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 ordains that we must be born and
suffer?"

Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leaving
Janees ringed round by those stern-faced men.

"Farewell, Lady," he called to Tua as she passed. "Here and hereafter
remember this of Janees, King of Tat, that he who might have saved his
life chose to die for love of you."

Then they went and saw him no more.

They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they 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 entered into a litter, and were
borne by black slaves whither they knew not.

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 Tua's ivory harp.

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 stern-faced, desert chiefs, who bowed as they advanced.

"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," he continued, addressing the
chiefs.

Then the captain of them all said:

"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 one man of us remains alive they