ert was almost fainting with fear and excitement. The two servants,
who had kept near them, knit their hands together, and thus carried
her in advance of the princess. Not one of them spoke a word, not even
Rameri, who could not forget Uarda, and the look of gratitude she bid
sent after him. Once only Bent-Anat said:

"The hovel is burnt down. Where will the poor souls sleep to-night?"

When the valley was clear, the officer entered the yard, and found
there, besides Uarda and the witch Hekt, the poet, and Nebsecht, who was
engaged in tending the wounded.

Pentaur shortly narrated the affair to the captain, and named himself to
him.

The soldier offered him his hand.

"If there were many men in Rameses' army," said he, "who could strike
such a blow as you, the war with the Cheta would soon be at an end. But
you have struck down, not Asiatics, but citizens of Thebes, and, much as
I regret it, I must take you as a prisoner to Ameni."

"You only do your duty," replied Pentaur, bowing to the captain, who
ordered his men to take up the body of the paraschites, and to bear it
to the temple of Seti.

"I ought to take the girl in charge too," he added, turning to Pentaur.

"She is ill," replied the poet.

"And if she does not get some rest," added Nebsecht, "she will be dead.
Leave her alone; she is under the particular protection of the princess
Bent-Anat, who ran over her not long ago."

"I will take her into my house," said Hekt, "and will take care of her.
Her grandmother is lying there; she was half choked by the flames, but
she will soon come to herself--and I have room for both."

"Till to-morrow," replied the surgeon. "Then I will provide another
shelter for her."

The old woman laughed and muttered: "There are plenty of folks to take
care of her, it seems."

The soldiers obeyed the command of their leader, took up the wounded,
and went away with Pentaur, and the body of Pinem.

Meanwhile, Bent-Anat and her party had with much difficulty reached
the river-bank. One of the bearers was sent to find the boat which was
waiting for them, and he was enjoined to make haste, for already they
could see the approach of the procession, which escorted the God on his
return journey. If they could not succeed in finding their boat without
delay, they must wait at least an hour, for, at night, not a boat
that did not belong to the train of Amon--not even the barge of a
noble--might venture from shore till the whole pr