In the palace at Thebes!  Why, now she remembered that it was months since she had seen that royal city, she who had travelled far since then, and come at last to white-walled Memphis, where many terrible things had befallen her.  One by one they came into her mind; the snare, Pharaoh’s murder by magic, the battle, and the slaughter of her guards, the starvation in the tower, with death on one hand, and the hateful Abi on the other; the wondrous vision of that spirit who wore her face, and said she was the guardian Ka given to her at birth, the words it spoke, and her dread resolve; and last of all Asti and herself standing in the lofty window niche, then a flame of fire before her face, and that fearful downward rush.

Oh! without a doubt it was over; she was dead, and these dreams and memories were such as come to the dwellers in the Under-world.  Only then why did she hear the sound of lapping water, and of dipping oars?

Very slowly she opened her eyes, for Tua greatly feared what she might see.  Light flowed upon her, the light of the moon which hung in a clear sky like some great lamp of gold.  By it she saw that, robed all in white, she lay upon a couch in a pavilion, whereof the silken curtains were drawn back in front, and tied to gilded posts.  At her side, wrapped in a grey robe, lay another figure, which she knew for Asti.  It was still, so still that she was sure it must be dead, yet she knew that this was Asti.  Perchance Asti dreamed also, and could hear in her dreams; at least, she would speak to her.

“Asti,” she whispered, “Asti, can you hear me?”

The grey figure at her side stirred, and the head turned towards her.  Then the voice of Asti, none other, answered: 

“Aye, Lady, I hear and see.  But say, where are we now?”

“In the Under-world, I think, Asti.  Oh! that fire was death, and now we journey to the Place of Souls.”

“If so, Lady, it is strange that we should still have eyes and flesh and voices as mortal women have.  Let us sit up and look.”

So they sat up, their arms about each other, and peered through the open curtains.  Behold! they were on a ship more beautiful than any they had ever seen, for it seemed to be covered with gold and silver, while sweet odours floated from its hold.  Their pavilion was set in the centre of the ship and looking aft, they perceived lines of white-clad rowers seated at their oars in the shadow of the bulwarks, and on the high stern—­also robed in white—­a tall steersman whose face was veiled, behind whom in the dim glimpses of the moon, they caught sight of a wide and silvery river, and on its distant banks palms and temple towers.

“It is the Boat of Ra,” murmured Tua, “which bears us down the River of Death to the Kingdom behind the Sun.”

Then she sank back upon her cushions, and once more fell into swoon or sleep.

Tua woke again, and lo! the sun was shining brightly, and at her side sat Asti watching her.  Moreover, in front of them was set a table spread with delicate food.