he sepulchre of the Apis bulls in the burial ground of the desert
near to Memphis, Bes?"

"The magician and prophet who is the brother of your grandfather,
Master, and the son of a king; he who brought you up before he became a
hermit? Yes, I know him well, though I have seldom been very near to him
because his eyes frighten me, as they frightened Cambyses the Persian
when Tanofir cursed him and foretold his doom after he had stabbed the
holy Apis, saying that by a wound from that same sword in his own body
he should die himself, which thing came to pass. As they have frightened
many another man also."

"Well, Bes, when yonder king told me that I must die, fear filled me
who did not wish to die thus, and after the fear came a blackness in my
mind. Then of a sudden in that blackness I saw a picture of Tanofir, my
great uncle, seated in a sepulchre looking towards the East. Moreover
I heard him speak, and to me, saying, 'Shabaka, my foster-son, fear
nothing. You are in great danger but it will pass. Speak to the great
King all that rises in your heart, for the gods of Vengeance make use of
your tongue and whatever you prophesy to him shall be fulfilled.' So I
spoke the words you heard and I feared nothing."

"Is it so, Master? Then I think that the holy Tanofir must have entered
my heart also. Know that I was minded to leap upon that king and break
his neck, so that all three of us might end together. But of a sudden
something seemed to tell me to leave him alone and let things go as they
are fated. But how can the holy Tanofir who grows blind with age, see so
far?"

"I do not know, Bes, save that he is not as are other men, for in him
is gathered all the ancient wisdom of Egypt. Moreover he lives with the
gods while still upon earth, and like the gods can send his _Ka_, as we
Egyptians call the spirit, or invisible self which companions all from
the cradle to the grave and afterwards, whither he will. So doubtless
to-day he sent it hither to me whom he loves more than anything on
earth. Also I remember that before I entered on this journey he told
me that I should return safe and sound. Therefore, Bes, I say I fear
nothing."

"Nor do I, Master. Yet if you see me do strange things, or hear me speak
strange words, take no note of them, since I shall be but playing a part
as I think wisest."

After this we talked of that day's adventure with the lions, and of
others that we had shared together, laughing merrily all t