displayed his helmet with the spear-point fast in it. But when she saw
this Meriamun rose to her feet as if she would be gone, and then fell
back into her seat even paler than before.

"The Queen, help the Queen, she faints," cried Rei the Priest, whose
eyes had never left her face. One of her ladies, a beautiful woman,
ran to her, knelt before her, and chafed her hands, till she came to
herself, and sat up with angry eyes.

"Let be!" she said, "and let the slave who tends the incense be beaten
on the feet. Nay, I will remain here, I will not to my chamber. Let be!"
and her lady drew back afraid.

Then Pharaoh bade men lead the Sidonian out, and slay him in the
market-place for his treachery; but the man, whose name was Kurri, threw
himself at the feet of the Wanderer, praying for his life. The Wanderer
was merciful, when the rage of battle was over, and his blood was cool.

"A boon, O Pharaoh Meneptah," he cried. "Spare me this man! He saved
my own life when the crew would have cast me overboard. Let me pay my
debt."

"Let him be spared, as thou wilt have it so," spoke Pharaoh, "but
revenge dogs the feet of foolish mercy, and many debts are paid ere all
is done."

Thus it chanced that Kurri was given to Meriamun to be her jeweller
and to work for her in gold and silver. To the Wanderer was allotted a
chamber in the Royal Palace, for the Pharaoh trusted that he would be
a leader of his Guard, and took great pleasure in his beauty and his