They reached the square
without, and at the command of Kepher entered into a litter, and were
borne by black slaves whither they knew not.
All that night they were borne, awake or sleeping, till at length the
morning came, and they descended from the litter to find themselves in
an oasis of the wilderness surrounded by a vast army of the desert men.
Of the city of Tat they could see nothing; like a dream it had passed
out of their lives, nor did they ever hear of it and its king again.
Only in the pavilion that had been provided for them they found their
pearls and gold, and Tua's ivory harp.
They laid themselves down and slept, for they were very weary, only to
wake when once more the day had dawned. Then they rose and ate of the
food that had been placed by them, and went out of the tent. In the
shadow of some palm trees stood Kepher, awaiting them, and with him
certain of the stern-faced, desert chiefs, who bowed as they advanced.
"Hearken, Lady Neferte, and you, O Asti her companion," said Kepher to
them, "I must depart, who, this matter finished, have my bread to beg
far from here.
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