en I will provide another
shelter for her."

The old woman laughed and muttered: "There are plenty of folks to take
care of her, it seems."

The soldiers obeyed the command of their leader, took up the wounded, and
went away with Pentaur, and the body of Pinem.

Meanwhile, Bent-Anat and her party had with much difficulty reached the
river-bank. One of the bearers was sent to find the boat which was
waiting for them, and he was enjoined to make haste, for already they
could see the approach of the procession, which escorted the God on his
return journey. If they could not succeed in finding their boat without
delay, they must wait at least an hour, for, at night, not a boat that
did not belong to the train of Amon--not even the barge of a noble--might
venture from shore till the whole procession was safe across.

They awaited the messenger's signal in the greatest anxiety, for Nefert
was perfectly exhausted, and Bent-Anat, on whom she leaned, felt her
trembling in every limb.

At last the bearer gave the signal; the swift, almost invisible bark,
which was generally used for wild fowl shooting, shot by--Rameri seized
one end of an oar that the rower held out to him, and drew the little
boat up to the landing-place.

The captain of the watch passed at the same moment, and shouting out,
"This is the last boat that can put off before the passage of the God!"

Bent-Anat descended the steps as quickly as Nefert's exhausted state
permitted. The landing-place was now only dimly lighted by dull lanterns,
though, when the God embarked, it would be as light as day with cressets
and torches. Before she could reach the bottom step, with Nefert still
clinging heavily to her arm, a hard hand was laid on her shoulder, and
the rough voice of Paaker exclaimed:

"Stand back, you rabble! We are going first." The captain of the watch
did not stop him, for he knew the chief pioneer and his overbearing ways.
Paaker put his finger to his lips, and gave a shrill whistle that sounded
like a yell in the silence.

The stroke of oars responded to the call, and Paaker called out to his
boatmen:

"Bring the boat up here! these people can wait!" The pioneer's boat was
larger and better manned than that of the princess.

"Jump into the boat!" cried Rameri.

Bent-Anat went forward without speaking, for she did not wish to make
herself known again for the sake of the people, and for Nefert's; but
Paaker put himself in her way.

"Did I not