and in the name of that Spirit whom they worshipped, he blessed them, giving them to each other, uniting them to all eternity, on earth and beyond the earth.
So it was finished.
Nefra and Khian stood together gazing by the light of the moon at the mighty mass of the Pyramid of Ur.
"Our holiday is done, Wife," he said, "and to-morrow, ceasing to be but a Brother and a Sister of the Dawn, we must become the rulers of Egypt united at last from the Cataracts to the sea. Strange has been our lot since first side by side we looked upon yonder pyramid. Yet, Beloved, I think that the Strength which preserved us through so many perils and now, from sickness and the gates of death has brought me with joy to those of health, will be with us in the years to come."
"So Roy the holy prophesied, and in him, if in any man, lived the spirit of Truth, Husband. At least, thanking the gods for what they have given us, let us go straight forward in humility, remembering that though we be King and Queen of Egypt, first and foremost we remain Brother and Sister of the Dawn, sworn to its holy faith and to the service of mankind."
At that moment this royal pair heard a sound behind them and, turning, beheld the lean and withered Sheik of the Pyramids.
"Would your Majesties wish to ascend?" he said, bowing and pointing to the mass of Ur. "The moon is very clear and there is no wind; also I desire to show Pharaoh the spot whence those accursed cliff-climbers rolled to their doom on the day of his escape."
"Nay, Captain," answered Khian, "of Ur I have had enough who am lamed for life. Henceforth be you its king."
"And its spirit also," added Nefra, "for no more may I stand upon the crests of pyramids who am doomed to a dizzier pinnacle of power. Farewell, you gallant man. Our thanks be yours with all you seek and we can give."
Then Khian and Nefra turned and, hand clasped in hand, wandered back to where Ru and Kemmah waited with the escort to accompany them to the vessel that made ready to sail with the night wind.
"Now," said Kemmah the white-haired to Ru the mighty Ethiop, "now I understand the meaning of the vision that I saw when yonder Queen was born, and why the goddesses of Egypt gave to her the name of Uniter of Lands."
"Yes," answered Ru, "and I understand why the gods of Ethiopia gave me a good axe and the strength to use it well on a certain Theban stairway."
THE END
The World’s Desire
CHAPTER 2 THE VISION OF THE WORLD'S DESIRE
CHAPTER 3 THE SLAYING OF THE SIDONIANS
CHAPTER 6 THE STORY OF MERIAMUN
CHAPTER 8 THE KA, THE BAI, AND THE KHOU
CHAPTER 1 THE PROPHETS OF THE APURA
CHAPTER 6 THE WARDENS OF THE GATE
CHAPTER 7 THE SHADOW IN THE SUNLIGHT
CHAPTER 8 THE LOOSING OF THE SPIRIT OF REI
CHAPTER 9 THE WAKING OF THE SLEEPER
CHAPTER 10 THE OATH OF THE WANDERER
CHAPTER 11 THE WAKING OF THE WANDERER
CHAPTER 1 THE VENGEANCE OF KURRI
CHAPTER 2 THE COMING OF PHARAOH
CHAPTER 5 THE VOICE OF THE DEAD
CHAPTER 6 THE BURNING OF THE SHRINE
CHAPTER 7 THE LAST FLIGHT OF ODYSSEUS, LAERTES' SON
CHAPTER 8 "TILL ODYSSEUS COMES!"
BOOK I
CHAPTER 1
THE SILENT ISLE
Across the wide backs of the waves, beneath the mountains, and between the islands, a ship came stealing from the dark into the dusk, and from the dusk into the dawn. The ship had but one mast, one broad brown sail with a star embroidered on it in gold; her stem and stern were built high, and curved like a bird’s beak; her prow was painted scarlet, and she was driven by oars as well as by the western wind.
A man stood alone on the half-deck at the bows, a