They mean us to leave the ship," said Asti. "Come, Queen, let us follow
our fortunes, for doubtless these are high."

"As you will," answered Tua, "seeing that we should scarcely have been
brought here to no end."

So they accompanied the men to the side of that splendid vessel, for now
the netting that confined them had been removed, to find that a gangway
had been laid from its bulwark to the shore. As they stepped on to
this gangway their masked companions handed to each of them one of the
baskets, then again bowed humbly and were gone. Soon they gained the
bank, and scarcely had their feet touched it when the gangway was
withdrawn, and the great oars began to beat the muddy water.

Round swung the ship, and for a minute hung in midstream. There stood
the captain on the foredeck, and there was the steersman at the helm,
and the red light of the sinking sun turned them into figures of flame.
Suddenly with a simultaneous motion these men tore off their masks so
that for a moment Asti and Tua saw their faces--and behold! the face of
the captain was the face of Pharaoh, Tua's father, and the face of the
steersman was the face of Mermes, Asti's husband.

For one moment only did they see them, then a dark cloud hid the dying
sun, and when it passed that ship was gone, whither they knew not.

The two women looked at each other, and for the first time were much
afraid.

"Truly," said Tua, "we are haunted if ever mortals were, for yonder ship
has ghosts for mariners."

"Aye, Lady," answered Asti, "so have I thought from the first. Still,
take heart, for these ghosts once were men who loved us well, and
doubtless they love us still. Be sure that for no ill purpose have we
been snatched out of the hand of Abi, and brought living and unharmed by
the shades of Pharaoh your sire, and Mermes my husband, to this secret
shore. See, yonder burns a fire, let us go to it, and await what may
befall bravely, knowing that at least it can be naught but good."

So they went to the rock and, darkness being come, sat themselves down
by the fire, alongside of which lay wood for its replenishment, and near
the wood soft robes of camel-hair to shield them from the cold.
These robes they put on with thankfulness, and, having fed the flame,
bethought them of and opened the baskets which were given to them when
they left the ship. The first basket, that which Asti held, they found
to contain food, cakes, dried meats and dates, as much as one