r citizens declared,
for they hated the Great King bitterly and longed to cast off his yoke.

For my part, I received the command of the bodyguard of Peroa in which
were many Greeks, and a generalship in the army; while to Bes, at my
prayer, was given the freedom of the land which he accepted with a
smile, he who was a king in his own country.

At length all was finished and I went out into the palace garden to rest
myself before I rode into the desert to see my great uncle, the holy
Tanofir. I was alone, for Bes had gone to bring our horses on which we
were to ride, and sat myself down beneath a palm-tree, thinking of the
great adventure on which we had entered with a merry heart, for I loved
adventures.

Next I thought of Amada and was less merry. Then I looked up and lo!
she stood before me, unaccompanied and wearing the dress, not of a
priestess, but of an Egyptian lady with the little circlet of her rank
upon her hair. I rose and bowed to her and we began to walk together
beneath the palms, my heart beating hard within me, for I knew that my
hour had come to speak.

Yet it was she who spoke the first, saying,

"I hear that you have been playing a high part, Shabaka, and doing great
things for Egypt."

"For Egypt and for you who are Egypt," I answered.

"So I should have been called in the old days, Cousin, because of my
blood and the rank it gives, though now I am but as any other lady of
the land."

"And so you shall be called in days to come, Amada, if my sword and wit
can win their way."

"How so, Cousin, seeing that you have promised certain things to my
uncle Peroa and his son?"

"I have promised those things, Amada, and I will abide by my promise;
but the gods are above all, and who knows what they may decree?"

"Yes, Cousin, the gods are above all, and in their hands we will let
these matters rest, provoking them in no manner and least of all by
treachery to our oaths."

We walked for a little way in silence. Then I spoke.

"Amada, there are more things than thrones in the world."

"Yes, Cousin, there is that in which all thrones end--death, which it
seems we court."

"And, Amada, there is that in which all thrones begin--love, which I
court from you."

"I have known it long," she said, considering me gravely, "and been
grateful to you who are more to me than any man has been or ever will
be. But, Shabaka, I am a priestess bound to set the holy One I serve
above a mortal."

"That holy