“You speak riddles,” said Paaker, “what have they to fear?”

The dwarf now related how Nefert’s brother had gambled away the mummy of his father, how enormous was the sum he had lost, and that degradation must overtake Katuti, and her daughter with her.

“Who can save them,” he whimpered.  “Her shameless husband squanders his inheritance and his prize-money.  Katuti is poor, and the little words “Give me! scare away friends as the cry of a hawk scares the chickens.  My poor mistress!”

“It is a large sum,” muttered Paaker to himself.  “It is enormous!” sighed the dwarf, “and where is it to be found in these hard times?  It would have been different with us, if—­ah if—.  And it would be a form of madness which I do not believe in, that Nefert should still care for her braggart husband.  She thinks as much of thee as of him.”

Paaker looked at the dwarf half incredulous and half threatening.

“Ay—­of thee,” repeated Nemu.  “Since our excursion to the Necropolis the day before yesterday it was—­she speaks only of thee, praising thy ability, and thy strong manly spirit.  It is as if some charm obliged her to think of thee.”

The pioneer began to walk so fast that his small companion once more had to ask him to moderate his steps.

They gained the shore in silence, where Paaker’s boat was waiting, which also conveyed his chariot.  He lay down in the little cabin, called the dwarf to him, and said: 

“I am Katuti’s nearest relative; we are now reconciled; why does she not turn to me in her difficulty?”

“Because she is proud, and thy blood flows in her veins.  Sooner would she die with her child—­she said so—­than ask thee, against whom she sinned, for an “alms.”

“She did think of me then?”

“At once; nor did she doubt thy generosity.  She esteems thee highly—­I repeat it; and if an arrow from a Cheta’s bow or a visitation of the Gods attained Mena, she would joyfully place her child in thine arms, and Nefert believe me has not forgotten her playfellow.  The day before yesterday, when she came home from the Necropolis, and before the letter had come from the camp, she was full of thee—­

   ["To be full (meh) of any one” is used in the Egyptian language for
   “to be in love with any one.”]

nay called to thee in her dreams; I know it from Kandake, her black maid.”  The pioneer looked down and said: 

“How extraordinary! and the same night I had a vision in which your mistress appeared to me; the insolent priest in the temple of Hathor should have interpreted it to me.”

“And he refused? the fool! but other folks understand dreams, and I am not the worst of them—­Ask thy servant.  Ninety-nine times out of a hundred my interpretations come true.  How was the vision?”