r on the ear, or the sharp cry of the sparrow-hawk shoot
like a flash of lightning through the nerves of the worshippers, than
each crouching form bent lower still, and touched the pavement with his
forehead. On a portion of this pavement, raised above the rest, stood
the priests, some wearing ostrich-feathers on their bald and shining
heads; others panther-skins over their white-robed shoulders. Muttering
and singing, bowing low and rising again, they swung the censers and
poured libations of pure water to the gods out of golden vessels. In
this immense temple man seemed a dwarf in his own eyes. All his senses
even to the organs of respiration, were occupied by objects far removed
from daily life, objects that thrilled and almost oppressed him.
Snatched from all that was familiar in his daily existence, he seemed
to grow dizzy and seek support beyond himself. To this the voice of the
priests directed him and the cries of the sacred animals were believed
to prove a divinity at hand.

Psamtik assumed the posture of a worshipper on the low, gilded and
cushioned couch set apart for him, but was unable to pay any real
devotion, and passed on to the adjoining apartment before mentioned,
where the sacred cows of Isis-Neith and the sparrow-hawk of Horus were
kept. These creatures were concealed from the gaze of the worshippers
by a curtain of rich fabric embroidered with gold; the people were only
allowed an occasional and distant glimpse of the adorable animals. When
Psamtik passed they were just being fed; cakes soaked in milk, salt
and clover-blossoms were placed in golden cribs for the cows, and small
birds of many-colored plumage in the beautifully-wrought and ornamented
cage of the sparrow-hawk. But, in his present mood, the heir to the
throne of Egypt had no eye for these rare sights; but ascended at
once, by means of a hidden staircase, to the chambers lying near the
observatory, where the high-priest was accustomed to repose after the
temple-service.

Neithotep, a man of seventy years, was seated in a splendid apartment.
Rich Babylonian carpets covered the floor and his chair was of gold,
cushioned with purple. A tastefully-carved footstool supported his feet,
his hands held a roll covered with hieroglyphics, and a boy stood behind
him with a fan of ostrich-feathers to keep away the insects.

The face of the old man was deeply lined now, but it might once have
been handsome, and in the large blue eyes there still la