red, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Who are ye?" inquired she, alarmed. "Ye have come down from the hills,
like travelers who wish bread and water, but ye speak to me as might
the greatest lords. Who are ye? Thy sword," said she, turning to
Ramses, "is set with emeralds, and on thy neck is a chain of such work
as even our lord, the great Sesofris, has not in his treasury."

"Better tell me if I please thee," insisted Ramses, pressing her hand
and looking into her eyes tenderly.

"Thou art beautiful, as beautiful as the angel Gabriel; but I fear
thee, for I know not who Thou art."

Then from beyond the hilltop was heard the sound of a trumpet.

"They are calling thee!" cried Tutmosis.

"And if I were as great a lord as thy Sesofris?" asked Ramses.

"Then maybe" answered Sarah.

"And if I carried the fan of the nomarch of Memphis?"

"Thou mayest be even as great as that."

Somewhere beyond the hill was heard the second trumpet.

"Come, Ramses!" insisted the frightened Tutmosis.

"But if I were heir to the throne, wouldst Thou come to me?" cried the
prince.

"O Jehovah!" exclaimed Sarah, dropping on her knees.

From various points trumpets summoned, now urgently.

"Let us run!" cried Tutmosis, in desperation. "Dost Thou not hear the
alarm in the camp?"

Ramses took the chain from his neck quickly and threw it on Sarah.

"Give this to thy father. I will buy thee from him. Be in health."

He kissed her lips passionately, and she embraced-his knees. He tore
away, ran a couple of paces, turned again, and again fondled her
beautiful face and dark hair with kisses, as if he heard not those
impatient calls to the army.

"In the name of his holiness the pharaoh, I summon thee, follow me!"
cried Tutmosis; and he seized the prince's hand.

They ran toward the trumpet-calls. Ramses tottered at moments like a
drunken man, and turned his head. At last they were climbing the
opposite hill.

"And this man," thought Tutmosis, "wants to battle with the
priesthood!"

CHAPTER IV

RAMSES and his comrade ran about a quarter of an hour along the rocky
ridge of the hill, drawing ever nearer to the trumpets, which sounded
more and more urgently. At last they reached a point where they took in
at a glance the whole region. Toward the left stretched the highway;
beyond that were seen clearly the city of Pi-Bailos, the regiments of
the heir drawn up behind it, and an immense cloud of dust which rose
above his opp