w many slaves we
could take, half a million a million, people of gigantic strength, and
so wild that captivity in Egypt with the hardest labor on canals or in
quarries would seem play to them. The fertility of the land would be
increased; in the course of a few years our people, now wretched, would
rest, and before the last Assyrian slave had died, the state would
regain its ancient might and well-being. And the priests are destroying
all this by the aid of a few silver tablets, and a few bricks marked
with arrow-headed signs understood by no Egyptian."

When he had heard the complaints of the prince, Tutmosis rose from the
armchair and looked carefully through the adjoining chambers to see if
some one in them were listening; then he sat down again near Ramses,
and whispered,

"Be of good heart, lord. As far as I know, the entire aristocracy, all
the nomarchs, all the higher officers have heard something of this
treaty and are indignant. Only give the sign and we will break these
brick treaties on the head of Sargon, even on the head of King Assar."

"But that would be rebellion against his holiness," replied the prince,
also in a whisper. Tutmosis put on a sad face.

"I should not like," said he, "to make thy heart bleed, but thy father,
who is equal to the highest god, has a grievous illness."

"That is not true!" said the prince, springing up. "It is true; but let
not people see that Thou knowest this. His holiness is greatly wearied
by his stay on earth, and desires to leave it. But the priests hold him
back, and do not summon thee to Memphis, so that the treaty with
Assyria may be signed without opposition."

"But they are traitors, traitors!" whispered the enraged prince.

"Therefore Thou wilt have no difficulty in breaking the treaty when
Thou shalt inherit power after thy father, may lie live through
eternity!"

Ramses thought awhile.

"It is easier," said he, "to sign a treaty than to break it." "It is
easy also to break a treaty," laughed Tutmosis. "Are there not in Asia
unorganized races which attack our boundaries? Does not the godlike
Nitager stand on guard with his army to repulse them and carry war into
their countries? Dost Thou suppose that Egypt will not find armed men
and treasures for the war? We will go, all of us, for each man can gain
something, and in some way make his life independent. Treasures are
lying in the temples but the labyrinth."

"Who will take them from the labyrinth?" as