asked. "Because the spirit of the God Menth possessed me,"
answered Pentaur. "When I saw that accursed villain there with his hand
in the girl's hair, I heard and saw nothing, I--"

"You did right," interrupted Nebsecht. "But where will all this end?"

At this moment a flourish of trumpets rang through the little valley. The
officer sent by Ameni to apprehend the paraschites came up with his
soldiers.

Before he entered the court-yard he ordered the crowd to disperse; the
refractory were driven away by force, and in a few minutes the valley was
cleared of the howling and shouting mob, and the burning house was
surrounded by soldiers. Bent-Anat, Rameri, and Nefert were obliged to
quit their places by the fence; Rameri, so soon as he saw that Uarda was
safe, had rejoined his sister.

Nefert was almost fainting with fear and excitement. The two servants,
who had kept near them, knit their hands together, and thus carried her
in advance of the princess. Not one of them spoke a word, not even
Rameri, who could not forget Uarda, and the look of gratitude she bid
sent after him. Once only Bent-Anat said:

"The hovel is burnt down. Where will the poor souls sleep to-night?"

When the valley was clear, the officer entered the yard, and found there,
besides Uarda and the witch Hekt, the poet, and Nebsecht, who was engaged
in tending the wounded.

Pentaur shortly narrated the affair to the captain, and named himself to
him.

The soldier offered him his hand.

"If there were many men in Rameses' army," said he, who could strike such
a blow as you, the war with the Cheta would soon be at an end. But you
have struck down, not Asiatics, but citizens of Thebes, and, much as I
regret it, I must take you as a prisoner to Ameni."

"You only do your duty," replied Pentaur, bowing to the captain, who
ordered his men to take up the body of the paraschites, and to bear it to
the temple of Seti.

"I ought to take the girl in charge too," he added, turning to Pentaur.

"She is ill," replied the poet.

"And if she does not get some rest," added Nebsecht, "she will be dead.
Leave her alone; she is under the particular protection of the princess
Bent-Anat, who ran over her not long ago."

"I will take her into my house," said Hekt, "and will take care of her.
Her grandmother is lying there; she was half choked by the flames, but
she will soon come to herself--and I have room for both."

"Till to-morrow," replied the surgeon. "Th