e and all
wanted to see the son of the great Mukaukas, and the women of course
were first and foremost!"

"You speak, however," said the Arab, "as though the returning hero were
not worthy of so much honor."

"That is as folks think," replied the Egyptian shrugging his shoulders.
"At any rate he is the only son of the greatest man in the land."

"But he does not promise to be like the old man?"

"Oh, yes, indeed," said the guide. "My brother, a priest, and the head
of one of our great schools, was his tutor, and he never met such a
clever head as Orion's, he tells me. He learnt everything without any
trouble and at the same time worked as hard as a poor man's son. We may
expect him to win fame and honor--so Marcus says--for his parents and
for the city of Memphis: but for my part, I can see the shady side, and
I tell you the women will turn his head and bring him to a bad end. He
is handsome, taller even than the old man in his best days, and he knows
how to make the most of himself when he meets a pretty face--and pretty
faces are always to be met in his path..."

"And the young rascal takes what he finds!" said the Moslem laughing.
"If that is all you are alarmed at I am glad for the youth. He is young
and such things are allowable."

"Nay, Sir, even my brother--he lives now in Alexandria, and is blind and
foolish enough still in all that concerns his former pupil--and even
he thinks this is a dangerous rock ahead. If he does not change in this
respect he will wander further and further from the law of the Lord,
and imperil his soul, for dangers surround him on all sides like roaring
lions. The noble gifts of a handsome and engaging person will lead him
to his ruin; and though I do not desire it, I suspect...."

"You look on the dark side and judge hardly," replied the old man. "The
young...."

"Even the young, or at least the Christian young, ought to control
themselves, though I, if any one, am inclined to make the utmost
allowance for the handsome lad--nay, and I may confess: when he smiles
at me I feel at once as if I had met with some good-luck; and there are
a thousand other men in Memphis who feel the same, and still more the
women you may be sure--but many a one has shed bitter tears on his
account for all that.--But, by all the saints!--Talk of the wolf and you
see his tail! Look, there he is!--Halt! Stop a minute, you men; it is
worth while, Sir, to tarry a moment."

"Is that his fine quadriga in