if he will not listen, Prince?"

"Then cry our message aloud and return."

"And if he will not suffer us to return, Prince?"

"Then stand still and live or die as the gods may decree."

"Truly our lord has a great heart!" exclaimed Bakenkhonsu, "and though
I feel over young to die, I am minded to see the end of this matter with
him," and he laughed aloud.

But I who was afraid thought that _O-ho-ho_ of his, which the sky seemed
to echo back upon our heads, a strange and indeed a fearful sound.

Then we put on robes of ceremony that we had brought with us, but
neither swords nor armour, and having eaten some food, drove on with the
half of our guard towards the place where we saw the banners of Pharaoh
flying about his pavilion. The rest of our guard we left encamped,
bidding them, if aught happened to us, to return and make report at
Memphis and in the other great cities. As we drew near to the camp the
outposts saw us and challenged. But when they perceived by the light of
the setting sun who it was that they challenged, a murmur went through
them, of:

"The Prince of Egypt! The Prince of Egypt!" for so they had never ceased
to name Seti, and they saluted with their spears and let us pass.

So at length we came to the pavilion of Pharaoh, round about which
a whole regiment stood on guard. The sides of it were looped up high
because of the heat of the night which was great, and within sat
Pharaoh, his captains, his councillors, his priests, his magicians, and
many others at meat or serving food and drink. They sat at a table that
was bent like a bow, with their faces towards the entrance, and Pharaoh
was in the centre of the table with his fan-bearers and butlers behind
him.

We advanced into the pavilion, the Prince in the centre, Bakenkhonsu
leaning on his staff on the right hand, and I, wearing the gold chain
that Pharaoh Meneptah had given me, on the left, but those with us
remained among the guard at the entrance.

"Who are these?" asked Amenmeses, looking up, "who come here unbidden?"

"Three citizens of Egypt who have a message for Pharaoh," answered Seti
in his quiet voice, "which we have travelled fast and far to speak in
time."

"How are you named, citizens of Egypt, and who sends your message?"

"We are named, Seti Meneptah aforetime Prince of Egypt, and heir to its
crown; Bakenkhonsu the aged Councillor, and Ana the scribe and King's
Companion, and our message is from the gods."

"We have h