itiful now to me, for I am poor, so
poor that for three whole days no food has passed my lips. It was the
smell of the meat which you have with you that led me to you. Give me of
that meat, Daughter, for I starve."

"It is yours, O----" and she paused.

"I am called Kepher."

"Kepher, Kepher!" repeated Tua, for she thought it strange that a
beggar-man should be named after that scarabaeus insect which among the
Egyptians was the symbol of eternity. "Well, take and eat, O Kepher,"
she said, and handed him the basket that contained what was left to them
of their store.

The beggar took it, and having looked up to heaven as though to ask a
blessing on his meal, sat down upon the sand and began to devour the
food ravenously.

"Lady," said Asti, "he will eat it all, and then we shall starve in
this desert. He is a locust, not a man," she added, as another cake
disappeared.

"He is our guest," answered Tua gravely, "let him take what we have to
give."

For a while Asti was silent, then again she broke out into remonstrance.

"Peace, Nurse," replied Tua, "I have said that he is our guest, and the
law of hospitality may not be broken."

"Then the law of hospitality will bring us to our deaths," muttered
Asti.

"If so, so let it be, Nurse; at least this poor man will be filled, and
for the rest, as always, we must trust to Amen our father."

Yet as she spoke the words tears gathered in her eyes, for she knew that
Asti was right, and now that all the food was gone, on which with care
they might have lived for two days or more, soon they would faint, and
perish, unless help came to them, which was not likely in that lonesome
place. Once, not so long ago, they had starved for lack of sustenance,
and it was the thought of that slow pain so soon to be renewed, that
brought the water to her eyes.

Meanwhile Kepher, whose appetite for one so ancient was sharp indeed,
finished the contents of the basket down to the last date, and handed it
back to Tua with a bow, saying:

"I thank you, Daughter; the Queen of Egypt could not have entertained
me more royally," and he peered at her with his horny eyes. "I who have
been empty for long, am full again, and since I cannot reward you I pray
to the gods that they will do so. Beautiful Daughter, may you never know
what it is to lack a meal."

At this saying Tua could restrain herself no more. A large tear from her
eyes fell upon Kepher's rough hand as she answered with a little