THE MORNING STAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14338, 7 April 1910, Page 3

THE MORNING STAR.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY H. RIDER HAGGARD, Author of " King Solomon's Ifines." " She," " Cleopatra." " Nada the Lily," " The People of tho Mist." " Heart of the World," " Ayesha. or the Return of She," " The Ghost Kings." " The Yellow God," "Montezuma's Daughter." etc.. -etc., eto.

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER IX. THE DOOM OF PHARAOH. On* the morrow when tho 'ady Asti came to dress the Queen for that day's ceremony she asked her if Amen had given her the wisdom that she sought. "Not so," answered the young Queen, " all he gave me was very bad dreams, and in every one of them was mixed up that waiting woman of my father, Merytra, of whom you spoke to me. If I believed in omens I should say that she was about to bring some evil upon our house."' "It may well be so, Queen," answered Asti, " and in that case I think that she is at work. At any rate, watching from the little window of mv room, by the light of the moon, I saw her return across the templo court at midnight. Moreover, it seemed to me that she was carrying something beneath her robe." "Whence did she return?" "From the city, I suppose. She has Pharaoh's pass, and ,can go in and out when she will. I have caused Mermjjs to question the officer of the guard, ami he says that she came to the gate accompanied by a Jail man wrapped it* a dark cloak, who spoke with her earnestly, and left her. From tho description, I think it must have been the astrologer, Kaku, with whom she was talking at the fjfe»st." "That is bad news, nurse. What more have you to tell? " " Only this, Queen. The gates are guarded more closely even 4han we thought. I tried to send out a man to Thebes this morning with a message* on my own ac—never mind wha/, it was—and the sentries turned him ba/jk.'' "By the gods!" exclaimed Tua, " beforo I have reigned a year "every gate in Memphis shall be melted dawn for cooking vessels, and I will .set th©\r captains to work in the desert mines, Nay, such threats are foolishness; I'll, not threaten, I'll strike when tho time, tomes, but that is not yet. Can I speak with Pharaoh? " "No, Queen. He is up already giving audience to -the nobles of Memphis, and trying cases -from the Lower Land with his counsellor, until it is time to start for this ceremony of the laying of the foundationstone of the temple, whither you accompany "him in state. Also it is as wellby to-night we may learn more. Come, let me set the crown upon your head that these dqgs t)f Memphis may know their mistress.' The ceremony proved very wearisome. First there was the long , chariot ride tArough the crowded, shouting street, Pharaoh and Abi going in the first chariot, and Tua, attended by Abi x s eldest daughter, a round-eyed lady much older than herself, in the second. Next came the office of the priests of Amen, over which Neter-Tua, as daughter of Amen and high-priestess, must preside, to dedic?.te the temple to the glory of the god. Thfcn the foundation deposit of little yages of offerings and models of workmen's tools, and a' ring drawn from Pharaoh's hand engraved with his Royal name, were blessed and set by the masons in hollows prepared for them, and the two great cornerstones let down, hiding them for ever, and declared respectively by Pharaoh and by Neter-Tua, Morning Star of Amen, Joint Sovereign of Egypt, to be well and truly laid. ; . ... .Afterwards architects, those who " drew tie line," exhibited plans of the temple, and received gifts from Pharaoh, and when all this was' done with came the mid-day feast and speeches. ; At length all was over, and the great, procession returned by another route to the temple of Sekhet, where Pharaoh lodged, a very tedious journey in the hot sun, since it involved a circuit of the endless walls of Memphis, with stoppages before all the temples of the gods, at each of which Pharaoh must make offerings. Nor, weary as he was, might he rest, for in the outer court of the old shrine thrones had been set up and seated on them he and Tua must hear petitions till sunset and give judgment, or postpone them for further consideration. ' V.

At last these came to an end, but, as Pharaoh, tired out, rose from his throne, Abi, his brother, who all this time had not left them, said that he also had a private petition to prefer. So they went into an inner court that had been a sanctuary, and sat down again, there being present besides the scribes only Pharaoh, the Queen, some councillors, Mermes," captain of the guard, and certain women of the royal household, among them Asti. the Queen's nurse, and Merytra, Pharaoh's favourite attendant. With Abi were his astrologer. Kaku, his two eldest sons, and a few of the great officers of his government, also the highpriests of the temples of Memphis, and three powerful chiefs of the desert tribes. "What is your prayer, my brother?" asked Pharaoh, as soon as the doors were closed. • , "A great one, Your Majesties," answered ..the Prince, prostrating himself, " which for the 'good of Egypt, and for your own good, and for my good, who reverence you as a loyal subject, I pray that you will be pleased to grant." Then he drew himself up and said slowly, " I am here to ask the hand of the glorious Queen Neter-Tua, daughter of Amen,-in marriage." Now Pharaoh stared at him. while Tun, who knew we" what was coming, turned her head aside, and asked a councillor who stood near, if in the history of the land any Queen of Egypt had ever marlied her uncle. j The councillor who was noted for his j historical studies, answered that at the moment he could recall no such case. ".Then." said Tua coolly, and still addressing him. "it seems that it would bo scarcely wise to create a precedent which other poor young women of the royal race j might be called upon to follow." Pharaoh caught something of the words, though Abi did not, for they wore spoken in a low voice, and bethought him of a way out of his difficulty. " The Queen Neter-Tua sits at my side, and is co-regent with me of this kingdom, her mind is my mind, and what she approves it is probable I shall approve. Prefer vour request to her." he said. So Abi turned to the Queen, and. laving his hands upon his heart, bowed, ogled, and began: " A burning love of your excellent. MaOS tv moves me— "I pray you, my uncle," interrupted Tua, " correct your words, which should becrin ' a burning love of vour most excellent Majesty's throne and power move me,' and so on." Now Abi frowned while everyone else smiled, not excepting Pharaoh and the astrologer, Kaku. Again he began his speech, but so confusedly that presently Tua stopped him for the second time, saving: " I am not deaf, most noble prince, my uncle.' I heard the words., you used to Pharaoh, and even understood their import. In fact, I have alreadv consulted our councillor here, a learned master of the law, as to the legality of such an alliance as you propose, and he gives his judgment against it." Now AbL glared at the councillor, a humble, dustv old man, who spent all his life among rolls and chronicles. ; "May it please your Majesty," this lawyer 'exclaimed, in a thin, agitated voice, '"I only said there was no record of such a marriage that I can remember, though once I think a queen adopted a nephew, who afterwards became Pharaoh." "It is the same thing, friend," replied Tua' sweetly, "for that of which there is no record in the long history of Egypt must of necessity be illegal. Still, if my uncle here wishes to adopt me, I thank i him' tliougli hie lawful heirs mav not and

the matter is one that can be considered." Now, guessing that he was being played with, Abi grew angry. "I have put a plain question to your Majesty," ho said, "and perhaps I am worthy of a plain answer. As all men know, 0 Queen, it is time that you shotlld be wed, and 1 offer myself as your husband. It is true that lam somewhat older than you are—" " In what year was the Princc Abi born the same as yourself, did you say'.'" asked Tua in an audible aside of the aged and learned councillor, who thereon vanished behind the throne and was seen no more. "But," went on Abi, taking no notice of this interruption, "on the other hand I have much to offer. .1 rule here, your Majesties, who am also of the royal blood, and there is some disaffection in the North, especially among the great Bedouin tribes of the desert, who watch the frontier of th© kingdom. Now, if this alliance comes about, and in days to be I sit upon the double throne as King-Consort of Egypt, they will be loyal, and north and south will be united more closely than they ever wero before. Whereas, if it does not come about—" Here, Kaku, pretending to brush a fly from his face, caught his hand in Abi's robe, a signal at which his master paused. _" Go on, my uncle, I pray you," said Tua. "If it does not come about, what then?" "Thei\, Queen, there may bo trouble, ■kay, itavo me alone, Magician, I will speak the truth, chance what may. Pharaoh, you have reigned for many years; y es » forty times has the Nile overflowed its banks since we laid our divine father in tb.e tomb. Now, during all those years but» one child has been born to you, and + Aat after I came to Thebes to pray you 'to name me as your heir. Know, Pharaoh, that there are many who find this strange, and wonder whether this beautiful queen, who is called Daughter of Amen, and resembles you so little in body or in • mind, sits rightfully on the throne of Egypt. If I marry her these questionings will cease. If I do not marry her the whisperings of men .may grow to a wind that will blow the crown from off her head." Now a gasp of fear and wonder rose from all who heard this bold and treasonable speech, and Tua, reddening to the eyes, bent forward as though to answer. But before ever a word had passed her lips Pharaoh sprang from his seat transformed with rage. All his patient gentleness was gone, and he looked so fierce and royal that everyone present there, even Abi himself, quailed before him. "Is it for this that I have borne with you for so long, my brother?" he cried, rending at his robes. Is it for this that I spared you years ago in Thebes, when your life was forfeit for your treachery? Is it for this that I have suffered you to rise to great honour, and to rule here almost as a king in my city of Memphis. Was it not enough that I should sit quiet, while you, an old man, the son of our father's barbarian slave, the loose-living despot, dare to ask for the pure hand of Egypt's Queen in marriage, you, her uncle, who might well be her grandfather also ? Must I also hear your foul mouth beslimo her royal birth, and the honour of her divine mother, and spit .sneers at' Amen, Father of the Gods ? Well, Amen shall deal with you when you come to the doors of his Eternal House, but hero on earth lam his son and servant. Mermes, call my guards, and arrest this man and hold him safe. At' Thebes, whither wo depart to-morrow, he shall be judged ac cording to our law." Now Mermes blew a shrill call on tho silver whistle that hung about his neck, and springing forward, • seized i the Prince, by the arm. Abi drew his sword to cut him down,- and at the sight of the steel, all who were with him rushed to the door to escape, sweeping before them certain of Pharaoh's ladies, amine: them the waitingwoman, Merytra. But before ever they could pass it, the guards who had heard the' signal of Mermes, ran in with lifted spears, driving them back again. Leaping upon Abi, they tore the sword from his hand, and threw him to the ground, huddling the rest together like frightened sheep. "Bind this traitor and keep him safe, for to-morrow he accompanies us to Thebes," said Pharaoh. "What' of his sons, and those with him, your Majesty ?" asked the officer of the guard. "Let them go," answered Pharaoh wearily, "for thev have not sinned against us. Let them go, and take warning from their master's fate." , Now, as it chanced in the confusion, Mervtra had been pushed against Kaku. "Hearken," whispered tho astrologer into the woman's ear. "Do as I bid you 'ast night, and all will yet be well. Do it or die. Do you hear me ?" "I hear, and I will," answered Merytra in the same low voice. Then they wero separated, for the guards took Kaku by the arm and thrust him . out of the temple together with tho sons of Abi. An hour later Mermes and Asti stood before . Pharaoh, and prayed him that he would depart from Memphis that very night, saving that such was the counsel also of the Queen and his officers, but Pharaoh" was tired out, and would not listen.

"To-morrow, when I have slept, will be time enough," he answered. "Moreover, shall I fly from my own city like a thief when naught is ready for our journey ? Whv do you pre?s me to such a coward's act ?" he added peevishly. "For this reason, your Majesty." answered Mermes. "We are sure there is a plot to keep you here.- This afternoon, you could not have gone, had you tried, but to-night, Abi bein<» a prisoner, his people are dismayed, and having no leader will open the gates. Bv to-morrow one will bo found, and they will be double-barred and guarded." "What !" asked the King. scornfully, "do von mean that I am a prisoner also, and here in Egypt, which I rule ? Nay, good friends, at. Pharaoh's word th«re cafes will onen. Or if the'v do not, T will pull down Memphis stone by stone, and drive out its people to ! hi" e their , ; ives with jackals. Do tliev think bs'-auso I ant kind and gentle. ttv.it 1 cannot lift tho sword if there he need ? Hive they forgotten how I smote those rebels in mv youth, and guv* their ities to the flanirr-, and my yoke on Svria, that aided them. We arch tomorrow, and not before. I have spoken." • (To he continued daily.)