answered. "At least
Merapi thinks that there is a god, and doubtless has been commanded to
put her faith to proof. This, as I believe, was the real message that
Jabez her uncle has brought to her."

It was the hour before the dawn, just when the night is darkest. We
stood in the sanctuary of the ancient temple of Amon-Ra, that was lit
with many lamps. It was an awful place. On either side the great columns
towered to the massive roof. At the head of the sanctuary sat the statue
of Amon-Ra, thrice the size of a man. On his brow, rising from the
crown, were two tall feathers of stone, and in his hands he held the
Scourge of Rule and the symbols of Power and Everlastingness. The
lamplight flickered upon his stern and terrible face staring towards the
east. To his right was the statue of Mut, the Mother of all things. On
her head was the double crown of Egypt and the uraeus crest, and in her
hand the looped cross, the sign of Life eternal. To his left sat Khonsu,
the hawk-headed god of the moon. On his head was the crescent of the
young moon carrying the disc of the full moon; in his right hand he also
held the looped cross, the sign of Life eternal, and in his left the
Staff of Strength. Such was this mighty triad, but of these the greatest
was Amon-Ra, to whom the shrine was dedicated. Fearful they stood
towering above us against the background of blackness.

Gathered there were Seti the Prince, clothed in a priest's white
robe, and wearing a linen headdress, but no ornaments, and Userti the
Princess, high-priestess of Hathor, Lady of the West, Goddess of Love
and Nature. She wore Hathor's vulture headdress, and on it the disc of
the moon fashioned of silver. Also were present Roi the head-priest,
clad in his sacerdotal robes, an old and wizened man with a strong,
fierce face, Ki the Sacrificer and Magician, Bakenkhonsu the ancient,
myself, and a company of the priests of Amon-Ra, Mut, and Khonsu. From
behind the statues came the sound of solemn singing, though who sang we
could not see.

Presently from out of the darkness that lay beyond the lamps appeared a
woman, led by two priestesses and wrapped in a long cloak. They brought
her to an open place in front of the statue of Amon, took from her the
cloak and departed, glancing back at her with eyes of hate and fear.
There before us stood Merapi, clad in white, with a simple wimple about
her head made fast beneath her chin with that scarabaeus clasp which Seti
had