“The officer heard and fell back, but made no answer, for he was afraid.
“‘What seek you in this holy place, O men of blood, and who sent you here?’ went on Roy.
“Then the officer found courage to answer.
“‘Apepi the Pharaoh, whose servants we are, sent us, and our mission is to capture Nefra, the daughter of Kheperra, once King of the South, and to put to the sword the company of the Priests of the Dawn.’
“‘Capture Nefra, the anointed Queen of the Two Lands, if you can find her, Man, and put the priests of the Order of the Dawn to the sword, if you can find them. Search the tombs and search the desert, and when you find them put them to the sword, and bear back the heads of the dead to Apepi, the Shepherd dog whom you call a king, and with them the living beauty of Nefra, her Majesty of Egypt.’
“They made no answer and Roy went on:
“‘Search, search, to find naught but wind and sand. Search till the Sword of God falls upon you, as fall it will.’
“Now, Lord, it would seem as though that officer drew courage out of the depths of his terrors, for he shouted back:
“‘At least, old Prophet, you are neither God nor his Sword, and for you there is no need to search. You we will take to Pharaoh Apepi, that, yet living, he may hang you as a cheat and a wizard above the gates of Tanis.’
“Now Roy arose from his throne and, terrible to behold, stood in the fierce light of the setting sun. Slowly he raised his wand and pointed with it at that officer, saying in a cold, clear voice: