ht of one of these lamps shone upon the knees
of the colossal statue of the great Rameses, revealing his cartouche.
Then I knew that we were near the gateway of the vast temple of Memphis,
the largest perhaps in the whole world.

We went on through court after pillared court, priests leading us by
the hand, till we came to a shrine commanding the biggest court of all,
which was packed with men and women. It was that of Isis, who held at
her breast the infant Horus.

"O friend Ana," cried Merapi, "give help. They are dressing me in
strange garments."

I tried to get near to her but was thrust back, a voice, which I thought
to be that of Ki, saying:

"On your life, fool!"

Presently a lamp was held up, and by the light of it I saw Merapi seated
in a chair dressed like a goddess, in the sacerdotal robes of Isis and
wearing the vulture cap headdress--beautiful exceedingly. In her arms
was the child dressed as the infant Horus.

"Pray for us, Mother Isis," cried thousands of voices, "that the curse
of blackness may be removed."

Then she prayed, saying:

"O my God, take away this curse of blackness from these innocent
people," and all of those present, repeated her prayer.

At that moment the sky began to lighten and in less than half an hour
the sun shone out. When Merapi saw how she and the child were arrayed
she screamed aloud and tore off her jewelled trappings, crying:

"Woe! Woe! Woe! Great woe upon the people of Egypt!"

But in their joy at the new found light few hearkened to her who they
were sure had brought back the sun. Again Laban appeared for a moment.

"Witch! Traitress!" he cried. "You have worn the robes of Isis and
worshipped in the temple of the gods of the Egyptians. The curse of the
God of Israel be on you and that which is born of you."

I sprang at him but he was gone. Then we bore Merapi home swooning.

So this trouble passed by, but from that time forward Merapi would not
suffer her son to be taken out of her sight.

"Why do you make so much of him, Lady?" I asked one day.

"Because I would love him well while he is here, Friend," she answered,
"but of this say nothing to his father."

A while went by and we heard that still Pharaoh would not let the
Israelites go. Then the Prince Seti sent Bakenkhonsu and myself to Tanis
to see Pharaoh and to say to him:

"I seek nothing for myself and I forget those evils which you would have
worked on me through jealousy. But I say unto you t