Torches, or long cords soaked in an inflammable substance they had; but
there was no fire, for their wooden fire-drills were rain soaked.

"We must wait till morning," said Ramses, impatiently.

Pentuer made no answer. He took a small instrument from his bag, took a
torch from one of the soldiers, and went to one side. After a while
there was a low hissing, and the torch was lighted.

"He is a great magician, that priest," muttered the old Libyan.

"Before my eyes Thou hast performed a second miracle," said the prince.
"Canst Thou explain to me how that was done?"

The priest shook his head.

"Ask of me anything, lord, and I will answer. But ask not to explain
temple secrets."

"Not even if I were to name thee my counselor?"

"Not even then. Never shall I be a traitor, and even if I desired to be
one I should be terrified by punishment."

"Punishment?" repeated Ramses. "Aha! I remember in the temple of Hator,
that man hidden under the pavement, on whom the priests were pouring
burning pitch. Did they do that, indeed, and did that man die really in
tortures?"

Pentuer was silent, as if not hearing the question, and drew out slowly
from his wonderful bag a small statue of a divinity with crossed arms.
The statue depended from a string; the priest let it hang, and
whispered a prayer, while he watched it. The statue, after some
turnings and quiverings, hung without motion.

Ramses, by the light of the torch, looked at these acts with
astonishment.

"What art Thou doing?" asked he.

"I can only say this much to thee, worthiness," replied Pentuer, "that
this divinity points with one hand at the star Eshmun. This hand leads
Phoenician ships through the sea during night hours."

"Then the Phoenicians, too, have this god?"

"They do not even know of him. The god which points one hand always to
the star Eshmun, [Polar Star] is known only to us and the priests of
Chaldea. By the aid of this god every prophet night and day, in bad and
good weather, can find his way on the sea or in the desert."

At command of the prince, who went with a lighted torch at the side of
Pentuer, the retinue and the prisoners followed the priest,
northeastward. The god depending from a string trembled, but indicated
with outstretched hand, the sacred star, Eshmun, the guardian of
travelers.

They went on foot at a good pace, leading the horses. The cold was so
sharp, that even Asiatics blew on their hands, and the Libyans
trembled.