blaze to a white heat with
a pair of leathern bellows, while the Wanderer fitted the plates and
hammered at them on the anvil, making the jointures smooth and strong,
talking meanwhile with Rei.

"Strange work for a prince, as thou must be in Alybas, whence thou
comest," quoth Rei, leaning on his long rod of cedar, headed with an
apple of bluestone. "In our country chiefs do not labour with their
hands."

"Different lands, different ways," answered Eperitus. "In my country men
wed not their sisters as your kings do, though, indeed, it comes into
my mind that once I met such brides in my wanderings in the isle of the
King of the Winds."

For the thought of the AEolian isle, where King AEolus gave him all the
winds in a bag, came into his memory.

"My hands can serve me in every need," he went on. "Mowing the deep
green grass in spring, or driving oxen, or cutting a clean furrow with
the plough in heavy soil, or building houses and ships, or doing smith's
work with gold and bronze and grey iron--they are all one to me."

"Or the work of war," said Rei. "For there I have seen thee labour. Now,
listen, thou Wanderer, the King Meneptah and the Queen Meriamun send
me to thee with this scroll of their will," and he drew forth a roll of
papyrus, bound with golden threads, and held it on his forehead, bowing,
as if he prayed.

"What is that roll of thine?" said the Wanderer, who was hammering at
the bronze spear-point, that stood fast in his helm.

Rei undid the golden threads and opened the scroll, which he gave into
the Wanderer's hand.

"Gods! What have we here?" said the Wanderer. "Here are pictures, tiny
and cunningly drawn, serpents in red, and little figures of men sitting
or standing, axes and snakes and birds and beetles! My father, what
tokens are these?" and he gave the scroll back to Rei.

"The King has made his Chief Scribe write to thee, naming thee Captain
of the Legion of Pasht, the Guard of the Royal House, for last night
the Captain was slain. He gives thee a high title, and he promises thee
houses, lands, and a city of the South to furnish thee with wine, and
a city of the North to furnish thee with corn, if thou wilt be his
servant."

"Never have I served any man," said the Wanderer, flushing red, "though
I went near to being sold and to knowing the day of slavery. The King
does me too much honour."

"Thou wouldest fain begone from Khem?" asked the old man, eagerly.

"I would fain find her I