at which Bes gasped. "Although so hideous, this dwarf is a
great man with a good heart, a cunning mind and the courage of a lion.
Also his blood is royal."

Here Bes rolled his eyes and smiled, but Tanofir did not seem in the
least astonished, and said,

"Much of this is known to me and the rest can be guessed. Pass on to
what will happen in Egypt, before the spirit leaves you."

"There will be war in Egypt," she answered. "I see fightings; Shabaka
and others lead the Egyptians. The Easterns are driven away or slain.
Peroa rules as Pharaoh, I see him on his throne. Shabaka is driven away
in his turn, I see him travelling south with the dwarf and with
myself, looking very sad. Time passes. I see the moons float by; I see
messengers reach Shabaka, sent by Peroa and you O holy Tanofir; they
tell of trouble in Egypt. I see Shabaka and the dwarf coming north at
the head of a great army of black men armed with bows. With them I come
rejoicing, for my heart seems to shine. He reaches a temple on the Nile
about which is camped another great army, a countless army of Easterns
under the command of the King of kings. Shabaka and the dwarf give
battle to that army and the fray is desperate. They destroy it, they
drive it into the Nile; the Nile runs red with blood. The Great King
falls, an arrow from the bow of Shabaka is in his heart. He enters
the temple, a conqueror, and there lies Peroa, dying or dead. A veiled
priestess is there before an image, I cannot see her face. Shabaka looks
on her. She stretches out her arms to him, her eyes burn with woman's
love, her breast heaves, and above the image frowns and threatens. All
is done, for Tanofir, Master of spirits, you die, yonder in the temple
on the Nile, and therefore I can see no more. The power that comes
through you, has left me."

Then once more she became as a woman asleep.

"You have heard, Shabaka and Bes," said Tanofir quietly and stroking his
long white beard, "and what that maiden seemed to read in the water you
may believe or disbelieve as you will."

"What do you believe, O holy Tanofir?" I asked.

"The only part of the story whereof I am sure," he replied, evading a
direct answer, "is that which said that I shall die, and that when I
am dead I shall no longer be able to cause the maiden Karema to see
visions. For the rest I do not know. These things may happen or they may
not. But," he added with a note of warning in his voice, "whether they
happen or not,