pioneer to find the little half-hidden house again--

[The title here rendered pioneer was that of an officer whose duties
were those at once of a scout and of a Quarter-Master General. In
unknown and comparatively savage countries it was an onerous post.
--Translator.]

besides, you share my guilt, for," she added, turning to the priest, "I
confess that the misfortune happened because I would try with my horses
to overtake Paaker's Syrian racers, which he declared to be swifter than
the Egyptian horses. It was a mad race."

"And Amon be praised that it ended as it did," exclaimed the master of
the ceremonies. "Packer's chariot lies dashed in pieces in the valley,
and his best horse is badly hurt."

"He will see to him when he has taken the physician to the house of the
paraschites," said the princess. "Dost thou know, Penbesa--thou anxious
guardian of a thoughtless girl--that to-day for the first time I am glad
that my father is at the war in distant Satiland?"--[Asia].

"He would not have welcomed us kindly!" said the master of the
ceremonies, laughing.

"But the leech, the leech!" cried Bent-Anat. "Packer, it is settled then.
You will conduct him, and bring us to-morrow morning news of the wounded
girl."

Paaker bowed; the princess bowed her head; the priest and his companions,
who meanwhile had come out of the temple and joined him, raised their
hands in blessing, and the belated procession moved towards the Nile.

Paaker remained alone with his two slaves; the commission with which the
princess had charged him greatly displeased him. So long as the moonlight
enabled him to distinguish the litter of Mena's wife, he gazed after it;
then he endeavored to recollect the position of the hut of the
paraschites. The captain of the watch still stood with the guard at the
gate of the temple.

"Do you know the dwelling of Pinem the paraschites?" asked Paaker.

"What do you want with him?"

"That is no concern of yours," retorted Paaker.

"Lout!" exclaimed the captain, "left face and forwards, my men."

"Halt!" cried Paaker in a rage. "I am the king's chief pioneer."

"Then you will all the more easily find the way back by which you came.
March."

The words were followed by a peal of many-voiced laughter: the re-echoing
insult so confounded Paaker that he dropped his whip on the ground. The
slave, whom a short time since he had struck with it, humbly picked it up
and then followed his lord into th