ThenonceagainthewaveofWarrolledinuponthem，andthestrifegrewfierceanddesperate。Theironhedgeofspearswaswell-nighbroken，andnowtheWanderer，doingsuchdeedsashadnotbeenknowninKhem，stoodalonebetweenMeriamuntheQueenandtheswordsthatthirstedforherlifeandthelifeofPharaoh。Thenofasudden，fromfardownthegreathallofbanquets，therecamealoudcrythatshrilledabovetheclashofswords，thegroansofmen，andallthedinofbattle。
“/Pharaoh！Pharaoh！Pharaoh！/“roseavoice。“Nowwiltthouletthepeoplego？“
Thenhewhosmotestayedhishandandhewhoguardeddroppedhisshield。Thebattleceasedandallturnedtolook。Thereattheendofthehall，amongthedeadanddying，therestoodthetwoancientmenoftheApura，andintheirhandswerecedarrods。
“ItistheWizards——theWizardsoftheApura，“mencried，andshrunkthiswayandthat，thinkingnomoreonwar。
Theancientmendrewnigh。Theytooknoheedofthedyingorthedead:
ontheywalked，throughbloodandwineandfallentablesandscatteredarms，tilltheystoodbeforethePharaoh。
“/Pharaoh！Pharaoh！Pharaoh！/“theycriedagain。“Deadarethefirst-
bornofKhematthehandofJahveh。Wiltthouletthepeoplego？“
ThenPharaohliftedhisfaceandcried:
“Getyougone——youandallthatisyours。Getyougoneswiftly，andletKhemseeyourfacenomore。“
Thepeopleheard，andthelivingleftthehall，andsilencefellonthecity，andonthedeadwhodiedofthesword，andthedeadwhodiedofthepestilence。Silencefell，andsleep，andtheGods’bestgift——
forgetfulness。
Evenoutofthisnightofdreadthemorningrose，andwithitcameRei，bearingamessagefromtheKing。ButhedidnotfindtheWandererinhischamber。ThePalaceeunuchssaidthathehadrisenandhadaskedforKurri，theCaptainoftheSidonians，whowasnowtheQueen’sJeweller。ThitherReiwent，forKurriwaslodgedwiththeservantsinacourtoftheRoyalHouse，andastheoldmancameheheardthesoundofhammersbeatingonmetal。There，intheshadowwhichthePalacewallcastintoalittlecourt，therewastheWanderer；nolongerinhisgoldenmail，butwithbarearms，anddressedinsuchalightsmockastheworkmenofKhemwerewonttowear。
TheWandererwasbendingoverasmallbrazier，whenceaflameandalightbluesmokearoseandmeltedintothemorninglight。Inhishandheheldasmallhammer，andhehadalittleanvilbyhim，onwhichlayoneofthegoldenshoulder-platesofhisarmour。Theotherpieceswereheapedbesidethebrazier。Kurri，theSidonian，stoodbesidehim，withgravingtoolsinhishands。
“Hailtothee，Eperitus，“criedRei，callinghimbythenamehehadchosentogivehimself。“Whatmakestthouherewithfireandanvil？“
“Iambutfurbishingupmyarmour，“saidtheWanderer，smiling。“Ithasmorethanonedintfromthefightinthehall；“andhepointedtohisshield，whichwasdeeplyscarredacrosstheblazonoftheWhiteBull，thecognizanceofdeadParis，Priam’sson。“Sidonian，blowupthefire。“
Kurricrouchedonhishamsandblewtheblazetoawhiteheatwithapairofleathernbellows，whiletheWandererfittedtheplatesandhammeredatthemontheanvil，makingthejointuressmoothandstrong，talkingmeanwhilewithRei。
“Strangeworkforaprince，asthoumustbeinAlybas，whencethoucomest，“quothRei，leaningonhislongrodofcedar，headedwithanappleofbluestone。“Inourcountrychiefsdonotlabourwiththeirhands。“
“Differentlands，differentways，“answeredEperitus。“Inmycountrymenwednottheirsistersasyourkingsdo，though，indeed，itcomesintomymindthatonceImetsuchbridesinmywanderingsintheisleoftheKingoftheWinds。“
Forthethoughtofthe？olianisle，whereKing？olusgavehimallthewindsinabag，cameintohismemory。
“Myhandscanservemeineveryneed，“hewenton。“Mowingthedeepgreengrassinspring，ordrivingoxen，orcuttingacleanfurrowwiththeploughinheavysoil，orbuildinghousesandships，ordoingsmith’sworkwithgoldandbronzeandgreyiron——theyareallonetome。“
“Ortheworkofwar，“saidRei。“ForthereIhaveseentheelabour。
Now，listen，thouWanderer，theKingMeneptahandtheQueenMeriamunsendmetotheewiththisscrolloftheirwill，“andhedrewfortharollofpapyrus，boundwithgoldenthreads，andhelditonhisforehead，bowing，asifheprayed。
“Whatisthatrollofthine？“saidtheWanderer，whowashammeringatthebronzespear-point，thatstoodfastinhishelm。
Reiundidthegoldenthreadsandopenedthescroll，whichhegaveintotheWanderer’shand。
“Gods！Whathavewehere？“saidtheWanderer。“Herearepictures，tinyandcunninglydrawn，serpentsinred，andlittlefiguresofmensittingorstanding，axesandsnakesandbirdsandbeetles！Myfather，whattokensarethese？“andhegavethescrollbacktoRei。
“TheKinghasmadehisChiefScribewritetothee，namingtheeCaptainoftheLegionofPasht，theGuardoftheRoyalHouse，forlastnighttheCaptainwasslain。Hegivestheeahightitle，andhepromisestheehouses，lands，andacityoftheSouthtofurnishtheewithwine，andacityoftheNorthtofurnishtheewithcorn，ifthouwiltbehisservant。“
“NeverhaveIservedanyman，“saidtheWanderer，flushingred，“thoughIwentneartobeingsoldandtoknowingthedayofslavery。
TheKingdoesmetoomuchhonour。“
“ThouwouldestfainbegonefromKhem？“askedtheoldman，eagerly。
“IwouldfainfindherIcametoseek，wherevershemaybe，“saidtheWanderer。“Hereorotherwhere。“
“Then，whatanswershallIcarrytotheKing？“
“Timebringsthought，“saidtheWanderer；“Iwouldseethecityifthouwiltguideme。ManycitieshaveIseen，butnonesogreatasthis。AswewalkIwillconsidermyanswertoyourKing。“
Hehadbeenworkingathishelmashespoke，fortherestofhisarmourwasnowmended。Hehaddrawnoutthesharpspear-headofbronze，andwasbalancingitinhishandandtryingitsedge。
“Agoodblade，“hesaid；“betterwasneverhammered。Itwentneartodoingitswork，Sidonian，“andheturnedtoKurriashespoke。“TwothingsofthineIhad:thylifeandthyspear-point。ThylifeIgavethee，thyspear-pointthoudidstlendme。Here，takeitagain，“andhetossedthespear-headtotheQueen’sJeweller。
“Ithankthee，lord，“answeredtheSidonian，thrustingitinhisgirdle；buthemutteredbetweenhisteeth，“Thegiftsofenemiesaregiftsofevil。“
TheWandererdidonhismail，setthehelmetonhishead，andspoketoRei。“Comeforth，friend，andshowmethycity。“
ButReiwaswatchingthesmileonthefaceoftheSidonian，andhedeemeditcruelandcraftyandwarlike，likethelaughoftheSardanaofthesea。Hesaidnought，butcalledaguardofsoldiers，andwiththeWandererhepassedthePalacegatesandwentoutintothecity。
Thesightwasstrange，anditwasnotthusthattheoldman，wholovedhisland，wouldhavehadtheWandererseeit。
Fromallthewealthyhouses，andfrommanyofthepoorersort，rangthewailofthewomenmournersastheysangtheirdirgesforthedead。
Butinthemeanerquartersmanyahovelwasmarkedwiththreesmearsofblood，dashedoneachpillarofthedoorandonthelintel；andthesoundthatcamefromthesedwellingswasthecryofmirthandfestival。Thereweretwopeoples；onelaughed，onelamented。Andinandoutofthehousesmarkedwiththesplashesofbloodwomenwereevergoingwithemptyhands，orcomingwithhandsfullofjewels，ofgold，ofsilverrings，ofcups，andpurplestuffs。Emptytheywentout，ladentheycamein，darkmenandwomenwithkeenblackeyesandthefeaturesofbirdsofprey。Theywent，theycame，theyclamouredwithdelightamongthemourningofthemenandwomenofKhem，andnonelaidahandonthem，nonerefusedthem。
OnetallfellowsnatchedatthestaffofRei。
“Lendmethystaff，oldman，“hesaid，sneering；“lendmethyjewelledstaffformyjourney。Idobutborrowit；whenYak？bcomesfromthedesertthoushalthaveitagain。“
ButtheWandererturnedonthefellowwithsuchaglancethathefellback。
“Ihaveseen/thee/before，“hesaid，andhelaughedoverhisshoulderashewent；“Isawtheelastnightatthefeast，andheardthygreatbowsing。ThouartnotofthefolkofKhem。Theyareagentlefolk，andYak？bwinsfavourintheirsight。“
“Whatpassesnowinthishauntedlandofthine，oldman？“saidtheWanderer，“forofallthesightsthatIhaveseen，thisisthestrangest。Noneliftsahandtosavehisgoodsfromthethief。“
ReithePriestgroanedaloud。
“EvildayshavecomeuponKhem，“hesaid。“TheApuraspoilthepeopleofKhemeretheyflyintotheWilderness。“
Evenashespoketherecameagreatladyweeping，forherhusbandwasdead，andhersonandherbrother，allweregoneinthebreathofthepestilence。ShewasoftheRoyalHouse，andrichlydeckedwithgoldandjewels，andtheslaveswhofannedher，asshewenttotheTempleofPtahtoworship，woregoldchainsupontheirnecks。TwowomenoftheApurasawherandrantoher，crying:
“Lendtousthosegoldenornamentsthouwearest。“
Then，withoutaword，shetookhergoldbraceletsandchainsandrings，andletthemallfallinaheapatherfeet。ThewomenoftheApuratookthemallandmockedher，crying:
