"
"It is well," answered Tua. "I thank you and the gods shall give you
your reward. Leave us, and go back to your homes, but before you go,
take a gift from me."
Then she sent for the gold that they had gathered in their trading
in the city of Tat, and gave it to be divided among them, a great and
precious treasure. Only the pearls she kept, with a little of the gold.
So the captains saluted her, and in the mists of the morning they and
their swarthy host stole away, and soon were hidden in a cloud of dust.
From the backs of their camels Tua and Asti watched them go like a dream
of the night. Then with no word spoken between them, for their lips were
sealed with hope and wonder, wrapping themselves in their dark cloaks,
they rode down to the highway by the banks of the Nile, which led to the
walls of Napata. Mingling with other travellers, they passed through the
Field of Pyramids, and coming to the beautiful northern gate that was
covered over with gold, waited there, for this gate was not yet opened.
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