ld have lived to see the seed of Israel
and Pharaoh thus fastened like a wild beast in a den, while barbarians
make a mock of him. Oh! Prince, it were better that you should die
rather than endure such shame."

"Misfortunes are the master of man, not man of his misfortunes, Metem,"
said Aziel quietly, "and in them is no true disgrace. Even if I had
the means to kill myself, it would be a sin; moreover, it might bring
another to her death. Therefore, I await my doom, whatever it may be,
with such patience as I can, trusting that my sufferings and ignominy
may expiate my crimes in the sight of Him whom I renounced. But how come
you here, Metem?"

"I came under the safe-conduct of Ithobal who gave me leave to visit
you, doubtless for some ends of his own. Have you heard, Prince, that he
holds the gates of the city, though as yet no harm has been done to it,
and that its inhabitants are crowded within the temple, and upon the
heights above; also that in his despair Sakon has fallen on his sword
and slain himself?"

"Is it so?" answered Aziel. "Well, Issachar foretold as much. On their
own heads be the doom of these devil-worshippers and cowards. Have you
any tidings of the lady Elissa?"

"Yes, Prince. She still sits yonder in the tomb, resolute in her
purpose, and giving no answer to those who come to reason with her."

As he spoke the guard let fall the front of the tent so that the
sunlight flowed into it, revealing Aziel and his twelve companions, each
fast in his narrow and shameful prison. "See," said Metem, "do you know
the place?"

The prince struggled to his knees, and saw that they were set upon the
top of a hill, built up of granite boulders, which rose eighty feet or
more from the surface of the plain. Opposite to them at a distance of
under a hundred paces was a precipice in the face of which could be seen
a cave closed with barred gates of bronze, while between the rocky hill
and the precipice ran a road.

"I know it, Metem; there runs the path by which we travelled from the
coast, and there is the tomb of Baaltis. Why have we been brought here?"

"The lady Elissa sits behind the bars of yonder tomb whence her view
of all that happens upon this mount must be very good indeed," answered
Metem with meaning. "Now, can you guess why you were brought here,
prince Aziel."

"Is it that she may witness our sufferings under torment?" he asked.

Metem nodded.

"How will they deal with us, Metem?"

"Wait a