the Ivory Child went away
somehow, for we found it again in Kendah Land only a few years ago."

"Perhaps we retired to Ethiopia," I suggested, "and the worship of the
Child continued in some part of that country after the Ethiopian kingdom
passed away."

"Perhaps, only I don't think Karema would ever have gone back to
Ethiopia unless she was obliged. You remember how she hated the place.
No, not even to see those black children of hers. Well, as we can never
tell, it is no use speculating."

"I thought there _was_ more _Taduki_," I remarked sadly. "I am sure I
saw some in the coffer."

"Not one bit," she answered still more firmly than before, and,
stretching out her hand, she shut down the lid of the coffer before I
could look into it. "It may be best so, for as it stands the story had
a happy ending and I don't want to learn, oh! I don't want to learn how
the curse of Isis fell on you and me."

"So you believe in that?"

"Yes, I do," she answered with passion, "and what is more, I believe
it is working still, which perhaps is why we have all come down in the
world, you and I and George and Hans, yes, and even old Harut whom we
knew in Kendah Land, who, I think, was the holy Tanofir. For as surely
as I live I _know_ beyond possibility of doubt that whatever we may
be called to-day, you were the General Shabaka and I was the priestess
Amada, Royal Lady of Egypt, and between us and about us the curse of
Isis wavers like a sword. That is why George was killed and that is
why--but I feel very tired, I think I had better go to bed."

As I recall that I have explained, I was obliged to leave Ragnall Castle
early the next morning to keep a shooting engagement. O heavens! to keep
a shooting engagement!

But whatever Amada, I mean Lady Ragnall, said, there _was_ plenty more
_Taduki_, as I have good reason to know.

Allan Quatermain.

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