Uarda : a Romance of Ancient Egypt — Volume 06 by Georg Ebers
page 68 of 79 (86%)
page 68 of 79 (86%)
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but he perceived the glimmer of his little fire through the dust and
gloom, and he knew that he lived in this place. The whole case struck him at once; he whispered a few significant words to one of the officers who marched with the troops on each side of the procession; then he gave the signal, and the procession moved on as if nothing had happened. The old man tried with still more loud and crazy laughter to reach and seize the heart, but the crowd kept him back; and while the last groups passed on after the priests, he contrived to slip back as far as the door of his hovel, though much damaged and hurt. There he fell, and Uarda rushed out and threw herself over the old man, who lay on the earth, scarcely recognizable in the dust and darkness. "Crush the scoffer!" "Tear him in pieces!" "Burn down the foul den!" "Throw him and the wench into the fire!" shouted the people who had been disturbed in their devotions, with wild fury. Two old women snatched the lanterns froth the posts, and flung them at the unfortunate creatures, while an Ethiopian soldier seized Uarda by the hair, and tore her away from her grandfather. At this moment Pinem's wife appeared, and with her Pentaur. She had found not Nebsecht, but Pentaur, who had returned to the temple after his speech. She had told him of the demon who had fallen upon her husband, |
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