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 Neter-Tua, 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 evil-omened 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 us?"

"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 again. But to your beloved father bid farewell."

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 yo