"Haggard, H Rider- Morning Star" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haggard H. Rider)

"If I were wise," said Abi, fingering the hilt of his sword as he
spoke, "you would both of you retire for ever who know all the secret
of my heart, and with a whisper could bring doom upon me."

Now the pair looked at each other with frightened eyes, and, like his
master, the captain began to play with his sword.

"Life is sweet to all men, Prince," he said significantly, "and we
have never given you cause to doubt us."

"No," answered Abi, "had it been otherwise I should have struck first
and spoken afterwards. Only you must swear by the oath which may not
be broken that in life or death no word of this shall pass your lips."

So they swore, both of them, by the holy name of Osiris, the judge and
the redeemer.

"Captain," said Abi, "you have served me well. Your pay is doubled,
and I confirm the promise that I made to you--should I ever rule
yonder you shall be my general."

While the soldier bowed his thanks, the prince said to Kaku,

"Master of the stars, my gold cup is yours. Is there aught else of
mine that you desire?"

"That slave," answered the learned man, "Merytra, whose ears you boxed
just now----"

"How do you know that I boxed her ears?" asked Abi quickly. "Did the
stars tell you that also? Well, I am tired of the sly hussy--take her.
Soon I think she will box yours."

But when Kaku sought Merytra to tell her the glad tidings that she was
his, he could not find her.

Merytra had disappeared.



CHAPTER II

THE PROMISE OF THE GOD

It was morning at Thebes, and the great city glowed in the rays of the
new-risen sun. In a royal barge sat Abi the prince, splendidly
apparelled, and with him Kaku, his astrologer, his captain of the
guard and three other of his officers, while in a second barge
followed slaves who escorted two chiefs and some fair women captured