en, and join yourself either to my force or to that of the lord
Shabaka, according to what you see. May the Grasshopper give you victory
and wisdom."

The general saluted and asked,

"Who guides us to and across the ford of the great river?"

Two of the veiled men stepped forward whereon the general muttered into
my ear,

"I like not the look of them. I pray the Grasshopper they do not guide
us across the River of Death."

"Have no fear, General," said the holy Tanofir from the other end of the
tent. "If you and your men play their parts as well as the guides will
play theirs, the ships are already burned together with their companies.
Only take fire with you."

So that general departed with the two guides, looking somewhat
frightened, and soon was marching up Nile at the head of five thousand
swordsmen.

Now Bes looked at me and said,

"It seems that you had better be gone also, my Brother, with the
archers. Perchance the holy Tanofir will show you whither."

"No, no," answered Tanofir, "my guides will show him. Look not so
doubtful, Shabaka. Did I fail you when you were in the grip of the King
of kings in the East, and only your own life and that of Bes were at
stake?"

"I do not know," I answered.

"You do not know, but I know, as I think do Bes and Karema, since the
one received the messages which the other sent. Well, if I did not fail
you then, shall I fail you now when Egypt is at stake? Follow these
guides I give you, and----" here he took hold of the quiver of arrows
that lay beside me on the ground, and as certainly as though he could
see it with his blind eyes, touched one of them, on the shaft of which
were two black and a white feather, "remember my words after you have
loosed this arrow from your great black bow and noted where it strikes."

Then I turned to Bes and asked,

"Where do we meet again?"

"I cannot say, Brother," he answered. "In Amada if that may be. If not,
at the Table of Osiris, or in the fields of the Grasshopper, or in the
blackness which swallows all, gods and men together."

"Does Karema come with me or bide with you?" I asked again.

"She does neither," interrupted Tanofir, "she accompanies me to Amada,
where I have need of her and she will be more safe. Oh! fear nothing,
for every hermit however poor, still carries his staff and his cup, even
if it be cracked."

Then I shook Bes by the hand and went my way, wondering if I were awake
or dreaming, and the last thi