perfected in sacrifice alone," Ki answered darkly.

"Have done with your talk of spells, Magician," exclaimed the Prince,
"or if you must speak of them, speak of your own, which are many. It was
Jabez who protected us here against the plagues, and the statue of Amon
was shattered by some god."

"I ask your pardon, Prince," said Ki bowing, "it was _not_ this lady but
her uncle who fenced your house against the plagues which ravaged Egypt,
and it was _not_ this lady but some god working in her which overthrew
Amon of Tanis. The Prince has said it. Yet this lady has dreamed a
certain dream which Bakenkhonsu has interpreted although I cannot, and I
think that Pharaoh and his captains should be told of the dream, that on
it they may form their own judgment."

"Then why do you not tell them, Ki?"

"It has pleased Pharaoh, O Prince, to dismiss me from his service as
one who failed and to give my office of Kherheb to another. If I appear
before the face of Pharaoh I shall be killed."

Now I, Ana, listening, wished that Ki would appear before the face of
Pharaoh, although I did not believe that he could be killed by him or by
anybody else, since against death he had charms. For I was afraid of Ki,
and felt in myself that again he was plotting evil to Merapi whom I knew
to be innocent.

The Prince walked up and down the chamber as was his fashion when lost
in thought. Presently he stopped opposite to me and said:

"Friend Ana, be pleased to command that my chariots be made ready with
a general's escort of a hundred men and spare horses to each chariot.
We ride at dawn, you and I, to seek out the army of Pharaoh and pray
audience of Pharaoh."

"My lord," said Merapi in a kind of cry, "I pray you go not, leaving me
alone."

"Why should I leave you, Lady? Come with me if you will." She shook her
head, saying:

"I dare not. Prince, there has been some charm upon me of late that
draws me back to my own people. Twice in the night I have awakened and
found myself in the gardens with my face set towards the north, and
heard a voice in my ears, even that of my father who is dead, saying:

"'Moon of Israel, thy people wander in the wilderness and need thy
light.'

"It is certain therefore that if I came near to them I should be dragged
down as wood is dragged of an eddy, nor would Egypt see me any more."

"Then I pray you bide where you are, Merapi," said the Prince, laughing
a little, "since it is certain that where you go