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When the white man saw him he humbled himself, and said: 'O Chief! take pity on me, for I have no home! When Rei marched against you I alone stood apart, for I knew that all the strength of the Zambesi lay in your hands, and because I would not fight against you he turned me forth into the forest to starve!
The Helen spoke no word, but Rei, watching her, knew that she was troubled at heart, though he might not see her face because of the veil she wore; for from time to time she sighed and the Red Star rose and fell upon her breast. At length the first arrow of the dawn fell upon the temple porch and she spoke.
They sat there side by side, but the Queen spoke little, and that little of Pharaoh and the host of the Apura, from whom no tidings came. When at length the feast was done, Meriamun bade the Wanderer to her private chamber, and thither he went for awhile, though sorely against his will. But Rei came not in with them, and thus he was left alone with the Queen, for she dismissed the waiting ladies.
I know thy power, Meriamun, thou gifted of the evil Gods; thou needest not fear that I shall seek to slay thee, for a spear cast against the heavens returns on him who threw it. Rei, my servant, thou art witness to our oaths; hear now their undoing. Meriamun, the Queen of ancient Khem, thou art no more wife of mine. Farewell. "And he went heavily and stricken with fear.
Little methinks can that man have loved thee who crept upon me like a thief to snatch my honour from me." Then Helen bethought her of what Rei had said, that Meriamun loved the Wanderer, and she spoke again: "Now it comes into my heart, Egyptian, that true and false are mixed in this tale of thine.
Then she sank upon the couch, pressing her hand to her brow and moaning: "How may I save him? How may I save him from that accursed witch? Alas! It is too late but at least I will know his end, ay, and hear of the beauty of her who slays him. Rei," she whispered, not in the speech of Khem, but in the dead tongue of a dead people, "be not wrath with me. Oh, have pity on my weakness.
The Wanderer went with the army for an hour's journey and more, in a chariot driven by Rei the Priest, for Rei did not march with the host. The number of the soldiers of Pharaoh amazed the Achæan, accustomed to the levies of barren isles and scattered tribes. But he said nothing of his wonder to Rei or any man, lest it should be thought that he came from among a little people.
Then Rei made a secret sign, and wondering greatly that a woman should have the inner wisdom, the priest let him pass. He came to the second gates. "What wouldst thou?" said the priest who sat in the gates. "I would go up into the presence of the Hathor." "No woman hath willed to look upon the Hathor," said the priest. Then again Rei made the secret sign, but still the priest wavered.
Nay, it was sent of her whom I serve, who is the mistress of all magic, and to her it made report, but what it said I know not." "And whom dost thou serve, Rei? And why did she send thy spirit forth to spy on me?" "I serve Meriamun the Queen, and she sent my spirit forth to learn what befell the Wanderer when he went up against the Ghosts." "And yet he said naught to me of this Meriamun.
"What passes now in this haunted land of thine, old man?" said the Wanderer, "for of all the sights that I have seen, this is the strangest. None lifts a hand to save his goods from the thief." Rei the Priest groaned aloud. "Evil days have come upon Khem," he said. "The Apura spoil the people of Khem ere they fly into the Wilderness."
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