“Help me, Amen!” she cried, and flying back, grasped Rames by his left arm just as he was falling over, then set her heels in a crack of the rock and held on.  For one moment she was dragged forward till she thought that she must fall upon her face and be drowned or eaten with Rames, but the next something yielded, and she and the boy tumbled in a heap upon the stones.  They rose and staggered together to the terrace.  As they went Tua saw that Rames was looking at his right hand curiously; also that it was covered with blood, and that the little finger was torn off it.  Then she remembered nothing further, except a sound of shouts and of heavy hammering at the copper door.

When she recovered it was to find herself in the house of Mermes with the lady Asti bending over her and weeping.

“Why do you weep, Nurse?” she asked, “seeing that I am safe?”

“I weep for my son, Princess,” she answered between her sobs.

“Is he dead of his wounds, then, Asti?”

“No, O Morning Star, he lies sick in his chamber.  But soon Pharaoh will kill him because he led her who will be Queen of Egypt into great danger of her life.”

“Not so,” said Tua, springing up, “for he saved my life.”

As she spoke the door opened and in came Pharaoh himself, who had been summoned hastily from the palace.  His face was white and he shook with fear, for it had been reported to him that his only child was drowned.  When he saw that she lived and was not even hurt, he could not contain his joy, but casting his arms about her, sank to his knees giving thanks to the gods and the guardian spirits.  She kissed him, and studying his face with her wise eyes, asked why he was so much afraid.

“Because I thought you had been killed, my daughter.”

“Why did you think that, O my father, seeing that the great god, Amen, before I was born promised to protect me always, though it is true that had it not been for Rames——­”

Now at the mention of this name Pharaoh was filled with rage.

“Speak not of that wicked lad,” he exclaimed, “now or ever more, for he shall be scourged till he dies!”

“My father,” answered Tua, springing up, “forget those words, for if Rames dies I will die also.  It is I who am to blame, not he, for my Ka warned me not to look upon the beast, but to Rames no Ka spoke.  Moreover, when that evil god would have eaten me it was Rames who fought with it and offered himself to its jaws in my place.  Listen, my father, while I tell you all the story.”

So Pharaoh listened, and when it was done he sent for Rames.  Presently the boy was carried in, for he had lost so much blood that he could not walk, and was placed upon a stool before him.

“Slay me now, O Pharaoh,” he said in a weak voice, “for I have sinned.  Moreover, I shall die happy since my spirit gave me strength to beat off the evil beast from the Princess whom I led into trouble.”