had dared to sail in the armour of the Aquaiusha, as the Egyptians
named the Achæans, right up the river to the city of Pharaoh. The King,
therefore, was amazed at the story, and when he heard that the stranger
had taken sanctuary in the Temple of Heracles, he sent instantly for his
chief counsellor. This was his Master Builder, who bore a high title in
the land, an ancient priest named Rei. He had served through the long
reign of the King's father, the divine Rameses the Second, and he was
beloved both of Meneptah and of Meriamun his Queen. Him the King charged
to visit the Sanctuary and bring the stranger before him. So Rei called
for his mule, and rode down to the Temple of Heracles beyond the walls.

When Rei came thither, a priest went before him and led him to the
chamber where the warrior chanced to be eating the lily bread of the
land, and drinking the wine of the Delta. He rose as Rei entered, and he
was still clad in his golden armour, for as yet he had not any change
of raiment. Beside him, on a bronze tripod, lay his helmet, the Achæan
helmet, with its two horns and with the bronze spear-point still fast in
the gold.

The eyes of Rei the Priest fell on the helmet, and he gazed so strangely
at it that he scarcely heard the Wanderer's salutation. At length he
answered, courteously, but always his eyes wandered back to the broken
spear-point.

"Is this thine, my son?" he asked, taking it in his hand, while his
voice trembled.

"It is my own," said the Wanderer, "though the spear-point in it
was lent me of late, in return for arrows not a few and certain
sword-strokes," and he smiled.