im
off in disgust.

Lykon fell quivering in the convulsions of death.

The pharaoh moved back a couple of steps. He examined his body and
discovered the handle of a dagger.

"He has wounded me!"

He drew the slender steel from his side and pressed the wound.

"I wonder," thought he, "if any of my counselors has a plaster?" He
felt weak and hurried forward. Right at the palace one of the officers
stood before him and said, "Tutmosis is dead; the traitor Eunana slew
him."

"Eunana?" repeated the pharaoh. "But what of the others?"

"All, all the volunteers who went with Tutmosis were sold to the
priests."

"Well, I must finish this!" said Ramses. "Sound the trumpets for the
Asiatic regiments."

The trumpets sounded, and the Asiatics hurried from the barracks,
leading their horses.

"Give me my steed!" said the pharaoh. But he felt a sudden dizziness
and added, "No, give me a litter, I should tire myself."

All at once he tottered into the arms of the officers.

"Oh, I almost forgot," said Ramses in a dying voice. "Bring my helmet
and sword that steel sword from the Soda. Let us go to Memphis."

Officials and servants ran out of the villa with torches. The pharaoh
was supported by officers, his face was pale and his eyes were mist-
covered. He stretched forth his hand as if seeking his breastplate, his
lips moved, and amid general silence the lord of two worlds, the
temporal and the western, breathed his life out.

The dove-eyed goddess Astaroth had avenged the wrong done her
priestess.

CHAPTER LXVII

From the death of Ramses XIII till the day of his burial the state was
governed by the most worthy San-Amen-Herhor as high priest of the
Theban Amon, and viceroy of the late pharaoh.

The government of the viceroy, lasting some months, was very prosperous
for Egypt. Herhor pacified the outbreaks of the people, and, in
accordance with former times, he gave the seventh day for rest to the
working man. He introduced stern discipline among the priests; he
extended protection to foreigners, especially Phoenicians, and
concluded a treaty with Assyria, not yielding Phoenicia, however, which
remained tributary to Egypt.

In the course of this short government, justice was meted out quickly,
but without cruelty, and this or that man did not dare to beat an
Egyptian laborer, who had the right to appeal to a court if he had time
sufficient and witnesses.

Herhor occupied himself too in paying the debts whi