Soon there will not be one holy grave in Egypt
that remains undefiled."
"That is so," said a voice from the company. "But four months gone the
deep, deep pit was opened that I had dug in the shadow of the Pyramid of
Cephren, who begat me in the world. There in my chamber I slept alone,
two handfuls of white bones, since when I died they did not preserve
the body with wrappings and with spices. Now I see those bones of mine,
beside which my Double has watched for these five thousand years, hid in
the blackness of a great ship and tossing on a sea that is strewn with
ice."
"It is so," echoed a hundred other voices.
"Then," went on the young king, turning to Menes, "I ask of your Majesty
whether there is no means whereby we may be avenged on those who do us
this foul wrong."
"Let him who has wisdom speak," said the old Pharaoh.
A man of middle age, short in stature and of a thoughtful brow, who held
in his hand a wand and wore the feathers and insignia of the heir to the
throne of Egypt and of a high priest of Amen, moved to the steps. Smith
knew him at once from his statues. He was Khaemuas, son of Rameses the
Great, the mightiest magician that ever was in Egypt, who of his own
will withdrew himself from earth before the time came that he should sit
upon the throne.
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