peaks truth."

The minister of war bowed.

Now the judge announced to all present to the priests, the officials,
and the guards that they might go to the palace courtyard; and he
himself, bowing to the throne, was the first to go thither. In the hall
remained only the pharaoh, Herhor, and the two leaders.

"Incline thy ears, O sovereign, and listen to complaints," began
Nitager. "This morning the official priest, who came at thy command to
anoint my hair, told me that in going to thee I was to leave my sandals
in the entrance hall. Meanwhile it is known, not only in Upper and
Lower Egypt, but in the Hittite country, Libya, Phoenicia, and the land
of Punt, that twenty years ago Thou didst give me the right to stand
before thee in sandals."

"Thou speakest truth," said the pharaoh. "Various disorders have crept
into the court ceremonial."

"Only give command, O king, and my veterans will produce order
immediately," added Nitager.

At a sign given by the minister of war, a number of officials ran in:
one brought sandals and put them on Nitager's feet; others put down
costly stools for the minister and leaders.

When the three dignitaries were seated, Ramses XII said,

"Tell me, Nitager, dost Thou think that my son will be a leader? But
tell pure truth."

"By Amon of Thebes, by the glory of my ancestors in whom was blood
royal, I swear that thy heir, Prince Ramses, will be a great leader, if
the gods permit," replied Nitager. "He is a young man, a lad yet; still
he concentrated his regiments, eased their march, and provided for
them. He pleased me most of all by this, that he did not lose his head
when I cut off the road before him, but led his men to the attack. He
will be a leader, and will conquer the Assyrians, whom we must vanquish
today if they are not to be seen on the Nile by our grandchildren."

"What dost Thou say to that?" inquired the pharaoh of Herhor.

"As to the Assyrians, I think that the worthy Nitager is concerned
about them too early. We must strengthen ourselves well before we begin
a new war. As to the heir, Nitager says justly that the young man has
the qualities of a leader: he is as keen as a fox, and has the energy
of a lion. Still he made many blunders yesterday.

"Who among us has not made them?" put in Patrokles, silent thus far.

"The heir," continued the minister, "led the main corps wisely, but he
neglected his staff; through this neglect we marched so slowly and in
such disord