ised, 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."

The Shadow looked from her to Asti, who answered briefly:

"Where my Lady goes there I follow, knowing that Mermes always waits.
What shall we do?"

The Ka motioned to them to stand together in the narrow winding-place,
and this they did, their arms about each other. Next she lifted her
sceptre and spoke some word.

Then fire flashed before their eyes, a rush of wind beat upon their
brows, and they knew no more.

CHAPTER XI

THE DREAM OF ABI

On the night of the drawing-forth of the Ka of Neter-Tua, Kaku 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
vow, and received the magic image.

"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 have done its work more thoroughly."

"Thoroughly, indeed," broke in Merytra in an angry voice. "You have
tricked me, Wizard, I promised to help you to lame Pharaoh, not to
murder him!"

"Hush! Beloved," said Kaku nervously, "murder is an ugly word, and
murderers come to ugly ends--sometimes. Is it your fault if an accursed
fool of a priest chose to burn the mannikin upon an altar, and thus
bring this god to his lamented end?"

"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 sickly