ould go forth honoured, the first of the host of Pharaoh," quoth
Meriamun. "Yet as the God hath spoken, so let it be. Send now and bid
them loose the man from the place of torment, and put his armour on him
and bring him before thee."

So Pharaoh went out, and the Wanderer was loosed from his bed of stone
and clothed again in his golden harness, and came forth glorious to see,
and stood before Pharaoh. But no arms were given him. Then Pharaoh told
him all his dream, and why he caused him to be released from the grip of
the tormentors. The Wanderer hearkened in silence, saying no word.

"Now choose, thou Wanderer," said Pharaoh: "choose if thou wilt be
borne back to the bed of torment, there to die beneath the hands of the
tormentors, or if thou wilt go forth as the captain of my host to do
battle with the Nine-bow barbarians who waste the land of Khem. It seems
there is little faith in thine oaths, therefore I ask no more oaths from
thee. But this I swear, that if thou art false to my trust, I will yet
find means to bring thee back to that chamber whence thou wast led but
now."

Then the Wanderer spoke:--

"Of that charge, Pharaoh, which is laid against me I will say nothing,
though perchance if I stood upon my trial for the sin that is laid
against me, I might find words to say. Thou askest no oath from me, and
no oath I swear, yet I tell thee that if thou givest me ten thousand
soldiers and a hundred chariots, I will smite these foes of thine so
that they shall come no more to Khem, ay, though they be of my own
people, yet will I smite them, and if I fail, then may those who go with
me slay me and send me down to Hades."

Thus he spoke, and as he spoke he searched the hall with his eyes.
For he desired to see Rei the Priest, and charge him with a message to
Helen. But he sought him in vain, for Rei had fled, and was in hiding
from the anger of Meriamun.

Then Pharaoh bade his officers take the Wanderer, and set him in
a chariot and bear him to the city of On, where Pharaoh's host was
gathering. Their charge was to watch him night and day with uplifted
swords, and if he so much as turned his face from the foe towards Tanis,
then they should slay him. But when the host of Pharaoh marched from
On to do battle on the foe, then they should give the Wanderer his own
sword and the great black bow, and obey him in everything. But if he
turned his back upon the foe, then they should slay him; or if the host
of Pharaoh w