when he
made a sign to certain black temple slaves who stood near. They leapt
forward, and I saw the firelight shone upon their copper armlets as they
gripped Laban. He fought furiously, shouting:

"Where are your armies, Egyptians, and where is your dog of a Pharaoh?
Go dig them from the Sea of Reeds. Farewell, Moon of Israel. Look how
your royal lover crowns you at the last, O faithless----"

He said no more, for at this moment the slaves hurled him headlong into
the heart of the great fire, which blackened for a little and burned
bright again.

Then it was that Merapi struggled to her feet and cried in a ringing
voice those very words which the Prince and I had seemed to hear her
speak far away by the Sea of Reeds--"_Oh! help me my lord Seti! Help me,
my lord Seti!_" Yes, the same words which had echoed in our ears days
before they passed her lips, or so we believed.

Now all this while our chariots had been forcing their way foot by foot
through the wall of the watching crowd, perhaps while a man might count
a hundred, no more. As the echoes of her cry died away at length we were
through and leaping to the ground.

"The witch calls on one who sups to-night at the board of Osiris with
Pharaoh and his host," sneered Ki. "Well, let her go to seek him there
if the guardian gods will suffer it," and again he made a sign to the
black slaves.

But Merapi had seen or felt Seti advancing from the shadows and seeing
flung herself upon his breast. He kissed her on the brow before them
all, then bade me hold her up and turned to face the people.

"Bow down. Bow down. Bow down!" cried the deep voice of Bakenkhonsu.
"Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!" and what he said the
escort echoed.

Then of a sudden the multitude understood. To their knees they fell and
from every side rose the ancient salutation. Seti held up his hand
and blessed them. Watching, I saw Ki slip towards the darkness, and
whispered a word to the guards, who sprang upon him and brought him
back.

Then the Prince spoke:

"Ye name me Pharaoh, people of Memphis, and Pharaoh I fear I am by
descent of blood to-day, though whether I will consent to bear the
burdens of government, should Egypt wish it of me, as yet I know not.
Still he who wore the double crown is, I believe, dead in the midst
of the sea; at the least I saw the waters overwhelm him and his army.
Therefore, if only for an hour, I will be Pharaoh, that as Pharaoh I may
judg