hear her and to satisfy the longings of her heart. She prayed and prayed till she grew faint and

weary, while always Asti uttered her invocations. But no answer came, no deity appeared, no voice spoke. At

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

So Tua rose, clinging to Asti, for now, she knew not why, her fear grew and deepened. For a moment she

stood upon her feet, then sank to her knees again, for there at the far end of the great tomb, near to the door

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 of Egypt, and bearing in its hand a sceptre. The figure of light advanced towards them,

so that presently they saw its face. Tua did not know the face, though it seemed to her to be like her own, but

Now the figure stood in front of them, a thing of light framed in the thick darkness, and now in a sweet, low

"Hail! Queen of Egypt," it said. "Hail! NeterTua, Daughter of Amen. Art thou afraid to look on the spirit of

her who bore thee, thou that didst dare to summon the Father of the gods to do thy bidding?"

"And thou, Asti the Magician, art thou afraid also, who but now wast bold enough to cry to

"Woman," went on the voice, "thy sin is great, and great is the sin of this royal one at thy side. Had Amen

hearkened, how would the two of you have stood before his glory, who at the sight of this shape of mine that

once was mortal like yourselves, crouch choking to the earth? I tell you 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 is merciful,

and in his place has sent me his messenger that ye may live to look upon tomorrow's sun."

"Let Amen pardon us!" gasped Tua, "it was my sin, O Mother, for I commanded Asti and she obeyed me. On

me be the blame, not on her, for I am torn with doubts and fears, for myself and for another. I would know

"Why, O Queen NeterTua, why wouldst thou know the future? If hell yawns beneath thy feet, why wouldst

thou peep through its golden doors before the time? The future is hid from mortals because, could they pierce

its veil, it would crush them with its terrors. If all the woes of life and death lay open the gaze, who would

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

"Then pay for thy divinity in tears and be satisfied. Content is the guerdon 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, O Dweller in Osiris, thou who once didst fill the place I hold today, I tell thee

that I would pay away this pomp, could I but be sure that I shall not live loveless, that I shall not be given as a

chattel to one whom I hate, that onewhom I do not hatewill live to call mewife. Great dangers

threaten himand me, Amen is mighty; he is the potter that moulds the clay of men; if I be his child, if his

"Let thine own faith help thee. Are not the words of Amen, which he spake concerning thee, written down?

Study them and ask no more. Love is an arrow that does not miss its mark; it is the immortal fire from on

high which winds and waters cannot quench. Therefore love on. Thou shalt not love in vain. Queen and

"Nay, nay, one word, Immortal. I thank thee, thou Messenger of the gods, but when these troubles come upon

meand another, when the sea of dangers closes o'er our heads, when shame is near and I am lonely, as well

"Then thou hast one within thee who is strong to aid. It was given to thee at thy birth, O Star of Amen, and

Asti can call it forth. Come hither, thou Asti, and swiftly, for I must be gone, and first I would speak with

Asti crept forward, and the glowing shape in the royal robe bent over her so that the light of it shone upon her

face. It bent over her and seemed to whisper in her ear. Then it held out its hands towards Tua as though in

Once more the two women stood in Tua's chamber. Pale and shaken they looked 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

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

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

"Be not too glad, Queen, for tonight we have sinned, both of us, who dared to summon Amen from his

throne, and sin also fails not of its reward. Blood is the price of that oracle."

"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 you lay upon my breast, but bid me no more to summon Amen from his throne."

Now for a whole moon there were great festivals in Thebes, and in all of these NeterTua, "Glorious in Ra,

Hathor Strong in Beauty, Morning Star of Amen," must take her part as newcrowned Queen of Egypt. Feast

followed feast, and at each of them one of the suitors of her hand was the guest of honour.

Then after it was done, Pharaoh her father and his councillors would wait upon her and ask if this man was

pleasing to her. Being wise, Tua would give no direct answer, only of most of them she was rid in this way.

She demanded that the writing of the dream of her mother, Ahura, should be brought and read before her, and

when it had been read she pointed out that Amen promised to her a royal lover, and that these chiefs and

generals were not royal, therefore it was not of them that Amen spoke, nor did she dare to turn her eyes on

Of others who declared that they were kings, but who, being unable to leave their countries, were represented

by ambassadors, she said that not having seen them she could say nothing. When they appeared at the Court

So at length only one suitor was left, the man whom she knew well Pharaoh and his councillors desired that

she should take as husband. This was Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, whose father, an aged king, ruled at

Napata, a great city far to the south, situated in a land that was called 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 whole world, for

there gold was so plentiful that men thought it of less value than copper and iron; also there were mines in

Moreover, once in the far past, a race of Pharaohs sprung from this city of Napata, had sat on the throne of

Egypt, until at length the people of Egypt, headed by the priests, had risen and overthrown them because they

were foreigners and had introduced Nubian customs into the land. Therefore it was decreed by an unalterable

law that none of their race should ever again wear the Double Crown. Of the descendants of these Pharaohs,

But although the Egyptians had cast them down, at heart they always grieved over the rich territory of

Napata, which was lost to them, for when those Pharaohs fell Kesh declared itself independent and set up

another dynasty to rule over it, of which dynasty Amathel Prince of Kesh was the heir.

Therefore they hoped that it might come back to them by marriage between Amathel and the young Queen

NeterTua. Ever since she was born the great lords and councillors of Egypt, yes, and Pharaoh himself,

seeing that he had 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 Prince Amathel was present at the crowning of the Queen, of whose

hand he had been assured on the sole condition that he came to dwell with her at Thebes. It is true that there

were other suitors, but these, as all of them 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 no other. Tua knew it, for had not Asti

told her, and was it not because of her fear of this man and her love for Rames that she had dared to commit

the sacrilege of attempting to summon Amen from the skies? Still, as yet, 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, for this

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 was displeasing to him, and that therefore he must see her before he pressed his suit.

Now that he had seen her in her loveliness and glory, he announced that he was well satisfied, which was but

half the truth, for, in fact, she had set all his southern blood on fire, and there was nothing that he desired

On the night which had been appointed for Amathel to meet his destined bride, a feast had been prepared

richer by far than any that went before. Tua, feigning ignorance, on entering the great unroofed hall lit with

hundreds of torches down all its length, and seeing the multitudes at the tables, asked of the Pharaoh, her

father, who was the guest that he would welcome with such magnificence which seemed worthy of a god

"My daughter," answered the old monarch nervously, "it is none other than 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

"Once it was ours, Daughter," said her father with a sigh, "or rather the kings of Kesh were also kings of

Egypt, but their dynasty fell before my greatgreatgrandfather was called to the throne, and now but three

of their blood are left, Mermes, Captain of the Guard of Amen; Asti, the Seer and Priestess, his wife, your

fostermother and waiting lady, and the young Count Rames, a soldier in our army, who was your playmate,

"Because the people of the city of Napata raised up another house to rule over them, of whom Amathel is the

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

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

"What else should he be, my daughter? Did you not know it? Be gracious to him now, since it is decreed that

As he spoke a sound of wild music arose, and at the far end of the great hall appeared a band of players

gorgeously attired, who blew horns made from small tusks of the elephant, clashed brazen cymbals and beat

gilded drums. These advanced a little way up the hall and stood there playing, while after them marched a

bodyguard of twenty gigantic Nubian soldiers who carried broadbladed spears with shields of hippopotamus

Next appeared the Prince of Kesh himself, a short, stout, broad shouldered young man, thickfeatured,

heavyfaced, and having large, rolling eyes. He was clad in festal garments, and hung about with heavy

chains of gold fastened with clasps of glittering stones, while from his crisp, black hair rose a tall plume of

nodding ostrich feathers. Fan bearers walked beside him, and the train of his long cloak was borne by two

With one swift glance, while he was yet far away, Tua studied the man from 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 she

was able to do, and saw that behind him came a second guard of picked Egyptian soldiers, and that in

command of them, simply clad in his scaled armour of bronze, and wearing upon his thigh the golden

handled sword that Pharaoh had given him, was none other than the young Count Rames, her playmate and

fosterbrother, the man whom her heart loved. At the sight of his tall and noble form and finecut face rising

above the coarse, squat figure of the Ethiopian prince, Tua blushed rosy red, but Pharaoh noting it, only

thought, as others did, that it was because now for the first time her eyes fell upon him who would be her

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 to gratify the pride of Amathel, not by Pharaoh, who would know nothing

of such matters, but by some bribed councillor, or steward of the household. Rames was of more ancient

blood than Amathel, and by right should be the King of Kesh, as he should also be Pharaoh of Egypt;

Moreover, it was guessed that the young Queen looked kindly upon this Count Rames with whom she had

been nursed, and who, like herself, was beautiful to behold. Therefore, to abase him in her eyes he had been

commanded to appear walking in the train of Amathel and given charge over his sacred person at the feast.

In a moment Tua understood it all, and made a vow before her father Amen that soon or late those who had

planned this outrage should pay its price, nor did she forget that promise in the after days.

Now the Prince had mounted the dais and was bowing low to Pharaoh and to her, and they must rise and bow

in answer. Then Pharaoh welcomed him to Egypt in few, wellchosen words, giving him all his titles and

speaking meaningly of the ancient ties which had linked their kingdoms, ties which, he prayed, might yet

He ceased and looked at Tua who, as Queen, had also a speech to deliver that had been given to her in

writing. Although she remembered this well enough, for the roll lay beside her, never a word would she read,

So after a pause that seemed somewhat long Amathel delivered his answer that was learned by rote, for it

replied to "gentle words from the lips of the divine Queen that made his heart to flower like the desert after

rain," not one of which had she spoken. Thereon Tua, looking over the top of her fan, saw Rames smile

grimly, while unable to restrain themselves, some of the great personages at the feast broke out laughing, and

With an angry scowl the Prince turned and commanded that the gifts should be brought. Now slaves

advanced bearing cups of worked gold, elephants and other beasts fashioned in gold, and golden vases full of

incense, which he presented to Pharaoh on behalf of his father, the King of Kesh and himself, saying

boastfully that in his country such things were common, and that he would have brought more of them had it

When Pharaoh had thanked him, answering gently that Egypt too was not poor, as he hoped that he would

find upon the morrow, the Prince, on his own behalf alone, offered to the Queen other presents, among them

pectorals and necklaces without price fashioned of amethysts and sapphires. Also, because she was known to

be the first of musicians and the sweetestvoiced lady in the landfor these were the greatest of the gifts

that Tua had from Amenhe gave to her a wonderfully worked harp of ivory with golden strings, the frame

of the harp being fashioned to the shape of a woman, and two black female slaves laden with ornaments, who

Now Pharaoh whispered to Tua to put on one of the necklaces, but she would not, saying that the colour of

the stones did not match her white robe and the blue lotus flowers which she wore. Instead, she thanked

Amathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, told the royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind

her, to bear them away and to place them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured over them,

oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade them leave the ivory harp.

Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began. At it Amathel drank much of the 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 he was nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did not know. At least, having no

choice, Rames obeyed, though cupfilling was no fitting task for a Count of Egypt and an officer of

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 NeterTua wearing her

Then, as they had arranged, they strove to do the same for the Prince Amathel, but Asti who had more magic

than all of them, watching behind Tua's chair, put out her strength and threw a spell upon them.

Behold! instead of the form of the Prince, which these conjurers summoned loudly and by name, there

appeared out of the vase a monkey wearing a crown and feathers that yet resembled him somewhat, which

black 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, not knowing whether this were a plot

or an evil omen from the gods, frowned and 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 and seemed to see nothing. As for the conjurers, they fled from the hall,

fearing for their lives, and wondering what strong spirit had entered into the vase and spoilt the trick which

As they went singers and dancing women hurriedly took their place, till Tua, wearying of the stare of

Amathel, waved her hand and said that she wished to hear those two Nubian slaves whose voices were said to

be so wonderful. So they were brought forward with their harps, and having prostrated themselves, began to

play and sing very sweetly, Nubian songs melancholy and wild, whereof few could understand the meaning.

"You have pleased me much, and in payment I give you a royal gift. I give you your freedom, and appoint

that henceforth you shall sing before the Court, if you think fit to stay here, not as slaves but for hire."

Then the two women prostrated themselves again before her Majesty and blessed her, for they knew that they

could earn wealth by their gift, and the rich courtiers taking the Queen's cue, flung rings and ornaments to

them, so that in a minute they got more gold than ever they had dreamed of, who were but kidnapped slaves.

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

"Do you say that these sweetvoiced women are the best singers in the world, O Prince?" asked Tua,

speaking to him for the first time. "Now if you will be pleased to listen, you provoke me to make trial of my

own small skill that I may learn how far I fall short of 'the best singers in the world.'"

Then she lifted up the ivory harp with the strings of gold and swept her fingers over it, trying its notes and

adjusting them with the agate screws, looking at Amathel all the while with a challenge in her lovely eyes.

"Nay, nay, my daughter," said Pharaoh, "it is scarcely fitting that a queen of Egypt should sing before all this

"Why not, my father?" she asked. "Tonight we all do honour to the heir of his Majesty of Kesh. Pharaoh

receives him, Pharaoh's daughter accepts his gifts, the highest in the land surround him," then she paused and

added slowly, "one of blood more ancient than his own waits on him as cupbearer, one whose race built up

the throne his father fills," and she 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 best she maysince she has no other gift to

Then in the dead silence which followed this bold speech, whereof none could mistake the meaning,

NeterTua, Morning Star of Amen, rose from her seat. Pressing the ivory harp against her young breast, she

bent over it, her head crowned with the crown of Upper Egypt whereon glistened the royal ur�us, a snake

Such magic was in her touch that instantly all else was forgotten, even the Pharaoh leaned back in his golden

chair to listen. Softly she struck at first, then by slow degrees ever louder till the music of the harp rang

through the pillared hall. Now, at length, she lifted up her heavenly voice and began to sing in a strain so wild

It was a sad and ancient lovetale that she sang, which told how a priestess of Hathor of high degree loved

and was beloved by a simple scribe whom she might not wed. It told how the scribe, maddened by his

passion, crept at night into the very sanctuary of the temple hoping to find her there, and for his sacrilege was

slain by the angry goddess. It told how the beautiful priestess, coming alone to make prayer in the sanctuary

for strength to resist her love, stumbled over the lover's corpse and, knowing it, died of grief. It told how

Hathor, goddess of love, melted by the piteous sight, breathed back life into their nostrils, and since they

might not remain upon earth, wafted them to the Underworld, where they awoke and embraced and dwell

All had heard this old, old story, but none had ever heard it so divinely sung. As Tua's pure and lovely voice

floated over them the listeners seemed to see that lover, daring all in his desire, creep into the solemn

sanctuary of the temple. They saw Hathor appear in her wrath and smite him cold in death. They saw the

beauteous priestess with her lamp, and heard her wail her life away upon her darling's corpse; saw, too, the

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 the deep sky they perceived the awakening of the lovers and their embrace of

perfect joy, and when a glory hid them, heard the victorious chant of the priestess of love sighing itself away,

faint and ever fainter, till at length its last distant echoes died in the utter silence of the place of 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 her pale face the blue eyes shone like stars. There was stillness in the hall; the

spell of that magical voice lay on the listeners; none applauded, it seemed even that none dared to move, for

men remembered that this wonderful young Queen was said to be daughter of Amen, Master of the world,

and thought that it had been given to them to hearken, not to a royal maiden, but to a goddess of the skies.

Quiet they sat as though sleep had smitten them, only every man of their number stared at the sweet pale face

and at those radiant eyes. Drunk with passion and with wine, Amathel, Prince of Kesh, leaned his heavy head

upon his hand and stared like the rest. But those eyes did not stay on him. Had he been a stone they could not

Slowly he turned to see what it might be at which the Morning Star of Amen gazed, and perceived that the

young captain who waited on him, he who was said to be of a race more ancient and purer than his own, he

whose house had reigned in the Southern Land when his ancestors were but traffickers in gold, was also

gazing at this royal singer. Yes, he bent forward to gaze as though a spell drew him, a spell, or the eyes of the

Queen, and there was that upon his face which even a drunken Nubian could not fail to understand.

In the hands of Rames was the tall, golden vase of wine, and as Amathel thrust back his chair its topmost

ivory bar struck the foot of the vase and tilted it, so that the red wine poured in a torrent over the Prince's

head and gorgeous robes, staining him from his crest of plumes to his feet as though with blood. Up sprang

"Dogdescended slave!" he shouted. "Hogheaded brother of swine, is it thus that you wait upon my

Royalty?" and with the cup in his hand he smote Rames on the face, then drew the sword at his side to kill

But Rames also wore a sword, that sword hafted with the golden crocodile which Pharaoh had given him long

agothat sword which Asti the foresighted had seen red with royal blood. With a wild, low cry he snatched

it from its sheath, and to avoid the blow that Amathel struck at him before he could guard himself, sprang

backwards from the dais to the open space in the hall that had been left clear for the dancers. After him leapt

Amathel calling him "Coward," and next instant the pillars echoed, not with Tua's music but with the stern

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 have swooned; at least, he lay back in his chair with his eyes shut like one

asleep. Then they looked to the Queen, but Tua made no sign, only with parted lips and heaving breast

As for Rames he forgot everything save that he, a soldier and a noble of royal race, had been struck across the

mouth by a black Nubian who called himself a prince. His blood boiled up in him, and through a red haze as

it were, he saw Tua's glorious eyes beckoning him on to a victory. He saw and sprang as springs the lion of

the desert, sprang straight at the throat of Amathel. The blow went high, an ostrich plume floated to the

groundno more, and Amathel was a sturdy fighter and had the strength of madness. Moreover, his was the

longer weapon; it fell upon the scales of armour of Rames and beat him back, it fell again on 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

blood flowed. Now a soldier of Pharaoh's guard shouted to encourage his captain, and the Nubians shouted

Then Rames seemed to awake. He leapt from his knees, he smote and the blow went home, though the iron

which the Nubian wore beneath his robe stayed it. He smote again more fiercely, and now it was the blood of

Amathel that flowed. Then bending almost to the ground before the answering stroke, he leapt and thrust with

all the strength of young limbs trained to war. He thrust and behold! between the broad shoulders of Amathel

pierced from breast to back, appeared the point of the Egyptian's sword. For a moment the prince stood still,

Now, with a shout of rage the giants of the Nubian guard rushed at Rames to avenge their master's death, so

that he must fly backwards before their spears, backwards into the ranks of the Pharaoh's guard. In a flash the

Nubians were on them also and, how none could tell, a fearful fray began, for these soldiers hated each other,

as their fathers had done before them, and there were none who could come between them, since at this feast

no man bore weapons save the guards. Fierce was the battle, but the Nubians lacked a captain while Rames

The giants began to give. Here and there they fell till at length but three of them were left upon their feet,

who threw down their arms and cried for mercy. Then it was for the first time that Rames understood what he

had done. With bent head, his red sword in his hand, he climbed the dais and knelt before the throne of

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 be forced to wed that coarse, blacksouled Nubian, for Rames had killed him.

Yonder he lay dead in all his finery with his hideous giants about him like fallen trees, and oh! in her

But as she, who was trained in statecraft, knew well enough, if he had escaped the sword of Prince Amathel,

it was but to fall into a peril from which there seemed to be no escape. This dead prince was the heir of a

great king, of a king so great that for a century Egypt had dared to make no war upon his country, for it was

far away, wellfortified and hard to come at across deserts and through savage tribes. Moreover, the man had

been slain at a feast in Pharaoh's Court, and by an officer of Pharaoh's guard, which afterwards had killed his

escort under the eyes of Egypt's monarchs, the hand of one of whom he sought in marriage. Such a deed must

mean a bitter war for Egypt, and to those who struck the blowdeath, 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 and a way of escape for Rames. Presently in the blackness of her mind there

arose a plan and, as ever was her fashion, she acted swiftly. Lifting her head she commanded that the doors

should be locked and guarded so that none might go in or out, and that those physicians who were amongst

the company should attend to the wounded, and to Pharaoh, who was ill. Then she called the High Council of

the Kingdom, all of whom were gathered there about her, and spoke in a cold, calm voice, while the company

"Lords and people," she said, "the gods for their own purposes have suffered a fearful thing to come to pass.

Egypt's guest and his guard have been slain before Egypt's kings, yes, at their feast and in their very presence,

and it will be said far and wide that this has been done by 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 he struck a highborn man, a Count of Egypt and an officer of

Pharaoh, who to do him greater honour was set to wait upon him, calling him by vile names, and drew his

"Then," went on Tua, "this officer, forgetting all save his outraged honour, dared to fight for his life even

against the Prince of Kesh, and being the better man, slew him. Afterwards the servants of the Prince of Kesh

attacked him and Pharaoh's guard, and were conquered and the most of them killed, since none here had arms

"Yea, O Queen," they answered again by their spokesman. "Rames and the royal guard have little blame in

"Now," went on Tua with gathering confidence, for she felt that all saw with her eyes, "to add to our woes

Pharaoh, my father, has been smitten by the gods. He sleeps; he cannot speak; I know not whether he will live

or die, and therefore it would seem that I, the dulycrowned Queen of Egypt, must act for him as was

provided in such a case, since the matter is 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 me how to do?"

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

"Then, priests, lords and people," continued the Queen, "what course shall we take in this sore strait?

Speaking with the voice of all of you and on your behalf, I can command that the Count Rames and all those

other chosen men whom Pharaoh loves, who fought with him, shall be slain forthwith. This, indeed," she

added slowly, "I should wish to do, since although Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no

highborn man can be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them were but fighting to save their

lives and to show the Nubians that we are not cowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and

slain the heir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deed their 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. For in their hearts the company were on the side of Rames and Pharaoh's

guards. Moreover, they were proud of the young captain's skill and courage, and glad that the Nubians, whom

they hated with an ancient hate, had been defeated by the lesser men of Egypt, some of whom were their

Now, while they argued among themselves Tua rose from her chair and went to look at Pharaoh, whom the

physicians were attending, chafing his hands and pouring water on his brow. Presently she returned with tears

standing in her beautiful eyes, for she loved her father, and said in a heavy voice:

"Alas! Pharaoh is very ill. Set the evil has smitten him, and it is hard, my people, that he perchance may be

taken from us and we must bear such woe, because of the ill behaviour of a royal foreigner, for I cannot

The audience agreed that it was very hard, and looked angrily at the surviving Nubians, but Tua, conquering

"We must bear the blows that the fates rain on us, nor suffer our private grief to dull the sword of justice.

Now, as I have said, even though we love them as our brothers or our husbands, yet the Count Rames and his

brave comrades should perish by a death of shame, such a death as little befits the flower of Pharaoh's guard."

Again she paused, then went on in the midst of an intense silence, for even the physicians ceased from their

"And yet, and yet, my people, even as I was about to pass sentence upon them, uttering the doom that may

not be recalled, some guardian spirit of our land sent a thought into my heart, on which I think it right to take

your judgment. If we destroy these men, as I desire to destroy them, will they not say in the Southern Country

and in all the nations around, that first they had been told to murder the Prince of Kesh and his escort, and

then were themselves executed to cover up our crime? Will it not be believed that there is blood upon the

hands of Pharaoh and of Egypt, the blood of a royal guest who, it is well known, was welcomed here with

love and joy, that he mightoh! forgive me, I am but a maiden, I cannot say it. Nay, pity me not and answer

not till I have set out all the case as best I may, which I fear me is but ill. It is certain that this will be

saidaye, and believed, and we of Egypt all called traitors, and that these men, who after all, however evil

has been their deed, are brave and upright, will be written in all the books of all the lands as common

murderers, and go down to Osiris with that ill name branded on their brows. Yes, and their shame will cling

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

"But," proceeded Tua with her pleading voice, "how if we were to take another course? How if we

commanded this Count Rames and his companions to journey, with an escort such as befits the Majesty of

Pharaoh, to the far city of Napata, and there to lay before the great king of that land by writings and the

mouths of witnesses, all the sad story of the death of 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 thou art noblehearted and

it pleases thee to acquit these men, acquit them and we will praise thee. But if thou art wroth and stern and it

pleases thee to condemn these men, condemn them, and send them back to us for punishment, that

punishment which thou dost decree.' Is that plan good, my people? Can his Majesty of Kesh complain if he is

made judge in his own cause? Can the kings and captains of other lands then declare that in Egypt we work

murder on our guests? Tell me, who have so little wisdom, if this plan is good, as I dare to say to you, it

Now with one voice the Council and all the guests, and especially the guards themselves who were on their

trial, save Rames, who still knelt in silence before the Queen, cried out that it was very good. Yes; they

clapped their hands and shouted, vowing to each other that this young Queen of theirs was the Spirit of

Wisdom come to earth, and that her excellent person was filled with the soul of a god.

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

"Such is your decree, O my Council," she cried, "and the decree of all you here present, who are the noblest

of my people, and I, as I am bound by my oath of crowning, proclaim and ratify it, I, NeterTua, who am

named Star and Daughter of Amen, who am named Glorious in Ra, who am named Hathor, Strong in Beauty,

who am crowned Queen of the Upper and the Lower Land. I proclaimwrite it down, O Scribes, and let it

be registered this night that the decree may stand while the world enduresthat two thousand of the choicest

troops of Egypt shall sail up Nile, forthwith, for Kesh, and that in command of them, so that all may know his

crime, shall go the young Count Rames, and with him those others who also did the deed of blood."

Now at this announcement, which sounded more like promotion than disgrace, some started and Rames

"I proclaim," went on Tua quickly, "that when they are come to Napata they shall kneel before its king and

submit themselves to the judgment of his Majesty, and having been judged, shall return and report to us the

judgment of his Majesty, that it may be carried out as his Majesty of Kesh shall appoint. Let the troops and

the ships be made ready this very night, and meanwhile, save when he appears before us to take his orders as

general, in token of our wrath, we banish the Count Rames from our Court and Presence, and place his

So spoke Tua, and the royal decree having been written down swiftly and read aloud, she sealed and signed

with her signmanual as Queen, that it might not be changed or altered, and commanded that copies of it

should be sent to all the Governors of the Nomes of Egypt, and a duplicate prepared and despatched with this

royal embassy, for so she named it, to be delivered to the King of Kesh with the letters of condolence, and the

presents of ceremony, and the body of Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, now divine 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 safe keeping. Also Pharaoh, still senseless but breathing quietly, was carried to

his bed, and the dead were taken to the embalmers, whilst Tua, so weary that she could scarcely walk,

departed to her chambers leaning on the shoulder of the royal Nurse, Asti, the mother of Rames.

Still robed Tua lay upon a couch, for she would not seek her bed, while Asti stood near to her, a dark

"Very strange, Nurse. You see, the gods and that troublesome son of yours and Pharaoh's sudden sickness

threw the strings of Fate into my hand, andI pulled them. I always had a fancy for the pulling of strings,

"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 the scaffold 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.

"Your Majesty is very clever; you will make a great Queenif you do not overpull yourself."

"Not half so clever as you were, Asti, when you made that monkey come out of the vase," answered Tua,

laughing somewhat hysterically. "Oh! do not look innocent, I know it was your magic, for I could feel it

"If your Majesty will tell me how you made the lords of Egypt consent to the sending of an armed expedition

to Napata under the command of a lad, a mere captain who had just killed its heirapparent before their eyes,

which decree, if I know anything of Rames, will mean a war between Kesh and Egypt, I will tell you how I

"Then I shall never learn, Nurse, for I can't because I don't know. It came into my mind, as music comes into

my throat, that is all. Rames should have been beheaded at once, shouldn't he, for not letting that black boar

tusk him? Do you think he poured the wine over Amathel's head on purpose?" and again she laughed.

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

"Talking of wine," broke in Tua, "give me a cup of it. The divine Prince of Kesh who was to have been my

husbanddid you understand, Asti, that they really meant to make that black barbarian my husband? I say

that the divine Prince, who now sups with Osiris, drank so much that I could not touch a drop, and I am tired

Asti went to a table where stood a flagon of wine wreathed in vine leaves, and by it cups of glass, and filling

"Here's to the memory of the divine prince, and may he have left the table of Osiris before I come there. And

here's to the hand that sent him thither," said Tua recklessly. Then she drained the wine, every drop of it, and

"One that knows his own mind, I think," replied Tua. "There, I feel strong again, I go to visit Pharaoh. Come

When Tua arrived at the bedside of Pharaoh she found that the worst of the 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 was

unable to speak and did not know her or anyone. She asked whether he would live or die, and was told that he

would live, or so his doctors believed, but that for a long while he must lie quite quiet, seeing as few people

as possible, and above all being troubled with no business, since, if he were wearied or excited, the fit would

certainly return and kill him. So, rejoicing at this news which was better than she had expected, Tua kissed

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

"By no means," answered Tua, "I wear Pharaoh's shoes and have much business left to do tonight. Summon

So Mermes came and stood before her. He was still what he had been in 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 his face

was drawn with grief, both for the sake of Rames, whose hot blood had brought him into so much danger, and

Tua looked at him and loved him more than ever, for now that he was troubled some new likeness to Rames

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

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

"Not so, Mermes; it would have been upon the hands of the gods. You spring from a royal line; say, what

would you have thought of your son if after being struck by that fat Nubian, he had cowered at his feet and

"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 woman and a friend I should never have spoken to him again. Honour is more

"Certainly honour is more than life," replied Mermes, staring at the ceiling, perhaps to hide the look upon his

face, "and for a little while Rames seems to be in the way of it. But those who are set high have far to fall, O

"Rames will be far away," broke in Tua. "Go, bring him here at once, and with 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 and

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

So Mermes bowed and went, and while he was gone Tua caused Asti to smooth her hair and change her robe

and ornaments for others which, although she did not say so, she thought became her better. Then she sat her

down in a chair of state in her chamber of audience, and waited, while Asti stood beside her asking no

At length the doors were opened, and through them appeared Mermes and the Vizier and the chief of the

scribes, both of them trying to hide their yawns, for they had been summoned from their beds who were not

wont to do state business at such hours. After them limped Rames, for his wound had grown stiff, who looked

Now, without waiting for the greetings of ceremony, Tua began to question the Vizier as to what steps had

been taken in furtherance of her decrees, and when he assured her that the business was on foot, went into its

every detail with him, as to the ships and the officers and the provisioning of the men, and so forth. Next she

set herself to dictate despatches to the captains and barons who held the fortresses on the Upper Nile,

communicating to them Pharaoh's orders on this matter, and the commission of Rames, whereby he, whose

hands had done the ill, was put in command of the great embassy that went to make amends.

These being finished, she sent away the scribe to spend the rest of the night in writing them in duplicate,

bidding him bring them to her in the early morning to be sealed. Next addressing Rames, she commanded

him to start on the morrow with those troops which were ready to Takensit above the first Cataract of the

Nile, which was the frontier fortress of Egypt, and there wait until the remainder of the soldiers joined them,

bearing with them her presents to the King of Kesh, and the embalmed body of the Prince Amathel.

Rames bowed and said that her orders should be obeyed, and the audience being finished, still bowing and

supported by Mermes, began to walk backwards towards the door, his eyes fixed upon the face of Tua, who

sat with bent head, clasping the arms of her chair like one in difficulty and doubt. When he had gone a few

steps she seemed to come to some determination, for with an effort she raised herself and said:

"Return, Count Rames, I have a message to give you for the King of Kesh who, unhappy man, has lost his

son and heir, and it is one that no other ears 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 to conduct him away."

They hesitated, for this thing seemed strange, then noting the look she gave them, departed through the doors

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 at him intently, yet seemed to find no words to say. At length she spoke in

"It is many years since we were playmates in the courts of the temple yonder, and since then we have never

"No, Great Lady," answered Rames, "for you were born to be a queen, and I am but a humble soldier who

"O Queen," answered Rames, biting his lips, "why does it please you to make 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 happy days before they separated us and set you to soldiering and me to statecraft."

"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 your sword play this night. So it seems that we

"As once you saved mine when it was forfeit, and at greater risk. Look at your hand, it will remind you. It

was but tit for tat. And, friend Rames, this day I came near to being eaten by a worse crocodile than that

"I guessed as much, Queen, and the thought made me mad. Had it not been for that I should only have thrown

"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 between Egypt and Kesh, and what Pharaoh will say when he recovers I am sure I

"Tell me, if it pleases your Majesty, what is my fate? I have been named General of this expedition over the

heads of many, I who am but a captain and a young man and an evildoer. Am I to be killed on the journey,

"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 of Keshwell, you will have two thousand picked men with you and the means to

gather more as you go. Listen now, for this is not in the decree or in the letters," she added, bending towards

him and whispering. "Egypt has 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

halfwitted, for all that family drink too much. So if the worst comes to the worst, do you think that you need

be killed, you," she added meaningly, "who, if the House of Amathel were not, would by descent be King of

"It seems that is for you to find out," replied Tua, in her turn studying the ceiling. "Were I in your place, I

think that, if driven to it, 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, and that 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 in Napata, which I

am told is a rich and pleasant city, and try to put its affairs in order, trusting that Egypt, to which it once

"Good, and of course there are no witnesses to this talk of ours. Have you 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 each other and smiled.

"You must be wearier than I am, Rames, with that wound, which I think has not been dressed, although it is

true that we have both fought tonight. Rames, you are going on a far journey. I wonder if we shall ever meet

"I do not know," he answered with a groan, "but for my sake it is better that we should not. O Morning Star,

why did you save me this night, who would have been glad to die? Did not that Ka of yours tell you that I

"I have seen nothing of my Ka, Rames, since we played together in the templeah! those were happy days,

were they not? And your mother is a discreet lady who does not talk to me about you, except to warn me not

to 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 we

Now Rames pressed his hand upon his heart as though to still its beating, and looked round him in despair.

"Tua," he gasped desperately, "can you for a minute forget that you are Queen of the Upper and the Lower

Land, who perhaps will soon be Pharaoh, the mightiest monarch in the world, and remember only that you

"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

"Ah!" she answered in a new and broken voice, "that is different, is it not? Well, all women love to be loved,

though some are queens and some are peasants, so why should I be angry? Rames, now, as in past days, I

"It is not enough," he said. "What is the use of giving love? Love should be lent. Love is an usurer that asks

high interest. Nay, not the interest only, but the capital and the interest to boot. Oh, Star! what happens to the

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

"Who knows?" she replied at length in a low voice. "Perhaps it costs him his life, or perhapsperhaps he

marries her and becomes Pharaoh of Egypt. Much might depend on whether the queen chanced to care about

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

"Tua," he whispered, "can it be possibledo you mean that I am welcome to you, or are you but drawing me

She made no answer to him in words, only with a certain grave deliberation, laid down the little ivory sceptre

that she held, and suffering her troubled eyes to rest upon his eyes, bent forward and stretched out her arms

"Yes, Rames," she murmured into his ear a minute later, "I am drawing you 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 them

She kissed him on the lips, and all her heart and all her youth were in that kiss. Then, gently enough, she

"Stand there, I would speak with you, and as I have said, the time is short. Hearken to me, Rames, you are

right; I know, as I have always known, and as you would have known also had you been less foolish than you

are. You love me and I love you, for so it was decreed where souls are made, and so it has been from the

beginning and so it shall be to the end. You, a gentleman of Egypt, love the Queen of Egypt, and she is yours

and no other man's. Such is the decree of him who caused us to be 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 may chance, at least

the love will remain which is worth it all, and beyond death there is something."

"Only this, Tua, I seek the woman not a throne, and alas! through me you may 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, a wanderer, with nothing save this shape and soul of mine, and it were

"Why ask such questions?" he replied indignantly. "Moreover, your talk is childish. What throne can I ever

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

"Rames," she said, "you understand why, although it tears my heart, I am sending you so far away and into so

many dangers, do you not? It is to save your life, for after what has chanced tonight in this fashion or in that

here you would certainly die, as, had it not been for that plan of mine you must have died two hours ago.

There are many who hate you, Rames, and Pharaoh may recover, as I pray the gods he will, and override my

"Then awake, Rames, look to the future and understand that also, if, as I think, you have the wit. I am sending

you with a strong escort, am I not? Well, that King of Kesh is old and feeble, and you have a claim upon his

crown. Take it, man, and set it on your head, and as King of Kesh ask the hand of Egypt's Queen in marriage.

Then who would say you naynot Egypt's Queen, I think, or the people of Egypt who hunger for the rich

So she spoke, and as these high words passed her lips she looked so splendid 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, he straightened himself and spoke to her as prince speaks

"Star of Amen," he said, "it is true that though here we are but your humble subjects, the blood of my father

and of myself is as high as yours, and perhaps more ancient, and it is true that now yonder Amathel is dead,

after my father, in virtue of those who went before us I have more right than any other to the inheritance of

Kesh. Queen, I hear your words, 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 part and this is a far journey. Perhaps we may never meet

again; at the best we must be separated for long. Queen, you have honoured me with your love, and therefore

I ask a promise of you, not as a woman only, but as Queen. I ask that however strait may be the

circumstances, whatever reasons of State may push you on, while I live you will take no other man to

"I give it," she answered. "If you should learn that I am wed to any man upon the earth then spit upon my

name as a woman, and as Queen cast me off and overthrow me if you can. Deal with me, Rames, as in such a

case I 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 meet again beneath or beyond the sun. Our royal pact is made. Come,

She rose and stretched out her sceptre to him, which he kissed as her faithful subject. Next, with a swift

movement, she lifted the golden ur�us 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 of Egypt, bent the knee before him and did him

homage. Then she cast down crown and sceptre, and as woman fell upon her lover's breast while the bright

rays of morning, flowing suddenly through the eastern window place of that splendid hall, struck upon them

Soon, very soon, it was done and Tua, seated there in light, watched Rames depart into the outer shadow,

wondering when and how she would see him come again. For her heart was heavy within her, and even in

So that day Rames departed for Takensit with what ships and men could be got together in such haste. There,

at the frontier post, he waited till the rest of the soldiers should join him, bringing with them the hastily

embalmed body of Prince Amathel whom he had slain, and the royal gifts to the King of Kesh. Then, without

a moment's delay, he sailed southwards with his little army on the long journey, fearing lest if he tarried,

orders might come to him to return to Thebes. Also he desired to 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 under the walls of the palace, at a

window of the royal apartments he saw a white draped figure that watched them go by. It was standing in the

shadow so that he could not recognise the face, but his heart told him that this was none other than the Queen

So Rames rose from the chair in which he was seated on account of the hurt to his leg and saluted with his

sword, and ordered the crew to do likewise by lifting up their oars. Then the slender figure bowed in answer,

and he went on to fulfil his destiny, leaving NeterTua, Morning Star of Amen, to fulfil hers.

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

"You were born under a strange star, my son," said Mermes, "and I know not whither it will lead you, who

pray that it may not be a meteor which blazes suddenly in the heavens and disappears to return no more. All

the people talk of the favour the Queen has shown you who, instead of ordering you to be executed for the

deed you did which robbed her of a royal 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. Fate that has passed me by gives the dice

to your young hand, but how the cast will fall I know not, nor shall I live to see, or so I believe."

"Speak no such evilomened words, my father," answered Rames tenderly, for these two loved each other.

"To me it seems more likely that it is I who shall not live, for this is a strange and desperate venture upon

which I go, to tell to a great king the news of the death of his only son at my own hand. Mother, you are

versed in the books of wisdom and can see that which is hidden to our eyes. Have you no word of comfort for

"My son," answered Asti, "I have searched the future, but with all my skill it will open little of its secrets to

my sight. Yet I have learned something. Great fortunes lie before you, and I believe that you and I shall meet

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

"Great is the mystery of our fates, my son. Some there be who tell us that we are but bubbles born of the

stream to be swallowed up by the stream, clouds born of the sky to be swallowed up by the sky, the offspring

of chance like the beasts and the birds, gnats that dance for an hour in the sunlight and are gone. But I believe

it not, who hold that 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 eternally will be. Therefore I love not life and fear not death, knowing

that these are but doors leading to the immortal house that is prepared for us. 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 be

splendid, does not move me to envy who perchance have been that you may be. You go forth to fulfil your

fortunes which I believe are great, I bide here to fulfil mine which lead me to the tomb. I shall never see you

in your power, if power comes to you, nor will your triumphant footsteps stir my sleep.

"Yet, Rames, remember that though you tread on cloth of gold and the bowed necks of your enemies, though

love be your companion and diadems your crown, though flatteries float about you like incense in a shrine

till, at length, you deem yourself a god, those footsteps of yours still lead to that same dark tomb and through

it on to Judgment. Be great if you can, but be good as well as great. Take no man's life because you have the

strength and hate him; wrong no woman because she is defenceless or can be bought. Remember that the

beggar child playing in the sand may have a destiny more high than yours when all the earthly count is

reckoned. Remember that you share the air you breathe with the cattle and the worm. Go your road rejoicing

in your beauty and your youth and the good gifts that are given you, but know, Rames, that at the end of it I,

who wait in the shadow of Osiris, I your father, shall ask an account thereof, and that beyond me stand the

gods of Justice to test the web that you have woven. Now, Rames, my son, my blessing and the blessing of

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

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

"Mourn not. Separations are no new thing, death is no new thing; all these sorrows have been on the earth for

millions of years, and for millions of years yet shall be. Live out your life, rejoicing if the days be good,

content if they be but ill, regretting nothing save your sins, fearing nothing, expecting nothing, since all

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

"Oh!" replied Asti scanning his face, "so there was a dream, was there? Did it fall upon you last night when

Then, smiling in her quiet fashion, his mother drew from the bosom of her robe some object that was

wrapped in linen and, touching her forehead with the royal seal that fastened it, gave it to Rames. With

trembling fingers he broke the seal and there within the linen lay a ring which for some years, as Rames

knew, Tua had worn upon the first finger of her right hand. It was massive and of plain gold, and upon the

bezel of it was cut the symbol of the sun, on either side of which knelt a man and a woman crowned with the

double crown of Egypt, and holding in their right hands the looped Sign of Life which they stretched up

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

"It was your forefather and mine, Rames, the last of the royal rulers of our line, who reigned over Egypt and

also over the Land of Kesh. A while ago the embalmers reclothed his divine body in the tomb, and the

Princess, who was present there with your father and myself, drew this ring 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 for her own

reasons she sends it to you, perhaps to give you authority in Kesh where that mighty seal is known."

"Then let it be on your breast till you have passed the frontier, lest some should ask questions that you find it

hard to answer. My son," she went 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

"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 her night and day, for if harm comes to her, then I die. Mother, queens

cannot give themselves where they will as other women can; it is policy that thrusts their husbands on them.

Keep her unwed, Mother. Though it should cost her her throne, still I say let her not be cast into the arms 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 web of the magic that you have, and preserve her undefiled, for so shall I bless your name for

"You fly at a rare bird, Rames, and there are many stronger hawks about besides that one you slew; yes, royal

eagles who may strike down the pair 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 you seated on the throne of your forefathers,

crowned with power and with such love and beauty as have never yet been given to man. Now hide that ring

upon your heart and your secret in it, as I shall, lest you should return no more to Egypt. Moreover, follow

your royal Star and no other. Whatever counsel she may have given you, follow it also, stirring not to right or

left, for I say that in that maiden breast of hers there dwells the 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 the matter of his victory over the Prince

of Kesh, and as to his appointment by the whim of the maiden Queen to command the splendid embassy of

atonement which she had despatched to the old King, the dead man's father, died away for lack of anything to

Tua kept her counsel well, nor was aught known of that midnight interview with the young Count her

general. Moreover, Napata was far away, so far that starting at the season when it did, the embassy could

scarce return till two years had gone by, if ever it did return. Also few believed that whoever came back,

Rames would be one of them, since it was said openly that so soon as he was beyond the frontiers of Egypt,

Indeed, all praised the wit and wisdom of the Queen, who by this politic device, had rid herself of a

troublesome business with as little scandal as possible, and avoided staining her own hands in the blood of a

fosterbrother. Had she ordered his death forthwith, they said, it would have been supposed also that she had

put him away because he was of a royal race, one who, in the future, might prove a rival, or at least cause

Meanwhile greater questions filled the mouths of men. Would Pharaoh die and leave NeterTua, the young

and lovely, to hold his throne, and if so, what would happen? It was a thousand years since a woman had

reigned in Egypt, and none had reigned who were not wed. Therefore it seemed necessary that a husband

But Pharaoh did not die. On the contrary, though very slowly, he recovered and was stronger than he had

been for years, for the fit that struck him down seemed to have cleared his blood. For some three months he

lay helpless as a child, amusing himself as a child does with little things, and talking of children whom he had

known in his youth, or when some of these chanced to visit him as old men, asking them to play with him

Then one day came a change, and rising from his bed he commanded the presence of his Councillors, and

when they came, inquired of them what had happened, and why he could remember nothing since the feast.

They put him off with soft words, and soon he grew weary and dismissed them. But after they had gone and

he had eaten he sent for Mermes, the Captain of the Guard of Amen and his friend, and questioned him.

"The last thing I remember," he said, "was seeing the drunken Prince of Kesh fighting with your son, that

handsome, fieryeyed Count Rames whom some fool, or enemy, had set to wait upon him at table. It was a

dog's trick, Mermes, for after all your blood is purer and more ancient than that of the present kings of Kesh.

Well, the horror of the sight of my royal guest, the suitor for my daughter's hand, fighting with an officer of

my own guard at my own board, struck me as a butcher strikes an ox, and after it all was blackness. What

"This, Pharaoh: My son killed Amathel in fair fight, then those black Nubian giants in their fury attacked

your guard, but led by Rames the Egyptians, though they were the lesser men, overcame them and slew most

"A finer fray! A finer fray," gasped Pharaoh. "Why this will mean a war between Kesh and Egypt. And then?

Did the Council order Rames to be executed, as you must admit he deserved, although you are his father?"

"Not so, O Pharaoh; moreover, I admit nothing, though had he played a coward's part before all the lords of

"Ah!" said Pharaoh, "there speaks the soldier and the parent. Well, I understand. He was affronted, was he

not, by that bedizened black man? Were I in your place I should say as much. Butwhat happened?"

"Your Majesty having become unconscious," explained Mermes, "her Majesty the Queen NeterTua,

Glorious in Ra, took command of affairs according to her Oath of Crowning. She has sent an embassy of

atonement of two thousand picked soldiers to the King of Kesh, bearing with them the embalmed body of the

"That is good enough in its way," said Pharaoh. "But why two thousand men, whereof the cost will be very

great, when a score would have sufficed? It is an army, not an embassy, and when my royal brother of Kesh

sees it advancing, bearing with it the illomened gift of his only son's body, he may take alarm."

"Rames! That young cutthroat who killed the Prince! Rames who is the last of the old rightful dynasty of

Kesh! Rames, a mere captain, in command of two thousand of my veterans! Oh, I must still be mad! Who

"The Queen NeterTua, Star of Amen, she gave him the command, O Pharaoh. Immediately after the fray in

the hall she uttered her decree and caused it to be recorded in the usual fashion."

So Tua was summoned, and presently swept in gloriously arrayed, and on seeing her father sitting up and

well, ran to him and embraced him and for a long time refused to listen to his talk of matters of State. At

length, however, he made her sit by him still holding his hand, and asked her why in the name of Amen she

had sent that handsome young firebrand, Rames, in command of the expedition to Kesh. Then she answered

very sweetly that she would tell him. And tell him she did, at such length that before she had finished,

"Now, you understand," she said as he woke up with a start. "The responsibility was thrust upon me, and I

had to act as I thought best. To have slain this young Rames would have been impossible, for all hearts were

"My father, that is what I have done. I have sent him to Napata, which is very much out of the waymany

"But what will happen, Tua? Either the King of Kesh will kill him and my two thousand soldiers, or perhaps

he will kill the King of Kesh as he killed his son, and seize the throne which his own forefathers held for

"Yes, my father, I thought of it, and if this last should happen through no fault of ours, would Egypt weep,

"I perceive, Daughter," he said slowly, "that in you are the makings of a great queen, for within the silken

scabbard of a woman's folly I see the statesman's sword of bronze. Only run not too fast lest you should fall

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

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

"Find me such a man, my father, and I will wed him gladly," answered Tua in a sweet voice. "Only," she

added, "I know not where he may be sought now that the divine Amathel is dead at the hand of the Count

So when he grew stronger Pharaoh renewed his search for a husband meet to marry the Queen of Egypt.

Now, as before, suitors were not lacking, indeed, his ambassadors and councillors sent in their names by twos

and threes, but always when they were submitted to her, Tua found something against everyone of them, till

at last it was said that she must be destined for a god since no mere mortal would serve her turn. But when

this was reported to her, Tua only answered with a smile that she was destined to that royal lover of whom

Amen had spoken to her mother in a dream; not to a god, but to the Chosen of the god, and that when she saw

After some months had gone by Pharaoh, quite weary of this play, asked the advice of his Council. They

suggested to him that he should journey through the great cities of Egypt, both because the change might

completely reestablish his divine health, and in the hope that on her travels the Queen NeterTua would

meet someone of royal blood with whom she could fall in love. For by now it was evident to all of them that

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

She answered that nothing would please her better, as she wearied of Thebes, and desired to see the other

great cities of the land, to make herself known to those who dwell in them, and in each to be proclaimed as its

future ruler. Also she wished to look upon the ocean whereof she had heard that it was so big that all the

waters of the Nile flowing into it day and night made no difference to its volume.

Thus then began that pilgrimage which afterwards Tua recorded in the history of her reign on the walls of the

wonderful temples that she built. Her own wish was that they should sail south to the frontiers of Egypt, since

there she hoped that she might hear some tidings of Rames and his expedition, whereof latterly no certain

word had come. This project, however, was overruled because in the south there were no great towns, also

the inhabitants of the bordering desert were turbulent, and might choose that moment to attack.

So in the end they went down and not up the Nile, tarrying for a while at every great city, and especially at

Atbu, the holy place where the head of Osiris is buried, and tens of thousands of the great men of Egypt have

their tombs. Here Tua was crowned afresh in the very shrine of Osiris amidst the rejoicings of the people.

Then they sailed away to On, the City of the Sun, and thence to make offerings at the Great Pyramids which

were built by some of the early kings who had ruled Egypt, to serve them as their tombs.

NeterTua entered the Pyramids to look upon the bodies of these Pharaohs who had been dead for thousands

of years, and whose deeds were all forgotten, though her father would not accompany her there because the

ways were so steep that he did not dare to tread them. Afterwards, with Asti and a small guard of the Arab

chiefs of the desert, she mounted a dromedary and rode round them in the moonlight, hoping that she would

meet the ghosts of those kings, and that they would talk with her as the ghost of her mother had done. But she

saw no ghosts, nor would Asti try to summon them from their sleep, although Tua prayed her to do so.

"Leave them alone," said Asti, as they paused in the shadow of the greatest of the pyramids and stared at its

"Leave them alone lest they should be angry as Amen was, and tell your Majesty things which you do not

wish to hear. Contemplate their mighty works, such as no monarch can build today, and suffer them to rest

"Do you call these mighty works?" asked Tua contemptuously, for she was angry because Asti would not try

to raise the dead. "What are they after all, but so many stones put together by the labour of men to satisfy

their own vanity? And of those who built them what story remains? There is none at all save some vain

legends. Now if I live I will rear a greater monument, for history shall tell of me till time be dead."

"Perhaps, NeterTua, if you live and the gods will it, though for my part I think that these old stones will

On the morrow of this visit to the Pyramids Pharaoh and the Queen his daughter made their state entry into

the great whitewalled city of Memphis, where they were royally received by Pharaoh's brother, the Prince

Abi, who was still the ruler of all this town and district. As it chanced these two had not met since Abi, many

years before, came to Thebes, asking a share in the government of Egypt and to be nominated as successor to

Like every other lord and prince, he had been invited to be present at the great ceremony of the Crowning of

NeterTua, but at the last moment sent his excuses, saying that he was ill, which seemed to be true. At any

rate, the spies reported that he was confined to his bed, though whether sickness or his own will took him

thither at this moment, there was nothing to show. At the time Pharaoh and his Council wondered a little that

he had made no proposal for the marriage of one of his sons, of whom he had four, to their royal cousin,

NeterTua, but decided that he 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 own Government, which he ruled well and strongly,

remitting his taxes to Thebes at the proper time with a ceremonial letter of homage, and even increasing the

So it came about that Pharaoh, who by nature was kindly and unsuspicious, had long ago put away all

mistrust of his brother, whose ambitions, he was sure, had come to an end with the birth of an heiress to the

Yet, when escorted only by five hundred of his guard, for this was a peaceful visit, Pharaoh rode into the

mighty city and saw how impregnable were its walls and how strong its gates; saw also that the streets were

lined with thousands of wellarmed troops, doubts which he dismissed as unworthy, did creep into his heart.

But if he said nothing of 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 their welcome, for they were alone in the

chariot, the horses of which were led, "this uncle of mine keeps a great state in Memphis."

"A stranger who did not know the truth might think he was its king, my father, and to be plain, if I were

"You mean, my father, that we can go away when it pleases the Prince your brother to open those great

At this moment their talk came to an end, for the chariot was stayed at the steps of the great hall where Abi

waited to receive his royal guests. He stood at the head of the steps, a huge, coarse, vigorous man of about

sixty years of age, on whose fat, swarthy face there was still, oddly enough, some resemblance to the delicate,

Tua summed him up in a single glance, and instantly hated him even more than she had hated Amathel,

Prince of Kesh. Also she who had not feared the emptyheaded, drunken Amathel, was penetrated with a

strange terror of this man whom she felt to be strong and intelligent, and whose great, greedy eyes rested on

Now they were ascending the steps, and now Prince Abi was welcoming them to his "humble house," giving

them their throne names, and saying how rejoiced he was to see them, his sovereigns, within the walls of

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

"We thank you for your greeting, but then, my uncle Abi, why did you not meet us outside the gates of

Memphis where we expected to find its governor waiting to deliver up the keys of Pharaoh's city to the

Now Abi, who had thought to see some shrinking child clothed in the emblems of a queen, looked astonished

at this tall and royal maiden who had so sharp a tongue, and found no words to answer her. So she swept past

They led her to its greatest palace that had been prepared for Pharaoh and 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 not please her. So

search was made elsewhere, and in the end she chose another smaller palace that once had been a temple of

Sekhet, the tigerheaded goddess of vengeance and of chastity, whereof the pylon towers fronted on the Nile

which at its flood washed against them. Indeed, they were now part of the wall of Memphis, for the great

Surrounding this palace and outside its courts, lay the old gardens of the temple where the priests of Sekhet

used to wander, enclosed within a lofty limestone wall. Here, saying that the air from the river would be more

healthy for him, Tua persuaded Pharaoh to establish himself and his Court, and to encamp the guards under

When it was pointed out to the Queen that, owing to the lack of dwellingrooms, none which were fitting

were left for her to occupy, she replied that this mattered nothing, since in the old pylon tower were two small

chambers hollowed in the thickness of its walls, which were very pleasing to her, because of the prospect of

the Nile and the wide flat lands and the distant Pyramids commanded from the lofty roof and windowplaces.

So these chambers, in which none had dwelt for generations, were hastily cleaned out and furnished, and in

That night Pharaoh and Tua rested in privacy with those members of the Court whom they had brought with

them, but on the morrow began a round of festivals such as history scarcely told of in Egypt. Indeed, the feast

with which it opened was more splendid than any Tua had seen at Thebes even at the time of her crowning,

or on that day of blood and happiness when Amathel and his Nubian guards were slain and she and Rames

declared their love. At this feast Pharaoh and the young Queen sat in 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 you not sit by Pharaoh, my uncle?"

"Who am I that I should take the seat of honour when my sovereigns come to visit me?" answered Abi,

bowing his great head. "Let it be reserved for the highpriest of Osiris, that Holy One whom, after Ptah, we

worship here above all other deities, for he is clothed with the majesty of the god of death."

"Indeed not," replied Abi, spreading out his hands, "though if a choice must be made, I would rather that he

sat near one who is old and must soon be called the 'everliving,' than at the side of the loveliest queen that

Egypt has ever seen, to whom it is said that Amen himself has sworn 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 illomened," said Tua sharply and, turning her head away, began to watch those about her.

Soon she noticed that behind Abi amongst his other officers stood a tall, grizzled man clad in the robes and

cap of an astrologer, who appeared to be studying everything, and especially Pharaoh and herself, for

"The famous astrologer, Kaku, Queen. I have seen him before when he visited Thebes with the Prince before

So Tua watched and discovered several things, among them that Kaku observed everything that she and

Pharaoh did, what they ate, to whom they spoke, and any words which fell from their lips, such as those that

she had uttered about the god Osiris. All of these he noted down from time to time on his waxen tablets,

doubtless that he might make use of them afterwards in his interpretation of the omens of the future.

Now, among the ladies of the Court who fanned Pharaoh and waited on him was that dancing girl of Abi's

who many years before had betrayed him at Thebes, Merytra, Lady of the Footstool, now a woman of middle

age, but still beautiful, of whom, although Tua disliked her, Pharaoh was fond because she was clever and

witty of speech and amused him. For this reason, in spite of her history, he had advanced her to wealth and

honour, and kept her about his person as a companion of his lighter hours. Something in this woman's manner

attracted Tua's attention, for continually she looked at the astrologer, Kaku, who suddenly awoke to her

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 with him, and he nodded in assent, after which they

The feast wore on its weary course till, at length, the doors opened and slaves appeared bearing the mummy

of a dead man, which they set upon its feet in the centre of the hall, whereon a toastmaster cried:

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

Now this bringing in of the mummy was a very ancient rite, but one that had fallen into general disuse, so

that as it chanced Tua, who had never seen it practised before, looked on it with curiosity not unmingled with

"Why is a dead king dragged from his sepulchre back into the world of life, my Uncle?" she asked, pointing

"It is no king, your Majesty," answered Abi, "but only the bones of some humble person, or perhaps a block

of wood that wears the ur�us and carries the sceptre in honour of Pharaoh, our chief guest."

"A somewhat poor compliment, my brother, to one who, like myself, is old and sickly and not far from his

eternal habitation. Yet why should I grumble at it who need no such reminder of that which awaits me and all

of us?" and he leaned back in his chair and sighed, while Tua looked at him anxiously.

Then Abi ordered the mummy to be removed, declaring, with many apologies, that it had been brought there

only because such was the ancient custom of Memphis, which, unlike Thebes, did not change its fashions. He

added that this same body or figure, for he knew not which it was, having never troubled to inquire, had been

looked upon by at least thirty Pharaohs, all as dead as it today, since it was the same that was used at the

"If so," broke in Tua, who was angry, "it is time that it should be buried, if flesh and bone, or burned if wood.

Without answering, Abi rose, as she thought to dismiss the company. But it was not so, for he raised a great,

"Before we part, my guests, let Memphis drink a welcome to the mighty Lord of the Two Lands who, for the

first time in his long and glorious reign, honours it with his presence here today. As he said to me but now,

my royal brother is weak and aged with sickness, nor can we hope that once his visit is ended, he will return

again to the Whitewalled City. But as it chances the gods have given him a boon which they denied for

long, the lovely daughter who shares his throne, and who, as we believe and pray, will reign after him when it

pleases him to ascend into the kingdom of Osiris. Yet, my friends, it is evil that the safe and lawful

government of Egypt should hang on one frail life. Therefore this is the toast to which I drinkthat the

Queen Neter Tua, Morning Star of Amen, Hathor Strong in Beauty, who has rejected so many suitors, may

before she departs from among us, find one to her liking, some husband of royal blood, skilled in the art of

rule, whose strength and knowledge may serve to support her woman's weakness and inexperience in that sad

Now the audience, who well understood the inner meaning and objects of this speech, rose and cheered

furiously, as they had been schooled to do, 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,

So Tua rose when at length there was silence and, looking round her with flashing eyes, said in her clear

"The Pharaoh, my father, and I, the Queen of the Upper and the Lower Lands, return thanks to you, our

people of this city, for your loyal greetings. But as for the words that the Prince Abi has spoken, we

understand them not. My prayer is that the Pharaoh may still reign in glory 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 your

Queen. Learn also that she seeks no husband, nor when she seeks will she ever find one within the walls of

Memphis. Rest you well, O people and you, 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 more words, leaving Abi staring at his guests

When Tua had reached the pylon tower, where she lodged, and her ladies had unrobed her and gone, she

"If your Majesty cannot guess, then you are duller than I thought," answered Asti in her quick, dry fashion,

adding; "however, I will try to translate. The Prince Abi, your noble uncle, means that he has trapped you

"How dare he speak such words?" she gasped, springing to her feet. "I, the wife of that old riverhog, my

father's brother who might be my grandfather, that hideous, ancient lump of wickedness who boasts that he

has a hundred sons and daughters; I, the Queen of Egypt, whose birth was decreed by Amen, Ihow dare

"The question ishow he dares, Queen. Still, that is his plot which he 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 will remember

that you bade me be silent, saying that you had determined to see the most ancient city in Egypt."

"You should not have been silent. You should have said what was in your mind, even if I ordered you from

my presence. Neither Abi nor any of his sons proposed for my hand when the others did, therefore I

"After the fashion of women who have already given their hearts, Queen, and forget that they have other

things to givea 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 cause to fear, Asti, for I will break its back and

"That is not easy, Queen, since some ceremony is planned for each of the next eight days. If Pharaoh were to

go away without attending them, he would anger all the people of the North which he has not visited since he

"Yes, Queen, at least, that is the saying. But do you think that Pharaoh wishes 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 than

Pharaoh can muster in these times of peace, for in addition to his trained troops, all the thousands of the

Bedouin tribes of the desert look on him as lord, and at his word will fall on the wealth of Egypt like

famished vultures on a fatted ox. Moreover, here you have but a guard of five hundred men, whereas Abi's

regiments, summoned to do you honour, and his ships of war block the river and the southern road. How then

will you leave Memphis without his good leave; how will you even send messengers to summon aid which

"You have done wrong, Asti; if you foresaw all these things of which I never thought, you should have

"Queen, I did warn them, and Mermes warned them also, but they would not listen, saying that they were but

the idle dreams of one who strives to peep into the future and sees false pictures there. More, Pharaoh sent for

me himself, and whilst thanking me and Mermes my husband, told me that he had inquired into the matter

and found no cause to distrust Abi or those under his command. Moreover, he forbade me to speak to your

Majesty about it, lest, being but young and a woman, you might be frightened and your pleasure spoilt."

"A strange one, I think, Queen. You know his waitingwoman, Merytra, she of whom he is so fond, and who

"Aye, I know her," replied Tua, with emphasis. "She was ever whispering with that tall astrologer at the feast.

"With this waitinglady, it seems, Queen. Perhaps you have not heard all her story. in the year before your

birth Merytra came up the Nile with Abi. She was then quite young and very pretty; one of Abi's women. It

seems that the Prince struck her for some fault, and being clever she determined to be revenged upon him.

Soon she got her chance, for she heard Abi disclose to the astrologer Kaku, that same man whom you saw

tonight talking with her, a plan that he had made to murder Pharaoh and declare himself king, from which

Kaku dissuaded him. Having this secret and being bold, she fled at once from the ship of Abi, and that night

told Pharaoh everything. But he forgave Abi, and sent him home again with honour who should have slain

him for his treason. Only Merytra remained in the Court, and from that time forward Pharaoh, who trusted

her and was caught by her wit and beauty, made it a habit to send for her when he wished to have news of

Memphis where she was born, because she seemed always to know even the most secret things that were

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

"No, Queen, it is not to be wondered at, especially as she paid back secret for secret. Well, I believe that after

I had warned Pharaoh of what I knew, never mind how, he sent for Merytra, who laughed the tale to scorn,

and told him that Abi his brother had long ago abandoned all ambitions, being well content with his great

place and power which one of his sons would inherit after him. She told him also that the troops were but

assembled to do the greater honour to your Majesties who had no more loyal or loving subject than the Prince

Abi, whom for her part she hated with good cause, as she loved Pharaoh and his Housewith good cause. If

there were any danger, she asked would she dare to put herself within the reach of Abi, the man that she had

once betrayed because her heart was pure and true, and she was faithful to her king. So Pharaoh believed her,

and I obeyed the orders of Pharaoh, knowing that if I did not do so he would grow angry and perhaps separate

me from you, my beloved Queen and fosterling, which, now that Rames has gone, would, I think, have meant

"Yes, I fear also that you have erred, Asti, but everything is forgiven to those who err through love,"

answered Tua kindly and kissing her. "Oh, my father, Pharaoh! What god fashioned you so weak that an evil

spirit in a woman's shape can play the rudder to your policy! Leave me now, Asti, for I must sleep and call on

Amen to aid his daughter. The snare is strong and cunning, but, perchance, in my dreams he will show me

That night when the feast was ended Merytra, Pharaoh's favoured waitingmaid, did not return with the rest

of the royal retinue to the temple where he lodged. As they went from the hall in state she whispered a few

words into the ear of the chief Butler of the Household who, knowing that she had the royal pass to come in

and out as she would, 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 certain statue in the antehall and waited till

presently a tall figure, also wrapped in a dark cloak, appeared and beckoned to her. She followed it down

sundry passages and up a narrow stair that seemed almost endless, until, at length, the figure unlocked a

Now Merytra found herself in a very richly furnished room lit by hanginglamps, that evidently was the

abode of one who watched the stars and practised magic, for all about were strangelooking brazen

instruments and rolls of papyrus covered with mysterious signs, and suspended above the table a splendid

divining ball of crystal. Merytra sank 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 of halfway house to heaven. Perched

here in my solitude I see and make note of what goes on above," and he pointed to the skies, "and retail the

"Most certainly at a price, and I may add, a good price. No one thinks much of the physician who charges low

fees. Well, you have managed to get here, and after all these years I am glad to see you again, looking almost

as young and pretty as ever. Tell me your secret of eternal youth, dear Merytra."

Merytra, who was vain, smiled at this artful flattery, although, in truth, it was well deserved, for at an age

"An excellent conscience," she answered, "a good appetite and the virtuous, quiet life, which is the lot of the

ladies of Pharaoh's Courtthere you have the secret, Kaku. I fear that you keep too late hours, and that is

why you grow white and withered like a mummynot but that you look handsome enough in those long

"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 draughts in this accursed tower where I sit staring at the stars, which give me

rheumatism. 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 I took 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 trusts me and

lets me go where I will upon his businessbut from his royal brother. He used to have a long memory, and

from the look of him I do not think that his temper has improved. You may remember a certain slap in the

"He never knew it was you, Merytra. Being a mass of selfconceit, he thought that you ran away because he

"It was a very dirty trick you played me, Merytra," went on Kaku with indignation, for the rich wine coursing

through his blood revived the sting of his loss. "You know how fond I always was of you, and indeed am

"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 have hampered your life, dear Kaku, so I went into the household of that poor creature,

Pharaoh, insteadPharaoh's Nunnery we call it. But you will not explain the facts to Abi, will you?"

"No, I think not, Merytra, if we continue to get on as well as we do at present. But now you are rested, so let

us come to business, for otherwise you will have to stop here all night and Pharaoh would be angry."

"Oh, to Set with Pharaoh! Though it is true that he is a good paymaster, and knows the value of a clever

The old astrologer's face grew hard and cunning. Going to the door he made sure that it was locked and drew

a curtain over it. Then he took a stool and sat himself down in front of Merytra, in such a position that the

"A big business, Merytra, and by the gods I do not know that I should trust you with it. You tricked me once,

you have tricked Pharaoh for years; how do I know that you will not play the same game once more and earn

"If you think that, Kaku, perhaps you will unlock the door and give me an escort home, for we are only

"I don't know what to think, for you are as cunning as you are beautiful. Listen, woman," he continued in a

savage whisper, and clasping her by the wrist. "If you are false, I tell you that you shall die horribly, for if the

knife and poison fail, I am no charlatan, I have arts. I can make you turn loathsome to the sight and waste

away, I can haunt you at nights so that you may never sleep a wink, save in full sunshine, and I will do it all

and more. If I die, Merytra, we go together. Now will you swear to be true, will you swear it by the oath of

The spy looked about her. She knew Kaku's power which was famous throughout Egypt, and that it was said

"It seems that this is a dangerous affair," she replied uneasily, "and I think that I can guess your aim. Now if I

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

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

She thought a moment, looking at the wizened but powerfulfaced old magician, 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,

"I know it, Merytra, and from the beginning the wise have held that the spirit dwells, not in the heart or brain

She obeyed, and from some hidden place in the wall Kaku produced a book, or rather a roll of magical

"There is no other such book as this," he said, "for it was written by the greatest of wizards who lived before

Mena, when the godkings ruled in Egypt, and I, myself, took it from among his bones, a terrible task for his

Ka rose up in the grave and threatened me. He who can read in that book, as I can, has much strength, and let

him beware who breaks an oath taken on that book. Now press it to your heart, Merytra, and swear after me."

Then he repeated a very terrible oath, for should it be violated it consigned the swearer to shame, sickness

and misfortune in this world, and to everlasting torments in the next at the claws and fangs of beastheaded

demons who dwell in the darkness beyond the sun, appointing, by name, those beings who should work the

"You have left out your part of the oath, Friend, namely, that you promise that I shall be the only wife of

Then they both swore, touching their brows with the book, and as she looked up again, Merytra saw a

strange, flamelike light pulse in the crystal globe that hung above her head, which became presently

infiltrated with crimson flowing through it as blood might flow from a wound, till it glowed dull red, out of

which redness a great eye watched her. Then the eye vanished and the blood vanished, and in place of them

Queen NeterTua sat in glory on her throne, while the nations worshipped her, and by her side sat a man in

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

"I am sure I do not know," answered Merytra. "I think that strong, red wine of yours was doctored and has

got into my head. But, come, we have sworn 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

"It seems a pity since you have such a gift of vision," replied Kaku in the same dubious voice. Yet he obeyed,

tying up the shining ball in a piece of mummy wrapping which he used in his spells.

"Now," he said, "I will be brief. My fat master, Abi, means to be Pharaoh of Egypt, and it seems that the best

way to do so is by climbing into his niece's throne, where most men would like to sit."

"I mean that I shall be sorry for the husband who marries her against her will, however beautiful and

highplaced she may be. I tell you that woman is a flame. She has more strength in her than all the magicians

in Egypt, yourself among them. They say she is a daughter of Amen, and I believe it. I believe that the god

dwells in her, and woe be to him whom she 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 him there. Now we may take it this will not

"Certainly not, Kaku," she answered. "The gossip goes that she is in love with young Count Rames, who

fought and killed the Prince of Kesh before her eyes, and now has gone to make amends to the king his father

"That may be true, Merytra. Why not? He is her fosterbrother and of royal blood, bold, too, and handsome,

they say. Well, queens have no business to be in love. That is the privilege of humbler folk like you and me,

"I do not know, but Asti, her nurse and favourite lady, the wife of Mermes and mother of Rames, is

suspicious enough. She is a greater magician than you are, Kaku, and if she could have had her way Pharaoh

would never have set foot in Memphis. But I got your letter and over persuaded him, the poor fool. You see

he thinks me faithful to his House, and that is why I am allowed to be here tonight, to collect information."

"Ah! Well, what Asti knows the Queen will know, and she is stronger than Pharaoh, and notwithstanding all

Abi's ships and soldiers, may break away from Memphis and make war upon him. So it comes to this

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

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

"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 presentfor him, but look here,

Then going to a chest Kaku took from it a plain box of cedar wood which was shaped like a mummy case,

and, lifting off its lid, revealed within it a waxen figure of the length of a hand. This figure was beautifully

fashioned to the living likeness of Pharaoh, and crowned with the double crown of Egypt.

"What is it?" asked Merytra, shrinking back. "An ushapti to be placed in his tomb?"

"No, woman, a magic Ka fashioned with many a spell out of yonder ancient roll, that can bring him to the

"Thus: You, as one of Pharaoh's favourite ladies, have charge of the chamber where he sleeps. Now you must

make shift to enter there alone and lay this figure in his bed, that the breath of Pharaoh may enter into 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 Lord if Ill, that as thy limbs waste, so shall the limbs of him in whose likeness thou art fashioned

waste also.' Having spoken thus, hold the legs of the image over the flame of a lamp until it be half melted,

and convey the rest of it away to your own sleepingplace and hide it there. So it shall come about that

during that night the nerves and muscles in the legs of Pharaoh will wither and grow useless to him, and he be

paralysed and unable to stir. Afterwards, if it be needful, I will tell you more."

"I cannot do it," she said, "it is black sorcery against one who is a god, and will bring my soul to hell. Find

some other instrument, or place the waxen imp in the bed of Pharaoh yourself, Kaku."

"Come with me, Merytra," he said, and taking her by the wrist he led her to the open windowplace whence

So giddy was the height at the top of this lofty tower that the houses beneath looked small and far away, and

"Behold Memphis and the Nile, and the wide lands of Egypt gleaming in the moonlight, and the Pyramids of

the ancient kings. You wish to rule over all these, like myselfdo you not, Merytra?and if you obey me

"Then I will throw my spell upon you, and your senses shall leave you and you shall fall headlong to that

white line, which is a street, and before tomorrow morning the dogs will have picked your broken bones, so

that none can know you, for you have heard too much to go hence alive unless it be to do my bidding. Oh,

no! Think not to say 'I will' and afterwards deceive me, for that image which you take with you is my servant,

and will keep watch on you and make report to me and to the god, its master. Now choose."

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

"Good. Now hide the box beneath your cloak and drop it not, for if so that which is within will call aloud

after you, and they will kill you for a sorceress. Unless my word come to you, lay the figure in Pharaoh's bed

tomorrow evening, and at the hour of moonrise hold its limbs in the flame in your own chamber, and hide it

away, and afterwards bring it back to me that I may enchant it afresh, if there be any need. Now come, and I

On the morrow when the lady Asti came to dress the Queen for that day's ceremony, she asked her if Amen

"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

"It may well be so, Queen," answered Asti, "and in that case I think that she is at the work. At any rate,

watching from the little window of my room, by the light of the moon I saw her return across the temple

court at midnight. Moreover, it seemed to me that she was carrying something beneath her robe."

"From the city, I suppose. She has Pharaoh's pass, and can go in and out when she will. I have caused

Mermes to question the officer of the guard, and he says that she came to the gate accompanied by a tall man

wrapped in a dark cloak, who spoke with her earnestly, and left her. From this description I think it must have

"Only this, Queen. The gates are guarded more closely even than we thought. I tried to send out a man to

Thebes this morning with a message on my own accountnever mind what it wasand the sentries turned

"By the gods!" exclaimed Tua, "before I have reigned a year every gate in Memphis shall be melted down for

cooking vessels, and I will set their captains to work in the desert mines. Nay, such threats are foolishness, I'll

not threaten, I'll strike when the time comes, but that 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 is time to start for this ceremony of the laying of the foundationstone of

the temple, whither you accompany him in state. Also it is as well by tonight we may learn more. Come,

let me set the crown upon your head that these dogs of Memphis may know their mistress."

The ceremony proved very wearisome. First there was the long chariot ride through the crowded, shouting

streets, Pharaoh and Abi going in the first chariot, and Tua, attended by Abi's eldest daughter, a roundeyed

lady much older than herself, in the second. Next came the office of the priests of Amen, over which

NeterTua as daughter of Amen and highpriestess, must preside, to dedicate the temple to the glory of the

god. Then the foundation deposit of little vases of offerings and models of workmen's tools, and a ring drawn

from Pharaoh's hand engraved with his royal name, were blessed and set by the masons in hollows prepared

for them, and the two great corner stones let down, hiding them for ever, and declared respectively by

Pharaoh and by NeterTua, Morning Star of Amen, Joint Sovereign of Egypt, to be well and truly laid.

Afterwards architects, those who "drew the line," exhibited plans of the temple, and received gifts from

At length all was over, and the great procession returned by another route to the temple of Sekhet, where

Pharaoh lodged, a very tedious journey in the hot sun, since it involved a circuit of the endless walls of

Memphis, with stoppages before all the temples of the gods, at each of which Pharaoh must make offerings.

Nor, weary as he was, might he rest, for in the outer court of the old shrine thrones had been set up and seated

on them he and Tua must hear petitions till sunset and give judgment, or postpone them for further

At last there came to an end, but, as Pharaoh, tired out, rose from his throne, Abi, his brother, who all this

time had not left them, said that he also had a private petition to prefer. So they went into an inner court that

had been a sanctuary, and sat down again, there being present besides 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 favourite attendant. With Abi were his astrologer, Kaku, his two

eldest sons, and a few of the great officers of his government, also the highpriests of the temples of

"What is your prayer, my brother?" asked Pharaoh, as soon as the doors were 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 to

grant." Then he drew himself up and said slowly, "I am here to ask the hand of the glorious Queen

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 the history of the land any Queen of Egypt had ever married her uncle.

The councillor who was noted for his historical studies, answered that at the moment he could recall no such

"Then," said Tua coolly, and still addressing him, "it seems that it would be scarcely wise to create a

precedent which other poor young women of the royal race might be called upon to follow."

Pharaoh caught something of the words, though Abi did not for they were spoken in a low voice, and

"The Queen NeterTua sits at my side, and is coregent with me of this kingdom, her mind is my mind, and

what she approves it is probable I shall 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:

"I pray you, my Uncle," interrupted Tua, "correct your words, which should begin 'A burning love of your

Now Abi frowned while everyone else smiled, not excepting Pharaoh and the astrologer, Kaku. Again he

began his speech, but so confusedly that presently Tua stopped him for the second time, saying:

"I am not deaf, most noble prince, my Uncle. I heard the words you used to Pharaoh, and even understood

their import. In fact, I have already consulted our councillor here, a learned master of the law, as to the

legality of such an alliance as you propose, and he gives his judgment against it."

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

"May it please your Majesty," this lawyer exclaimed in a thin agitated voice, "I only said there was no record

of such a marriage that I can remember, though once I think a queen adopted a nephew, who afterwards

"It is the same thing, Friend," replied Tua sweetly, "for that of which there is no record in the long history of

Egypt must of necessity be illegal. Still, if my uncle here wishes to adopt me, I thank him, though his lawful

"I have put a plain question to your Majesty," he said, "and perhaps I am worthy of a plain answer. As all

men know, O Queen, it is time that you should be wed, and I offer myself as your husband. It is true that I am

"In what year was the Prince Abi born, the same as yourself, did you say?" 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 other hand I have much to offer. I rule here,

your Majesties, who am also of the royal blood, and there is some disaffection in the North, especially among

the great Bedouin tribes of the Desert who watch the frontier of the Kingdom. Now if this alliance comes

about, and in days to be I sit upon the double throne as KingConsort of Egypt, they will be loyal, and north

and south will be united more closely than they ever were before. Whereas if it does not come about"

Here Kaku, pretending to brush a fly from his face, caught his hand in Abi's robe, a signal at which his master

"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, I will speak the truth, chance what may.

Pharaoh, you have reigned for many years; yes, forty times has the Nile overflowed its banks since we laid

our divine father in the tomb. Now, during all those years but one child has been born to you, and that after I

came to Thebes to pray you to name me as your heir. Know, Pharaoh, that there are many who find this

strange, and wonder whether this beautiful queen, who is called Daughter of Amen, and resembles you so

little in body or in mind, sits rightfully on the throne of Egypt. If I marry her these questionings will cease. If

I do not marry her the whisperings of men may grow to a wind that will blow the crown from off her head."

Now a grasp of fear and wonder rose from all who heard this bold and treasonable speech, and Tua,

reddening to the eyes, bent forward as though to answer. But before ever a word had passed her lips Pharaoh

sprang from his seat transformed with rage. All his patient gentleness was gone, and he looked so fierce and

"Is it for this that I have borne with you for so long, my brother?" he cried, rending at his robes. "Is it for this

that I spared you years ago in Thebes, when your life was forfeit for your treachery? Is it for this that I have

suffered you to rise to great honour, and to rule here almost as a king in my city of Memphis? Was it not

enough that I should sit quiet, while you, an old man, the son of our father's barbarian slave, the looseliving

despot, dare to ask for the pure hand of Egypt's Queen in marriage, you, her uncle, who might well be her

grandfather also? Must I also hear your foul mouth beslime her royal birth, and the honour of her divine

mother, and spit sneers at Amen, Father of the gods? Well, Amen shall deal with you when you come to the

doors of his Eternal House, but here on earth I am his son and servant. Mermes, call my guards, and arrest

this man and hold him safe. At Thebes, whither we depart tomorrow, he shall be judged according to our

Now Mermes blew a shrill call on the silver whistle that hung about his neck, and, springing forward, seized

the Prince by the arm. Abi drew his sword to cut him down, and at the sight of the blade, all who were with

him rushed to the door to escape, sweeping before them certain of Pharaoh's ladies, among them the

waitingwoman, Merytra. But before ever they could pass it, the guards who had heard the signal of Mermes,

ran in with lifted spears, driving them back again. Leaping upon Abi, they tore the sword from his hand, and

"Bind this traitor and keep him safe, for tomorrow he accompanies us to Thebes," said Pharaoh.

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

"Let them go," answered Pharaoh wearily, "for they have not sinned against us. Let them go, and take

"Hearken," whispered the astrologer into the woman's ear. "Do as I bid you last night, and all will yet be well.

Then they were separated, for the guards took Kaku by the arm and thrust him out of the temple together with

An hour later Mermes and Asti stood before Pharaoh, and prayed him that he would depart from Memphis

that very night, saying that such was the counsel also of the Queen and of his officers. But Pharaoh was tired

"Tomorrow, when I have slept, will be time enough," he answered. "Moreover, shall I fly from my own city

like a thief when naught is ready for our journey? Why do you press me to such a coward's act?" he added

"For this reason, your Majesty," answered Mermes. "We are sure there is a plot to keep you here. This

afternoon you could not have gone, had you tried, but tonight, Abi, being a prisoner, his people are

dismayed, and having no leader will open the gates. By tomorrow one may be found, and they will be

"What!" asked the King scornfully, "do you mean that I am a prisoner also, and here in Egypt, which I rule?

Nay, good friends, at Pharaoh's word those gates will open. Or if they do not, I will pull down Memphis stone

by stone, and drive out its people to share their caves with jackals. Do they think because I am kind and

gentle, that I cannot lift the sword if there be need? Have they forgotten how I smote those rebels in my

youth, and gave their cities to the flames, and set my yoke on Syria, that aided them. We march tomorrow,

Now Mermes bowed and turned to go, since when those words had passed Pharaoh's lips it was not lawful to

"O Pharaoh," she said, "be not wrath with your servant. Pharaoh, as you know, I have skill in divination, the

spirits of the dead whisper at times in my ears of things that are to be. It seemed to me just now when having

left the presence of the Queen, my fosterchild, I stood a while alone in the darkness, that the divine Majesty

of the great lady, the royal wife, Ahura, who was my friend and mistress, stood beside me and said:

"'Go, Asti, to Pharaoh, and say to Pharaoh that great danger threatens him and our royal daughter. Say to

himFly from Memphis, lest there he should be prepared for burial, and the Star of Amen hidden by a cloud

of shame. Bid him beware of one about his throne, and of that evil magician with whom she made a pact last

"O dreamer of dreams, interpret your own dream. Who is she about my throne of whom I should beware, and

"The divine Queen did not tell me, Pharaoh," answered Asti stubbornly, "but my own skill tells me. She is

Merytra, your favourite, and the magician is Kaku, whom she visited last night."

"What!" exclaimed Pharaoh, laughing. "That longlegged old astrologer with the painted cap who ran so fast

when his master was taken? Why! he is nothing but a spy who has been in my pay for years; a charlatan who

pretends to knowledge that he may win the secrets of his Prince. And Merytra, too, Merytra, who in bygone

times warned me of this Abi's foolish plot. Asti, you are highborn and wise, one whom I love, and honour

much, as does the Queen, my daughter, but you can still be jealous, as I have noted long. Asti, be not

deceived, it was jealousy of Merytra that whispered in your ears, not the spirit of the divine Ahura. Now go

and take your terrors with you, for this dark conspirator, Merytra, waits in my chamber to unrobe me, and talk

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

That night Tua could not sleep. Whenever she shut her eyes visions rose before her mind, terrifying, fantastic

visions in all of which the fat and hideous Abi played a part. Thus she saw again the scene at her father's fatal

feast to the Priest of Kesh, when Asti by her magic had caused the likeness of a monkey to come from the

juggler's vase. Only now it was Abi who emerged from the vase, a terrible Abi, with a red sword in his hand,

and Pharaoh's crown upon his head. He leapt from the mouth of the vase, he devoured her with his greedy

eyes, with stealthy steps he came to seize her, and she could not stir an inch, something held her fast upon her

She could bear it no moreshe opened her eyes, stared at the darkness, and out of the darkness came voices,

telling of death and war. She thrust her fingers into her ears, and tried to fix her thoughts on Rames, that

brighteyed, lightfooted lover of hers, whom she so longed to see again, without whom she was so lonely

Where was Rames? she wondered. What fate had overtaken him? Something in her seemed to

answerDeath. Oh! if Rames were dead, what should she do? Of what use was it to be Queen of Egypt, the

Loneliness, insufferable loneliness seemed to get a hold of her. She slipped from her bed, and through the

doorway of her little pylon chamber. Now she was upon the narrow stair, and in face of her was that other

chamber where Asti slept. Someone was talking with her! Perhaps Mermes was with his wife, and if so she

could not enter. No, it was Asti's voice, and, listening, she could hear her murmuring prayers or invocations

in solemn tones. She pushed open the door and entered. A little lamp burned in the room, and by its feeble

light she saw the whiterobed Asti, whose long hair fell about her, standing with upturned eyes and arms

outstretched to Heaven. Suddenly Asti saw her also, though but dimly for she stood in the dense shadow, and

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

"It is no ghost, but I," said Tua. "What dealings are these that you have with ghosts at this deadest hour of the

night, Asti? Do not enough terrors encompass us that you must needs call on your familiar spirits to add to

"I call on the spirits to save us from them, Queen, for, like you, I think that we are set in the midst of perils.

This night is full of sorcery; I scent it in the air, and strive to match spell with spell. But why do you not

"I cannot, Asti, I cannot. Fear has got hold of me. Oh! I would that we had never come to this hateful

Memphis, or set eyes upon its ill omened lord, that foul brute who seeks to make a wife of me."

"Be not afraid, Lady," said Asti, throwing her arms about Tua's slight and quivering form. "Tomorrow

morning we march; I have it from Pharaoh, and already the guard make preparations, while as for the

"There is no prison that will hold him, Asti, save the grave. Oh! why did 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 NeterTua, and Pharaoh must fulfil his fate and ours, for though he is

As she spoke the words, somewhere, far beneath them, arose a cry, a voice of one in dread or woe, and with it

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

They threw on their garments, they ran down the narrow stair and across the halls till they came to the

chamber of Pharaoh. There upon his bed he lay and about him were the physicians of his Court. He was

speechless, but his eyes were open, and he knew his daughter, for, raising his hand feebly, he beckoned to

"What is it, man?" she asked of the head physician, who, by way of answer, lifted the linen on the bed, and

"We know not, O Queen," answered the physician, "for in all our lives we have never seen its like. The flesh

"But I know," broke in Asti. "This is not sickness, it is sorcery. Pharaoh has been smitten by some foul spell

"It seems that the Lady of the Footstool, Merytra, sang him to sleep, as was her custom," answered the

physician, "and left him about two hours ago, so say the guard. When I came in to see how his Majesty rested

"My divine Father is helpless, and therefore again I rule alone in Egypt. Hear me and obey. Let the Prince

Abi be brought from his prison to the inner hall, for I would question him at once. Let the waiting woman,

The officer of the watch bowed and departed to do the bidding of her Majesty, while others went to light the

Soon he returned to an outer chamber whither Tua had withdrawn herself while the physicians examined

"O Queen," he said, with a frightened face, "be not wrath, but the Prince Abi has gone. He has escaped out of

"O Queen, the small gate was open, for people passed in and out of it continually, making preparation for

tomorrow's march. it seems that about an hour ago the lady Merytra came to the gate and showed Pharaoh's

signet to the officer, saying that she was on Pharaoh's business. With her went a fat man dressed in the robe

of a master of camels that in the darkness the officer thought was a certain Arab of the Desert who has been

to and fro about the camels. It is believed that this man was none other than the Prince Abi, dressed in the

Arab's robe, and that he escaped 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 be found, but perhaps he is asleep in some corner."

"Bar the gates," said Tua, "and let none pass in or out. Asti, take men with you, and go search the room where

So Asti went, and a while after reappeared carrying something enveloped in a cloth.

"Merytra has gone, O Queen," she said in an ominous voice, "leaving this behind hidden beneath her bed,"

Then throwing aside the cloth Asti revealed the waxen figure shaped to the exact likeness of Pharaoh, or

rather what remained of it, for the legs were molten and twisted, and in them could be seen the bones of ivory

and the sinews of thin wire, about which they had been moulded. Also beneath the chin where the tongue

would be, sharp thorns had been thrust up to the root of the mouth. The thing was lifelike and horrible, and

NeterTua hid her eyes for a while, and leaned against the wall, then she drew herself up and said:

"Call the physicians and the members of the Council, and those who can be spared of the officers of the

guard, that everyone of them may see and bear witness to the hideous crime which has been worked against

Pharaoh by his brother, the Prince Abi, and the wizard Kaku, and their accomplice, the woman Merytra."

So they were called, and came, and when they saw the dreadful thing lying in its waxen whiteness before

"Curse them not," said NeterTua, "who are already accursed, and given over to the Devourer of Souls when

their time shall come. Make a record of this deed, O Scribes, and do it swiftly."

So the scribes wrote the matter down, and the Queen and others who were present signed the writings as

witnesses. Then NeterTua commanded that they should take the image and destroy it before it worked more

But NeterTua went to Pharaoh's room and knelt by his bed, watching him, for he seemed to be asleep.

Presently he awoke, and looked round him wildly, moving his lips. For a while he could not speak, then of a

"They have bewitched me! I burn, I burn!" he screamed, rolling himself to and fro upon the bed. "Avenge me,

my daughter, and fear nothing, for the gods are about you. I see their awful eyes. Oh! I burn, I burn!"

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

"It has pleased Pharaoh, the just and perfect, to depart to his everlasting habitation in Osiris. Make it known

that this god is dead, and that I rule alone in Egypt. Send hither the priest of Osiris, that he may repeat the

"O, Fool!" said Asti, "you should have buried it. Know that with the enchanted thing you have burned away

Then that priest fell swooning to the ground, and another had to be summoned to utter the Ritual of

Now it was morning, and while the physicians embalmed the body of Pharaoh as best they could, Tua

consulted with her officers. Long and earnest was that council, for all of them felt that their danger was very

great. Abi had escaped, and if he were retaken, none knew better than he that his death and that of all his

House would be the reward of his crimes and sorceries which could only be covered up in one way by

marriage with the Queen of Egypt. Moreover, he had thousands of soldiers in the city and around it, all of

them sworn to his service, whereas the royal guard was but five companies, each of a hundred men, trapped

One of them suggested that they should break a way through the wall of the temple, and escape to the royal

barges that lay moored on the Nile beneath them, and this plan was approved. But when they went to set

about the work it was seen that these barges had been seized and were already sailing away up the river. So

but two alternatives remained to bide within the fortifications of the old temple, and send out messengers

for help, or to march through the city boldly, break down the gates if these were shut against them, seize

boats, and sail up the Nile for some loyal town, or if that could not be done, to take their chance in the open

Now some favoured one scheme, and some the other, so that at last the decision was left with her Majesty.

"Here I will not stay, to be starved out as we must ere ever an army could be gathered to rescue us, and be

given into the power of that vile and wicked man, the murderer of the good god, my father. Better that I

should die fighting in the streets, for then at least I shall pass undefiled to join him in his eternal habitation

So they bowed beneath her word, and made ready while the women of his household raised a deathwail for

Pharaoh, and criers standing on the high towers proclaimed the accession of NeterTua, MorningStar of

Amen, Glorious in Ra, Hathor, Strong in Beauty, as sole Lord and Sovereign of the North and South, and of

Egypt's subject lands. Again and again they proclaimed it, and of the multitudes who listened some cheered,

but the most remained silent, fearing the vengeance of their Prince, whom the heralds summoned to do

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 body of guards, and followed by his women and household, went the

remains of Pharaoh, in a coffin roughly fashioned from the sycamore timbers of the temple. With solemn step

and slow, they went as though they feared no harm, the priests and singers chanting some ancient, funeral

hymn. Next followed the baggage bearers, and after these the royal bodyguard in the midst of whom the

Queen, clad in mail, as a man, rode in a chariot, and with her the waitinglady, Asti, wife of Mermes.

At first all went well, for the great square in front of the temple was empty. The procession of the body of

Pharaoh passed it, and vanished down the street that led to the main gate, a mile away. Now the guard formed

into line to enter this street also, when suddenly, barring the mouth of it, appeared great companies of men

A voice cried "Halt!" and while the guards reshaped themselves into a square about the person of the Queen,

an embassy of officers, among whom were recognised the four lawful sons of Abi, advanced and demanded

in the Prince's name that her Majesty should be given over to them, saying that she would be treated with all

"Answer that the Queen of Egypt does not yield herself into the hands of rebels, and of murderers; then fall

on them, and slay them all," cried NeterTua when Mermes, her captain, had given her this message.

So he went forward and returned the answer, and next moment a flight of arrows from the Queen's guard laid

Then the fight began, one of the fiercest that had been known in Egypt for many a generation. The royal

regiment, it is true, was but small, but they were picked men, and mad with despair and rage. Moreover, Tua

the Queen played no woman's part that night, for when these charged, striving to cut a path through the

opposing hosts, she charged with them, and by the moonlight was seen standing like an angry goddess in her

chariot, and loosing arrows from her bow. Also no hurt came to her or those with her, or even to the horses

that drew her. It was as though she were protected by some unseen strength, that caught the sword cuts and

Yet it availed not, for the men of Abi were a multitude, and the royal guard but very few. Slowly, an

everlessening band, they were pressed back, first to the walls of the old temple of Sekhet, and then within its

outer court. Now all who were left of them, not fifty men under the command of Mermes, strove to hold the

gate. Desperately they fought, and one by one went down to death beneath the rain of spears.

Tua had dismounted from her chariot, and leaning on her bow, for all her arrows were spent, watched the fray

with Asti at her side. With a yell the 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 driven back through the inner courts,

Here the last stand was made. Step by step they held the stairs, till at length there were left upon their feet

only Tua, Asti and Mermes, her husband, who was sorely wounded in many places. At the little landing

between the rooms of the Queen and Asti while the assailants paused a moment, the Captain Mermes, mad

with grief and pain, turned and kissed his wife. Next he bowed before the Queen, saying:

"What a man may do, I have done to save your Majesty. Now I go to make report to Pharaoh, leaving you in

charge of Amen, who shall protect you, and to Rames, my son, the heritage of vengeance. Farewell, O

Daughter of Amen, till I see your star rise in the darkness of the UnderWorld, and to you, beloved wife,

Then, uttering the warcry of his fathers, those Pharaohs who once had ruled in Egypt, the tall and noble

Mermes grasped his sword in both his hands, and rushed upon the advancing foe, slaying and slaying until he

"Come with me, O Wife of a royal hero," said Tua to Asti, who had covered her eyes with her hand, and was

Then Tua led her up more steps to the top of the pylon tower, where Asti sank down moaning in her misery.

Tua walked to the outermost edge of the tower and stood there waiting the end. It was the moment of dawn.

On the eastern horizon the red rim of the sun arose out of the desert in a clear sky. There upon that lofty

pinnacle, clad in shining mail, and wearing a helm shaped like the crown of Lower Egypt, Tua stood in its

glorious rays that turned her to a figure of fire set above a world of shadow. The thousands of the people

watching from the streets below, and from boats upon the Nile, saw her, and raised a shout of wonder and of

"The Daughter of AmenRa!" they cried. "Behold her clad in the glory of the god!"

Soldiers crept up the stairs to the pylon roof and saw her also, while, now that the fray was ended, with them

But the soldiers looked and shrank back before the Majesty of Egypt, wrapped in her robe of light.

"Abi, once a Prince of Egypt and Hereditary Lord of Memphis, but now an outcast murderer, black with the

blood of your King, and of many a loyal man, hear me, the anointed Queen of Egypt, hear me, O man upon

whom I decree the judgment of the first and second death. Come but one step near to my Majesty, and before

your eyes, and the eyes of all the multitude who watch, I hurl myself from this hideous place into the waters

of the Nile. Yet ere I go to join dead Pharaoh, and side by side with him to lay our plaint against you before

the eternal gods, listen to our curse upon you. From this day forward a snake shall prey upon your vitals,

gnawing upwards to your heart. The spirits of Pharaoh and of all his servants whom you have slain shall

haunt your sleep; never shall you know one more hour of happy rest. Through life henceforth you shall fly

from a shadow, and if you climb a throne, it shall be such a one as that on which I stand encircled with the

perilous depths of darkness. Thence you shall fall at last, dying by a death of shame, and the evil gods shall

seize upon you, O Traitor, and drag you to the maw of the Eaterup of Souls, and therein you shall vanish for

ever for aye, you and all your House, and all those who cling to you. Thus saith NeterTua, speaking with the

Now when the soldiers heard these dreadful words, one by one they turned and crept down the stairs, till at

last there were left upon the pylon roof only the Queen, Asti crouching at her feet, and the monstrous Abi, her

He looked at her, and thrice he tried to speak but failed, for the words choked in his throat. A fourth time he

"Take off your curse, O mighty Queen," he said, "and I will let you go. I am old, tonight all my lawful sons

are dead; take off your curse, leave me in my Government, and though I desire you more than the throne of

"Nay," answered the Queen, "I cannot if I would. It is not I who spoke, but a Spirit in my mouth. Do your

"So be it, Star of Amen, having nothing more to dread I will do my worst. Pharaoh my enemy is dead, and

you, his daughter, shall be my wife of your own free will, or since no man will lay a finger upon you, here in

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 if you willI 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 of that night which knows no morrow."

When he was gone NeterTua stood a while looking down upon the thousands of 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

the copingstone, and, taking Asti by the arm, led her from the roof to the little chamber where she had slept.

Six days had gone by, and Queen NeterTua starved in the pylon tower. Till now the water had held out for

there was a good supply of it in jars, but at last it was done, while, as for food, they had eaten nothing except

a store of honey which Asti took at night from the bees that hived among the topmost pylon stones. That day

the honey was done also, and if had not been, without water to wash it down they could have swallowed no

more of the sickly stuff. Indeed, although in after years in memory of its help, NeterTua 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 setting of Ra, perhaps for the last time, since I

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 which was patrolled by the warships of Abi, all the temple was surrounded by a double

ring of soldiers, while beyond the soldiers, on the square where the great fight had been, were gathered

thousands of the people who knew that the starving Queen was wont to appear thus upon the pylon at sunset.

At the sight of her, clad in the mail which she still wore, a murmur rose from them like the murmur of the

sea, followed by a deep silence since they dared not declare the pity which moved them all. In the midst of

this silence, whilst the sun sank behind the Pyramids of the ancient kings, NeterTua lifted up her glorious

voice and sang the evening hymn to AmenRa. As the last notes died away in the still air, again the murmur

rose while the darkness gathered about the pylon, hiding her from the gaze of men.

Hand in hand as they had come, the two deserted women descended the stair to their sleepingplace.

"Nay, Queen," answered Asti, "let us turn to one that giveth help to the helpless. Do you remember the words

"Queen, I have waited long, since the spell she whispered to me may be used once only, but now I am sure

that the moment is at hand when that which dwells within you must be called forth to save you."

"Then call it forth, Asti," answered Tua wearily, "if you have the power. If not, oh! let us die. But say, whom

would you summon? The glory of Amen or the ghost of Pharaoh, or Ahura, my mother, or one of the

"None of these," answered Asti, "for I have been bidden otherwise. Lie you down and sleep, my fosterling,

for I have much to do in the hours of darkness. When you awake you shall learn all."

"Aye," said Tua, "when I awake, if ever I do awake. Is it in your mind to kill me in my sleep, Asti? Is that

your command? Well, if so, I shall not blame you, for then I will break this long fast of mine with Pharaoh

and the divine mother, Ahura, who bore me, and together in the pleasant Fields of Peace we will wait for

Rames, my lover and your son. Being a queen, they will give my burial in my father's tomb, and that is all I

crave of them, and of this weary world. Sing me to rest, Nurse, as you were wont to do when I was little, and,

So she laid herself down upon the bed, and, taking her hand that had grown so thin, the tall and noble Asti

Tua's eyes closed, her breath came slow and deep. Then Asti the magician ceased her song and, gathering up

her secret strength, put out her prayers, prayer after prayer, till at length all her soul was pure, and she dared

to utter the awful spell that Ahura had whispered in her ear. At the muttered, holy words wild voices cried

through the night, the solid pylon rocked, and in the city the crystal globe into which Kaku and Merytra gazed

was suddenly shattered between them, and, white with terror at he knew not what, Abi sprang from his couch.

Then Asti also sank into sleep or swoon, and all was silent in that chamber, silent as the grave.

NeterTua awoke. Through the pylon windowplace crept the first grey light of dawn. Her eyes searching

the gloom fell first upon the dark robed figure of Asti sleeping in a chair, her head resting upon her 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 drawn from the stars and the moon, wearing the Double Crown, and arrayed in all the royal

Now Tua knew that she dreamed, and for a long while lay still, for it pleased her, starved and wretched as she

was, a prisoner in the hands of her foes, a netted bird, to let her fancy dwell upon this splendid image of what

she had been before an evil fate, speaking with the voice of Merytra, Lady of the Footstool, had beguiled

dead Pharaoh to Memphis. If things had gone well with her, she should be as that image was today, that

image which wore her crown and robes of state, yes, and her very jewels. Such were the changes of fortune

even in the lives of princes whose throne seemed to be set upon a rock, princes whom the god of gods had

fathered. Never before in her young life had the thing come so home to her, for until now, even through the

hunger and the fear, her pride had borne her up. But in this chilly hour that precedes the dawn, the hour when,

as they say, men are wont to die, it was otherwise with her. Her end was nearshe knew it and understood

that between the mightiest monarch in the world and the humblest peasant maid at the last there is no

Here she lay, a shadow, who must choose between a miserable end by thirst and hunger, or a loathsome

marriage. And what availed it that she was called MorningStar of Amen, she the only child of Pharaoh and

of his royal wife, and that when she was dead they would grant her a state funeral, and inscribe her name

among the lists of kings, while Abi, the foul 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 not deserted her.

Her poor heart was filled with bitterness like a cup with vinegar, bitterness flowed through her in the place of

blood. It seemed hard to 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 wed and bear children there, who should rule as Pharaohs in the Underworld?

Would Osiris redeem her mortal flesh, and Amen the Father, receive her; or would she rush down into

Oh! for one hour of strength and freedom, one short hour while at the head 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 eyes flashed at the thought of it, and her wasted bosom

heaved, and lo! the eyes of that royal queen of her dreams flashed also as though in answer, and on its breast

Then this marvel came to pass, for the beautiful facecould her own ever 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, am your servant to command, O

"My will!" she said. "O Dream, why do you mock me? Let me think. What is my will? Well, Dream, it is that

"They are there," answered the figure, pointing with the crystal sceptre in her hand to the table beside the

Idly enough Tua looked, and so it was! On the table stood pure water in a silver cup, and by it cakes of bread

upon a golden platter. She stretched out her hand, for surely this fantasy was pleasant, and took that ghost of a

silver cup, her own cup that Pharaoh had given her as a child, and brought it to her lips and drank, and lo!

water pure and cold flowed down her throat, until at length even her raging thirst was satisfied. Then she

stretched out her hand again, and took the loaves of bread, and ate them hungrily till all were gone, and as she

"Oh! what a selfish wretch am I who have drunk and eaten all, leaving nothing for my fostermother, Asti,

"Fear not," answered the Dream. "Look, there are more for Asti." And it was true, for the silver cup brimmed

"Surely," it said, "there were other wishes in your heart, O Morning Star, than that for human sustenance?"

"Aye, O Dream, I wished for vengeance upon Abi, the traitor, Abi the murderer of my father, who would

bring me to the last shame of womanhood. I wished for vengeance upon Abi, and all who cling to him."

"I am your servant to obey. It shall be worked, O Queen, such vengeance as you cannot dream of, vengeance

poured drop by drop like poison in his veins, the torment of disappointed love, the torment of horrible fear,

the torment of power given and snatched away, the torment of a death of shame, and the everlasting torment

of the Eater up of Soulsthis vengeance shall be worked upon Abi and all who cling to him. Was there not

"It shall be given to you, O MorningStar. You shall find your love though far away beyond the horizon, and

he shall return with you, and you twain shall rule in the Upper and the Lower Land, and in all the lands

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 the water and the bread; there at the foot of the couch, glimmering in the low lights

"Who, and what are you?" she cried. "Are you a god or a spirit, or are you but a mocking vision caught in the

"I am none of these things, O MorningStar, I am yourself. I am that Ka whom our father Amen gave to you

at birth to dwell with you and protect you. Do you not remember me when as a child we played together?"

"I remember," answered Tua. "You warned me of the danger of the sacred crocodile in the Temple tank, but

since then I have never seen you. What gives 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 save you, NeterTua, that gives me

strength. Know that although you cannot always see me, I am your eternal companion. Through life I go with

you, and when you die I watch in your tomb, perfect, incorruptible, preserving your wisdom, your loveliness,

and all that is yours, until the day of resurrection. I have power, I have the secret knowledge which dwells in

you, although you cannot grasp it; I remember the Past, the infinite, infinite Past that you forget, I foresee the

Future, the endless, endless Future that is hidden from you, to which the life you know is but as a single leaf

upon the tree, but as one grain of sand in the billions of the Desert. I look upon the faces of the gods, and hear

their whisperings; Fate gives me his book to read; I sleep secure in the presence of the Eternal who sent me

forth, and to whom at last I return again, my journey ended, my work fulfilled, bearing you in my holy arms.

O MorningStar, the spells of Asti have clothed me in this magic flesh, the might of Amen has set me on my

"Awake, Nurse, awake, for I am mad. It seems to me that a messenger from on high, robed in my own flesh,

Asti opened her eyes, and, perceiving the beautiful figure, rose and did obeisance to it, but said no word.

"Be seated," said the Ka, "and hear me, time is short. I awoke at the summons, I came forth, I am present, I

endure until the spell is taken off me, and I return whence I came. O Interpreter, speak the will of her of

whom I am, that I may do it in my own fashion. There is food eat and drink, then speak."

So Asti ate and drank as Tua had done, and when she had finished and was satisfied, behold! the cup and the

"O Shadow of this royal Star, by my spells incorporate, this is our case: 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; if she

dies he will seize her throne. Our wisdom is finished. What must we do to save this Star that it may shine

"Nay," broke in Tua hurriedly, "I would not shine alone, I seek another Star to share my sky with me."

"Have you faith and will you obey?" asked the Double again. "For without faith I can do nothing."

Now Asti looked at Tua who bowed her head in assent to an unspoken question, then she answered:

"So be it," said the Shadow. "Presently Abi will come to ask whether the Queen consents to be his wife, or

whether she will bide here until she dies. 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 an awful look swept across her face,

and her deep eyes flamed. "Ill goes it with the mortal man who weds a wraith that hates him and is

"So you will sit in my seat, O Shadow, and as your lord, Abi will sit on Pharaoh's throne and find it hard. But

"Fear not for Egypt and your people, O Morning Star. With these it shall go well enough until you come back

The Double raised her sceptre, and pointed to the open windowspace between them, beneath which,

"You shall trust yourselves to the bosom of Father Nile," she answered solemnly.

"That means," said Tua, "that we must trust ourselves to Osiris, for none can fall so far and live."

"Think you so, O Star? Where, then, is that faith you promised, without which I can do nothing? Nay, I tell

no more. Do my bidding, or let me go, and deal with Abi as it pleases you. Choose now, he draws near," and

as she spoke the words they heard the bronze gates of the temple clash upon their hinges.

Tua shivered at the sound, then sprang from the couch, and drew herself to her full height, exclaiming:

"For my part I have chosen. Never shall it be said that Pharaoh's daughter was a coward. Better the breast of

Osiris than the arms of Abi, or slow death in a dungeon. In Amen and in thee, O Double, I put my trust."

"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 windingplace, and this they did, their arms about

Then fire flashed before their eyes, a rush of wind beat upon their brows, and they knew no more.

On the night of the drawingforth of the Ka of NeterTua, Kaku the wizard, and Merytra the spy, she who

had been Lady of the Footstool to Pharaoh, sat together in that high chamber where Merytra had vowed her

"Why do you look so disturbed?" asked the astrologer of his accomplice who glanced continually over her

shoulder, and seemed very ill at ease. "All has gone well. If Set himself had fashioned that image, it could not

"Thoroughly, indeed," broke in Merytra in an angry voice. "You have tricked me, Wizard, I promised to help

"Hush! Beloved," said Kaku nervously, "murder is an ugly word, and murderers come to ugly

endssometimes. Is it your fault if an accursed fool of a priest chose to burn the mannikin upon an altar, and

"No," answered Merytra, "not mine, or the priest's, but yours, and that hog, Abi's; and Set's the master of both

of you. But I shall get the blame of it, for the Queen and Asti know the truth, and soon or late it will come

out, and they will burn me as a sorceress, sending me to the Underworld with the blood of Pharaoh upon my

hands. Pharaoh who never did 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

"Cease grinning at me like an ape of the rocks," she said, "and tell me, what is to be the end of this evil

"Why trouble about ends, Fair One?" he asked. "They are always a long way off; indeed, the best

philosophers hold that there is no such thing as an end. You know the sacred symbol of a snake with its tail in

its mouth that surrounds the whole world, but begins where it ends, and ends where it begins. It may be seen

"Cease your talk of snakes and tombs," burst in Merytra. "The thought of them makes me shudder."

"By all means, Beloved. I have always held that we Egyptians dwell too much on tombs, andwhatever it

may be that lies beyond them, which after all remains a matter of doubtfortunately. So let us turn from

tombs and corpses to palaces and life. As I said just now, although we grieve 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 gone well for us.

Today I have received from the Prince, in writing, my appointment as Vizier, and first King's companion, to

come into force when he mounts the throne as he must do, and today you have received from me, with all

the usual public rites and ceremonies, the name of wife, as I promised that you should. Merytra, you are the

wife of the great Vizier, the preeminent lord, the sole Companion of the King of Egypt, a high position for

one who after all during the late reign was but Pharaoh's favourite, and Lady of the Footstool."

"A footstool of silk is more comfortable to sit on than a state chair fashioned of bloodstained swords.

Hearken you, Kaku! I am afraid. You say that you are the greatest of seers, and can read the future. Well, I

"A charlatan! How can you suggest it, Merytra, remembering the adventure of the image?"

"That may have been an accident. Pharaoh was sickly for years, and had a stroke before. If you are not a

cheat show me the future in that magic crystal. I would learn the worst, so that I may know how to meet it

"Well, Wife, we will try, though to see such high visions the spirit should be calm, which I fear yours is

notnay, be not angry. We will try, we will try. Sit here now, and gaze, and above all be silent while I say

So the ball of crystal having been set upon the table, the pair stared into it as Kaku muttered his charms and

invocations. For a long while Merytra saw nothing, till suddenly a shadow gathered in the ball, which slowly

cleared away, revealing the image of dead Pharaoh clothed in his mummy wrappings. As she started back to

scream the image seemed to loose its hands from the cloths that bound them, and strike outwards, whereon

the crystal suddenly shattered, so that the pieces of it flew about the room, one of which struck her on the

Merytra uttered a cry, and fell backwards to the floor, while Kaku sprang from his chair as though to run

"What was that?" said Merytra, rising from the ground, and wiping the blood from her cut mouth.

"I do not know," answered Kaku, in a quavering voice. "It would seem that 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 what the present has given mea mouthful of

blood and teeth. I, who was beautiful, am spoiled for ever; I am become an old hag. Pharaoh burst the ball

with his hand, and threw the pieces at me. I saw him do it, and you set him there. Wretch, I will pay you back

for this evil trick," and springing at Kaku, she tore of his astrologer's cap, and the wig beneath it, and beat his

It was at this moment that the door opened, and through it, breathless, white with terror, halfclothed,

"What passes here?" he gasped, sinking into a chair. "Is this the way you conduct your midnight studies,

"Certainly not, most high Lord," replied the astrologer, trying to bow with his eye fixed on Merytra, who

stood by him, the torn wig in her hand, in the act of striking. "Certainly not, exalted Prince. A domestic

difference, that is all. This wild cat of a woman whom I have married having met with an accident, gave way

"Repeat that," exclaimed Merytra, "and I will throw you from the windowplace to find out whether your

sorceries can make pavingstones as soft as air. See, Lord, what he has done to me by his accursed

wizardry," 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 to death, in the crystal, for I saw him there wrapped in his mummy clothes, and

"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 spirit of Pharaoh, Kaku? Is he everywhere, for know, it is of Pharaoh, the

"Most exalted Ruler of the North, Son of Royal Blood, Hereditary Count who shall be King"

"Cease your titles, Knave," exclaimed Abi, "and listen, for I need counsel, and if you cannot give it I will find

one who can. Just now I lay on my bed asleep, and a dreadful vision came to me. I dreamed that I woke up,

and feeling a weight on the bed beside me turned to learn what it was, and saw there the body of my brother,

"Nay, Woman, he did worse, he spoke to me. He said'You, my brother, to whom I forgave all your sins,

you and the womansnake that I cherished in my bosom, and your servant, the blacksouled magician, her

accomplice, have done me miserably to death, and set the Queen of both the Lands, Amen's royal child, to

starve in yonder tower with the noble lady Asti, until she dies or takes you to be her husbandyou, her

uncle, who seek her beauty and my throne. Now I have a message for you from the gods, who write down

these things in their eternal books against the day of judgment, when we all shall meet and plead our cause

before them, Osiris the Redeemer standing on the right hand, and the Eaterup of Souls standing on the left.

"'This is the message, O AbiGo to the Temple of Sekhet at the dawn. There you shall find that Royal

Loveliness which you desire. Take it to be your wife as you desire, for it shall not say you nay. Be wedded to

that Loveliness with pomp before all the eyes of Egypt, and reign by right of that Royalty, until you meet one

Rames, son of Mermes, whom you also murdered, and with him a certain Beggarman who is charged with

another message for you, O Abi. Ascend the Nile to Thebes, and lay this body of mine in the splendid tomb

which I have made ready and sit in my seat, and do those things which that Royal Loveliness you have wed,

commands to you, for It you shall obey. But hasten, hasten, Abi, to hollow for yourself a grave, and let it be

near to mine, for when you are dead this my Ka would come to visit you, as it does tonight.'

"Then the Ka or the body of PharaohI know not which it wasceased from 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 the

chamber and, lifting up the shape, carried it away. I awoke, shaking like a reed in the wind, and ran hither up

a thousand steps to find you brawling with this lowborn slut, dead Pharaoh's wornout shoe that in bygone

Now Merytra would have answered, for she loved not such names, but the two men looked at her so fiercely

"Read me this vision, Man, and be swift, for the torment of it haunts me," went on Abi. "If you cannot I strip

you of your offices, and give your carcase to the rods until you find wisdom. It was you who set me on this

"It is true, O Prince," he said, "that I set you on this path, this high and splendid path, and it is true also that

from the beginning I have kept you safe in it. Had it not been for me and my counsel, long ago you would

have become but a forgotten traitor. Remember that night at Thebes, 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 has been

your guide, when left to your own rash folly you must have failed or 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, find some wiser

man to lead you, and wait the end. All the rods in Egypt cannot be broken on my back, O Abi. Now shall I

"Speak on," answered Abi sullenly, "we are fish in the same net, and share each other's fortune to the end,

whether it be Set's gridiron or fat Egypt's pleasure pond. Fear not, what I have promised you shall have while

"Just now you promised rods," remarked Kaku, making a wry face and replacing 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 Pharaoh

come 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

"Would that they had cut your tongue instead of your lips, Woman," snarled Abi. "Continue, Kaku, and heed

"And what was his message?" went on the magician. "Why, that you shall marry the Majesty of Egypt, and

rule in her right and sit in the seat of kings. Are not these the very things that you desire, and have worked for

"Yes, Kaku, but you forget all that about one Rames, and the tomb that I must hollow, and the rest."

"Rames? Merytra here can tell you of him, Prince. He is the madcap young Count who killed the Prince of

Kesh, and was sent by NeterTua far to the Southlands, that the barbarians there might make an end of him

without scandal. If ever he should come back with the Beggarman and his message, which is not likely, you

"Lies, every one of them, Prince. She would have executed him at once had it not been for the influence of

Mermes, and her fostermother, Asti. This Rames has in him the royal blood of the last dynasty, and the Star

of Amen is not one who will share her sky with a rival star, unless he be her lawful Lord, which is your part.

If Rames or the foul Beggar brings you any message it will be that you are King of Kesh as well as of Egypt,

and then you can kill him and take the heritage. A fig for Rames and its stalk for the Beggar!"

"Perhaps," replied Abi more cheerfully, "at any rate I do not fear that risk; but how about all Pharaoh's talk of

"Being dead, Prince, it is natural that the mind of his Ka should run on tombs, and his own royal burial,

which as a matter of policy we must give to him. Besides there the prophesy was safe, since to these same

tombs all must come, especially those of us who have seen the Nile rise over sixty timesas I have," he

added hastily. "When we reach the tomb it will be time to deal with its affairs; till then let us be content with

life, and the good things it offers, such as thrones, and find the love of the most beautiful woman in the

world, and the rest. Harvest your corn when it is ripe, Prince, and do not trouble about next year's crop or

whether in his grave Pharaoh's Double eats white bread or brown. Pharaoh's daughteror Amen'sis your

"Yes, good soothsayer," said Abi, "she is my business. But one more question. Why did that accursed

mummy speak of her as 'It'in my dream I meanas though she were no woman, but something beyond

For a moment Kaku hesitated, for the point was hard to answer, then he replied boldly:

"Because as I believe, Prince, this Queen with whom the gods are rewarding your deserts is in truth more

than woman, being Amen's very daughter, and therefore in those realms whence the dream came, she is

known not as woman, but by her title of Royal Loveliness. Oh!" went on Kaku, simulating an enthusiasm that

in truth did not glow within his breast, "great and glorious is your lot, King of the world, and splendid the

path which I have opened to your triumphant feet. It was I who showed you how Pharaoh might be trapped in

Memphis, being but a poor fool easy to deceive, and it was Ior rather Merytra yonderwho rid you 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 you thought fearsome. Think of the end of it, Prince, and banish every doubt. 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," said Abi with a groan, for he had loved his

"What of that, Prince? They died bravely, and we mourn them, but here again Fortune is with you, for had

they lived trouble might have arisen between them and those other sons which the Queen of Egypt shall bear

"Mayhap, mayhap," replied Abi, waving his hand, for the subject was painful to him, "but this Queen is not

yet my wife. She is starving in yonder tower, and what am I to do? If I try to force my presence upon her, she

will destroy herself as she swore, and if I leave her there any longer, being mortal, she must die. Moreover, I

dare not, for even these folk of Memphis, who love me, begin to murmur. Egypt's Queen is Egypt's Queen,

and they will not suffer that she should perish miserably, being beautiful and young, and one who takes all

hearts. This night at sunset they gathered in tens of thousands round the tower to hear her sing that evening

hymn to Ra, and afterwards marched past my palace, shouting in 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 great army will

"Do what dead Pharaoh bade you in your dream, Prince. At the hour of dawn go to the Temple of Sekhet,

where you will find the Queen become obedient to your wishes, for did not the dream declare that she will

not say you nay? Then lead her to your palace, and marry her in the face of all men, and rule by right of her

"It can be tried," said Abi, "for then, at least, we shall learn what truth there is in dreams. But what of this

"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 and

hunger. If she still lives Merytra here will take her in charge and care for her. You are old friends, are you

"Very," answered that lady with emphasis, "like the cat and the bird which were pets of the same master.

Well, we shall have much to say to each other. Only, beware, Husband, Asti is no weakling. Your magic may

be strong, but hers is stronger, for she is a great priestess and draws it from godsnot devils."

So it came about that at dawn Prince Abi, clad in magnificent robes, and accompanied by Councillors, among

them Kaku, and by a small guard, was carried in a litter to the gates of the old temple of Sekhet, being too

heavy to walk so far, and there descended. As there were none to defend them these gates were opened easily

enough, and they passed through, leaving the guard without. When they came to the inner court, Abi stopped

"In one place only, your Highness," answered Kaku, "that pylon tower which overlooks the Nile, for there her

"Pylon tower," grumbled Abi. "Have I not climbed enough steps this night? 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

"Hurry not," he said in a thick whisper. "Her Majesty dwells on the next floor of this hateful tower, and since

Asti is with her she cannot be surprised. Beware, then, of frightening her by your sudden appearance, lest she

should run to the top of the pylon, and hurl herself into the Nile, as she has sworn that she will do. Halt now,

"O Queen, cease to starve yourself in this miserable abode, and come down to dwell in plenty with your

He called it once, and twice, and thrice, but there was no answer. Now Abi grew afraid.

"She must have perished," he said, "and Egypt will demand her blood at my hands. Kaku, go up and see what

But the astrologer thought otherwise, and hesitated, till Abi in a rage lifted his cedar wand to strike him on

the back. Then he went, step by step, slowly, pausing at each step to address prayers and praises to her

Majesty 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. Next he crawled across the landing to the chamber opposite, that which had

been Asti's, and found it empty also. Then, made bold by fear, he ascended to the pylon roof. But here, too,

"By Ptah, great Lord of Memphis! either she has escaped to raise Egypt on 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," replied Kaku indignantly. "Let us search the

So they searched it court by court, and chamber by chamber, till they came to that inner hall in front of the

Sanctuary where Pharaoh had set up 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 lotusshaped columns. 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, seeing nothing. Presently, however, a ray of light from the rising

sun sped through 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 of the goddess, and the throne that was set in front of it, revealing

Glorious she looked indeed, a figure of flame set in the midst of darkness. The royal robe she wore glittered

in the sunlight, glittered her sceptre, her jewels, and the ur�i on her Double Crown, but more than all of them

glittered her fierce and splendid eyes. Indeed, there was something so terrible in those eyes that the beholders

who discovered them thus suddenly, shrank back, whispering to each other that here sat a goddess, not a

woman. For in her calmness, her proud beauty and her silence, she seemed like an immortal, one victorious

who had triumphed over death, not a woman who for seven days had starved within a tower.

They shrank back, they huddled themselves together in the doorway, and there remained whispering till the

growing light fell on them also. But the figure on the throne took no heed, only stared over their heads as

"O Prince, there is your bride, such a bride as never man had before. Go now and take her," and all the others

Thus adjured for very shame's sake Abi advanced, looking often behind him, till he came to the foot of the

For a long while he stood bowing thus, till he grew weary indeed, for he knew not what to say. Then

"What do you here, Lord of Memphis? Why are you not in the cell where Pharaoh bound you? Oh! I

rememberthe footstoolbearer, Merytra, your paid spy, let you out, did she not? Why is she not here with

Kaku the Sorcerer, who fashioned the enchanted image that did Pharaoh to death? Is it because she stays to

doctor those false lips of hers that were cut last night before you went to ask yonder Kaku to interpret a

"Yes, my uncle, I have spies in your palace and everywhere. What Amen sees his daughter knows. Now you

have come to lead me away to be your wife, have you not? Well, I await you, I am ready. Do it if you dare!"

"Surely that question is one for you to answer, Count of Memphis and its subject nomes. Yet tell me

thiswhy did the magic crystal burst asunder without cause in the chamber of Kaku last night, and why do

you suppose that Kaku interpreted to you all the meaning of your dream he who will never tell the truth

"I do not know, Queen," answered Abi, "but with Kaku I can speak later, if need be after the fashion you

"No, Prince Abi, you know nothing, and Kaku knows nothing, save that rods 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. "No

one knows anything save me, to whom Amen gives wisdom with sight of the future, and what I know I keep.

Were it otherwise, O Abi, I could tell you things that would turn your grey hair white, and to Kaku and

Merytra the spy, promise rewards that would make the torture chamber seem a bed of down. But it is not

Now while Kaku between his chattering teeth muttered the words of Protection in the shadow, Abi and his

courtiers stared at this terrible queen as boys seeking wild fowls' eggs in the reeds, and stumbling on a lion,

stare ere they fly. Twice, indeed, the Prince turned looking towards the door and the pleasant light without,

for it seemed to him that he was entering on a dark and doubtful road. Then he said:

"Your words, O Queen, cut like a twoedged sword, and methinks they leave a poison in the wound. Say

now, if you are human, how it comes about that after seven days of want your flesh is not minished nor has

your beauty waned. Say also who brought to you those glorious robes you wear here in this empty temple,

"The gods fed me," answered the Queen gently, "and brought me these robes that I might seem the more

worthy of you, O Prince. And as for Asti, I sent her to Cyprus to fetch a scent they make there and nowhere

else. No, I forgot, it was yesterday she went to bring the scent from Cyprus that now is on my hair; today

she is in Thebes, seeing to a business of mine. That is no secret, I will tell it you it is as to the carving of all

the history of his murder and betrayal in the first chamber of the Pharaoh's tomb."

Now at these magical and illomened words the courage of the company left them, so that they began to walk

"What!" cried the Queen in a voice of sorrow that yet seemed laden with mockery. "Would you leave me here

alone? Do my power and my wisdom frighten you? Alas! I cannot help them, for when the full vase is tilted

the wine will run out, and when light is set behind alabaster, then the white stone must shine. Yet am I one

meet to adorn the palace of the King, 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 Kesh before the sword of Rames took away his life,

so that you may judge of me, Abi, you, who have looked upon so many lovely women."

As she spoke, very slowly, so slowly that they could scarcely see her move, she glided from the throne, and

What were the words of that song none could ever remember, but to every man there present it opened a door

in his heart, and brought back the knowledge of youth. She whom he had loved best danced before him, her

tender hands caressed him; the words she sang were sighs which the dead had whispered in his ears. Even to

Abi, old, unwieldy and steeped in cunning, these soft visions came, although it is true that it seemed to him

that this lovely singer led him to a precipice, and that when she ceased her song and appeared to vanish, to

Now the dance was done, and the last echoes of the music died away against the ancient walls whence the

images of Sekhet the catheaded watched them with her cruel smile of vengeance. The dance was done, and

the beautiful dancer stood before them unflushed, unheated, but laughing gently.

"Now go, divine Prince," she said, "and you his followers, go, all of you, and leave me to my lonely house,

until Pharaoh sends for me to share that new realm which he inherits beyond the West."

But they would not go and could not if they would, for some power bound them 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 smiling that same smile that was so sweet, yet

"What! do you love now more greatly than you fear, as the divine Prince of Kesh loved after Amen's Star had

sung to him. May your fate be happier, O noble Abi, but that, since it is not lawful that I should tell it to you,

you shall discover. Abi, there shall be a royal marriage in Memphis of such joy and feasting as has not been

known in the history of the Northern or the Southern Land, and for your allotted span you shall sit by the side

of Egypt's Queen and shine in her light. Have you not earned the place by right of blood, O conqueror of

Pharaoh, and did not Pharaoh promise it to you in your sleep? Come, the sun of this new day shines, let us

A strange rumour ran through Memphis. It was said that the Queen had yielded; it was said that she would

marry the Prince Abi, that she was already at the great White House waiting to be made a bride. Men

wrangled about in the streets. They swore that it could not be true, for would this high lady, the anointed

Pharaoh of Egypt, take her father's murderer, and her own uncle to husband? Would she not rather die in her

prison 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 had summed her up, this pure, highhearted daughter of Amen, whom Fate had

caught in an evil net. Yes, being men they held that she ought to die, and leave a story in the world, whereof

But their wives and daughters mocked at them. After all she was but a woman, they argued, and was it likely

that she would throw aside the pomp of rule and the prospect of long years in order to steal away into the

shadows of a forgotten tomb? Henceforth, it was true, she must take second place, for Abi would be a stern

master to her. Still, any place was better than a funeral barge. She had felt the pinch of hunger yonder in that

old temple; her fierce spirit had been tamed; she had kissed the rod, and after long years of waiting, Abi

The dispute grew hot, for even those men who rebelled against her, in their hearts had set her high, and

grieved to think of her, the divine Lady, bowing her neck to the common yoke of circumstance, and selling

herself for safety, and a seat on the steps of her own throne. But the women mocked on, and showed them

Presently the matter was settled, for heralds appeared crying throughout the city that the marriage would take

place in the great hall of the White House one hour before sundown. Then the women laughed in triumph,

It was the appointed hour, and that hall was filled to overflowing by all who could gain entrance there.

Between the towering obelisks that stood on either side the open cedar doors, folk hung upon its steps like

hiving bees; the vast square without and all the streets that led to it were black with them. Here, it is true, they

could see nothing, still they fought for the merest foothold, and some of those who fell never rose again. At

the head of the hall were set two thrones, the greater and the richer throne for Abi the Prince, the lesser throne

for NeterTua the Queen. He had arranged it thus since Kaku the cunning pointed out to him that from the

first he should show the people that it was he who ruled, and not Pharaoh's daughter.

It was the appointed hour, and at some signal from every temple top rang out the blare of trumpets. Thrice

they sounded, and echoed into silence in 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 and NeterTua had been joined in marriage.

Another rumour began to run among the crowd; like the ring set circling by a stone in water it spread from

Marvels had happened in the temple of Hathor, that was the rumour. Moreover it gave details: that the

HighPriest had handed to the bride the accustomed lotusbud, the flower of the goddess, and lo! it opened

in her hand. Also, it was said, that presently the stem of it turned to a sceptre of gold, and the cup of the

Nor was this all, so went the tale, for when, as he must, the bridegroom Abi offered the white dove to Hathor

in her shrine, a hawk swept through the doorway and smote it in his very hand. Yes, there in the gloom of the

shrine smote it and left it dead, blood running from its beak and breast, dead upon the knees of the goddess;

Now what hawk, asked the people of each other, dare such a deed as this, unless in truth it was sent by the

Soon these matters were forgotten for the moment, since now it was known that the royal pair were entering

the great White Hall, there to show themselves to the people, and receive the homage of the nobles, chiefs,

and captains. First, advancing by the covered way which led from the temple of Hathor, appeared the priests

in their robes, chanting as they walked, 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

Not all his pomp nor the splendour of his apparel, whereof the whiteness, as many noted, was spotted with

illomened blood, nor even the royal crown which now, for the first time, was set upon his huge, round head,

could hide from those who watched that this bridegroom was ill at ease. Even as he stood there, bowing in

answer to the obsequious shouts of the multitude, the sceptre in his fat hand shook, and his red lips blanched

and trembled. Still he smiled and bowed on, till at length the shouting died away, and quiet fell upon the

Abi was forgotten, they waited the coming of the Queen, and though no herald called her advent, yet every

heart of all those thousands felt that she drew near to them. Look! Yonder she stood. They had watched

closely enough, yet none saw her come, doubtless because the shadows were thick. But there she stood, quite

alone upon the edge of the dais in front of the two thrones, and, oh! she was different from what they had

expected. Thus now she wore no gorgeous robes, but only a simple garment of purest white, cut low upon her

bosom, where the red rays of the sinking sun, striking up the hall, revealed to every eye that dark mole shaped

like the Cross of Life, which was her wondrous birthmark. But two ornaments adorned her, the double snakes

of royalty, golden with red eyes, set in front of her tall white headdress, which none but she might wear, the

crowns of Upper and of Lower Egypt, and of all the subject lands, and in her hand a sceptre fashioned of

gold, and surmounted by a lotusbloom of sapphire, that sceptre of which rumour had 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, one who had been tamed by misfortune, hunger, and the fear of death, whence she had

bought herself by marriage with her conqueror. But it was not so, for never had the Star of Amen shone half

so beautiful, never had they seen such majesty in those deep blue eyes that looked them through and 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 the glow of health; power and dignity flowed from her presence, fear seemed beneath 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 her gaze. Then at length in the midst of that dead, oppressive silence which none

dared to break, she turned, and they heard the sweep of her silken robe upon the alabaster floor.

With an effort two chamberlains stepped forward, their wands of office in their hands, to lead her to her seat,

"Nay, here I am alone; of all the millions who serve her, not one is left 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 greater throne that had been prepared for Abi,

Now murmuring rose among the courtiers and Kaku whispered into Abi's ear, while the multitude held its

breath. Abi stamped his foot and issued orders which all seemed to fear to execute. At length he stepped

"Lady," he said, "doubtless you know it not, but that place is mine; your seat is on my left. Be pleased to take

"Lady," he answered, "because the husband takes precedence of the wife, and," he added with savage

"The conqueror of the conquered?" she repeated after him in a musing voice. "Should you not have saidthe

murderer of the murdered and his seed? Nay, Prince Abi, you are wrong. The sovereign of Egypt by right

divine, takes precedence of her vassal, even though it has pleased the gods, whose will she has come to

execute, to command her to give to him the name of husband until that will is more fully known. Come now

and do homage to your Queen, and after you those slaves of yours who dared to lift the sword against her."

Then a great tumult arose, a tumult of rage and of dismay, for well nigh all in that vast place were partners in

They shouted to Abi to take no heed of her. They shouted to him to tear her from the throne, to kill her, and

seize the crown. They drew their swords and raged like an angry sea. Those who were loyal among them to

Pharaoh's House, and those who feared turmoil, began to work their way backwards, 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 the slaughter of Pharaoh's guard, took their place,

Wild desertdwellers of the Bedouin tribes, who for thousands of years had been the bitter enemies of Egypt;

descendants of the Hyksos, whose forefathers had ruled the land for a dozen generations, and at last been

driven out; those Hyksos whose blood ran in Abi's veins, and who looked to him to lift them up again;

evildoers who had sought shelter in his regiments; hooknosed Semites from the Lebanon; black, barbarian

Abi was the hope of every one of them; to him they looked for the spoils of Egypt, and before them on Abi's

throne they saw a woman who stood between them and their ends, who in her ancient pride dared to demand

that he, her husband, should do homage to her, and who tomorrow, if she conquered, would give them to the

"Tear her to pieces!" they screamed, "the bastard whom childless Pharaoh palmed off upon the land! She is a

sorceress who keeps fat on airan evil 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 and again turning to hearken to Kaku who whispered in his ear, looked up at Tua

"You see and you hear, Queen," he said. "My people mistrust you, and they are a rough people, I cannot hold

them back for long. If once they get at you, very soon that sweet body of yours will be in more fragments

Now Tua, who hitherto had sat still and indifferent, like one who takes no heed, seemed to awake, and

"A bad example, Prince, for Osiris rose again, did he not?" Then she leaned back and once more was silent.

"Do you still desire that I should do homage to you, Queen, I, your husband?" he asked presently.

"Why not?" she replied. "I have spoken. A decree of Pharaoh may not be changed, and though a woman, I

Now Abi went white with rage, and turned to his guard to bid them drag her from the throne. But she who

was watching him, suddenly lifted her sceptre and spoke in a new voice, a clear, strong voice that rang

through the hall, and even reached those who were gathered on the steps without.

"There is a question between you and me, O People," she said, "and it is thisShall I, your Queen, rule in

Egypt, as my fathers ruled, or shall yonder man rule whom by the decree of Amen I have taken for husband?

Now you 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 a multitude and my legions are

far away, and II am alone, one lamb among the jackals, thousands and thousands of jackals who for a long

"You cannot," shouted a wildeyed spokesman. "Come down, lamb, and kneel before the lion, Abi, or we,

the jackals, will rend you. We will not acknowledge you, we who are of the fierce Hyksos blood. While the

obelisks stand that were set up by the great Hyksos Pharaoh whose descendant was Abi's mother, while the

obelisks stand that are set there for all eternity, we will not acknowledge you. Come down and take your

"Ah!" Tua repeated after him, "while the obelisks stand that the Hyksos thief set up you will not acknowledge

Then she paused and seemed to grow disturbed; she sighed, wrung her hands a little, and said in a choking

"I am but one woman alone among you. My father, Pharaoh, is dead, and you bid me lay down my rank and

henceforth rule only through him who trapped Pharaoh and brought him to his end. What, then, can I do?"

"Be a good maid and obey your husband, Bastard," mocked a voice, and during the roar of laughter that

followed Tua looked at the speaker, an officer of Abi's, who had taken a great part in the slaughter of their

Very strangely she looked at him, and those who stood by the man noted that his lips became white, and that

he turned so faint that had it not been for the press about him he would have fallen. Presently he seemed to

recover, and asked the priests who were near to let him join their circle, as among the outer throng the heat

was too great for him to bear. Thereon one of them nodded and made room for him, and he passed in, which

"Ill names to throw at Egypt's anointed queen, crowned and accepted by the god himself in the sanctuary of

his most holy temple," she said, her eyes still resting on the brutal soldier. "Yet it is your hour, and she must

bear them who has no friends in Memphis. Oh! what shall I do?" and again 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, and

vowed 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 gonegive me

until it enters the gateways of the West to pray to Amen, and then if no help comes I will bow me to your

bidding, and do homage to this noble Prince of the Hyksos blood, who snared Pharaoh his brother, and by

"Yes, my people, give her the space she asks," called Abi, who feared nothing from Amen, a somewhat

remote personage, and was afraid lest some tumult should happen in the course of which this lovely,

So they gave her the space of time she asked. Standing up, Tua raised her arms and eyes towards heaven, and

"Hear me, Amen my Father, in the House of thy Rest, as thou hast sworn to do. O Amen my Father, thou

seest my strait. Is it thy will that thy daughter should degrade herself and thee before this man who slew his

king and brother, to whom thou hast commanded her to give the name of husband? If it be so, I will obey; but

if it be not so, then show thy word by might or marvel, and cause him and his folk who mock my majesty and

name me bastard, to bow down before me. O Amen, they deny thee in their hearts who worship other gods, as

did the barbarians who begat them and threw down thy shrines in Egypt, but I know that thou sentest me

forth, and in thee I put my trust, aye, even if thou slay me. Amen my Father, 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 such fashion

that all men may know that indeed I am thy child; or if this be thy decree, desert me and Egypt, and leave me

She ended her prayer and, sinking back upon the throne, rested her chin upon 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 himself

about, and stared at its departing glory. There in the red light they stood, and stared, and since the place was

open to the sky, the shadows of the two towering obelisks without fell on them like the shadows of swords

whereof the points met together at the foot of Tua's throne. They did not believe that anything would happen,

no, not even the priests believed it who here at Memphis, the city of Ptah, thought little of Amen, the god of

Thebes. They thought that this piteous prayer was but a last cry of dying faith wrung from a proud and fallen

And yet, and yet they stared, for she had spoken with a strange certainty like one who knew the god, and was

she not named Star of Amen, and were there not wondrous tales as to her birth, and had not a lotusbloom

seemed to turn to gold and jewels in the hand of this young, anointed Queen who bore the Cross of Life upon

It was a very strange sunset. For days the heat had been great, but now it 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

Dense clouds arose upon the sky, and moved, though no wind blew. Where the sun's rays touched them they

were gold and red and purple, but above these of an inky blackness. They took strange shapes those clouds,

and marshalled themselves like a host gathering for battle. There were the commanders moving quickly to

and fro; there the chariots, and there the sullen lines of footmen with their gleaming spears. Now one cloud

higher than the rest seemed to shoot itself across the arch of heaven, and its fashion was that of a woman with

outspread hair of gold. Her feet stood upon the sun, her body bent itself athwart the sky, and upon the far

The watchers were frightened at this cloud. "It is Isis with the moon in her arms," said one. "Nay, it is the

mother goddess Nout brooding upon the world," answered another. And though they only spoke softly, in

that awful silence their voices reached Tua on the throne, and for the first time her face changed, for on it

Kaku began to whisper into Abi's ear, and there was fear in the eyes of both of them. He pointed with his

finger at two stars, which of a sudden shone out through the green haze above the sunset glow, and then

As she said the words, of a sudden, as though at a given signal, all the long lines of palm trees that grew in

the rich gardens upon the river banks were seen to bow themselves towards the east, as though they did

obeisance to the Queen upon her throne. Thrice they bowed thus, without a wind, and then were straight and

still once more. Next the clouds rushed together as though a black pall had been drawn across the heavens,

only in the west the halfhidden globe of the sun shone on through an opening in them, shone like a great and

furious eye. By slow degrees it sank, till nothing was left save a little rim of fire. All the hall grew dark, and

"Aye," she answered in a cold triumphant cry, "but Amen lives. Behold his sword, ye Traitors!"

As the words left her lips the heavens were cleft in twain by a fearful flash of lightning, and in it the people

saw that once again the palmtrees bowed themselves, this time almost to the ground. Then with a roar the

winds were loosed, and beneath their feet the solid earth began to heave as though a giant lifted it. Thrice it

heaved like a heaving wave, and the third time through the thick cover of the darkness there rose a shriek of

Now the whole sky seemed to melt in fire, and in that fierce light was seen Tua, Star of Amen, seated on her

throne, holding her sceptre to the heavens, and laughing in triumphant merriment. Well might she laugh, for

the two great obelisks without the gate that the old Hyksos lion had set up there to stand "to all eternity," had

fallen across the low pylons and the doors and crushed them. On to the heads of those who watched beneath

they had fallen, shattering in their fall and carrying death to hundreds. Beneath the electrum cap of one of

them that had been hurled from it in its descent right into the circle of the priests, lay a shapeless mass. It was

Through the western ruin of the hall those who were left alive within it 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, each praying 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 Tua and screamed to

her to forgive and spare him, whilst above, shining like fire, That which sat upon the throne pointed with her

Soon all were gone save the mumbling priests, the dying, the dead, and Abi with his officers.

The clouds rolled off, the moon and the stars shone out, filling the place with gentle light. Then Tua spoke,

"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

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 breath to your servant, and let him live on in your shadow."

"The first is not mine to give," she answered coldly, "though perchance it may please Amen to hold you back

a little while from that place where you must settle your account with him who went before me, and his

companions who died in your streets. I hope so, for you have work to do. As for the secondarise, you

Priests and Officers, and see this Prince of yours do homage to the Queen of Egypt."

They rose, and clung to each other trembling, for all the heart was out of 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 him followed

the others, the priests, the captains, the head stewards, and the butlers, till at length came Kaku, the

astrologer, who prostrated himself before her, trembling in every limb. But him she would not suffer even to

"Tell me," she said, drawing back her foot, "you who are a magician, and have studied the secret writings,

how does it chance that you still live on, when for lesser crimes so many lie here dead, you who are stained

Hearing these words from which he presaged the very worst, Kaku beat his head upon the ground, babbling

denials of this awful crime, and at the same time began to implore pardon for what he said he had not

"Cease," she exclaimed, "and learn that your life is spared for a while, yes, and even Merytra's. Also you will

"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 your wife, Merytra, she who was the Pharaoh's Lady of the Footstool, and sang him

to sleep. Look at me, Wizard, and tell me, who am I?" and she bent down over him.

He glanced up at her, and their eyes met, nor could he turn his head away again.

"Come," she said, "as you may have learned tonight, I also have some knowledge of the hidden things. For

otherwise, why did the earth shake and the everlasting pillars fall at my bidding? Now, between two of a

trade there should be no secrets, so I will tell you something that perhaps you have already guessed, since I

am sure that you will not repeat it even to your master or to Merytra. For I will add thisthat the moment

you repeat it will be the moment of your death, and the beginning of that punishment which here I withhold.

Now, in the Name of the Eaterup of Souls, listen to me, O fashioner of waxen images!" and, bending down,

Another instant, and, stark horror written on his face, the tall shape of Kaku was seen reeling backward, like

to a drunken man. Indeed, had not 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 have forgotten all about him, was

A moon had gone by, and on the first day of the new month Kaku the Vizier sat in the Hall of the Great

Officers at Memphis, checking the public accounts of the city. It was not easy work, for during the past ten

days twice these accounts had been sent back to him by the command of the Queen, or the Pharaoh as she

called herself, with requests for information as to their items, and other awkward queries. Abi had overlooked

such matters, recognising that a faithful servant was worthy of his hireprovided that he paid himself. But

now it seemed that things were different, and that the amount received was the exact amount that had to be

handed over to the Crown, neither more nor less. Well, there was a large discrepancy which must be made up

In a rage he caused the two head collectors of taxes to be brought before him, and as they would not pay,

bade the executioners throw them down and beat them on the feet until they promised to produce the missing

Then, somewhat soothed, he retired from the hall into his own office, to find himself face to face with Abi,

who was waiting for him. So changed was the Prince from his old, portly self, so aged and thin and miserable

did he look, that in the dusk of that chamber Kaku failed to recognise him. Thinking that he was some

suppliant, he began to revile him and order him to be gone. Then the fury of Abi broke out.

Rushing at him, he seized the astrologer by the beard and smote him on the ears, saying: "Dog, is it thus that

"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 who suffers as I do ever since I listened to

your cursed counsel, and tried to climb into the seat of Pharaoh? Before that I was happy. I had my sons, 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, my revenues are taken from me, my armies serve another."

"At least," suggested Kaku, "you are Pharaoh, and the husband of the most beautiful and the wisest woman in

"Pharaoh!" groaned Abi. "The humblest mummy in the common city vaults is a greater king than I am, and as

"Yes, the Star of Amen, that lovely Terror whom you call my wife. Man, she is no wife to me. Listenthere

in the harem I went into the chamber where she was, none forbidding me, and found her sitting before her

mirror and singing, clothed only in a thin robe of white, and her dark hairO Kaku, never did you see such

hairwhich fell almost to the ground. She smiled on me, she spoke me fair, she drew me with those

glittering eyes of hersyes, she even called me husband, and sighed and talked of love, till at length I drew

"And then, Kaku, she was gone, and where her sweet face should have been I saw the yellow, mummied head

of Pharaoh, he who is with Osiris, that seemed 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 ailed me that I turned so white, and if such

"Well, that was nigh a month ago, and as it began, so it has gone on. I seek my wife, and I find the mummied

head of Pharaoh, and all the while she mocks me. Nor may I see the others any more, for she has caused them

to be hunted hence, even those who have dwelt with me for years, saying that she must rule alone."

"No, indeed, for as she torments me, so she torments every other man who comes near to her. She nets them

with smiles, she bewitches them with her eyes till they go mad for love of her, and then, still smiling, she

sends them about their business. Already two of them who were leaders in the great plot have died by their

own hands, and another is mad, while the rest have become my secret but my bitter foes, because they love

"No, not all, for my power is taken from me. I who was great, after Pharaoh the greatest in all the land, now

am but a slave. From morning to night I must work at tasks I hate; I must build temples to Amen, I must dig

canals, I must truckle to the common herd, and redress their grievances and remit their taxes. More, I must

chastise the Bedouin who have ever been my friends, andnext month undertake a war against that King of

Khita, with whom I made a secret treaty, and whose daughter that I married has been sent back to him

"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 the fashioning of my sepulchre' since, so she says, this is a matter that

will not bear delay. Indeed, already she makes drawings for it, horrible and mystic drawings that I cannot

understand, and brings them to me to see. Moreover, Friend, know this, out of it opens another smaller tomb

for you. Indeed, but this morning she sent an expedition to the desert quarries to bring thence three blocks of

stone, one for my sarcophagus, one for yours, and one for that of your wife, Merytra. For she says that after

At these words Kaku could no longer control himself, but began to walk up and down the room, muttering

"How can you suffer it?" he said at length, "You who were a great prince, 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 and household

driven away from you, to be tormented, to be mocked, to look on other men favoured before your eyes, to be

threatened with early death. Oh! how can you suffer it? Why do you not kill her, and make an end?"

"Because," answered Abi, "because I dare not, since if I dreamed of such a thing she would guess my thought

and kill me. Fool, do you not remember the fall of the eternal obelisks upon my captains, and what befell that

man who mocked her, calling her Bastard, and sought refuge among the priests? No, I dare not lift a finger

"Then, Prince, you must carry your yoke until it wears through to the marrow, which will be when that

"Not so," answered Abi, shivering, "for I have another plan; it is of it 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 against the

father will overcome the daughter also. You have but to make a waxen image or two and breathe strength into

"Indeed I am thinking, most noble Prince," replied the astrologer with sarcasm. "Shall I tell you of that

reward? It would be my death by slow torture. Moreover, it is impossible, for if you would know the truth,

"What do you mean, Fool?" asked Abi angrily. "Flesh and blood must bow to death."

"A saying worthy of your wisdom, Prince. Certainly the experience of mankind is that flesh and blood must

"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 his sword he threatened him with it, adding: "Now tell me what you

"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 with them," answered Abi, lifting the sword,

"Mercy, mercy!" gasped Kaku, sprawling on the ground, while his lord held the sword above his bald head,

It was at this moment, while the astrologer's fate trembled in the balance, that a sound of voices reached their

ears, and above them the ring of a light, clear laugh which they knew well. Forgetting his purpose, Abi

stepped to the windowplace, and looked through the opening of the shutters. Presently he turned, beckoning

The Vizier heard, and, creeping on his hands and knees to the window place, raised himself and peeped

through the shutter. This was what he saw. In the walled garden below, the secret garden of the palace, stood

the queen NeterTua, and the sunlight piercing through the boughs of a flowering tree, fell in bright bars

upon her beauty. She was not 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 favourite captain, an officer whom he loved, and had

raised to high place because of his wit and valour, having given him one of his daughters in marriage. Also he

had played a chief part in the great plot against Pharaoh, and it was he who had dealt the deathblow to

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 his lips, and pleaded with her passionately. They could catch some of his words.

He had risked his life to climb the wall. He worshipped her. He could not live without her. He was ready to

do her bidding in all thingsto gather a band and slay Abi; it would be easy, for every man was jealous of

the Prince, and thought him quite unworthy of her. Let her give him her love, and he would make her sole

Pharaoh of Egypt again, and be content to serve her as a slave. At least let her say one kind word to him.

Thus he spoke, wildly, imploringly, like a man that is drunk with passion and knows not what he says or

does, while NeterTua listened calmly, and now and again laughed that light, low laugh of hers.

At length he rose and strove to take her hand, but, still laughing, she waved him back, then said suddenly:

"You slew Mermes when he was weak with wounds, did you not, and he was my fosterfather. Well, well, it

was done in war, and you must be a brave man, as brave as you are handsome, for otherwise you would

scarcely have ventured here where a word of mine would give you to your death. And now get you gone,

Friend, back to my Lord's daughter who is your wife, and if you daretell her where you have been and

Again he began his passionate implorings, begging for some token, till at length she seemed to melt and take

pity on him, for stretching out her hand, she chose a flower from the many that grew near, and gave it to him,

then pointed to the trees that hid the wall, among which presently he vanished, reeling in the delirium of his

She watched him go, smiling very strangely, then, still smiling, looked down at the bush whence she had

plucked the flower, and Kaku noted that it was one used only by the embalmers to furnish coronals for the

But Abi noted no such thing. Forgetting his quarrel with Kaku and all else, he gasped, and foamed in his

jealous rage, muttering that he would kill that captain, yes, and the false Queen, too, who dared to listen to a

tale of love and give the lover flowers. Yes, were she ten times Pharaoh he would kill her, as he had the right

"Because her Majesty comes," he answered, "and this chamber is quiet and fitting. None enter it save

As he spoke the words the door opened, and closed again, and before them stood NeterTua, Star of Amen.

In the dusk of that room the first thing that seemed to catch her eye was the bared blade in Abi's hand. For a

moment she looked at it and him, also at Kaku crouching in the corner, then asked in her quiet voice:

She continued to look at him a little while and said, smiling in her strange fashion:

"Indeed? But why more now than at any other time? Has Kaku's counsel given you courage?"

"Need you ask, shameless woman? Does not this windowplace open on to yonder garden?"

"Oh! I remember, that captain of yourshe who slew Mermes, your daughter's husband who made love to

meso well that I rewarded him with a funeral flower, knowing that you watched us. Settle your account

with him as you and his wife may wish; it is no matter of mine. But I warn you that if you would take men's

lives for such a fault as this, soon you will have no servants left, since they all are sinners who desire to usurp

Then Abi's fury broke out. He cursed and reviled her, he called her by ill names, swearing that she should die,

who bewitched all men and was the love of none, and who made him a mock and a shame in the sight of

"You talk much and do little," she said at length. "The sword is in your hand, use it, I am here."

Maddened by her scorn he lifted the weapon and rushed at her, only to reel back again as though he had been

smitten by some power unseen. He rested against the wall, then again rushed and again reeled back.

"You are a poor butcher," she said at length, "after so many years of practice. Let Kaku yonder try. I think he

"Oh! your Majesty," broke in the astrologer, "unsay those cruel words, you who know that rather than lift

"Yes," she answered gravely, "the Prince Abi suggested it to you but now, did he not, after you had suggested

"What were you talking of, Abi, before you peeped through the shutters and saw that captain of yours and me

together in the garden, and why did you wish to kill this dog?" she went on presently. "Must I answer for

you? You were talking of how you might be rid of me, and you wished to kill him because he did not dare to

tell you why he could not do the deed, knowing that if he did so he must die. Well, since you desire to know,

you shall learn, and now. Look on me, wretched Man, whom men name my husband. Look on me, accursed

Slave, whom Amen has given into my hand to punish here upon the earth, until you pass to his yonder in the

He looked up, and Kaku looked also, because he could not help it, but what 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 they dared to glance up again, and saw that

"What are you?" gasped Abi. "The goddess Sekhet in the flesh, or Isis, Queen of Death, or but dead Tua's

"All of them, or none of them, as you will, though, Man, it is true that I am sent here for vengeance. Ask the

"She is the Double of Amen's daughter," moaned Kaku. "She is her Ka set free to bring doom upon those who

would have wronged her. She is a ghost armed with the might of the gods, and all we who have sinned

against dead Pharaoh and her and her father Amen are given into her hand to be tormented and brought to

"Where, then, is NeterTua, who was Queen of Egypt?" gasped Abi, rolling his great eyes. "Is she with

"I will tell you, Man," answered the royal Shape. "She is not dead she lives, and is gone to seek one she

loves. When she returns with him and a certain Beggar, then I shall depart and you will die, both of you, for

Tua, Star of Amen, opened her eyes. For some time already she had lain as one lies between sleep and

waking, and it seemed to her that she heard the sound of dipping oars, and of water that rippled gently against

the sides of a ship. She thought to herself that she dreamed. Doubtless she was in her bed in the palace at

In the palace at Thebes! Why, now she remembered that it was months since she had seen that royal city, she

who had travelled far since then, and come at last to whitewalled Memphis, where many terrible things 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 Abi on the other;

the wondrous vision of that spirit who wore her face, and said 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 in the lofty window niche,

Oh! without a doubt it was over; she was dead, and these dreams and memories were such as come to the

dwellers in the Underworld. Only then why did she hear the sound of lapping water, and of dipping oars?

Very slowly she opened her eyes, for Tua greatly feared what she might see. Light flowed upon her, the light

of the moon which hung in a clear sky like some great lamp of gold. By it she saw that, robed all in white,

she lay upon a couch in a pavilion, whereof the silken curtains were drawn back in front, and tied to gilded

posts. At her side, wrapped in a grey robe, lay another figure, which she knew for Asti. It was still, so still

that she was sure it must be dead, yet she knew that this was Asti. Perchance Asti dreamed also, and could

The grey figure at her side stirred, and the head turned towards her. Then the voice of Asti, none other,

"In the Underworld, I think, Asti. Oh! that fire was death, and now we journey to the Place of Souls."

"If so, Lady, it is strange that we should still have eyes and flesh and voices as mortal women have. Let us sit

So they sat up, their arms about each other, and peered through the open curtains. Behold! they were on a

ship more beautiful than any they had ever seen, for it seemed to be covered with gold and silver, while sweet

odours floated from its hold. Their pavilion was set in the centre of the ship and looking aft, they perceived

lines of white clad rowers seated at their oars in the shadow of the bulwarks, and on the high sternalso

robed in whitea tall steersman whose face was veiled, behind whom in the dim glimpses of the moon, they

caught sight of a wide and 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 of Death to the Kingdom behind the

Tua woke again, and lo! the sun was shining brightly, and at her side sat Asti watching her. Moreover, in

"Tell me what has chanced, Nurse," she said faintly, "for I am bewildered, and know not in what world we

"Our own, Queen, I think," answered Asti, "but in charge of those who are not of it, for surely this is no

mortal boat, nor do mortals guide her 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 even dared to go out of the pavilion.

Looking around them they saw that they stood upon a high deck in the midst of a great ship, but that this ship

was enclosed with a net of silver cords in which they could find no opening. Looking through its meshes they

noted that the oars were inboard, and the great purple sails set upon the mast, also that the rowers were gone,

perchance to rest beneath the deck, while on the forecastle of the ship stood the captain, whiterobed and

masked, and aft the steersman, also still masked, so that they could see nothing of their faces. Now, too, they

were no longer sailing on a river, but down a canal bordered by banks of sand on either side, beyond which

"I think I know this canal, Lady, for once I sailed it as a child. I think it is that which was dug by the Pharaohs

of old, and repaired after the fall of the Hyksos kings, and that it runs from Bubastis to that bay down which

"Mayhap," answered Tua. "At least, this is the world that bore us and no other, and by the mercy of Amen

and the power of my Spirit we are still alive, and not dead, or so it seems. Call now to the captain on yonder

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 was towards them, he also made no sign, so that at last they believed either that these

were spirits or that they were men born deaf and dumb. In the end, growing weary of staring at this beautiful

ship, at the canal and the desert beyond it, and of wondering where they were, and how they came thither,

they returned to the pavilion to avoid the heat of the sun. Here they found that during their absence some

hand unseen had arranged the silken bedclothing on their couches and cleared away the fragments of their

"Truly here is wizardry at work," said Tua, as she sank into a leatherseated ivory chair that was placed

"Who doubts it?" answered Asti calmly. "By wizardry were you born; by wizardry was Pharaoh slain; by

wizardry we are saved to an end that we cannot guess; by wizardry, or what men so name, does the whole

"Well, this golden ship is better than the sty of Abi the hog, nor do I believe that we journey to no purpose.

Still I wonder what that spirit who named herself my Ka does on the throne of Egypt; also how we came on

"Wonder not, for all these things we shall learn in due season, and for my part, although I hate him I am sorry

So they sat there in the pavilion watching the desert, over the sands of 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 the delicious

food that was always provided for them in such plenty, and at nightfall sought their couches, and slept

When they awoke again, it was daylight, though no sun shone through the skies, and their vessel rolled

onward across a wide and sullen sea out of sight of land. Also the silken pavilion about them was gone, and

replaced by a cabin of massive cedar wood, though of this, being sated with marvels, Tua and Asti took little

note. Indeed, having neither of them been on an angry ocean before, a strange dizziness overcame them,

which caused them to sleep much and think little for three whole days and nights.

At length, one evening as the sun sank, they perceived that the violent motion 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 the mouth of a great river upon the banks of

which grew enormous trees that sent out long crooked roots into the water, and that among these roots

crouched crocodiles and other noisome reptiles. Also the whiterobed oarsmen had appeared again, and, as

there was no wind, rowed the ship up the river, till at length they came to a spit of sand which jutted out into

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 basket in

his hand. Asti began to question them, but like the captain and the steersman, they seemed to be deaf and

dumb. At least they made no answer, only prostrated themselves humbly, and pointed towards the shore

where now Tua saw a fire burning on a rock, though who had lit it she did not know.

"They mean us to leave the ship," said Asti. "Come, Queen, let us follow our fortunes, for doubtless these are

"As you will," answered Tua, "seeing that we should scarcely have been brought here to no end."

So they accompanied the men to the side of that splendid vessel, for now the netting that confined them had

been removed, to find that a gangway had been laid from its bulwark to the shore. As they stepped on to this

gangway their masked companions handed to each of them one of the baskets, then again bowed humbly and

were gone. Soon they gained the bank, and scarcely had their feet touched it when the gangway was

Round swung the ship, and for a minute hung in midstream. There stood the 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 so that for a moment Asti and Tua saw

their facesand behold! the face of the captain was the face of Pharaoh, Tua's father, and the face of the

For one moment only did they see them, then a dark cloud hid the dying sun, and when it passed that ship

"Truly," said Tua, "we are haunted if ever mortals were, for yonder ship has 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, and doubtless they love us still. Be sure that for no ill purpose have we been snatched

out of the hand of Abi, and brought living and unharmed by the shades of Pharaoh your sire, and Mermes my

husband, to this secret shore. See, yonder burns a fire, let us go to it, and await what may befall bravely,

So they went to the rock and, darkness being come, sat themselves down by the fire, alongside of which lay

wood for its replenishment, and near the wood soft robes of camelhair 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 when they left the ship. The first basket, that which Asti held, they found to

contain food, cakes, dried meats and dates, as much as one woman could carry. But the second, that which

had been given to Tua, was otherwise provided, for in the mouth of it lay a lovely harp of ivory with golden

strings, whereof the frame was fashioned to the shape of a woman. Tua drew it out and looked at it by the

"It is my own harp," she said in an awed voice, "the harp that the Prince of Kesh, whom Rames slew, brought

as a gift to me, to the notes of which I sang the Song of the Lovers but just before the giver died. Yes, it is my

"How came we here?" answered Asti shortly. "Answer my question and I will answer yours."

Then, laying down the harp, Tua looked again into her basket and found that beneath a layer of dried papyrus

leaves were hidden pearls, thousands of pearls of all sizes, and of such lustre and beauty as she had never

seen. They were strung upon threads of silk, all those of a like size being set upon a single thread, except the

very biggest, which were as great as a finger nail, or even larger, that lay wrapped up separately in cloth at

"Surely," said Tua, amazed, "no Queen in all the earth ever had a dower of such priceless pearls. Moreover,

"Doubtless we shall discover in due course," answered Asti; "meanwhile, let us thank the gods for their gifts

So they ate, and then, having nothing else to do, lay down by the fire and 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 they knew must be the voice of lions, for there were tame beasts of this sort in

the gardens at Thebes. Next they heard the whines and wimperings of wolves and jackals, and mingled with

Nearer, nearer came these awful sounds, till at length they saw yellow eyes moving like stars in the darkness

at the edge of the forest, while cross the patch of sand beneath their rock galloped swift shapes which halted

and sniffed towards them. Also on the river side of them appeared huge, hoglike beasts, with gleaming

tusks, and red cavernous mouths, and beyond these again, crashing through the brushwood, a gigantic brute

"Now our end is at hand," said Tua faintly, "for surely these creatures will devour us."

But Asti only threw more wood upon the fire and waited, thinking that the flame would frighten them away.

Yet it did not, for so curious, or so hungry were they, that the lions crept and crept nearer, and still more near,

till at length they lay lashing their tails in the distance almost within springing distance of the rock, while on

the farther side of these, like a court waiting on its monarch, gathered the hyenas and other beasts.

"Did the Spirits of the divine Pharaoh your father, and of Mermes my lord, bring us here in the Boat of Ra

that we should be devoured by wild animals, like lost sheep in the desert?" asked Asti. Then, as though by an

inspiration, she added, "Lady, take that harp of yours, and play and sing to it."

So Tua took the harp and swept its golden chords, and, lifting up her lovely voice, she began to sing. At first

it trembled a little, but by degrees, as she forgot all save the music, it grew strong, and rang out sweetly in the

silence of the forest, and the great, slowmoving river. And lo! as she sang thus, the wild brutes grew still,

and seemed to listen as though they were charmed. Yes, even a snake wriggled out from between the rocks

At length Tua ceased, and as the echoes died away the brutes, every one of them, turned and vanished into the

forest or the river, all save the snake that coiled itself up and slept where it was. So stillness came again, and

Tua and Asti slept also, nor did they wake until the sun was shining in the heavens.

Then they arose wondering, and went down over the patch of sand that was marked with the footprints of all

the beasts to the river's brink, and drank and washed themselves, peering the while through the mists, for they

thought that perchance they would see that golden ship with the veiled crew which had carried them from

But no ship was there; nothing was there except the riverhorses which rose and sank, and the crocodiles on

the mudbanks, and the wildfowl that flighted inward from the sea to feed. So they went back to the ashes of

their fire and ate of the food in Asti's basket, and, when they had eaten, looked at each other, not knowing

"Come, Nurse, let us be going. Up the river and down the river we cannot walk, for there are nothing but

weeds and mud, so we must strike out through the forest, whither the gods may lead us."

Asti nodded, and, clad in the light warm clothes of camelhair, they set the baskets upon their heads after the

fashion of the peasant women of Egypt and started forward, the harp of ivory and of gold hanging upon Tua's

For hour after hour they marched thus through the forest, threading their path between the big boles of the

trees, and heading always for the south, for that way ran the woodland glades beyond which was dense bush.

Great apes chattered above them in the tree tops, and now and again some beast of prey crossed their path and

vanished in the underwood, but nothing else did they see. At length, towards midday, the ground began to

rise, and the trees grew smaller and farther apart, till at last they reached the edge of a sandy desert, and

walked out to a little 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 down and drank, and ate of their store of food, and afterwards slept a

Suddenly Tua, in her sleep, heard a voice, and, awaking with a start, saw a man who stood near by, leaning

on a thornwood staff and contemplating them. He was a very strange man, apparently of great age, for his

long white hair fell down upon his shoulders, and his white beard reached to his middle. Once he must have

been very tall, but now he was bent with age, and the bones of his gaunt frame thrust out his ragged garments.

His dark eyes also were horny, indeed it seemed as though he could scarcely see with them, for he leaned

forward to peer at their 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 a marvellous tenderness and beauty. Indeed, except that it was

far more ancient, and the features were on a larger and a grander scale, it reminded Tua of the face of Pharaoh

"My Father," said Tua, sitting up, for an impulse prompted her to name this wanderer thus, "say whence do

"My Daughter," answered the old man in a sweet, grave voice, "I come from the wilderness which is my

home. Long have I outlived all those of my generation, yes, and their children also. Therefore the wilderness

and the forest that do not change are now my only friends, since they alone knew me when I was young. Be

pitiful now to me, for I am poor, so poor that for three whole days no food has passed my lips. It was the

smell of the meat which you have with you that led me to you. Give me of that meat, Daughter, for I starve."

"Kepher, Kepher!" repeated Tua, for she thought it strange that a beggarman should be named after that

scarab�us insect which among the Egyptians was the symbol of eternity. "Well, take and eat, O Kepher," she

said, and handed him the basket that contained what was left to them of their store.

The beggar took it, and having looked up to heaven as though to ask a blessing on his meal, sat down upon

"Lady," said Asti, "he will eat it all, and then we shall starve in this desert. He is a locust, not a man," she

"Peace, Nurse," replied Tua, "I have said that he is our guest, and the law of hospitality may not be broken."

"If so, so let it be, Nurse; at least this poor man will be filled, and for the rest, as always, we must trust to

Yet as she spoke the words tears gathered in her eyes, for she knew that Asti was right, and now that all the

food was gone, on which with care they might have lived for two days or more, soon they would faint, and

perish, unless help came to them, which was not likely in that lonesome place. 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, that

Meanwhile Kepher, whose appetite for one so ancient was sharp indeed, finished the contents of the basket

"I thank you, Daughter; the Queen of Egypt could not have entertained me more royally," and he peered at

her with his horny eyes. "I who have been empty for long, am full again, and since I cannot reward you I pray

to the gods that they will do so. Beautiful Daughter, may you never know what it is to lack a meal."

At this saying Tua could restrain herself no more. A large tear from her eyes fell upon Kepher's rough hand

"I am glad that you are comforted with meat, but do not mock us, Friend, seeing that we are but lost

"What, Daughter?" asked the old man in an astonished voice, "what? Can I believe that you gave all you had

to a beggar of the wilderness, and sat still 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 such weakness, but recently my friend

here and I have known hunger, very sore hunger, and the dread of it moves me. Come, Asti, let us be going

"Daughter, your face is fair, and your heart is perfect, since otherwise you would not have dealt with me as

you have done. Still, it seems that you lack one thingundoubting faith in the goodness of the gods. Though,

surely," he added in a slow voice, "those who have passed yonder lionhaunted forest without hurt should not

"We are ladies of Egypt," interrupted Asti, "or at least this maiden is, for I am but her old nurse.

Manstealing pirates of Ph�nicia seized us while we wandered on the shores of the Nile, and brought us

hither in their ship, by what way we do not know. At length they put into yonder river for water, and we fled

"Ah!" said Kepher, "those pirates must mourn their loss. I almost wonder that they did not follow you.

Indeed, I thought that you might be other folk, for, strangely enough, as I slept in the sand last night, a certain

spirit from the Underworld visited me in my dreams, and told me to search for one Asti and another lady

who was with her I cannot remember the name of that lady. But I do remember the name of the spirit, for

Now Asti gave a little cry, and, springing up, searched Kepher's face with her eyes, nor did he shrink from

"I perceive," she said slowly, "that you who seem to be a beggar are also a seer."

"Mayhap, Asti," he answered. "In my long life I have often noted that sometimes men are more than they

seemand women also. Perhaps you have learned the same, for nurses in great houses may note many

things if they choose. But let us say no more. I think it is better that we should say no more. You and your

"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 I think. Well, you and your companion, Neferte, escaped from those wicked

pirates, and managed to bring certain things with you, for instance, that beautiful harp, wreathed with the

"And a large basket of pearls. Might I see them? Oh! do not be afraid, I shall not rob those whose food I have

"Certainly," answered Tua. "I never thought that you would rob us, for if you were of the tribe of thieves,

surely you would be richer, and less hungry than you seem. I only thought that you were almost blind, Father

Kepher, and therefore could not know the difference between a pearl and a pebble."

"My feeling still remains to me, Daughter Neferte," he answered with a little smile.

Then Tua gave him the basket. He opened it and drew out the strings of pearls, feeling them, smelling and

peering at them, touching them with his tongue, especially the large single ones which were wrapped up by

themselves. At length, having handled them all, he restored them to the basket, saying drily:

"It is strange, indeed, Nurse Asti, that those Syrian manstealers attempted no pursuit of you, for here,

"True, but as it chances there is a city in this desert, and not so very far away."

"Napata? No, indeed. Yet, I have heard of such a place, the City of Gold they called it. In fact, once I visited

"Yes, more or less, but on foot it is over a year's journey away, and the path thither lies across great deserts

"Perhaps you will, Daughter Neferte, perhaps you will, but I think not at present. Meanwhile, you have a

harp, and therefore it is probable that you can play and sing; also you have pearls. Now the inhabitants of this

town whereof I spoke to you love music. Also they love pearls, and as you cannot begin your journey to

Napata for three months, when the rain on the mountains will have filled the desert wells, I suggest that you

would do wisely to settle yourselves there for a while. Nurse Asti here would be a dealer in pearls, and you,

"I say that I should be glad to settle myself anywhere out of this desert," said Tua wearily. "Lead us on to the

"I know the way, and will guide you thither in payment for that good meal of yours. Now come. Follow me."

"This Kepher goes at a wonderful pace for an old man," said Tua presently. "When first we saw him he could

"Man!" answered Asti. "He is not a man, but a spirit, good or bad, I don't know which, appearing as a beggar.

Could a man eat as much as he didall our basketful of food? Does a man talk of cities that he visited in his

youth over a hundred years ago, or declare that my dead husband spoke to him in his dreams? No, no, he is a

"So much the better," answered Tua cheerfully, "since ghosts have been good friends to us, for had it not

"That we shall find out at the end of the story," said Asti, who was cross and weary, for the heat of the sun

For hour after hour they walked, till at length towards evening, when they were almost exhausted, they

struggled up a long rise of sand and rocks, and from the crest of it perceived a large walled town set in a

green and fertile valley not very far beneath them. Towards this town Kepher, who marched at a distance in

front, guided them till they reached a clump of trees on the outskirts of the cultivated land. Here he halted,

"Now," he said, "drop your veils and bide here, and if any should come to you, say that you are poor

wandering players who rest. Also, if it pleases you, give me a small pearl off one of those strings, that I may

go into the city, which is named Tat, and sell it to buy you food and a place to dwell in."

"Nay, nay, Daughter, one will be enough, for in this town pearls are rare, and have a great value."

So she gave him the gem, or rather let him take it from the silk, which he refastened very neatly for one who

Tua made no answershe was too tired, but resting herself against the bole of a tree, fell into a doze. When

she awoke again it was to see that the sun had sunk, and that before her stood the beggar Kepher, and with

So they mounted, and were led to the gate of the city which at the word of Kepher was opened for them, and

thence down a long street to a house built in a walled garden. Into this house they entered, the black men

leading off the mules, to find that it was a wellfurnished place with a table ready set in the anteroom, on

which was food in plenty. They ate of it, all three of them, and when they had finished Kepher bade a woman

who was waiting on them, lead them to their chamber, saying that he himself would sleep in the garden.

Thither then they went without more questions, and throwing themselves down upon beds which were

In the morning, after Tua and Asti had put on the clean robes that lay to their hands, and eaten, suddenly they

looked up and perceived that Kepher, the ancient beggar of the desert, was in the room with them, though

"You come silently, Friend," said Asti, looking at him with a curious eye. "A Double could not move with

less noise, andwhere is your shadow?" she added, staring first at the sun without, and then at the floor

"I forgot it," he answered in his deep voice. "One so poor as I am cannot always afford a shadow. But look,

there it is now. And for the rest, what do you know of Doubles which those who are uninstructed cannot

discern? Now I have heard of a Lady in Egypt who by some chance bore your name, and who has the power,

not only to see the Double, but to draw it forth from the body of the living, and furnish it with every

semblance of mortal life. Also I have heard that she who reigns in Egypt today has such a Ka or Double that

can take her place, and none know the difference, save that this Ka, which Amen gave her at her birth, works

the vengeance of the gods without pity or remorse. Tell me, Friend Asti, when you were a slavewoman in

Now he looked at Asti, and Asti looked at him, till at length he moved his old hands in a certain fashion,

But Tua, who was terrified at this talk, for she knew not what would befall them if the truth were guessed,

"Welcome, Father, however it may please you to come, and with or without a shadow. Surely we have much

to thank you for who have found us this fine house and servants and foodby the way, will you not eat

"Nay," he answered, smiling, "as you may have guessed yesterday, I touch meat 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 hundred years ago, how must it seem to the

"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 you must suffer no man to see your beauty, and least of all him who rules it.

Now give me two more pearls, for I go out to buy for you other things that are needful, and after that perhaps

you will see me no more for a long while. Yet if trouble should fall upon you, go to the windowplace

wherever you may be, and strike upon that harp of yours, and call thrice upon the name of Kepher. Doubtless

there will be some listening who will hear you and bring me the news in the Desert, where I dwell who do not

"I thank you, my Father, and I will remember. But pardon me if I ask how can one so" and she paused.

"So old, so ragged and so miserable give help to man or womanthat is what you would say, Daughter

Neferte, is it not? Well, judge not from the outward seeming; good wine is often found in jars of common

"And therefore a wanderer who can swallow his own shadow can aid another wanderer in distress," remarked

Tua drily. "My Father, I understand, who although I am still young, have seen many things and ere now been

"Such as those of Ph�nician pirates," suggested Kepher. "Well, good bye. I go to purchase what you need

with the price of these pearls, and then the Desert calls me for a while. Remember what I told you, and do not

seek to leave this town of Tat until the rain has fallen on the mountains, and there is water in the wells.

Goodbye, Friend Asti, also; when I come again we will talk more of Doubles, until which time may the

great god of Egypthe is called Amen, is he not?have you and your Lady in his keeping."

"What is that man?" asked Tua when they had heard the door of the house close behind him.

"Man?" answered Asti. "I have told you that he is no man. Do men unfold their shadows like a garment? He

An hour later, whilst they were still talking of Kepher and all the marvels that had befallen them, porters

began to arrive, bearing bundles which, when opened, were found to contain silks and broideries in gold and

silver thread, and leather richly worked, such as the Arabs make, and alabaster pots of ointments, and brass

work from Syria, and copper jars from Cyprus, with many other goods, all very costly, and in number more

These goods the porters set out on the mats and shelves of the large front room of the house that opened to

the street, which room seemed to have 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 woodwork behind which Tua and Asti 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 writing which she found she could read

It proved to be the titledeed of the house and garden conveyed to them jointly, and also of the rich goods

"Received by Kepher the Wanderer in payment of the above house and land and goods, three pearls and one

Then followed the seal of Kepher in wax, a finely cut scarab�us holding the symbol of the sun between its

"A proud seal for a tattered wanderer, though it is but his name writ in wax," said Tua.

"If small pearls have such value in this city, what price will the large ones bring? Well, let us to our business,

for we have time upon our hands, and cannot live upon pearls and costly stuffs."

So it happened that NeterTua, Star of Amen, Queen of Egypt, and Asti her Nurse, the Mistress of Magic,

This was the manner of their trade. For one hour in the morning, and one in the afternoon, Asti, heavily

veiled, and a woman of the servants whom they had found in the house, would sit on stools amidst the goods

and traffic with all comers, selling to those who would buy, and taking payment in gold dust or other articles

of value, or buying from those who would sell. Then when the hour drew towards its close Tua would sweep

her harp behind the screen that hid her and begin to sing, whereon all would cease from their chaffering and

listen, for never before had they heard so sweet a voice. Indeed, at these times the broad street in front of their

house was packed with people, for the fame of this singing of hers went through the city and far into the

country that lay beyond. Then the traffic came to an end, with her song, and leaving their goods in charge of

the servants, Tua and Asti departed to the back rooms of the house, and ate their meals or wandered in the

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 or nothing, they began to grow rich, and to hoard up such a weight of gold in dust

and nuggets, and so many precious things, that they scarcely knew what they should do with them. Still Tat

seemed to be a peaceful city, or at the least none tried to rob or molest them, perhaps because a rumour was

abroad that these strangers who had come out of the Unknown were 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 only

undefended women, whatever credit they might give, the debt was always paid. Also their servants, to whom

they added as they had means, were all faithful to them. So there they remained and traded, keeping their

secrets and awaiting the appointed hour of escape, but never venturing to leave the shelter of their own walls.

Now, as it happened, when they came thither the King of Tat was away making war upon another king whose

country lay upon the coast, but after they had dwelt for many weeks in the place, this King, who was named

While he was making ready for this triumph his courtiers told him of these pearlmerchants, and, desiring

pearls for his adornment on that great day, he went in disguise to the house of those who sold them. As it

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 to sing, and this King Janees, who was a man of under forty years of age, listened

intently to her beautiful voice, forgetting all about the pearls 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 servants shut up the coffers

"Then you must return this afternoon, Purchaser," replied Asti, scanning his pale and haughty face, "for even

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 to purchase gems. Still he asked to see pearls, and Asti showed him some which he

thrust aside as too small. Then she produced those that were larger, and again he thrust them aside, and so it

went on for a long while. At length from somewhere in her clothing Asti drew two of the biggest that she had,

perfect pearls of the size of the middle nail of a 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. Asti answered carelessly that it

was doubtless more than he would wish to pay, since there were few such pearls in the whole world, and she

named a weight in gold that caused him to step back from her amazed, for it was a quarter of the tribute that

"Man," she answered, "I jest not; there is no abatement," and she replaced the pearls in her garments.

"Did you know that I am the King of Tat, and if I will, can take your pearls without any payment at all?"

"Are you?" asked Asti, looking at him coolly. "I should never have guessed it. Well, if you steal my goods, as

Now those who heard this saying laughed, and the King thought it best to join in their merriment. Then the

bargaining went on, but before it was finished, at her appointed hour Tua began to sing behind the screen.

"Have done," said the King to Asti, "tomorrow you shall be paid your price. I would listen to that music

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 did not notice, for she was engaged in locking up her goods. At length he reached it,

and thrusting his fingers through the openings in the pierced woodwork, rested his weight upon it like a man

who is faint, as perhaps he was with the sweetness of that music. Then of a sudden, by craft or chance, he

swung himself backward, and with him came the frail screen. Down it clattered to the floor, and lo! beyond it,

unveiled, but clad in rich attire, stood Tua sweeping her harp of ivory and gold. Like sunlight from a cloud

the bright vision of her beauty struck the eyes of the people gathered there, and seemed to dazzle them, since

As for Janees the King, he stared at her openmouthed, reeling a little upon his feet, then, as she fled, turned

"Then," said Janees slowly, "I who might do less, desire to make this daughter of yours my Queendo you

understand, Merchant of Pearlsmy Queen, and as a gift you shall have as much gold again as I have

"Other kings have desired as much and offered more, but she is not for you or any of them," answered Asti,

Now Janees made a movement as though he would strike her, then seemed to change his mind, for he replied

"A rough answer to a fair offer, seeing that none know who you are or whence you come. But there are eyes

"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 than I 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 there this very night, for, Lady, you know

"I know what chanced to the Prince of Kesh, and what will chance to Abi at the hands of one I left behind

Asti nodded, then by an afterthought went into the house and asked some questions of the servants. Presently

"It is useless; soldiers are already stationed about the place, and some of our women who tried to go out have

been turned back, for they say that by the King's order none may leave our door."

"Now shall I strike upon the harp and call upon the name of Kepher, as he bade me?" asked Tua.

"I think not yet awhile, Lady. This danger may pass by or the night bring counsel, and then he would be

So they went in, and while they sat at their food suddenly they heard a noise, and looking up, perceived by

the light of the lamp that women were crowding into the room led by two eunuchs.

Tua drew a dagger from her robe and sprang up, but the head eunuch, an old, whitehaired man, bowed low

"Lady, you can kill me if you will, for I am unarmed, but there are many more of us without, and to resist is

useless. Hearken; no harm shall be done to you or to your companion, but it is the King's desire that one so

royal and beautiful should be better lodged than in this place of traffic. Therefore he has commanded me to

take you and all your household and all your goods to no less a place than his own palace, where he would

"Sheathe the dagger and waste no words upon these slaves, Daughter," said Asti. "Since we have no choice,

So after they had veiled and robed, they suffered themselves to be led out and placed in a double litter with

their pearls and gold, while the King's women collected all the rest of their goods and took them away

together with their servants, leaving the house quite empty. Then, guarded by soldiers, they were borne

through the silent streets till they came to great gates which closed behind them, and having passed up many

stairs, the litter was set down in a large and beautiful room lit with silver lamps of scented oil. Here, and in

other rooms beyond, they found women of the royal household and their own servants already arranging their

Soon it was done, and food and wine having been set for them, they were left alone in that room, and stood

"Now shall I strike and call?" said Tua, lifting the harp which she had brought with her. "Look, yonder is a

"Not yet, I think, Lady. Let us learn all our case ere we call for help," and as the words left her lips the door

Now in the centre of this great room was a marble basin filled with pure water which, perhaps, had served as

the bath of the queens who dwelt there in former days, or, perhaps, was so designed for the sake of coolness

in times of heat. Tua and Asti stood upon one side of this basin, and to the other came the King, so that the

"Lady, who, as your servants tell me, are known as Neferte, a maiden of Egypt, 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 grievous wrong.

O Lady Neferte, this must be my excuse, that I have no choice. By fortune, 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 my life. Lady, the

Goddess of Love, she, whom in Egypt you name Hathor, has made 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 no harm, for I

"King Janees," answered Tua, "what evil spirit has entered into you that you should wish to make a Queen of

a singinggirl, the daughter of a merchant who has wandered to your city? Let me go, and keep that high

place for one of the great ones of the earth. Send now to Abi, who I have 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, or to the King

of Byblos by Lebanon, or to the lords of Kesh, or across the desert to the Emperor of Punt, and let this poor

"This poor singinggirl," repeated Janees after her, "who, or whose mother," and he bowed to Asti with a

smile, "has pearls to sell that are worth the revenue of a kingdom; this singinggirl, the ivory figure on whose

harp is crowned with the royal ur�i of Egypt; this singinggirl whose chiselled loveliness is such as might be

found perhaps among the daughters of ancient kings; this singinggirl whose voice can ravish the hearts of

men and beasts! Well, Lady Neferte, I thank you for your warning, still I am ready to take my chance, hoping

that my children will not be made ashamed by the blood of such a singinggirl as this, who, as I saw when

that screen fell, has stamped upon her throat the holy sign they worship on the Nile."

"I am honoured," answered Tua coldly, "yet it may not be. Among my own humble folk I have a lover, and

"You have a lover! Then hide his name from me, lest presently I should play 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 will conquer

him and rend him into pieces for the crime of being loved by you. Listen now! I would make you my Queen,

but Queen or not, mine you shall be who lie in my power. I will not force you, I will give you time. But if on

the morning of the third day from this night you still refuse to share my throne, why, then you shall sit upon

"You think me great," she said, "and truly you are right, for whatever is my rank, with me go my gods, and in

their strength my innocence is great. Let me be, you petty King of Tat, lest I lift up my voice to heaven, and

"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 them do 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 your mother, shall be witness to my oath, and to its

"Aye, King," broke in Asti, "I will be witness, but as to the end of that oath I do not know it yet. Would you

like to learn? In my own country I was held to have something of a gift, I mean in the way of magic. It came

to me, I know not whence, and it is very uncertainat times it is my servant, and at times I can do nothing.

Still, for your sake, I would try. Is it your pleasure to see that end of which you spoke, the end of your attempt

"So be it, King; but, of course, I have your word that you will not blame me if by any chance the trick should

not prove to your liking your royal word. Now stand you there, and look into this water while I pray our

gods, the gods of my own country, to be gracious, and to show you what shall be your state at this same hour

on the third night from now, which you say and hope shall be the night of your wedding. Sing, my Daughter,

sing that old and sacred song which I have taught you. It will serve to while away the tedium of our waiting

Then Asti knelt down by the pool, and bent her head, and stretched out her hands over the water, and Tua

touched the strings of her harp and began to chant very solemnly in an unknown tongue. The words of that

chant were low and sweet, yet it seemed to Janees that they fell like ice upon his hot blood, and froze it

within his veins. At first he kept his eyes fixed upon her beauty, but by slow degrees something drew them

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 and dead, a poor, naked corpse with wide eyes that stared to heaven, and gashed

throat and sides whence the blood ran upon the marble floor of his own great hall, ruined by fire, with its

scorched pillars pointing like fingers to the moon. There he lay alone, and by him stood a hound, his own

The last words of Tua's chant died away, and with them that picture passed. Janees leapt back from the edge

"Sorceress!" he cried, "were you not my guest who names herself the mother of her who shall be my Queen, I

swear that tonight you should die by torture in payment of this foul trick of yours."

"Yet as it is," answered Asti, "I think that I shall not die, since those 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 fantasy of your brain or

of mine. Now let us sleep, I pray you, O King, for we are weary, and leave its secrets to the future. In three

"The shadow of a dead man, I think," answered Asti grimly. "Some jealous god 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, O

Star of Amen, and sometimes I wonder if one who is dear to me will meet with better fortune at those royal

eyes of yours. If ill befalls him I think that at the last I may learn to hate you, whom from the first I

Now at the thought that she might bring death to Rames also, Tua's tears began to gather, and her voice

"Say not such evilomened words," she sobbed, "since you know well that if he is taken hence for whose

sake I endure all these things, then I must follow him over the edge of the world. Moreover, you are unjust.

"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 barbarian chief a shadow in the water, or was it Asti the witch, Asti the prophetess

of Amen? Lastly, will the man die, if die he must, because he loves me, which, being a woman I can forgive

him, or because he laid the hands of violence upon me to force me to be his queen or mistress, which I

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; at least I fulfil a doom laid on me before my birth, and working woe or working

weal, I go as my feet are led by ghosts and gods. Why, then, do you upbraid me?" and she ceased and wept

"Nay, nay, be comforted, I upbraid you not," answered Asti, drawing her to her breast. "Who am I that I

should cast reproaches at Amen's Star and daughter and my Queen? I know well that the house of your fate is

built, that sail you up stream or sail you down stream, you must pass its 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 so much wisdom

cannot learn from man or spirit whether he lives here or with Osiris, since some black veil hangs between our

souls. I fear lest the gods, grown jealous of that high love of yours, should wreak their wrath upon him who

has dared to win it, and bring Rames to the grave before his time, and the thought of it rends my heart."

"Surely," she said, "surely, my Fostermother, you forget the promise of Amen, King of the Gods, which he

made ere I was born, to Ahura who bore me, that I should find a royal lover, and that from his love and mine

"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 me there are no others, nor shall any child

of mine be born that does not name Rames father. Whatever else is doubtful, this is sure. Therefore Rames

"You reason well," said Asti, and kissed her. Then she thought for a moment, and added: "Now to our work,

it is the hour. Take the harp, go to the windowplace, and call as the beggarman bade you do in your need."

So Tua went to the windowplace and looked down on the great courtyard beneath that was lit with the light

And each time the echo of her cry came back louder and still more loud, till it seemed as though earth and

It was the afternoon of the third day. Tua and Asti, seated in the windowplace of their splendid prison,

looked through the wooden screen down into the court below, where, according to his custom at this hour,

Janees the King sat in the shadow to administer justice and hear the petitions of his subjects. The two women

"Night draws near," said Tua, "and with it will come Janees. Look how he eyes this window, like a hungry

lion waiting to be fed. Kepher has made no sign; perchance after all he is but a wandering beggarman filled

with strange fancies, or perchance he is dead, as may well happen at his age. At least, he makes no sign, nor

does Amen, to whom I have prayed so hard, send any answer to my prayers. I am forsaken. Oh! Asti, you

"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 the world and build it up again. Remember when we starved in the pylon tower at

Memphis, and what befell us there. Remember the leap to death and the Boat of Ra, and those by whom it

"I trustin truth I trust, Asti, but yetoh! let us talk of something else. I wonder what has chanced in

Memphis since we left it in so strange a fashion? Do you think that awful Ka of mine queens it there with Abi

for a husband? If so, I almost grieve for Abi, for she had something in her eyes which chilled my mortal

blood, and yet you say she is a part of me, a spirit who cannot die, cast in my mould, and given to me at birth.

I would I had another Ka, and that you could draw it forth again, Asti, to bewitch this Janees, and hold him

while we fled. See, that case draws to an end at length. Janees is giving judgment, or rather his councillor is,

for he prompts him all the time. Can you not hear his whispers? As for Janees himself, his thoughts are here, I

feel his eyes burn me through this wooden screen. He is about to rise. Why! Who comes? Awake, Nurse, and

Asti obeyed. There in the gate of the court she saw a tall man, white bearded, yellowfaced, hornyeyed,

ancient, who, clad in a tattered robe, leaned upon his staff of thornwood, and stared about him blindly as

though the sun bewildered him. The guards came to thrust him away, but he waved his staff, and they fell

back from him as though there were power in that staff. Now his slow, tortoiselike eyes seemed to catch

sight of the glittering throne, and of him who sat upon it, and with long strides he walked to the throne and

"Who is this fellow," asked Janees in an angry voice, "who stands here and makes no obeisance to the King?"

"Are you a king?" asked Kepher. "I am very blind. I thought you were but a common man such as I am, only

clad in bright clothes. Tell me, what is it like to be a king, and have all things beneath your feet. Do you still

hope and suffer, and fear death like a common man? Is the flesh beneath your gold and purple the same as

mine beneath my rags? Do old memories torment you, memories of the dead who come no more? Can you

"Do I sit here to answer riddles, Fool?" answered Janees angrily. "Turn the fellow out. I have business."

Now guards sprang forward to do the King's bidding, but again Kepher waved his staff, and again they fell

"Business, King," he said. "Not of the State, I think, but with one who lodges yonder," and he nodded

towards the shuttered room whence Tua watched him. "Well, that is three hours hence after the sun has set, so

you still have time to listen to my prayer, which you will do, as it is of this same lady with whom you have

"What do you know of the lady, you old knave, and of my dealings with her?" asked Janees angrily.

"Aye, her father, and I have come to tell you that as our blood is more ancient than yours, I will not have you

for a soninlaw, any more than that daughter of mine will have you for a husband."

Now some of the courtiers who heard these words laughed outright, but Janees did not laugh, his dark face

"Drag this madman forth," he shouted at length, "and cut out his insolent tongue."

Again the guards sprang forward, but before ever they reached him Kepher was speaking in a new voice, a

"Beware how you lay a finger on me, you men of Tat," he cried, "for how know you who dwells within these

rags? Janees, you who call yourself a King, listen to the commands of a greater king, whose throne is yonder

above the sun. Ere night falls upon the earth, set that maiden upon whom you would force yourself and her

companion and all her goods without your southern gate, and leave them there unharmed. Such is the

"Mock not," replied Kepher. "Bethink you of a certain picture that the lady Asti showed you in the water, and

"It was but an Egyptian trick, Wizard, and one in which I see you had a hand. Begone, I defy you and your

"Then, Janees, Lord of Tat, listen to the doom that I am sent to decree upon you. Tonight you shall have

another bride, and her name is Death. Moreover, for their sins, and because their eyes are evil, and they have

rejected the worship of the gods, many of your people shall accompany you to darkness, and tomorrow

Kepher ceased speaking, then turned and walked slowly down the court of judgment and through its gates,

nor did any so much as lift a finger to stay him, for now about this old man there seemed to be a majesty

"Bring that wizard back and kill him here," shouted Janees presently, as the spell passed off them, and like

But without the walls they could not find him. A woman had seen him here, a child had seen him there, some

slaves had watched him pass yonder, and ran away because they noted that he had no shadow. At length, after

many a false turn, they tracked him to the southern gate, and there the guard said that just such a beggarman

had passed through as they were about to close the gate, vanishing into the sandstorm which blew without.

They followed, but so thickly blew that sand that they lost each other in their search, and but just before

sundown returned to the palace singly, where in his rage the king commanded them to be beaten with rods

Now the darkness came, and at the appointed hour Janees, hardening his heart, went up into the chamber

where dwelt Tua and Asti, leaving his guard of eunuchs at the door. The lamps were lit within that chamber,

and the windowplaces closed, but without the desert wind howled loudly, and the air was blind with sand.

On the farther side of the marble basin, as once before, Tua and Asti stood awaiting him.

"King," replied Tua, "hear me, and for your own sakenot for mine. I am more than I seem. I have friends in

the earth and air, did not one of them visit you today in yonder court? Put away this madness and let me be,

for I wish you good, not evil, but if you so much as lay a finger on me, then I think that evil draws near, or at

"Lady," replied Janees in a cold voice, "have done with threats; I await your answer."

"King," said Tua, "for the last time I plead with you. You think that I lie to save myself, but it is not so. I

would save you. Look now," and she threw back her veil and opened the wrappings about her throat. "Look

at that which is stamped upon my breast, and thinkis it well to offer violence to a woman who bears this

"I have heard of such a one," said Janees hoarsely, for the sight of her beauty maddened him. "They say that

she was born in Thebes, and of a strange father, though, if so, how came she here? I am told that she reigns as

"Ask that question of your oracles, O King, but remember that rumour does not always lie, and let the

"There is another who claims to be your father, Lady, if by now my soldiers have not scourged him to his

"Whom those soldiers could not touch or find," broke in Asti, speaking for the first time.

"Well," went on Janees, without heeding her, "whether your father be a beggar or a god, or even if you are

Hathor's self come down from heaven to be the death of men, know that I take you for my own. For the third

time, answer, will you be my Queen of your own choice, or must my women drown yonder witch in this

Now Tua made no answer. She only let fall her veil, folded her arms upon her 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 my throat, and I long for the water which you

As he spoke the door burst open, and through it, no longer clad in rags, but wearing a white robe and

headdress, walked Kepher the Wanderer, while after him, their red swords in their hands, came

savagelooking chiefs, bearded, blankfaced, roundeyed, with gold chains that clanked upon their mail,

Janees looked and understood. He snatched out his sword, and for a moment stayed irresolute, while the great

"Too late!" answered Kepher solemnly. "Those who will not accept the warning of the gods must suffer the

vengeance of the gods. Janees, you who would do violence to a helpless woman, your palace burns, your city

is in my keeping, and the few who stood by you are slain. Janees, tomorrow another shall rule in your place.

"Aye," echoed Janees heavily, "too late! Mortals cannot fight against the gods that make their sport of them.

Some god commanded that I should love. 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, O Prophet, what evil power is there which

Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leaving Janees ringed round by those

"Farewell, Lady," he called to Tua as she passed. "Here and hereafter remember this of Janees, King of Tat,

They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they found guards and eunuchs lying dead;

they passed down the stairways, and through the tall gates where more soldiers lay dead, and looking behind

them, saw that the palace was in flames. They reached the square without, and at the command of Kepher

All that night they were borne, awake or sleeping, till at length the morning came, and they descended from

the litter to find themselves in an 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 passed out 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 their pearls and gold, and

They laid themselves down and slept, for they were very weary, only to wake when once more the day had

dawned. Then they rose and ate of the food that had been placed by them, and went out of the tent. In the

shadow of some palm trees stood Kepher, awaiting them, and with him certain of the sternfaced, desert

"Hearken, Lady Neferte, and you, O Asti her companion," said Kepher to them, "I must depart, who, this

matter finished, have my bread to beg far from here. Yet, fear not, for know that these Lords of the Desert are

your servants, and for this reason were they born, that they may help you on your way. Repeat your orders,"

"Wanderer, known to our fathers' grandfathers, Guardian of our race by whom we live and triumph, these are

your commands: That we lead this divine Lady and her companion a journey of many moons across the

deserts and mountains, till at length we bring her to the gates of the City of Gold, where our task ends. While

"You hear," said Kepher to Tua. "Put your trust in these men. Go in peace in the day time, and sleep in peace

at night, for be sure that they shall not fail you. But if they, or any other should perchance bring you into

trouble, then strike upon the harp and call the name you know, as you called it in the house of Janees the mad,

and I think that one will come to you. Lords of the Desert, whose great grandsires were known to me, and

who live by my wisdom, this divine Lady is in your keeping. See that you guard her as you should, and when

Then, lifting his staff, without speaking another word to Tua or to Asti, Kepher strode away from amongst

them, walking through the ranks of the Desert men who forced their camels to kneel and saluted him as he

passed. Presently they saw him standing alone upon a ridge, and looking towards them for a while. Then of a

"Who is that man, O Captain, at whose bidding the wilderness swarms with tribesmen and kings are brought

"Lady," he answered, "I cannot tell you, but from the beginning he has been Master of the Desert, and those

who dwell therein. At his word the sandwind blows as it blew yesterday to cover our advance, at his word the

fountains spring and tribes grow great or sink to nothingness. We think that he is a spirit who moves where

he lists, and executes the decrees of heaven. At the least, though they but see him from time to time, all the

dwellers in the wilderness obey him, as we do, and ill does it go, as you have learned, with those dwellers in

"I thank you," answered Asti. "I think with you that this Wanderer is a 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, whither you will lead

For day after day, for week after week, for month after month, they marched southward and westward across

the Desert, and in the centre of their host, mounted upon camels, rode Tua and Asti veiled. Once the hillmen

attacked them in a defile of some rugged mountains, but they beat them back, and once there was a great

battle with other tribes of the wilderness, who, hearing that they had a goddess among them, sought to capture

her for themselves. These tribes also they defeated with slaughter, for when the fight hung in the balance Tua

herself headed the charge of her horsemen, and at the sight of her in her white robes the enemy fled amazed.

Once also they camped for two whole months in an oasis, waiting till rain should fall, for the country beyond

lacked water. At length it came, and they went on again, on and on over the endless lands, till on a certain

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 for the Nile, they saw the pyramids and the temples of Napata the Golden, the

southern city of Amen, and thanked the gods who had brought them here in safety.

While they still gazed upon its glories in the red light of the rising sun the captain of the desert men appeared,

"Divine Lady," he said, "woman or goddess, whichever you may be, we have fulfilled the command given to

us by Kepher, the ancient King of the Wilderness. Beneath you lies Napata whither we have journeyed

through so many weary months, but we would draw no nearer to its walls, who from generation 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 own place, where their wives and children await them, ere, thinking that we are enemies, the people of

"It is well," answered Tua. "I thank you and the gods shall give you your reward. Leave us, and go back to

Then she sent for the gold that they had gathered in their trading in the city of Tat, and gave it to be divided

among them, a great and precious 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 and their swarthy host stole away, and soon were hidden in a

From the backs of their camels Tua and Asti watched them go like a dream of the night. Then with no word

spoken between them, for their lips were sealed 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 the walls of Napata. Mingling

with other travellers, they passed through the Field of Pyramids, and coming to the beautiful northern gate

that was covered 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 marketplace, fell into talk with

Asti answered, from the city of Meroe, adding that they were singers and dealers in pearls.

"Then you have come to the right place," answered the woman, "for pearls are rare at Napata, which is so far

"You cannot have dwelt long in Meroe, Strangers," answered the woman suspiciously, "or you would know

that the old King dwells with Osiris beneath yonder pyramid, where the general of the Pharaoh of Egypt, he

who rules here now, buried him after the great battle. Oh! it is a strange story, and I do not know the rights of

it who sell my stuff and take little heed of such things. But at the last high Nile before one this general came

with three thousand soldiers of Egypt, and the body of the Prince of Kesh, whom it seems he had slain

somewhere, it is said because both of them sought the favour of the Queen of Egypt. As they tell, this was the

command of that Queenthat he should submit himself to the King of Napata to be judged for his crime.

This he did, and the King in his fury commanded that he should be hanged from the mast of the sacred boat

of Amen. The general answered that he was ready to be hanged if the King could hang him. Then there was a

war between the people of Napata and the Egyptians, aided by many of the soldiers of the city who hated

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 King having fallen in the fight, they crowned the Egyptian general in his place.

"His name?Oh, I forget it, he has so many, but he is a goodly man to look at, and all love him although he

is mad. See, the gates are open at last. Farewell," and dragging her asses by the halter, the peasant woman

Tua and Asti also mingled with the crowd, and rode on up a wide street till they came to a square planted

round with trees, on one side of which was built a splendid palace. Here they halted their camels, not

knowing whither they should go, and as they stood irresolute the gates of the palace opened and through them

Tua looked and read, and lo! there in the royal cartouche was her own name, and after it new titlesQueen

of the Upper and the Lower Land, Opener of the Gates of the South, Divine Lady of Napata by grace of

"It seems that I have subjects here," she murmured, "who elsewhere have none," then ceased.

For now through the gate rode one mounted on a splendid horse, whose shape seemed familiar to her even

"My heart tells me it is Rames my son," answered Asti, grasping at her saddlerope.

Rames it was without a doubt; Rames grown older and stern and sad of face, but still Rames, and no other

"Nay," answered Tua, "not here and now. He would not believe, and we cannot unveil before all these men.

Rames rode on till he came opposite to where the two women sat on their white camels beneath a tree, when

something seemed to attract his gaze to them. He looked once carelessly and turned his head away. He looked

a second time, and again turned his head, though more slowly. He looked a third time, and his eyes remained

fixed upon those two veiled women seated on their camels beneath the trees. Then, as though acting upon

Tua bowed her head that the folds of her veil might hide her shape, but Asti 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 we understand 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

"Lady," answered Rames, "I am an Egyptian who holds this town on behalf of the Queen of Egypt whom

once I knew. Or perhaps I should say that I hold it on behalf of the Pharaoh of Egypt, since my spies tell me

that the Star of Amen has taken Abi, Prince of Memphis, to husband, although they add that he finds her a

"Sir," replied Asti, "it is long since we left holy Thebes, some years indeed, and we know nothing of these

things, who ply our trade from place to place. But if you are the governor of this town, show us, we pray you,

as countrywomen of yours, where we may lodge in safety, and at your leisure this afternoon permit that we

exhibit our pearls before you, and when that is done, and you have bought or refused them, as you may wish,

"Ladies," answered Rames, "I am a soldier who would rather buy swords than pearls. Also, as it chances, I

am a man who dwells alone, one in whose household no women can be found. Yet because you are of my

country, or by Amen I know not why! I grant you your request. I go out to exercise this company in the arts

of war, but after sundown you shall come to my palace, and I will see your wares and hear your songs. Till

then, farewell. Officer," he added to a captain who had followed him, "take these Egyptians and their camels

and give them a lodging in the guesthouse, where they will not be molested, and at sundown bring them to

Then, still staring at them as though they held his eyes in their hearts, Rames departed, and the captain led

It was the hour of sundown, and Tua, adorned in beautiful white raiment, broidered with royal purple, that

she carried in her baggage on the camel, with her long hair combed out and scented, a necklace of great

pearls upon her bosom, a veil flung over her head, and her harp of gold and 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 her head was

a black veil. Presently that captain who had shown them their lodging, came to them and asked if they were

"So he is, my good Woman," replied the captain, "but it his fancy to call himself the Viceroy of NeterTua,

Star of Amen, wife of Abi the Usurper who rules in Egypt. A mad fancy when he might be a Pharaoh on his

"Well, Sir," said Asti, "we merchants have nothing to do with these high matters; lead us to this Pharaoh, or

So the captain conducted them to a side gate of the palace, and thence through various passages and halls, in

some of which Tua recognised officers of her own whom she had commanded to accompany Rames, to an

apartment of no great size, where he bade them be seated. Presently a door opened, and through it came

Rames, plainly dressed in the uniform of an Egyptian general, on which they saw he wore no serpent crest or

other of the outward signs of royalty. Only on his right hand that lacked the little finger, gleamed a certain

royal ring, which Tua knew. With him also were several captains to whom he talked of military affairs.

Seeing the two women, he bowed to them courteously, and asked them to forgive him for having kept them

"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 bad market, seeing that although Napata is called the City of Gold, she needs all her

wealth for her own purposes, and I draw from it only a general's pay, and a sum for the sustenance of my

household, which is small. Still, let me look at your wares, for if I do not buy myself, perhaps I may be able

Now when they saw the young man's noble face and bearing, and heard his simple words, the hearts of Asti

and Tua, his mother and his love, beat so hard within their breasts that for a while they could scarcely speak.

Glad were they, indeed, that the veils they wore hid their troubled faces from his eyes, which, as in the

"Perchance, Lord, the Great Lady your wife, or the ladies your companions, will buy if you do not."

"Have I not already told you, Merchant," asked Rames angrily, "that I have no wife, and no companions that

"You said so, Sir," she replied humbly, always speaking in her feigned voice, "yet forgive us if we believed

you not, since in our journeyings my daughter and I have seen many princes, and know that such a thing is

contrary to their nature. Still we will show you our wares, for surely all the men in Napata are not

Then, without more ado, she drew out a box of scented cedar and, opening it, revealed a diadem of pearls

worked into the shape of the royal ur�us, which they had fashioned thus at Tat, and also a few of their largest

"Beautiful, indeed," said Rames, looking at them, "though there is but one who has the right to wear this

"It would sit but ill on the fat head of Abi, from all I hear, Lady," he broke in, laughing bitterly.

"Or," went on Asti, taking no heed of his words, "a general who had conquered a great country could usurp it,

and find none to reprove him, especially if he himself happened to be of the royal blood."

"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 them in the box again, and let the lady, your daughter, sing some old song of

"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 youwho can know? It is the price we pay for liberty to trade in your dominions. Nay,

"Let it lie there, then, most princely Merchant, and we will talk of the matter afterwards. Now for the song."

Then, her moment come at last, Tua stood up, and holding the ivory harp beneath her veil, she swept its

golden chords. Disguising her voice, as Asti had done, she began to sing, somewhat low, a short and gentle

"It is pretty," said Rames, when she had finished, "and reminds me of I know not what. But have you no

fuller music at your command? If so, I would listen to it before I bid you goodnight."

"Lord, if you wish it, I will sing you the story of one who dared to set his heart too high, and of what befell

Then Tua swept her harp and sang again, but this time with all her strength and soul. As the first glorious

notes floated from her lips Rames rose from his seat, and stood staring at her entranced. On went the song,

and on, as she had sung it in the banqueting hall of Pharaoh at Thebes, so she sang it in the chamber of Rames

at Napata. The scribe dared the sanctuary, the angry goddess smote him cold in death, the highpriestess

wailed and mourned, the Queen of Love relented, and gave him back his life again. Then came that last

glorious burst when, lifted up to heaven, the two lovers, forgiven, purged, chanted their triumph to the stars,

Look! whitefaced, trembling, Rames clung to a pillar in his chamber, while Tua sank back upon her chair,

"Whence came that harp?" he gasped. "Surely there are not two such in the world? Woman, you have stolen

it. Nay, how can you have stolen the music, and the voice as well? Lady, forgive me, I have no thought of

evil, but oh! grant me a boon. Why, I will tell you afterwards. Grant me a boonlet me look upon your

Tua lifted her hands, and undid the fastening of her veil, which slipped from her to her feet, showing her in

the rich array of a prince of Egypt. His eyes met her beautiful eyes, and for a while they gazed upon each

"What trick is this?" he said angrily at last. "Before me stands the Star of Amen, Egypt's anointed Queen. The

harp she bears was the royal gift of the Prince of Kesh, he who fell that night beneath my sword. The voice 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's daughter, reigns a thousand miles away with the lord she chose, Abi, her own uncle, he

who, they say, murdered Pharaoh. Get you gone, Sorceress, lest I cause the priests of Amen, whereof you

Slowly, very slowly, Tua opened the wrappings about her throat, revealing the Sign of Life that from her

"When they see this holy mark, think you that the priests of Amen will cast me to the flames, O Royal Son of

"Why not?" he answered. "If you have power to lie in one thing, you have power to lie in all. She who can

"Say, did you, O Rames, also steal that other signet on your hand, a Queen's gift, I think, that once a Pharaoh

wore? Say also how did you lose the little finger of that hand? Was it perchance in the maw of a certain god

So Tua spake, and waited a while, but Rames said nothing. He opened his mouth to answer, indeed, but a

"Nurse," she went on presently, "I cannot persuade this Lord that I am Egypt and no other. Try you."

So Asti loosed her black veil, and let it fall about her feet. He stared at 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 flung himself

"Aye, Rames," said Asti presently, "your Mother, she who bore you, and no other woman, and with her one

who because her royal heart loves you now as from the first, from moon to moon for two whole years has

braved the dangers of the desert, and of wicked men, till at last Amen her father brings her safely to your

"Then, O faithful Captain," said Tua, "take this gift from Egypt's Queen, which a while ago you thrust aside,

and be its Lord and mine," and lifting the diadem of pearls crested with the royal ur�i she set it on his brow,

as once before she had done in that hour of dawn when she vowed herself to him in Thebes.

"Such is our tale, Rames my Son," said Asti, "and long may you search before you find another that will

"It is short, Mother," he answered. "Obeying the commands of her Majesty yonder," and he bowed towards

Tua, who sat at the further side of the table at which they ate, "I travelled up the Nile to this city. As the old

king, the father of the Prince of Kesh, would have slain me I attacked him first by the help of my Egyptians

and his own subjects, andwell, he died. Moreover, none regretted him, for he was a bad king, and I stepped

into his place, and ever since have been engaged in righting matters which they needed. Long ago I would

have returned to Egypt and reported myself, only my spies told me of all that had happened there. They told

me, for instance, of the murder of Pharaoh, by the witchcraft of Abi and his companions; and they told me

that Pharaoh's daughter, the Star of Amen, forgetting all things and the oath she swore to me, had married her

"What else could I do but believe, Lady, seeing that those same spies swore that they had seen your Majesty

seated upon your throne at Memphis, and elsewhere, and causing Abi to run to and fro like a little dog, and

do your bidding in all things? How could I know that it was your Double, and not yourself that married Abi?"

"I think that Abi knows today," answered Tua, "since it seems that a Ka makes but a bad wife to any man.

"Will you not first marry me, Lady?" suggested Rames. "Afterwards, we can think."

"Aye," she answered, "I will marry you as I have promised, but in one place only, the temple of Amen in

"It shall be done," he answered, "though how I know not, seeing that another sits upon that throne of yours,

"We will send her a message, Son," said Asti. "Now leave us, for we must sleep."

"Have you known me all these years, my Son, and not learned that I have servants whom you cannot see?"

It was midnight, and in their chamber of the palace of Rames, Asti and Tua 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 in the pylon

tower at Memphis, uttered the awful words that in bygone days had been spoken to her by the spirit of Ahura

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 by degrees and took shape, the shape of a royal woman clad in the robes and

ornaments of Egypt's Queen, whose face was as the face of Neter Tua, only prouder and more unearthly. In

"From that place where your command found me, O Mistress of Secret Things, from the house of Abi at

Thebes, wherein he seems to rule as Pharaoh," the Form answered in its cold voice.

"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 Lady of Strength, was she more great than she is today, for in all things I have fulfilled

the commandments that were laid upon me, and now I desire to rest in that bosom whence I came," and she

"Not yet, O Double, for there is still work for you to do, and then you shall be at peace till the day of the last

Awakening. Hearken: Return to 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, has declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt by right of race,

and your husband by the promise of him who ruled before you whom Abi did to death. Cause this Abi to

gather a great army, and to march southward to make an end of Rames. But secretly whisper into the ears of

the generals of this army, that it is true the divine Pharaoh who is gone promised you in marriage 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 is wrath 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. At the Gateway of the South, whence the Nile rushes

northward between great walls of rock, Rames shall meet the army of Abi. With him will come her of whom

you are, and I whom you must obey; also perchance another who is greater than all of us. There at the

Gateway of the South your task shall be accomplished, and you shall find the rest you seek. It is said."

"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 yonder breast

Then as the figure had appeared, so also it disappeared, growing faint by degrees, and vanishing away into

It was morning at Thebes, and Abi sat in the great hall of Pharaoh transacting business of the State, while at

his side stood Kaku the Vizier. Changed were both of them, indeed, since they had plotted the death of their

guest and king at Memphis, for now Abi was so worn with work and fear and wretchedness, that his royal

robes hung about him in loose folds, while Kaku had become an old, old man, who trembled as he walked.

"Nay, Mighty Lord," answered Kaku, "there is still enough to keep you sitting here till noon, and after that

"I will not receive them. Let them wait till another day. Knave, would you work me to death, who have never

known an hour's rest or peace since the happy time when I ruled as Prince of Memphis?"

"Lord," answered Kaku, bowing humbly, "weary or no you must receive them, for so it has been decreed by

"The Queen!" exclaimed Abi in a low voice, rolling his hollow eyes around him as though in fear. "Oh,

Kaku, would that I had never beheld the 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. I am called Pharaoh, yet am but her

puppet to carry out her decrees. I am called her husband, yet she is still no wife to me, or to any, although all

men love her, and by that love are ofttimes brought to doom. Last night 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 to me, somewhat

weary. I asked her where she had been and she answered: "Further than I could travel in a year to visit one

"Rames, I think, Lord, he who has made himself King of Kesh," replied Kaku in an awed whisper. "Without a

doubt she loved the man when she was a woman, though whom she loves now the evil gods know alone. We

are in her power, and must work her will, for, Lord, if we do not we shall die, and I think that neither of us

At these words Abi groaned aloud, wiping the sweat from his blanched face with the corner of his robe, and

"There you speak truly. Go, call the scribes, and let us get on with the Queen's business."

"Her Majesty the Queen waits without with a great company, and humbly craves audience of her good lord,

The heralds retired, and presently through the cedar doors appeared the Queen in state. She was splendid to

behold, splendid in her proud beauty, splendid in her dress, and in her royal ornaments. On she swept up the

hall, attended by Merytra, who bore her fan and cushion, for it was her pleasure that this woman should wait

upon her day and night without pause or rest, although she who had once been so handsome now was worn

almost to nothingness with toil and terror. Behind Merytra came guards and highpriests, 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 whereon Abi sat, she motioned to Merytra to

"I am come as a loyal wife to make a humble prayer to Pharaoh my Lord in the presence of his Court."

"Rise and speak on, Great Lady," answered Abi. "It is not fit that you should kneel to me."

"Nay, it is most fit that Pharaoh's Queen should kneel to Pharaoh when she seeks his divine favour." Yet she

"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 House in 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 by the King of Kesh, but who, it seems,

"I dreamed that this bold and able man, not satisfied with the rich kingdom of Kesh, has made a scheme to

attack Egypt; to slay you, most glorious Lord, to proclaim himself Pharaoh by right of ancient blood, and

moreto take me, your faithful wife, to be his wife, and thereby secure his throne."

"Without doubt, Queen, this turbulent Rames might think of such things," said Abi, "and so far your dream

may be true; yet it should be remembered that at present he is at Napata, which is a very long way off, and

has probably only a small army at his command, so why should you trouble about what he thinks?"

"O Pharaoh, that was not all my dream, for in it I saw two pictures. The first 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 South Land, and slaying him, and taking

possession of the kingdom of Kesh, and its golden city, and ruling them for Egypt, until you die."

"Here be two dreams, O Queen," said Abi. "Tell us now, which would you follow, for both of them cannot be

"How can I know, Pharaoh, and how can you know? Yet by your side stands one who will know, for he is the

first of magicians, and a chosen interpreter of the heart of the gods. Grant that he may make this matter

"Divine Lady," stammered Kaku, "the thing is too high for me. I have no message, I cannot tell you"

"You were ever overmodest, Kaku," said the Queen. "Command him, O Pharaoh, to shed the light of his

"Yes, yes," said Abi, "he knows it, he knows everything. Kaku, delay not, interpret the dream of her

"I cannot, I will not," spluttered the old astrologer. "Ask my wife, the Lady Merytra there, she is wiser than I

"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 the

Now Kaku could find no way of escape, so, since he feared the very name of Rames, within himself he

determined that he would interpret the dream in the sense that Pharaoh should await the attack of this Rames

at Thebes, and while every ear listened to him, thus began his tale. Yet as he spoke he felt the glittering eyes

of that spirit who was called the Queen, fix themselves upon him and compel his tongue, so that he said just

"A light shines in me," he cried, "and I see that the second vision of her Majesty is the true vision. You must

go up with your army to the Gate of the South, O Pharaoh, and there meet this usurper, Rames, that these

"Doubtless that which her Majesty dreamed," answered Kaku. "At least, it is laid upon me to tell you that you

"Then I wish that the Gate of the South were laid upon you also, O Evil Prophet," exclaimed Abi. "For two

years only have I ruled in Egypt, and lo! 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 barbarians that invaded the Low Lands. Must I

now, in my age, undertake another war against the terrible sons of Kesh also? Let this dog, Rames, come, if

"Nay, nay, O Pharaoh," replied Kaku, "it is laid upon me to tell you that 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 the

"The gods have spoken by the mouth of their prophet," cried the Queen in a thrilling, triumphant voice. "Now

Pharaoh, Priests, Councillors, and Captains 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 and Egypt's King and Egypt's Queen may be

freed from danger, and rest in peace, and the wealth of the City of Gold be divided amongst you all."

"Aye, aye," answered the Priests, Councillors, and Captains, the shrill voice of Kaku leading the chorus, still

"Yes," said the Queen, "I will accompany you, for though I be but a woman, shall I shrink from what

"What is this that you have done?" asked Abi. "Do you not remember the words which dead Pharaoh spoke in

the awful vision that came to me that night at Memphis, when he bade me take the Royal Loveliness which I

desired to be my wife? Do you not remember that he bade me also reign in her right until I met 'one Rames,

Son of Mermes' and with him a Beggarman who is charged with another message for me?"

"What, then, is this message, Man, that will come from Rames or the Beggar? Is it not the message of my

"Then why did you interpret the dream of the Queen in the sense that I must hurry southwards to meet this

"Because I could not help it," groaned Kaku. "That spirit who is called a Queen compelled me. Abi, there is

no escape for us; we are in the net of Fateunless, unless you dare" and he looked meaningly at the

"Nay, Kaku," he answered, "I dare not. Let us live while we may, knowing what awaits us beyond the gate."

"Aye," moaned Kaku, "beyond the Gate of the South, where we shall find Rames the Avenger, and that

Three more months had gone by, and the great host of Pharaoh was encamped beyond the Southern Gate, and

the warships of Pharaoh were anchored thick on either bank of the Nile. There they lay prepared for battle,

for spies had reported to them that the general, Rames, Lord of Kesh, was advancing northward swiftly,

though with so small an army that it could easily be destroyed. Therefore Abi waited there to destroy it

without further toil, nor did his terrible Queen gainsay him. She also seemed content to wait.

One evening as the sun sank it was told to them that the troops of Rames had appeared, and occupied the

mountains on the right bank of the Nile, being encamped around that temple of Amen which had stood there

"Good," said the Queen. "Tomorrow Pharaoh will go up against him and make an end of this matter. Is it

"Yes, yes," answered Abi, "the sooner the better, for I am worn out, and would return to Thebes. Yet," he

added in a weak, uncertain voice, "I misdoubt me of this war, I know not why. What is it that you stare at in

Now the eyes of the Council were turned on Kaku the Vizier, and they perceived that he was much disturbed.

They looked, and saw hanging just above the evening glow a very bright and wonderful star, and near to it,

"The Star of Amen," gasped Kaku in a voice that shook, "and your star, O Pharaoh. The Star of Amen eats it

up, your star goes out, and will never be seen again by living man. Oh! Abi, that which I foresaw years and

years 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 that you shall share it."

As he spoke a sound of screams drew near, and presently into the midst of them rushed Merytra, the wife of

"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 dead

Pharaoh, of Pharaoh whom we slew by magic, and he said: 'Tell the murderer, Abi, and the wizardrogue,

Kaku, your husband, that I summon both of them to meet me ere another sun is set, and Woman, come you

with them.' Death is at our door, Abi, death and the terrible vengeance of the god!" and Merytra fell down

"They are sorcerers," he shouted, "who would bewitch me. Take them and keep them safe, and let Kaku be

beaten with rods till he comes to his right mind again. Tomorrow, when I have slain Rames, I will hang this

"Yes, yes, my good Lord, tomorrow, when you have killed Rames, this magician shall hang at your

Merytra, recovered from her madness, lay upon a bed, when a woman entered and stood over her. Looking up

"Hearken to me," said the Queen in an icy voice, "and tell the words I speak to Abi. The time is

accomplished, and I leave him. If he would look again upon NeterTua, Morning Star of Amen, the Great

Lady of Egypt, let him seek her in the camp of Rames. There he shall find her in the temple of Amen, which

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 must not be delayed, that at length one went and told him of her words, and he

"What is it now, Sorceress?" he asked. "Have you dreamed more ill omened dreams?"

"Nay, Pharaoh," she answered, "but the Queen has fled to Rames," and word for word she repeated what had

"It is a lie," said Abi. "How can she have fled through a triple line of guards?"

So Abi searched, but though none had seen her pass, and none had gone with her, the Queen could not be

It was midnight, and while they still searched, by the light of the moon a tall figure clad in tattered robes, who

bore a thornwood staff in his hand, and had a white beard that fell down below his middle, was perceived

"Who is that fellow?" asked Abi, and as he spoke the figure cried aloud in a great voice:

"Listen, Councillors, Captains, and Soldiers of Egypt, to the command of Amen, spoken by the lips of his

messenger, Kepher the Wanderer. Lift no sword against Rames, Lord of Kesh, for he is my servant, and shall

be Pharaoh over you, and husband of your Queen, and father of kings to come. Seize Abi the usurper, the

murderer of Pharaoh, his brother, and Kaku the sorcerer, and Merytra the traitress, and lead them at the dawn

to my temple upon yonder hill, where I will declare my commands to you in the sanctuary of the temple. So

shall peace be upon you and all Egypt, and the breath of life remain in your nostrils."

Now hearing these fearful words, and remembering dead Pharaoh's prophecy of a Beggar who should bring a

message to him, Abi drew his sword and rushed 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 ran also, but now the words of

doom were being called upon the ships, and on their prows they saw his tall shape stand first on this and

"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 Kaku and Merytra they bound also, waiting for the dawn. But of the tall,

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 shape

"My will is that you give me rest," answered the Ka. "My task is accomplished, 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 till the

So Asti, knowing that she was commanded so to do, uttered those secret words, and as she spoke them the

glorious Shape seemed to grow faint and fade away. Only Tua rose upon her bed, stretched out her arms and

sighed, fell back again and slept heavily until the morning. Then she awoke, asking what had befallen her, for

"This has befallen, Queen. That which went forth from you by the command of Amen has returned to you

again, its duty done. Rise up now and adorn yourself, for this is your day of victory and marriage."

As the sun rose Tua went forth more beautiful than the morning, and at the 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 her blue eyes than there is water in the

"I think that Abi attacks us, Lady," he said, bowing the knee to her, "and I am fearful for you, for our men are

"Be not afraid of Abi, or of anything, O Rames, though it is true that this day you must lose your liberty," she

Then, before he could speak again, two of the captains of his outposts ran in and reported that without were

"Summon the officers, and let them be admitted," said Rames, "but be careful, 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 am but a

general of your province, Kesh," and he followed her to the inner court, where, in front of the sanctuary, was

a chair, on which, at his prayer, she seated herself, as a mighty Queen should do.

Now, conducted by his own officers, the embassy entered, bearing with them three closed litters, and Tua and

Rames noted that among that embassy were the greatest generals, and the most holy priests of Egypt. At a

given sign they prostrated themselves before the glory of the Queen, all save the soldiers who bore the litters.

Next, from among their ranks out stepped the venerable HighPriest of Amen at Thebes, and stood before

Tua with bowed head till, with a motion of her hand, she commanded him to speak.

"O MorningStar of Amen," he began, "after you left our camp last night a messenger came to us from the

"Stay, O HighPriest," broke in Tua. "I did not leave your camp who never tarried there, and who for two

long years have set no foot upon the holy soil of Egypt. No, not since I fled from Memphis to save myself

from death, or what is worsethe defilement of a forced marriage with Abi, my Uncle, and Pharaoh's

Now the HighPriest turned and stared at those behind him, and all who were present stared at the Queen.

"Pardon me," he said, "but how can this thing be, seeing that for those two years we have seen your Majesty

Now Tua looked at Asti, who stood at her side, and the tall and noble Asti looked at the HighPriest, saying:

"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 Lord Rames 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 we believed that you had perished in the

temple of Sekhet at Memphis, that temple where Pharaoh died. Now we understand that, being a magician,

Then the curtains were drawn, and the soldiers lifted from the litters Abi, Kaku, and Merytra, who were

"These are the very murderers of Pharaoh, my Father, who would have also brought me to shame. Why are

"Because the Messenger of the Gods, clothed as a Beggarman, commanded it, your Majesty," answered the

HighPriest. "Now we understand that they are brought hither to be judged for the murder of Pharaoh, the

"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, all of you, to the tale of that marvel which has come to pass. At my

birthyou, O HighPriest, should know it wellAmen gave to me a Ka, a Self within myself, to protect me

in all dangers. The dangers came upon me, and Asti the Magician, my fostermother, speaking the words that

had been taught to her by the spirit of the divine Ahura who bore me, called forth that Ka of mine, and left it

where I had been, to be the wife of Abi, such a wife, I think, as never man had before. But me, Amen, my

father, rescued, and with me Asti, bearing us in the Boat of the Sun to far lands, and protecting us in many

perils, till at length we came to the city of Napata, where we found a certain servant of mine whom, as it

"Meanwhile, my Shadow did the work to which it was appointed, ruling for me in Egypt, and drawing on Abi

to his ruin. But last night It returned to me, and will be seen no more by men, except, perchance, in my tomb

after I am dead. Judge you if my tale be true, and whether I am indeed NeterTua, Daughter of Amen," and

opening the wrappings about her throat, she showed the holy sign that was stamped above her breast, adding:

"It is the sign. Here shines the Star of Amen and no other. Still we do not understand. Tell us the tale, O

So Asti stood forward, and told that tale, omitting nothing, and then Rames told his tale, whereto Tua the

Queen added a little, and, although ere they finished the sun was high, none wearied in listening save only

It was done at length, and a great silence fell upon the place, for the tongues of men were tied. Presently, the

HighPriest, who all this while had 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 we may learn it and obey."

For a while there was silence, till suddenly a sound was heard in the dark sanctuary where stood the statue of

the god, a sound as of a stick tapping upon the granite floor. Then the curtains of that sanctuary were drawn,

and standing between them there appeared the figure of an ancient, 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 their food. It was

he who had saved them in the palace of the desert king. It was he who but last night had walked the camp of

"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, and your sons shall know. I am he who seeks for charity and pays it

back in life and death. I am the pen of Thoth the Recorder, I am the scourge of Osiris. I am the voice of

Amen, god above the gods. Hearken you people of Egyptnot for a little end have these things come to

pass, but that ye may learn that there is design in heaven, and justice upon earth, and, after justice, judgment.

Pharaoh, the good servant of the gods, was basely murdered by his own kin whom he trusted. NeterTua, his

daughter, and daughter of Amen, was condemned to shame, Rames of the royal race was sent forth to danger

or to death, far from her he loved, and who loved him by that divine command which rules the hearts of men.

This is the command of the godsLet these twain be wed and take Egypt as their heritage, and call down

upon it peace and greatness. But as for these murderers and wizards" and he pointed to Abi, to Kaku, and

to Merytra"let them be placed in the sanctuary of Amen, to await what he shall send them."

So spoke Kepher the Messenger, and departed whence he came, nor in that generation did any see him more.

Then they took up Abi, Kaku, and Merytra, and cut their bonds. They threw them into the dark sanctuary

before the great stone image of the god. They shut the electrum doors upon them, and left them there wailing

and cursing, while the HighPriest of Amen joined the hands of Rames and of Tua, and declared them to be

Now, after these things were done, the Pharaoh and his Queen drove through the hosts of Egypt in their

golden chariot, and received the homage of the hosts ere they departed northwards for Thebes. At nightfall

they returned again and sat side by side at the marriage feast, and once more Tua swept her harp of ivory and

gold, and sang the ancient 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, MorningStar of Amen, which still with

But when in the morning Asti the wise dared to open the great doors and peer into the sanctuary of Amen, she

saw a dreadful sight. For there at the feet of the effigy of the god lay Abi, who slew his brother, and Kaku the

sorcerer, and Merytra the traitress, dead, slain by their own or by each other's hand, and the stony eyes of the