The dwarf bid the old woman farewell, and she let him kiss her without moving.  When he was gone, she listened eagerly for any sound that might pierce the silence of the night, her eyes shone with a keen light, and a thousand thoughts flew through her restless brain.  When she heard the second signal on Katuti’s silver whistle, she sat upright and muttered: 

“That gallows-bird Paaker, his vain aunt and that villain Ani, are no match for Rameses, even when he is asleep.  Ani’s hawk is dead; he has nothing to hope for from Fortune, and I nothing to hope for from him.  But if Rameses—­if the real king would promise me—­then my poor old body —­Yes, that is the thing, that is what I will do.”

She painfully raised herself on her feet with the help of her stick, she found a knife and a small flask which she slipped into her dress, and then, bent and trembling, with a last effort of her remaining strength she dragged herself as far as Nemu’s tent.  Here she found Uarda bound hand and foot, and Kaschta lying on the ground in a heavy drunken slumber.

The girl shrank together in alarm when she saw the old woman, and Scherau, who crouched at her side, raised his hands imploringly to the witch.

“Take this knife, boy,” she said to the little one.  “Cut the ropes the poor thing is tied with.  The papyrus cords are strong, saw them with the blade.”

     [Papyrus was used not only for writing on, but also for ropes.  The
     bridge of boats on which Xerxes crossed the Hellespont was fastened
     with cables of papyrus.]

While the boy eagerly followed her instructions with all his little might, she rubbed the soldier’s temples with an essence which she had in the bottle, and poured a few drops of it between his lips.  Kaschta came to himself, stretched his limbs, and stared in astonishment at the place in which he found himself.  She gave him some water, and desired him to drink it, saying, as Uarda shook herself free from the bonds: 

“The Gods have predestined you to great things, you white maiden.  Listen to what I, old Hekt, am telling you.  The king’s life is threatened, his and his children’s; I purpose to save them, and I ask no reward but this-that he should have my body embalmed and interred at Thebes.  Swear to me that you will require this of him when you have saved him.”

“In God’s name what is happening?” cried Uarda.  “Swear that you will provide for my burial,” said the old woman.

“I swear it!” cried the girl.  “But for God’s sake—­”

“Katuti, Paaker, and Nemu are gone to set fire to the palace when Rameses is sleeping, in three places.  Do you hear, Kaschta!  Now hasten, fly after the incendiaries, rouse the servants, and try to rescue the king.”

“Oh fly, father,” cried the girl, and they both rushed away in the darkness.

“She is honest and will keep her word,” muttered Hekt, and she tried to drag herself back to her own tent; but her strength failed her half-way.  Little Scherau tried to support her, but he was too weak; she sank down on the sand, and looked out into the distance.  There she saw the dark mass of the palace, from which rose a light that grew broader and broader, then clouds of black smoke, then up flew the soaring flame, and a swarm of glowing sparks.