. Fear not, whatever chances I will
see that it is done."

Merytra, recovered from her madness, lay upon a bed, when a woman
entered and stood over her. Looking up she saw it was the Queen.

"Hearken to me," said the Queen in an icy voice, "and tell the words
I speak to Abi. The time is accomplished, and I leave him. If he would
look again upon Neter-Tua, 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 is set upon the mountain in the midst of the
camp."

Then she was gone.

Merytra rose from the bed, and called to the guards to lead her to Abi.
So loudly did she call, saying that she had a message for him which must
not be delayed, that at length one went and told him of her words, and
he came to her.

"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 been told her.

"It is a lie," said Abi. "How can she have fled through a triple line of
guards?"

"Search, then, and see, O Pharaoh."

So Abi searched, but though none had seen her pass, and none had gone
with her, the Queen could not be found.

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 walking to and fro about the camp.

"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