thus again, and though I have
loved thee and thou hast been the chief of the servants of Pharaoh,
this I swear, that thou shalt die the first. Already the count is long
between thee and me, for it was thou who didst bring yon accursed witch
to my Palace. Now thou hast heard, and of this be sure, as I have spoken
so I will do. Get thee gone--get thee from my sight, I say, lest I slay
thee now. I take back thy honours, I strip thee of thy offices, I gather
thy wealth into my treasury. Go forth a beggar, and let me see thy face
no more!"

Then Rei held his peace and fled, for it were better to stand before a
lioness robbed of her whelps than before Meriamun in her rage. Thereon
the gates were shut again, and the captain of the gates was dragged
before the place where the Queen stood, and asking no mercy and taking
little heed, for still his soul was filled with the beauty of Helen as
a cup with wine, he suffered death, for his head was straightway smitten
from him.

Rei, watching from afar, groaned aloud, then turned and left the Palace,
but the Queen called to the soldiers to slay on. Even as she called
there came a cry of woe without the Palace gates. Men looked each on
each. Again the cry rose and a voice without called, "Pharaoh is come
again! Pharaoh is come again!" and there rose a sound of knocking at the
gates.

Now for that while Meriamun thought no more of slaying the men, but
bade them open the gates. They opened, and a man entered clad in raiment
stained with travel. His eyes were wild, his hair was dishevelled, and
scarce could his face be known for the face of Pharaoh Meneptah, it was
so marred with grief and fear.

Pharaoh looked on the Queen--he looked upon the dead who lay at her
feet, then laughed aloud:

"What!" he cried, "more dead! Is there then no end to Death and the
number of his slain? Nay, here he doth work but feebly. Perchance his
arm grows weary. Come, where are _thy_ dead, Queen? Bring forth thy
dead!"

"What hath chanced, Meneptah, that thou speakest thus madly?" asked the
Queen. "She whom they name the Hathor hath passed here, and these, and
another who lies yonder, do but mark her path. Speak!"

"Ay, I will speak, Queen. I have a merry tale to tell. Thou sayest that
the Hathor hath passed here and these mark her footsteps. Well, I can
cap thy story. He whom the Apura name Jahveh hath passed yonder by the
Sea of Weeds, and there lie many, lie to mark His footsteps."

"Thy host! Wh