saved the crown of Khem, and by Osiris he shall wear it."

Now the chariots of Meriamun had passed the camp of the barbarians, and
were come to the inner camp of the Achaeans, and the soldiers shouted as
she came driving furiously.

The Wanderer lay dying on the ground, there by the river-bank, and the
light of the burning ships flamed on his golden armour, and on the Star
at Helen's breast.

"Why do the soldiers shout?" he asked, lifting his head from Helen's
breast.

"They shout because Meriamun the Queen is come," Rei answered.

"Let her come," said the Wanderer.

Now Meriamun sprang from her chariot and walked, through the soldiers
who made way, bowing before her royalty, to where the Wanderer lay, and
stood speechless looking on him.

But the Wanderer lifting his head spake faintly:

"Hail! O Queen!" he said, "I have accomplished the charge that Pharaoh
laid upon me. The host of the Nine-bow barbarians is utterly destroyed,
the fleet of the Aquaiusha is burned, or fled, the land of Khem is free
from foes. Where is Pharaoh, that I may make report to him ere I die?"

"Pharaoh is dead, Odysseus," she answered. "Oh, live on! live on! and
thyself thou shalt be Pharaoh."

"Ay, Meriamun the Queen," answered the Wanderer, "I know all. The
Pharaoh is dead! Thou didst slay Pharaoh, thinking thus to win me for
thy Lord, me, who am won of Death. Heavily shall the blood of Pharaoh
lie upon thee in that land whither I go, Meriamun, and whither thou
must follow swiftly. Thou didst slay Pharaoh, and Helen, who through thy
guile is lost to me, thou wouldst have slain also, but thou couldst not
harm her immortality. And now I die, and this is the end of all these
Loves and Wars and Wanderings. My death has come upon me from the
water."

Meriamun stood speechless, for her heart was torn in two, so that in her
grief she forgot even her rage against Helen and Rei the Priest.

Then Helen spoke. "Thou diest indeed, Odysseus, yet it is but for a
little time, for thou shalt come again and find me waiting."

"Ay, Odysseus," said the Queen, "and I also will come again, and thou
shalt love me then. Oh, now the future opens, and I know the things that
are to be. Beneath the Wings of Truth shall we meet again, Odysseus."

"There shall we meet again, Odysseus, and there thou shalt draw the Veil
of Truth," said the Helen.

"Yea," quoth the dying Wanderer; "there or otherwhere shall we meet
again, and there and otherwhere love a