Preface (cont. 3)

For these reasons, then, I set my cabinet of essences and quintessences in a darkish recess, hiding it, in case I should need it again: but it remains there to this day. But I retraced my steps toward the causeway, recrossing the dark river; and, coming there, I broke my truck and lanthorn into pieces, and committed them to the swiftly-flowing stream. But I went on toward the light of the outer world, having the crystal orb (silver-banded with adornments of rose-crystals and blue moonstones) hanging by its chain from my neck, and the silver divination-cup in my left hand, and in my right the magic staff with its silver chain twisted round my wrist. Thus, I passed majestically through the antechambers; and a fold of my robe inshrouded my head, lest my silver hair and beard should bewray me to the shaveling priests guarding every portal. But they, seeing me emerging from the holy place with a holy and even mind and wearing priestly habiliments, were unperturbed; and, beside, the sight of the very beautiful instruments in my hands, and the _Word of Silence_ in the ancient tongue of Khem which I gave them in my passage, prevented any doubts of me from afflicting their ingenious minds. But also, of course, I was receiving favour from the gods.

So, at last, I stepped up through the secret trap-door on to the sandy plain under the full blaze of radiant Ra. And I at once perceived a difference. For the plain, with its low pillar on the spit of pebbles, was the same, but infinitely smaller; and, below me, where I had left desolate ruins, was a city heaped with mighty fanes and splendid palaces. I, Nicholas Crabbe, liegeman of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, gazed with my live well-seeing eyes, not a puny Luxor, but on Thebes of the Hundred Gates, Menes’ Thebes, Thotmes’ Thebes, the capital of the Upper Land, the great metropolis of the south, in glory inconceivable, and yet not yet in its greatest glory.

For a time, I stood, musing at the wonder to which my wiles had brought me, and contriving many plans. For, it appeared to me, that (though I had done very well as a priest of Isis in extricating myself from the temple) the mind in my lordly breast was yearning for a wider more-strenuous life, in which my wisdom and my power (but now considerable) might be used and (if possible) augmented. And, for this reason, it seemed well to seek yet another guise before entering the city.

But a certain remembrance set me searching the rock-strewn plain; and, by chance, about an hour before sunset, by favour of some god, I came to the cavity under certain boulders, where I had seen fit to hide a small teak-wood chest lined with aluminium, when I came to that place with my familiar Amenemhat. Now I am ignorant of the reason why I found it there, for the time when I hid it there is even now very far in the future. But, as I had found my baggage in the secret hall, with the food (which I brought from the era of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans) still sweet and fresh more than nineteen centuries before its actual confection, I was not then, and I am not now, disposed to vibrate the air with explanations of what no one can understand. It is enough that I found my teak-wood chest in the place where some day I shall no doubt hide it, and that its contents provided me with easy and beautiful garments wherewith I promptly indued myself, namely, a pair of brown leather boots, with a flannel jacket and trousers, and a silk shirt and socks, all of a very pale grey colour, and a soft felt hat of the same hue but of the shape affected by Hermes.[19] But when I had clothed myself in these well-cut garments, I buckled my revolver-belt outside them, and hanged a leathern satchel, containing my crystal orb and my divination-cup, over my wide shoulders. But I kept the magic staff in my right hand to twirl and flourish by the way; and, so, I set out for the city.

A well-carved open chariot passed by; and the slave, driving, gazed curiously on my strange form. Around me, on both sides of the wide white road, brick-red tillers of the soil toiled with bent backs amid the emerald crops. Another chariot passed me; and halted a little further on for the naked charioteer to gaze upon me with jaw-dropped amazement. At the gate of the city, I saw fierce Makedonians on guard, clothed (as was the fashion of their race) with copper armour blazing like red gold, and kirtles of the well-cured skins of ponies, and great crested helmets on their heads, and long spears of tough ashwood in their hands, very brave to look upon. And, as I came near, one (the most righteous of men) said to his fellows: “I say, here is well-hatted Hermes!”

“Aye:” responded another: “and the godly youth goeth attired for this hot land in grey cloud-garments, shielding his tender skin from Helios his rays.”

“Ho, stranger!” cried a third. “Stand thou, and say whether thou art god or man, and what contraband thou bearest in thy bag, and whether thou art friendly to the Pharoah.”

Now while the usual dirty little boys and loafers and inquisitive women were assembling, I realized that I had to do with Argyraspides, seeing that the shields of the soldiers were laminated with silver; and, moreover, I perceived that they were offering me the _Sign of the Shield-rim_.[20] But I used wiles, answering: “First tell ye me who the Pharoah is, and why ye Argives serve the lord of Khem.”

Thus I spoke: but deep-seated indignation swept from their hearts across their faces, even as Sihor’s stream inundates the thirsty land in flood-time. And anon one chirruped: “O thou silly fellow! The divine Ayletes is the Pharoah whom we serve.”

“Ayletes?” I cried. “Is, then, Ptolemaios Dionysos the Piper lord of sacred Khem? And are ye Makedonians minions of the Lagidai?”

“Aye, stranger:” the blameless guard responded: “Makedonians we are, but no slaves of that Flute-player. Of our own will we serve Ptolemaios, for pay and for promotion. But, who art thou?” he continued. “Who art thou, who seemest first to know nothing and then to know everything? And why art thou thus garbed? And what bearest thou there?”

Then, indeed, I was wily: for I made them the _Countersign of the Shieldnavel_;[21] and I said, in a parable which he who has a grain of sense may read: “I am Karkinos Gampsonyx called Oypogonos, son of Kallikhronos, born of Nomadikos, begotten by Eypator son of Eygenes who sprang from the great race of the Selenidai. And I go thus garbed because I have a lordly mind to go thus garbed. And, in my hand, I bear that which is Life. And, on my thigh, I bear that which is death.”

Thus I spoke. But the sentinels cowered before me, muttering among themselves: “He knoweth the great _Countersign_: Yet he is not of us, neither of present-born men, victims not masters of life and of death: but he is some god or hero out of the Netherworld.” But to me they said: “Pass freely, O Karkinos Oypogonos of the multitudinous paternity, who art lord of life and death. And the Piper may stop thee if he will: but we will have nothing to do with it.”

But I went smoothly into the city. And men cast wondering looks at me, because of my strange aspect; but, because I had been able to cause the insolent soldiers of the corrupt Lagidai to shrink from me, I was sufficiently admired. Now the sun was near his setting; and the mind in my breast earnestly desired to seek a small place of my own, near water, where I might rest awhile, watching for an opportunity of mingling advantageously with mortal men. For, indeed, I have ever had a natural longing to be near water, and useful to men. Wherefore, having found my way to the river, I addressed myself to an Argive colonist, and he was a master of barges, who (by chance) was seeing his barks laid up for the night. And from him I demanded the hire of a convenient barge, intending to sail downstream to the Delta, that (during the voyage) I might tranquilly estimate the wisdom which I had, and perhaps acquire more, and also take part in such adventures as the gods might assign to my treatment.

But the bargeman answered me, saying: “No barges, O lord, can pass down Sihor to the Delta, now. For the wild mercenaries of the Pharoah have mutinied at Anteiopolis for an increase of wages.”

“I know,” I said, “that there are masterless hounds everywhere.”

“But these, lord, are not masterless: for they serve Pyrrhos, one of themselves, a ruddy-locked barbarian, who has made Thebes (the sacred city of the ram-headed god) a byword through the Upper Land and the Lower, requiring of us (as tribute) whole meals of the milk of mice as well as a ransom of much gold.”

“But the guards of the Lagidai--” I began.

He interrupted me: “Lord, they league with Pyrrhos; and a share of his spoils keeps them in their quarters while he bites our necks.”

“But, why do not ye, Thebans, resist this freebooter?”

“There is no strength left to us, lord, since the dread Pharoah Ptolemaios Lathyros sacked Thebes: whom may Set snatch, and his heart be eaten alive by slow-worms, hornets, and interminably-tongued chameleons----”

“Peace, fellow!” I snarled. “Nor soil thine Argive mouth with barbaric imprecations. And know that I will sail for the Delta, though a myriad of outlaws be between here and there.”

“Then, lord, thou wilt go alone: for no boatman will risk his life.”

“Not for gold?” I inquired, shewing a handful of coins.

Then, indeed, the man wavered, curiously examining the money. But he said: “Oh, where were these well-minted pieces struck? For they are over-round and too well-stamped to come from a barbaric mint. And, O lord, who art thou?”

But, being aware that he was as much in my power as though the knuckles of my first and second blooming fingers clutched the tender nose of him, and being desirous at length to make an end of bargaining, I answered him, saying: “Whom I am, thou shalt know on a fitting occasion: but, that I am to be obeyed, thou shalt know now. Let therefore thine eyes gaze in this direction.”

With which words, I stretched out my magic staff to the life-giving river, whispering a certain _Spell of Summons_. And the sons of slime surged up with great swirlings, the many-fanged far-sweeping crocodiles, while I slowly swayed my staff in rhythm with the inchantment which sang within me. But they came in cohorts from far and near, with huge eddyings of the dark-brown water; and they lay winking in close lines by the jetty, expecting orders from me their summoner.

But the heart of the bargeman became like dripping in a hot pan; and he said: “Lord, I perceive that thou art the Divine Hermes at least, with that wonderful wand: for none but thou, and only thou on a very important message from All-father Zeys, could do this thing.”

To whom I gave a stern word, saying: “Be ware of opposing the counsels of Zeys, or of hindering Hermes. For the minions of Pyrrhos have no more power over me than had the Makedonians of the Lagidai. But, even as I command these sons of slime, so am I superior to all earth-stamping men.”

“Dreadful lord,” he answered at once, “take the best of my barges: for Nesamun my brother-in-law, who has more skill in boatmanship than I, shall indeed go with thee this minute in his own barge.”

Having succeeded in my wile, I dismissed the Argive to see to the business. But I waited, watching the crocodiles having their teeth cleaned and blinking luxuriously, till I was tired of their musky exhalations. And, having given them leave, they returned to their stations in the slime. And anon, seeing that the barge was being prepared very speedily, I bade the bargeman that his brother-in-law should visit me; and to him I gave order that he should take a stock of provisions, buying also a slave-boy of lusty form and a mind incapable of fear, with other things which were necessary. Furthermore, I said that all was to be ready for sailing at dawn. And, having offered two quarter-ounces of gold of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans to the bargeman for his charges, he foolishly refused the same, abasing himself to the earth as before a god. But I, having ascended the gangway, entered my cabin, where I ate a melon and some cheeses and pigeons; and betook myself to slumber.

These things I did in Thebes of the Hundred Gates.

FOOTNOTES:

[14] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[15] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[16] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[17] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[18] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[19] All these words are written in English. A. H.

[20] The original has “ΑΝΤΥΞ.” A. H.

[21] The original has “ΟΜΦΑΛΟϹ.” It is extremely humiliating to confess that I have not been able, so far, to trace this _Sign_ and _Countersign_ to any existing Rite. I am deeply pained and mortified. A. H.

THE SIXTH PAPYRUS

When Day with her white steeds was come (most beautiful to behold), and the dawn was yet cool, then indeed I examined my barge with its contents and its mariners. And I saw that Nesamun was a nimble and mightily powerful youth, and that Yokkho the slave was slim and very eager, both stripped for work, and of a brick-red colour, with long black and white eyes, and closely shaven polls which they covered with a napkin as is the custom among the Egyptians. But they carried girdles in their bundles. And I saw that the barge was long and flattish, having two bulwarks. But there was a chief cabin in the waist; and the roof of it was like a deck: but the low waist was open. And, at the prow, there was a smaller cabin, with a deck above it, whereon a slave might stand to shove the barge off shoals and sandbanks with the well-handled pole. And there was a third cabin at the stern; and the steersman stood on the roof of it wielding the cunning steering-oar. But, in the waist, was a lofty mast, with a triangular sail of woven reeds and the cordage relative thereto. And, having seen all these things, I inspected the baskets of provisions; and these were very grateful to the mind. For there was fresh bread, and much wheat (the marrow of men), and many cheeses, and fruits both fresh and dried, with jars of wine from Kos and Korinth, and vinegar, and condiments, and nuts. But, when I had given an order, all these things were stored in the fore-cabin. And I bade the boatman and his boy to take the aft-cabin for themselves, so that their smells might not come to me, as I slept in the chief cabin, or took the air in the waist, or on the main deck during the voyage. Not that they were in any wise disagreeable, being both healthy and naked and constantly washed: but so I willed it, for (at that time) my stomach heaved at the odour of all mortals. And, these matters having been settled, Yokkho pulled the gangway into the barge, while Nesamun pushed out on to the placid bosom of Hapi-hallowed Sihor. But, when they had hoisted the sail, a favourable breeze assisted the slow stream to waft us toward the distant Delta.

In this manner, I departed from hundred-gated Thebes.

But I began to ponder the past: for this always has been, and always is, and always will be, my singular habit, recounting in my dear mind every particular of the things which I had done, or which had been done to me, weighing their worth and import and possibilities, rejecting some to fall into oblivion, but storing others in my memory until such time when they might be used for my advantage. And, of all the things which I had done during the last two days, there were two things which I regretted. The first was that I had left my magic cabinet with the papyrus-enkheiridion at Thebes; and the second was that I had left my priestly robe and sandals in the cavity under the boulders on the plain. But, nevertheless, the mind in my noble breast bade me be of good cheer, relinquishing all matters, even greater than these, without a backward thought; and going forward boldheartedly in search of fresh adventures, and the more boldly as the more barehandedly, seeing that greater wisdom is to be gained by the simple, and more blooming laurels are to be won by the absolutely naked, than by the trained philosopher, or by the heavyarmed. Furthermore, the divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces put into my mind an unmentioned and unthought-of action. For I remembered the prediction of Amenemhat, how he said that within the month I should meet him again. For, since those words, Time had rolled back for me, so that it seemed that I was now actually living in the former lifetime of Amenemhat. And, also, it seemed that (if these things were so) the friendly priest would be performing his functions at Tanis in the Delta: to which place I, undoubtedly by the direction of the gods, was at that moment proceeding. Wherefore, taking courage from the thought that, though I had not all which I might have had, still, I had a great deal, to wit, the prospect of meeting a friend, the divination-cup, the crystal orb, and the magic staff, beside my arms and my money all safely stored in my cabin, to say nothing of the inestimable wisdom which I had so far attained, then, indeed, I became cheerful of heart; and set myself to take my pleasure from what was round about me.

For, as I walked about my deck, I saw the stalwart Nesamun poised like some grand archaic carving in carnelian jasper, at one moment lithe, and at another moment rigid, intent upon his business at the steering-oar. And, at his feet, across the narrow aft-deck, Yokkho was stretched at length, busy with fishing-lines which trailed behind in golden Sihor. All around, were the rolling waters, bordered with leaves like living emeralds; and, above, the great splendour of Ra flamed in the turquoise-coloured dome of the heavens. Nothing broke the stillness, excepting ripples lapping about the well-carved prow, or when the slave laughed contentedly, drawing a silver fish from the stream from time to time and tossing it to flap in a heap below Nesamun’s feet.

But when fishes enough for a meal for my crew had been caught, for fish is a food which my gorge rejects without even trying it, then I called Yokkho to me, demanding that he should soothe me with singing. And, having fetched a certain well-sounding harp from his baggage, he began to tighten the strings. But I saw that the harp was an old one, very dilapidated, and the gilding and the paint were both worn off, leaving bare wood to be seen. And also I knew it for the harp of a priest of Khem, though one of the glass eyes of the face on the base had fallen out, and the face itself was so broken and discoloured that it was not to be decyphered either as of a god or of a man. And the slave-boy said that, having been rescued from a sunken temple-barge at Philai where he dived for it, the harp had been damaged by water. For which cause, he fitted it with new strings, the frame being still whole. And when at length he had tuned it, crouching on his hams and pressing it to his tender shoulder, then he opened his throat and began to sing. But his song was in a rude metre, with a pæan of praise at the end of every tenth strophe; and he would have continued singing even unto this day: for his song was as interminable as that endless song of future Galatia which will be called _Jean François de Nantes_.[22] But long before weariness prevented his hand from twanging the strings, I myself called for silence, demanding the name of his ditty. And he said that it was one of the folk-songs of the watermen of the Thebaid. This, then, was the song which Yokkho sang:

_Slowly return we deeply deploring great Hapi’s anger: we have enanger’d Sihor’s protector: we must propitiate, or we shall starve: He is offended: our nets go empty: Let us lament it._

_Great is Hapi: worship Hapi: mighty Hapi, grant us favour._

_Now let the Ueb pour out the red wine: now let the Kherkeb offer our prayer, that our petitions, eager and earnest, with a sweet savour upward may fly, mounting to Hapi dwelling in Duät._

_Great is Hapi: worship Hapi: mighty Hapi, grant us favour._

_Then will the dread lord, dread lord of Sihor, smell the sweet odour and hear our prayer: leaping from Eäru amid the grain-fields, and earthward flying, the sacred Sahus will speed his flight to our rejoicing._

_Great is Hapi: worship Hapi: mighty Hapi, grant us favour._

_Then he will fill full, even fuller, each fisher’s net, till inward trawling we seize the prey; and load our boats with Sobk his food. All will be purchased. But we remember, in our good fortune, Hapi the Giver._

_Great is Hapi: worship Hapi: mighty Hapi, grant us favour._

_We have offended; and, on a sandbank, we are held prisoners; and the storm rages tearing our sail: winds blind us with spray, while the sons of the slime creep o’er our quarter, each seizing victims shrieking in vain._

_Great is Hapi: worship Hapi: mighty Hapi, grant us favour...._

But when I had made an end of his singing, I gave him a small coin of no value to me, which seemed to him wealth incalculable, he being such a simple little fellow. And, having praised his pretty voice, a most innocent one and not by any means shrill, I turned to Nesamun demanding a meal. For, the sun being on his zenith, it was my pleasure to eat before sleeping. And, having brought me cheeses and gherkins and cakes of bread and fresh fruit and a jar of wine where I sat in the shade of my cabin, the mariners went ashore and filled their own bellies with the fish which they broiled in papyrus on a fire. But, when they had bathed and returned to the barge, we again set sail, Nesamun guiding the steering-oar, and Yokkho fanning me with a palm-leaf where I slept in the cool cabin.

But, while I slept, it seemed to me that I was wandering near the Treasury of Dreams which overlooks the meadows of Eäru in Duät of the gods. And the monotonous song of the slave still hummed in my ears. And anon, as my manner is in dreams, I found that I was all stark, without a single stitch of clothing on me, having naught but my wings and tail fixed to my arms and shoulders and legs at the back, wherewith I swam in the air[23] like a beautiful expert seagull, easily and enormously swooping. And I was flying finely balanced over my former (or future) home in the kingdom of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans. Which place I have well in memory, having known it, in the life from which I had come, and to which I infallibly shall return terribly and invincibly armed with the wisdom of ages. But I remembered the limpid river, and the little island with its precipitous cliffs save at one end which sloped gently to the water’s edge and the wide-stepped quay. And I recognized the distant river-banks, clothed with oak-forests and steep pine-woods, purifying the air. And I looked southward to see the rivermouth far away, kissing the lips of the innumerably smiling sea. But I knew, also, the small old perfect fortress of grey stone, which stood on the summit of that isle, where were velvet lawns bestarred with daisies, and gardens of quaint herbs and sweet old flowers, and the cedar-tree, and the ghent-azaleas, and the pergola furred with honeysuckle and white roses and passion-flowers and dripping with amethystine wistaria and asterial jasmine. And I saw the library of ancient books for solacing my mind in wintertime when pinecones burn upon the hearth. And I saw my three well-tailed kittens, the white and the yellow and the grey, frisking round my tame white peacocks trailing pearl-like prides indignantly across the pleasaunces and neatly cobbled paths which lead down to the boat-house. There also, I saw my electric gondogla, and my flat-bottomed huge-ruddered sailing bragozzetto. And, too, I saw my sailors, John Marcus and Ermenegildo Falier by name, the last telling horrible Venetian tales to my three servants, Bob and Bill and Roddy, having finished their day’s work in my house and gardens. But I swam in the air round and about the place, so near to the flag of Saint George and the ensign of the Cinque Ports which flew from my battlements that I could have touched the bunting with my hand; and yet I was unseen by any mortal eye. Wherefore I flew back to the Treasury of Dreams.[24]

And I saw the Master of Dreams summoning a certain blameless Dream, to whom he said: “Go thou to such and such a priest of Isis, who sleeps in a barge, near Koptos, on River Nile; and try whether he will receive thee.” And the Dream, having wrapped a cloak of pink and tinsel falsehood about him, leaped out through an ivory gate; and dived down toward me, asleep, in the cabin of my barge. But, because he could not find a foothold there (though he fought like a dog for it), he slank back to the Dream-Master, to whom he sulkily snarled: “Lord, there is that on that barge which prevents me.” Whereat, the Dream-Master (having smiled and having dismissed him to his place) summoned another Dream, to whom he gave a similar charge. And the second Dream donned a cloak which seemed to be woven of dewdrops and the eyes of kittens or babies; and he leaped out of another gate, and pounced like a robin on my brow. And, with him, there entered to me Belmarduk the god of Assyria, very brave with fringed vestments and well-curled love-locks, attended by winged bulls and sphynxes and cherubs; and the heroes Gilgamish and Eabani came flatly smirking sideways in his train. But Belmarduk addressed me, saying: “By favour of the gods of Khem, I come to thee in a land which is not mine; and my message is that thou shalt be a king in Armenia, that is to say in Moxoene which is called Magurturgadash in Naïri.” And, when he had said this, the traveller-god departed as he came. But, in my dream, I wondered very greatly, being overwhelmed with wave after wave of astonishment: even as a stranded ship is washed by waves pushed by azure-haired earth-shaking Nun, the lord of the ocean. For I was ignorant of the cause why any gods should visit me, specially a strange god, or why Assyrian gods should visit an Egyptian priest. And other doubts also assailed me. Wherefore, in my dream, I mentioned my perplexity to our holy Mother Isis, the wise goddess, whose priest I was, asking for news of these matters; and she instantly answered me by the mouth of Tefeu her messenger, saying: “_The god of Assyria came to thee: because the word hath gone forth in the hall of fate from the abode of The Supreme, the Dweller in the Innermost, Whose decrees nor god nor hero nor mortal can evade._” And the scorpion-headed god shewed the _Sign of Life_ in token that the Lady of the Marsh indeed had sent him. But, having done this, he fled on uplifting wings to Duät of the gods which is above Amentet. Whereat I awakened from my sleep.

Such was the dream which I dreamed in my barge on sacred Sihor.

FOOTNOTES:

[22] The title of this ballad is written in the French tongue in what I take to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. “Galatia” is rather interesting, perhaps. A. H.

[23] Of course I suppose that it is fairly well known, now, that Mr. C. was the first living man of our era actually to fly of himself like a bird or an angel, and not like a libellulan insect in an Antoinette. The story of his (shall we say--are we quite justified in saying) accidental discovery of the slight physical development which enables this, need not be iterated here, I fancy. A. H.

[24] There is quite a considerable number of words in this really singularly and exquisitely lovely pen-picture of the home of a hungry heart, of a lonely soul, which are written in English in what I unhesitatingly pronounce to be Mr. Crabbe’s own hand. It is quite unnecessary for me to indicate them. A. H.

THE SEVENTH PAPYRUS

But now the sun was near his setting, swathing the vast dome of heaven with arras of green and lilac and rose and burning gold. And, on the floor by my couch, the slave had fallen asleep, with the fan still in his hand, and his gleaming limbs stretched out, smooth, brick-red, decently folded. But, the air being cooler, I did not disturb him, but remained lying on the couch, pondering my dream. And, the more I pondered, the less I knew of the manner in which I might assist the fulfilment of the Supreme Decree. But, above all things, I was anxious to avoid the vulgar error of confusing particulars with universals, so as not to lose the fruit of any revelations which the gods had intended.

And, while I was thus meditating, suddenly I remembered a certain magic, by which one may learn a very great deal of the future; and it seemed to me that, in this way, I might test the prediction of my dream. But, indeed, it was the well-made body of my slave, straight, quickening, and apparently spotless, meeting my eyes while I thought on these matters, which recalled this magic from my memory: for it may only be done with just such an innocent one. Wherefore, being awakened, Yokkho opened his fearless black eyes and listened: whom I commanded to slip into the river, and to return to me fresh and clean. This he did. But I inspected him with the most careful minuteness from head to foot; and, having found neither speck nor blemish anywhere upon him, and his teeth sound and perfect, then I knew that he was worthy of my purpose.

But, having seated him on the edge of the cabin roof, with his legs hanging down, for there the light was strongest, I placed his right hand on his knee, the palm being upward: whereon, with my Waterman’s Ideal Fountain Pen,[25] I drew two squares, a lesser inside a greater; and, in each corner of the outer square, I wrote the arabic numbers, Four Two Eight Six, with a Three between the Four and the Eight, and a One between the Eight and the Six, and a Seven between the Six and the Two, and a Nine between the Two and the Four; and, in the top of the inner square, I wrote the arabic number Five: but, under it, I put a fair large drop of pure dichroic ink, purple-black, having unscrewed the top of my pen. And, when all this had been well-done, I bade Yokkho to bend the ridge of his supple back, looking attentively into the drop of ink, and telling me what he should see therein. But, standing below him in the waist of the barge, I looked up into his downcast eyes, very long and lucid and fixed upon the drop of ink. And the black-fringed eyelids gently winked from time to time in the ordinary manner: but, being a very obedient slave, his gaze did not waver from the palm of his hand.

Then, there came a moment when the winking ceased, and the eyes became fixed wide open but still looking downward. And, when I, with a low voice, bade him again to speak, telling the things which he saw in the drop of ink, then, indeed, he spoke as one who at a long distance speaks to himself, very gravely, very slowly, very solemnly, saying: “_The silver god, pointing at the galley, slays._” Then his eyes wavered, and again became fixed. And his voice continued, speaking single sets of words divided by intervals as before; and he thus said: _The silver god, in the temple, taking the bow which sings.... The silver god, in the ship, speaking with the azure-haired god, on the white horses.... The silver god leading the golden goddess, from the dark.... The silver god, and the golden goddess, before many gods and goddesses.... The silver god, and the golden goddess on a throne.... The silver god, following the star._ Having said these words, which seemed to be nonsensical, he tired me. Whereat I smacked him, shaking his hand till the dark ink trickled over his thighs; and so I dismissed him to relieve Nesamun at the steering-oar.

Thus I did with Yokkho, without gaining the wisdom which I expected.

But, during the rest of the evening, while the boatman was sleeping, I made no more attempts at explaining the past or foreseeing the future: for it seemed that this was not permitted. But I myself took the steering-oar, dismissing the slave to seek more sleep in the waist, by the boatman. And, as we sailed along, I watched the sky turning violet with an after-glow of rose-colour fretted with green, which deepened into the clear dark heliotrope of night sown with innumerable constellations, surrounding the white-blazing serene moon. But, when the slaves had finished sleeping, they prepared a meal, and I refreshed my body with food and wine, while Yokkho returned to the steering-oar.

But I inquired of Nesamun the name of the city which we were passing on the right hythe, having seen a cluster of temples with their pylons and flagstaves and very many houses there.

“Lord,” he answered, “it is the city of Khenoboskis; and, on the left, should be the lesser Diospolis of the Lagidai which we used to call Mutio. But, in the morning we shall water at Ptolemais Hermii, another city of the Lagidai.”

“Our stay,” I said, “must be a short one: for I wish to come to Tanis without delay.”

“Lord, hast thou not heard of the mutineers at Antaiopolis, who bar the way?”

“Not my way, nor the way of the barge which bears me.”

“Nor the way of thy slaves, then, who attend thee:” added Nesamun very quietly.

“Thou art not afraid?” I responded, inquiring.

“Nay, lord, for who can see with his eyes a god, unwilling, going either here or there. But I also can fight, if fighting be toward.”

Now, when he spoke thus, I laughed without letting my memory be seen. For I remembered that his brother-in-law and partner had taken me for wing-footed Hermes, because of my strange aspect and the magic inchantment which I did with obsequious crocodiles; and I considered that the reputation of godship would do me no harm. But, looking also upon Nesamun, as he crouched before me in the open waist of the barge, more closely than I had looked hitherto, I was ware that he would fight well, as one born for fighting, being of a species different from that of other Egyptians. For he was a very mighty youth, in his prime, and his four bones were large and very long; and, although he had no muscles as youths of other races have, nevertheless his flesh was extremely firm and sinewy, and his skin healthily tanned and as smooth and polished as fine linen. Furthermore, I marked the immense force of his supple shoulders and thighs, and the strength of his loins and arms and deep-breathing breast. But, above all, I could read an indomitable character in the poise of his head and the carriage of his body, and specially in his fierce young eyes, which flashed so blackly and so whitely when his mind looked out on me. For which causes, I was not unwilling to have such an one on my side. And I opined that my own not-inconsiderable strength, and my wiliness, together with my magic and my arms, all assisted by the fearless obedience of little Yokkho and the intelligent force of Nesamun, needed not to worry about the resistance to be encountered.

But, nevertheless, I made my preparations. And, seeing another vessel coming up the river toward us, I bade my boatman to hail her and to ask for news of the rebels. Whereby I learned that, having been driven from Antaiopolis by Psalkos Memmaïdes (the Pharoah’s general and governour of the lower Thebaid), they had sacked Hisoris, and were now holding the very place which I was intending to pass in the morning, that is to say Ptolemais Hermii. And, having mentioned that the rebel-leader Pyrrhos was the mightiest warrior ever seen in Egypt, the strangers scurried fearfully toward Thebes, adjuring us to turn and follow them: for, said they, to go downstream was to court an evil and somewhat protracted death.

Having heard this, and having ordered my slaves to sleep by turns and not to come within sight of Ptolemais Hermii before dawn, I rested tranquilly in dreamless sleep. And, waking while it was yet dark, we three bathed one by one, not disturbing the sons of slime, and also refreshed our bodies with food and wine. Which having been done, I instructed Nesamun and Yokkho for the fray, saying that they were not to concern themselves with anything, excepting the swift manœuvring of the barge, instantly and implicitly obeying my commands. And my first stratagem was to lower the sail, lest it should be injured in the battle which I expected. But Yokkho was to stand by with the cordage, ready to hoist the yard immediately when we should have pierced our foes. And Nesamun was to govern our course with the steering-oar under my directions. But I buckled on my cartridge-belt and loaded my revolver. And, when Helios Hyperion had driven the chariot of the sun about an hour above the horizon, we drifted on the current in sight of Ptolemais Hermii.

But, between us and that city, I espied a long and lofty galley, propelled by forty oars, hissing toward us.

A glance at the alert eager faces of my slaves shewed me that all was as I would have it; and, stepping into the waist, I inspected the advancing enemy. The galley was crowded with mercenaries from stem to stern. Red horse-hair streamed from their helmets. The shields of some, who were Rhodians, bore the rose of Rhodes. The others, as I learned later, were Karians. All wore white and blue kirtles girt with well-made sword-belts: but owing to the heat of the land and the feebleness of those who hitherto had encountered them, they neglected their greaves and body-armour. The rebel Pyrrhos (most righteous of men) stood on the prow, wearing a scarlet kirtle and a short purple military cloak. His helmet gleamed with well-forged brass; and a plume of red horse-hair sprouted therefrom. But the oars of the galley were pulled by enormous portly Nubians, rolling-eyed, blubber-lipped; and fiercely they snorted coming on.

“Stop, stranger!” shouted the blameless Pyrrhos.

“In whose name?” I inquired, dallying with my victim.

“In my name:” he answered.

“On what penalty?”

“Death.”

“For whom?”

“For thee. Spear me this confounded babbler, O Orkhos:” he cried.

A spear hurtled toward me: but, at my quick command, Nesamun zigzagged the barge to let it pass, and held on a straight course as before. The galley swung athwart the stream twenty long paces distant. But I, raising my revolver and taking aim at the rebel-leader, bellowed: “Pyrrhos, I give thy carcase to the sons of slime.”

And dark doom leaped from my finger and pressing palm, and sank into the socket of his eye. And his life withered in the seat of wisdom, so that his soul fled gibbering to the netherworld. But the carcase, heavily lurching, fell, purple and bejewelled, dully splashing into sacred Sihor; and crocodiles dragged down the shreds and tatters of its fatness with bubbling swirlings.

But the blameless mercenaries sucked in their breath during a full minute, being appalled at the sight of their leader turned topsy-turvy by a noise like the yap of a small dog. But Nesamun held my barge still, stem on to the galley’s side and twenty long paces from it, ready to leap forward or backward at my word. But I said, very sternly: “Thus, O ye rebels, do I treat prepotence and audacity. And thus, also, will I deal with all, arrogant, who bar my passage.”

And, so saying, I paused, while I reloaded my revolver, that they might evacuate their sites if they were wise. But, recovering from their amazement, they took to hurling javelins; and the rowers bent to their sweeps, turning the galley upstream and driving the dreadful ram against me. Then, indeed, did Nesamun give proof of his quality, nimbly leaping to and fro on his narrow station to avoid the hissing darts and (at the same time) wielding the steering-oar so dexterously that we circled round the cumbrous galley, always maintaining our relative position. But I, partly sheltered by the bulwarks, fired into selected eyes or ear-holes of the rebels, as their destinies presented the same to me. For the pure lust of fighting, which never before had really inflamed me, had come upon me; and I laughed hideously in bloodthirsty glee as my enemies fell to my hand. And those, in whose wet eyes my bullets quenched their blunt-nosed heat in fizzling, tossed their useless limbs when Death entered to drive out Life; and their knees slackened as they flopped into the river, where crocodiles anxiously scrambled for morsels of them. But my last shot slew two Karians, passing through their ear-holes, and also a Nubian in whose it remained. And the current threw the sweep, slipping from his dead hands on to the oars of his fellows, causing a shocking confusion, in the midst of which I recharged my revolver a third time.