fear these things also," said Merapi.

"Not so, Lady, seeing that being the only beloved of the Prince of Egypt
who, rumour tells us, will soon be Pharaoh of Egypt, by him you will
be protected from the anger of the Egyptians. And being, as we all know
well, the greatest sorceress in the world, the overthrower of Amon-Ra
the mighty, and one who by sacrificing her child was able to ward away
every plague from the household where she dwelt, you have naught to fear
from priests and their magic."

Then Merapi sprang up, bidding them to leave her to her fate and to
be gone to their own, which they did hastily enough, fearing lest she
should cast some spell upon them. So it came about that presently the
fair Moon of Israel and certain children of mixed blood were all of the
Hebrew race that were left in Egypt. Then, notwithstanding the miseries
and misfortunes that during the past few years by terror, death, and
famine had reduced them to perhaps one half of their number, the people
of Egypt rejoiced with a great joy.

In every temple of every god processions were held and offerings made by
those who had anything left to offer, while the statues of the gods were
dressed in fine new garments and hung about with garlandings of flowers.
Moreover, on the Nile and on the sacred lakes boats floated to and
fro, adorned with lanterns as at the feast of the Rising of Osiris. As
titular high-priest of Amon, an office of which he could not be deprived
while he lived, Prince Seti attended these demonstrations, which indeed
he must do, in the great temple of Memphis, whither I accompanied him.
When the ceremonies were over he led the procession through the masses
of the worshippers, clad in his splendid sacerdotal robes, whereon every
throat of the thousands present there greeted him in a shout of thunder
as "Pharaoh!" or at least as Pharaoh's heir.

When at length the shouting died, he turned upon them and said:

"Friends, if you would send me to be of the company that sits at the
table of Osiris and not at Pharaoh's feasts, you will repeat this
foolish greeting, whereof our Lord Amenmeses will hear with little joy."

In the silence that followed a voice called out:

"Have no fear, O Prince, while the Hebrew witch sleeps night by night
upon your bosom. She who could smite Egypt with so many plagues can
certainly shelter you from harm;" whereon the roars of acclamation went
up again.

It was on the following day that Bakenkhonsu t