With a yell
the troops of Abi rushed through the gate, killing as they came. Now,
surrounded by all who remained to her, not a dozen men, they were driven
back through the inner courts, through the halls, to the pylon stairs.
Here the last stand was made. Step by step they held the stairs, till
at length there were left upon their feet only Tua, Asti and Mermes, her
husband, who was sorely wounded in many places. At the little landing
between the rooms of the Queen and Asti while the assailants paused a
moment, the Captain Mermes, mad with grief and pain, turned and kissed
his wife. Next he bowed before the Queen, saying:
"What a man may do, I have done to save your Majesty. Now I go to make
report to Pharaoh, leaving you in charge of Amen, who shall protect you,
and to Rames, my son, the heritage of vengeance. Farewell, O Daughter of
Amen, till I see your star rise in the darkness of the Under-World, and
to you, beloved wife, farewell."
Then, uttering the war-cry of his fathers, those Pharaohs who once had
ruled in Egypt, the tall and noble Mermes grasped his sword in both his
hands, and rushed upon the advancing foe, slaying and slaying until he
himself was slain.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228