moned his Court and commanded that the
Prince Abi should be brought before him. So the Prince came and Pharaoh
addressed him kindly.

"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 goods and greatness
that the gods have given you."

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 the Morning Star of
Amen should blot out that star of his.

"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 Neter-Tua is born, upon her breast shall
be seen the symbol of the Sign of Life. Depart now, lest I grow angry.
The gifts I have promised shall follow you to Memphis."

So Abi returned to the white-walled 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,
Neter-Tua, would arise, for so it was decreed by Amen, father of the
gods.

CHAPTER III

RAMES, THE PRINCESS, AND THE CROCODILE

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 s