ested on the brow of the dead Hataska. And the eyes of all
the thousand thousand spirits turned and gazed upon the Tongue of Flame.
And then dead Hataska spoke--though her lips moved not, yet she spoke.
And this she said:

"'What wouldest thou with me, Meriamun, who am no more of thy company?
Why dost thou dare to trouble me, thou by whose hand my body did perish,
drawing me from the threshold of the Double Hall of Truth, back to the
Over World?'

"And Meriamun the Queen said, 'Oh, thou _Khou_, for this purpose have I
called thee. I am aweary of my days and I fain would learn the future.
The future fain would I learn, but the forked tongue of That which
sleeps tells me no word, and the lips of That which is a-cold are dumb!
Tell me, then, thou, I charge thee by the word that has power to open
the lips of the dead, thou who in all things art instructed, what shall
be the burden of my days?'

"And the dread Khou made answer: 'Love shall be the burden of thy days,
and Death shall be the burden of thy love. Behold one draws near from
out the North whom thou hast loved, whom thou shalt love from life to
life, till all things are accomplished. Bethink thee of a dream that
thou dreamedst as thou didst lie on Pharaoh's bed, and read its riddle.
Meriamun, thou art great and thy name is known upon the earth, and in
Amenti is thy name known. High is thy fate, and through blood and sorrow
shalt thou find it. I have spoken, let me hence.'

"'It is well,' the Queen made answer: 'But not yet mayest thou go hence.
First I command thee, by the word of dread and by the link of life and
death, declare unto me if here upon the earth and in this life I shall
possess him whom I shall love?'

"'In sin and craft and sorrow, Meriamun, thou shalt possess him; in
shame and jealous agony he shall be taken from thee by one who is
stronger than thou, though thou art strong; by one more beautiful than
thou, though thou art beautiful; and ruin thou shalt give him for his
guerdon, and ruin of the heart shalt thou harvest for thy portion. But
for this time she shall escape thee, whose footsteps march with thine,
and with his who shall be thine and hers. Nevertheless, in a day to come
thou shalt pay her back measure for measure, and evil for evil. I have
spoken. Let me hence.'

"'Not yet, O Khou--not yet. I have still to learn. Show me the face of
her who is mine enemy, and the face of him who is my love.'

"'Thrice mayest thou speak to me, O tho