d desert-dwellers of the Bedouin tribes, who for thousands of years
had been the bitter enemies of Egypt; descendants of the Hyksos, whose
forefathers had ruled the land for a dozen generations, and at last been
driven out; those Hyksos whose blood ran in Abi's veins, and who looked
to him to lift them up again; evil-doers who had sought shelter in his
regiments; hook-nosed Semites from the Lebanon; black, barbarian savages
from the shores of Punt--with such as these was that hall filled.

Abi was the hope of every one of them; to him they looked for the spoils
of Egypt, and before them on Abi's throne they saw a woman who stood
between them and their ends, who in her ancient pride dared to demand
that he, her husband, should do homage to her, and who to-morrow, if she
conquered, would give them to the sword.

"Tear her to pieces!" they screamed, "the bastard whom childless Pharaoh
palmed off upon the land! She is a sorceress who keeps fat on air--an
evil spirit. Away with her! Or if you fear, then let us come!"

At length they had roared themselves hoarse; at length they grew still.
Then Abi, who all this while had stood there hesitating, and now and
again turning to hearken to Kaku who whispered in his ear, looked up at
Tua and spoke.

"You see and you hear, Queen," he said. "My people mistrust you, and
they are a rough people, I cannot hold them back for long. If once they
get at you, very soon that sweet body of yours will be in more fragments
than was Osiris after Set had handled him."

Now Tua, who hitherto had sat still and indifferent, like one who takes
no heed, seemed to awake, and answered:

"A bad example, Prince, for Osiris rose again, did he not?" Then she
leaned back and once more was silent.

"Do you still desire that I should do homage to you, Queen, I, your
husband?" he asked presently.

"Why not?" she replied. "I have spoken. A decree of Pharaoh may not be
changed, and though a woman, I am--Pharaoh."

Now Abi went white with rage, and turned to his guard to bid them drag
her from the throne. But she who was watching him, suddenly lifted
her sceptre and spoke in a new voice, a clear, strong voice that rang
through the hall, and even reached those who were gathered on the steps
without.

"There is a question between you and me, O People," she said, "and it is
this--Shall I, your Queen, rule in Egypt, as my fathers ruled, or shall
yonder man rule whom by the decree of Amen I have taken for hus