Morning Star | Page 8

while on the
great embattled walls the watchmen called the hour from post to post.
It was a wondrous scene, and the heart of Abi swelled as he gazed upon
it. What wealth lay yonder, and what power. There was the glorious
house of his brother, Pharaoh, the god in human form who for all his
godship had never a child to follow after him when he ascended to
Osiris, as he who was sickly probably must do before so very long.
Yes, but before then a miracle might happen; in this way or in that a
successor to the throne might be found and acknowledged, for were not
Pharaoh and his House beloved by all the priests of Amen, and by the
people, and was not he, Abi, feared and disliked because he was fierce,
and the hated savage blood flowed in his veins? Oh! what evil god had
put it in his father's heart to give him a princess of the Hyksos for a
mother, the Hyksos, whom the Egyptians loathed, when he had the
fairest women of the world from whom to choose? Well, it was done
and could not be undone, though because of it he might lose his
heritage of the greatest throne in all the earth. Also was it not to this
fierce Hyksos blood that he owed his strength and vigour?
Why should he wait? Why should he not set his fortune on a cast? He
had three hundred soldiers with him, picked men and brave, children of
the sea and the desert, sworn to his House and interests. It was a time of
festival, those gates were ill-guarded. Why should he not force them at
the dead of night, make his way to the palace, cause Pharaoh to be

gathered to his fathers, and at the dawn discover himself seated upon
Pharaoh's throne? At the thought of it Abi's heart leapt in his breast, his
wide nostrils spread themselves, and he erected his strong head as
though already he felt upon it the weight of the double crown. Then he
turned and walked back to the pavilion.
"I am minded to strike a blow," he said. "Say now, my officer, would
you and the soldiers follow me into the heart of yonder city to-night to
win a throne--or a grave? If it were the first, you should be the general
of all my army, and you, astrologer, should become vizier, yes, after
Pharaoh you two should be the greatest men in all the land."
They looked at him and gasped.
"A venturesome deed, Prince," said the captain at length; "yet with
such a prize to win I think that I would dare it, though for the soldiers I
cannot speak. First they must be told what is on foot, and out of so
many, how know we that the heart of one or more would not fail? A
word from a traitor and before this time to-morrow the embalmers, or
the jackals, would be busy."
Abi heard and looked from him to his companion.
"Prince," said Kaku, "put such thoughts from you. Bury them deep. Let
them rise no more. In the heavens I read something of this business, but
then I did not understand, but now I see the black depths of hell
opening beneath our feet. Yes, hell would be our home if we dared to
lift hand against the divine person of the Pharaoh. I say that the gods
themselves would fight against us. Let it be, Prince, let it be, and you
shall have many years of rule, who, if you strike now, will win nothing
but a crown of shame, a nameless grave, and the everlasting torment of
the damned."
As he spoke Abi considered the man's face and saw that all craft had
left it. This was no charlatan that spoke to him, but one in earnest who
believed what he said.
"So be it," he answered. "I accept your judgment, and will wait upon

my fortune. Moreover, you are both right, the thing is too dangerous,
and evil often falls on the heads of those who shoot arrows at a god,
especially if they have not enough arrows. Let Pharaoh live on while I
make ready. Perhaps to-morrow I may work upon him to name me his
heir."
The astrologer sighed in relief, nor did the captain seem disappointed.
"My head feels firmer on my shoulders than it did just now," he said:
"and doubtless there are times when wisdom is better than valour. Sleep
well, Prince; Pharaoh will receive you to-morrow two hours after
sunrise. Have we your leave to retire?"
"If I were wise," said Abi, fingering the hilt of his sword as he spoke,
"you would both of you retire for ever who know