ed him quickly,
the higher officers approached with some leisure, while the marching
regiments drew nearer slowly and with even tread. In the purple rays of
the setting sun, the prince had the seeming of a divinity, the soldiers
gazed at him with affection and pride, the chiefs looked admiringly.

He raised his hand. All were silent.

"Worthy leaders," began he, "brave officers, obedient soldiers! Today
the gods have given me the pleasure of commanding you. Delight has
filled my heart. And since it is my will that leaders, officers, and
soldiers should share my happiness at all times, I assign one drachma
to each soldier of those who have gone to the east, and to those who
return with us from the eastern boundary; also one drachma each to the
Greek soldiers who today, under my command, opened a passage out of the
ravine; and one drachma to each man in the regiments of the worthy
Nitager who wished to cut off the way to us."

There was a shout in the army.

"Be well, our leader! Be well, successor of the pharaoh, may he live
eternally!" cried the soldiers; and the Greeks cried the loudest.

The prince continued,

"I assign five talents to be divided among the lower officers of my
army and that of the worthy Nitager. And finally I assign ten talents
to be divided between his worthiness the minister and the chief
leaders."

"I yield ray part for the benefit of the army," answered Herhor.

"Be well, O heir! be well, O minister!" cried the officers and the
soldiers.

The ruddy circle of the sun had touched the sands of the western
desert. Ramses took farewell of the army and galloped towards Memphis;
but his worthiness Herhor, amid joyous shouts, took a seat in his
litter and commanded also to go in advance of the marching divisions.

When they had gone so far that single voices were merged into one
immense murmur, like the sound of a cataract, the minister, bending
toward the secretary, asked of him,

"Dost Thou remember everything?"

"Yes, worthy lord."

"Thy memory is like granite on which we write history, and thy wisdom
like the Nile, which covers all the country and enriches it," said
Herhor. "Besides, the gods have granted thee the greatest of virtues,
wise obedience."

The secretary was silent.

"Hence Thou mayest estimate more accurately than others the acts and
reasons of the heir, may he live through eternity!"

The minister stopped awhile, and then added,

"It has not been his custom to spe