THE DOOMED PRINCE
THERE once was a king to whom no son was born; and his heart was grieved, and he prayed for himself unto the gods around him for a child. They decreed that one should be born to him. And his wife, after her time was fulfilled, brought forth a son. Then came the Hathors to decree for him a destiny; they said, "His death is to be by the crocodile, or by the serpent, or by the dog." Then the people who stood by heard this, and they went to tell it to his majesty. Then his majesty's heart sickened
14 THE DOOMED PRINCE
very greatly. And his majesty caused a house to be built upon the desert; it was furnished with people and with all good things of the royal house, that the child
THE PRINCE'S HOUSE
should not go abroad. And when the child was grown, he went up upon the roof, and he saw a dog; it was following a man who was walking on the road. He spoke to his
THE DOOMED PRINCE 15