m, whispered,

"In what a plight Thou art, O son of the pharaoh! Without a wig, thy
hair and dress full of dust, thy skin black and cracked, like the earth
in summer. The queen, most deserving of honor, would drive me from the
court were she to look at thy wretchedness."

"I am only tired."

"Then take a seat in my litter. In it are fresh garlands of roses,
roast birds, and a jug of wine from Cyprus. I have kept also hidden in
the camp," added he in a lower voice, "Senura."

"Is she here?" asked the prince; and his eyes, glittering a moment
before, were now mist-covered.

"Let the army move on," said Tutmosis; "we will wait here for her."

Ramses recovered himself.

"Leave me, tempter! The battle will come in two hours."

"What! a battle?"

"At least the decision as to my leadership."

"Oh, laugh at it!" smiled the exquisite. "I would swear that the
minister of war sent a report of it yesterday, and with it the petition
to give thee the corps of Memphis."

"No matter if he did. Today I have no thought for anything but the
army."

"In thee this wish for war is dreadful, war during which a man does not
wash for a whole month, so as to die in--Brr! But if Thou couldst see
Senura, only glance at her. ."

"For that very reason I shall not glance at her," answered Ramses,
decisively.

At the moment when eight men were bringing from beyond the Greek ranks
the immense litter of Tutmosis for the use of Ramses, a horseman raced
in from the vanguard. He dropped from his horse and ran so quickly that
on his breast the images of the gods or the tablets with their names
rattled loudly. This was Eunana in great excitement.

All turned to him, and this gave him pleasure apparently.

"Erpatr, the loftiest lips," cried Eunana, bending before Ramses.
"When, in accordance with thy divine command, I rode at the head of a
detachment, looking carefully at all things, I noticed on the highroad
two beautiful scarabs. Each of these sacred beetles was rolling an
earth ball toward the sands near the roadside."

"What of that?" interrupted Ramses.

"Of course," continued Eunana, glancing toward Herhor, "I and my
people, as piety enjoins, rendered homage to the golden symbols of the
sun, and halted. That augury is of such import that no man of us would
make a step forward unless commanded."

"I see that Thou art a pious Egyptian, though Thou hast the features of
a Hittite," answered the worthy Herhor; and turning to certain