A woman who led three asses laden with green barley and vegetables,
which she purposed to sell in the market-place, fell into talk with
them, asking them whence they came.
Asti answered, from the city of Meroe, adding that they were singers and
dealers in pearls.
"Then you have come to the right place," answered the woman, "for pearls
are rare at Napata, which is so far from the sea; also it is said that
the young King loves singing if it be good."
"The young King?" asked Asti. "What is his name, and where is the old
king?"
"You cannot have dwelt long in Meroe, Strangers," answered the woman
suspiciously, "or you would know that the old King dwells with Osiris
beneath yonder pyramid, where the general of the Pharaoh of Egypt,
he who rules here now, buried him after the great battle. Oh! it is a
strange story, and I do not know the rights of it who sell my stuff and
take little heed of such things. But at the last high Nile before one
this general came with three thousand soldiers of Egypt, and the body
of the Prince of Kesh, whom it seems he had slain somewhere, it is said
because both of them sought the favour of the Queen of Egypt.
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