side,
if base-born on the other. But I am not yet dead, and children may still
come to me. Abi, will you be a prisoner until Osiris calls me, or will
you swear an oath?"

"I will swear an oath," answered the Prince hoarsely, for he knew his
shame and danger.

"Then kneel here, and by the dreadful Name swear that you will lift no
hand and plot no plot against me. Swear that if a child, male or female,
should be given to me, you will serve such a child truly as your lord
and lawful Pharaoh. In the presence of all this company, swear, knowing
that if you break the oath in letter or in spirit, then all the gods of
Egypt shall pour their curse upon your head in life, and in death shall
give you over to the everlasting torments of the damned."

So, having little choice, Abi swore by the Name and kissed the sceptre
in token of his oath.

It was night. Dark and solemn was the innermost shrine of the vast
temple, the "House of Amen in the Northern Apt," which we call Karnak,
the very holy of holies where, fashioned of stone, and with the
feathered crown upon his head, stood the statue of Amen-ra, father of
the gods. Here, where none but the high-priest and the royalties of
Egypt might enter, Pharaoh and his wife Ahura, wrapped in brown cloaks
like common folk, knelt at the feet of the god and prayed. With tears
and supplications did they pray that a child might be given to them.

There in the sacred place, lit only by a single lamp which burned from
age to age, they told the story of their grief, whilst high above them
the cold, calm countenance of the god seemed to stare through the gloom,
as for a thousand years, in joy or sorrow, it had stared at those that
went before them. They told of the mocking words of Abi who had demanded
to see their children, the children that were not; they told of their
terror of the people who demanded that an heir should be declared; they
told of the doom that threatened their ancient house, which from Pharaoh
to Pharaoh, all of one blood, for generations had worshipped in this
place. They promised gifts and offerings, stately temples and wide
lands, if only their desire might be fulfilled.

"Let me no more be made a mock among men," cried the beautiful queen,
beating her forehead upon the stone feet of the god. "Let me bear a
child to fill the seat of my lord the King, and then if thou wilt, take
my life in payment."

But the god made no answer, and wearied out at length they rose an