She turned to awaken Nari, when she heard inside the palace excited words and hurrying feet. Some one ran, barefoot, past her door, calling under his breath upon the gods. At that moment an incisive shriek cut the increasing murmur in the palace and died away in a long shuddering wail of grief.
"Awake, awake, Nari!" Masanath cried, shaking the sleeping woman.
"Something has befallen the city. It is in the palace and everywhere."
Meanwhile a chorus of screams smote upon her ears and the wild outcries of men filled the great palace with terrifying clamor.
Masanath, shaking with dread, wrung her hands and wept. Nari, stupid with fear, sat up and listened.
Presently some one came running and beat, with frenzied hands, upon the door.
"Open! Open! In the name of Osiris!" cried a voice which, though it quaked with consternation, Masanath recognized as her father's.
She flew to the door and wrenched it open. Har-hat, half-dressed, stood before it.
"Father, what manner of sending is this?" she cried.
"Death!" he panted. "Come with me!" He caught her arm and ran, dragging her after him down the corridor, half-lighted, but murmurous with sound.
"What is it, father?" she begged as he hurried her on.