barely a few hundred paces, but he was forced to halt a
couple of times to rest and recover. He looked backward frequently to
be sure that the naked slaves carrying gifts to the prince were not
stealing gold chains, or what was worse, stealing jewels. For Musawasa
knowing life, knew that man is glad to make use of his neighbor's
misfortune.

"I thank the gods," said the cunning barbarian, comforting himself in
mishap, "that the lot has come to me of humbling myself to a prince who
may put on the pharaoh's cap any moment. The rulers of Egypt are
magnanimous, especially in time of triumph. If I succeed then in moving
my lord he will strengthen my position in Libya, and permit me to
collect a multitude of taxes. It is a real miracle that the heir to the
throne himself seized Tehenna; and not only will he not do him wrong,
but he will cover him with dignities." Thus he thought and looked
behind continually, for a slave, though naked, may conceal a stolen
jewel in his mouth, and even swallow it.

At thirty steps from the chariot of the heir Musawasa and those who
were with him, the foremost of the Libyans, fell upon their faces and
lay on the sand till command to rise was given them through the
prince's adjutant. When they had approached a few steps they fell
again; later they fell a third time, and rose only at command of
Ramses.

During this interval Pentuer, standing at the prince's chariot,
whispered to his lord,

"Let thy countenance show neither harshness nor delight. Be calm, like
the god Amon, who despises his enemies and delights in no common
triumphs."

At last the penitent Libyans stood before the face of the prince, who
looked at them as a fierce hippopotamus at ducklings which have no
place to hide before his mightiness.

"Art Thou he?" asked Ramses, suddenly. "Art Thou that Musawasa, the
wise Libyan leader?"

"I am thy servant," answered Musawasa, and he threw himself on the
ground again.

When they ordered him to rise, the prince said,

"How couldst Thou commit such a grievous sin, and raise thy hand
against the kingdom of the gods? Has thy former wisdom deserted thee?"

"Lord," answered the wily Libyan, "sorrow disturbed the reason of the
disbanded warriors of his holiness, so they ran to their own
destruction, drawing me and mine after them. And the gods alone know
how long this dreadful war might have lasted if at the head of the army
of the ever living pharaoh, Amon himself had not appeared