things were ready.

During this time Prince Ramses, who was hidden in his cell, gave
himself up to prayer and fasting. At last on a certain date about three
hours after midday a number of priests, arrayed in two ranks, came and
invited him to the solemnity.

In the vestibule of the temple the high priest greeted the prince, and
with him burned incense before the great statue of Hator. Then they
turned to a low, narrow corridor, at the end of which a fire was
burning. The air of the corridor was filled with the odor of pitch
which was boiling in a kettle. Near the kettle, through an opening in
the pavement, rose dreadful groans and curses.

"What does that mean?" inquired Ramses of a priest among those
attending him.

The priest gave no answer; on the faces as far as could be seen emotion
and terror were evident. At this moment the high priest Mefres seized a
great ladle, took boiling pitch from the kettle, and said in loud
accents,

"May all perish thus who divulge temple secrets!"

Next he poured pitch into the opening in the pavement, and from below
came a roar,

"Ye are killing me. Oh, if ye have in your hearts even a trace of
compassion," groaned a voice,

"May the worms gnaw thy body," said Mentezufis, as he poured melted
pitch into the opening.

"Dogs jackals!" groaned the voice.

"May thy heart be consumed by fire and its ashes be hurled into the
desert," said the next priest, repeating the ceremony.

"O gods! is it possible to suffer as I do?" was the answer from beneath
the pavement.

"May thy soul, with the image of its shame and its crime, wander onward
through places where live happy people," said a second priest; and he
poured another ladle of burning pitch into the aperture.

"Oh, may the earth devour you! mercy! let me breathe!"

Before the turn came to Ramses the voice underground was silent.

"So do the gods punish traitors," said the high priest of the temple to
the viceroy.

The prince halted, and fixed on him eyes full of anger. It seemed to
Ramses that he would burst out with indignation, and leave that
assembly of executioners; but he felt a fear of the gods and advanced
behind others in silence.

The haughty heir understood now that there was a power before which the
pharaohs incline. He was seized by despair almost; he wished to flee,
to renounce the throne. Meanwhile he held silence and walked on,
surrounded by priests chanting prayers.

"Now I know," thought he, "where