hat I should have no wish to wear it any
more," said Seti. "Who shows you all these things, and how?"

"Our _Kas_, which are our secret selves, show them to us, Prince, and in
many ways. Sometimes it is by dreams or visions, sometimes by pictures
on water, sometimes by writings in the desert sand. In all these
fashions, and by others, our _Kas_, drawing from the infinite well of
wisdom that is hidden in the being of every man, give us glimpses of the
truth, as they give us who are instructed power to work marvels."

"Of the truth. Then these things you tell me are true?"

"We believe so, Prince."

"Then being true must happen. So what is the use of your warning me
against what must happen? There cannot be two truths. What would you
have me do? Not go upon this journey? Why have you told me that I must
not go, since if I did not go the truth would become a lie, which it
cannot? You say it is fated that I should go and because I go such and
such things will come about. And yet you tell me not to go, for that is
what you mean. Oh! Kherheb Ki and Bakenkhonsu, doubtless you are great
magicians and strong in wisdom, but there are greater than you who rule
the world, and there is a wisdom to which yours is but as a drop of
water to the Nile. I thank you for your warnings, but to-morrow I go
down to the land of Goshen to fulfil the commands of Pharaoh. If I come
back again we will talk more of these matters here upon the earth. If I
do not come back, perchance we will talk of them elsewhere. Farewell."

CHAPTER VI

THE LAND OF GOSHEN

The Prince Seti and all his train, a very great company, came in safety
to the land of Goshen, I, Ana, travelling with him in his chariot. It
was then as now a rich land, quite flat after the last line of desert
hills through which we travelled by a narrow, tortuous path. Everywhere
it was watered by canals, between which lay the grain fields wherein the
seed had just been sown. Also there were other fields of green fodder
whereon were tethered beasts by the hundred, and beyond these, upon the
drier soil, grazed flocks of sheep. The town Goshen, if so it could
be called, was but a poor place, numbers of mud huts, no more, in the
centre of which stood a building, also of mud, with two brick pillars in
front of it, that we were told was the temple of this people, into the
inner parts of which none might enter save their High-priest. I laughed
at the sight of it, but the Prince reproved me