l on her?"

"The vile Lykon slew thy son."

"O gods give me strength!" groaned Ramses.

"Restrain thyself, lord, as becomes a victorious leader."

"Is it possible to conquer such pain? O gods without pity!"

"Lykon slew thy son; Sarah accused herself to save thee, for seeing the
murderer in the night she mistook him for thee."

"And I thrust her out of my house! And I made her a servant of the
Phoenician!"

Now appeared Egyptian warriors bearing baskets filled with hands which
had been cut from the fallen Libyans.

At sight of this Ramses hid his face and wept bitterly.

The generals surrounded the chariot at once and gave their lord
consolation. The holy Mentezufis made a proposition which was received
immediately, that thenceforth the Egyptian army would not cut off the
hands of enemies who had fallen in battle.

With this unforeseen incident ended the first triumph of the heir to
the throne of Egypt. But the tears which he shed over the severed hands
attached the Libyans to him more than the victorious battle. No one
wondered then that around the fires Libyan and Egyptian warriors sat in
concord sharing bread, and drinking wine from the same goblet. Instead
of wars which were to last for years, there was a deep feeling of peace
and confidence.

Ramses gave command that Musawasa, Tehenna, and the foremost Libyans
should go to Memphis straightway, and he gave them an escort, not so
much to watch them as to safeguard their persons and the treasures
which they were taking. The prince withdrew to a tent then, and did not
appear again until a number of hours had passed. He was like a man to
whom pain is the dearest companion. He did not receive even Tutmosis.

Toward evening a deputation of Greeks appeared under the leadership of
Kalippos. When the heir asked what their wish was Kalippos answered,

"We have come, lord, to implore that the body of our leader, thy
servant Patrokles, should not be given to Egyptian priests, but be
burned in accord with Greek usage."

The prince was astonished.

"Is it known to you," asked he, "that the priests wish to make of the
remains of Patrokles a mummy of the first order, and to put it near the
graves of the pharaohs? Can honor greater than this meet a man
anywhere?"

The Greeks hesitated; at last Kalippos took courage and answered,

"Our lord, permit us to open our hearts to thee. We know well that the
making of a mummy is of more profit to a man than to burn him,