d in the soul of the heir the old feelings were roused, contempt for
the priests and distrust of their miracles.

"So it was not the gods who told me that I should soon become pharaoh,
but the news came from Memphis, and the priests tricked me in the
chapel! But if they lie in one thing, who will assure me that those
views of the desert shown on the wall were not deceit also?"

Since the prince was silent all the time, which was attributed to his
sorrow because of his father's illness, and the generals did not dare
to say anything after the decisive words of Mentezufis, the military
council ended. A unanimous decision was made to stop the war, take the
very highest tribute from the Libyans, and send them an Egyptian
garrison.

All expected now that the pharaoh would die. But Egypt, to celebrate a
funeral worthy of its ruler, needed profound peace.

When leaving the tent of the military council the prince said to
Mentezufis,

"The valiant Patrokles died last night; do ye holy fathers think to
show his remains honor?"

"He was a barbarian and a great sinner," said the priest, "but he
rendered such famous services to Egypt that it is proper to assure life
beyond the grave to him. If Thou permit, worthiness, we will send the
body of that man this day to Memphis, so as to make a mummy of it, and
take it to an eternal dwelling in Thebes among the retreats of the
pharaohs."

The prince consented willingly, but his suspicions rose.

"Yesterday," thought he, "Mentezufis threatened me as he might a lazy
pupil, and it was even a favor of the gods that he did not beat my back
with a stick; but today he speaks to me like an obedient son to a
father, and almost falls on his breast before me. Is this a sign that
power is drawing near my tent, and also the hour of reckoning?"

Thus thinking, the prince increased in pride, and his heart was filled
with greater wrath against the priesthood. Wrath which was the worse
for being silent like a scorpion which has hidden in the sand and maims
the incautious foot with its biting sting.

CHAPTER XLVI

AT night the sentries gave notice that a throng of Libyans imploring
mercy had entered the valley. Indeed the light of their fires was
visible on the desert.

At sunrise the trumpets were sounded, and all the Egyptian forces were
drawn up under arms on the widest part of the valley. According to
command of the prince, who wished to increase the fright of the Libyans
the carriers