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Who could tell, therefore, that Pentuer's discourse was not intended for him, as that procession of Apis for the people? For that matter, it was easy to put on the ground beans of red or other colors, and also it was not difficult to arrange tableaux.
The priests might suppose that he was either entirely satisfied with Pentuer's explanations, or that he was tired of interfering in government. "So much the better!" whispered he. "So much the better!" Under the influence of the endless intrigues of those around him, or suspicious of those intrigues, the instinct to deceive began in his young spirit to rouse itself.
And now Typhon springs up, hides the light, burns, bites, suffocates. Pale sparks are shooting forth from Pentuer's body. Above their heads thunder rolls such thunder as he had never heard till that day. Later on, silent night in the desert. The fleeing griffin, the dark outline of the sphinx on the limestone hill. "I have seen so much. I have passed through so much," thought Ramses.
The Asiatics confirmed the words of the priest, and added that far away in the north, water turned into stone very often, and fog turned into a white salt which is tasteless, but breaks in the hands and causes pain in the teeth. The prince admired Pentuer's wisdom still more. Meanwhile, the northern side of the heavens grew clear, showing the Great Bear and the star, Eshmun.
Now there passed below the prince an endless line of Libyans with fruit and bread in baskets, as well as wine and olive oil in roomy pitchers for the army. At sight of this a murmur of delight was spread among the warriors, but Ramses, occupied with Pentuer's story, took no note of what was passing. "The gods," said the prophet in a whisper, "have punished the traitorous Kama."
"It happens," said the old Libyan, "that the southern sandy wind rouses a wind from the sea and brings heavy rain to us." Ramses was touched disagreeably by these words, for he had attributed the downpour to Pentuer's prayers. He turned to the Libyan, and asked, "And does it happen that sparks flash from people's bodies?" "It is always so when the wind blows from the desert," answered the Libyan.
Then came Pentuer's song about the decrease of land and population, the officials, the Phoenicians, and all that to disgust me with war." Tutmosis said suddenly, "I fall on my face before thee." "I must bring hither, gradually, regiments from cities near the sea. I wish to have a review and reward them for loyalty." "But we, the nobles, are we not loyal to thee?" inquired Tutmosis, confused.
The priests listened in terror. Herhor was pale; the tablets fell from Pentuer's fingers; Mefres held the amulet hanging on his breast, and prayed while his lips were parching. "Be on your guard then against Assyria," continued the Chaldean, "for her hour is the present. The Assyrians are a dreadful people! They despise labor, they live by war.
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