no crown save a plain band of gold, from the centre of which rose the
snake-headed _uraeus_ crest.

"Your Majesties who came after me," said the old man, "I am Menes, the
first of the accepted Pharaohs of Egypt, although many of those who went
before me were more truly kings than I. Yet as the first who joined
the Upper and the Lower Lands, and took the royal style and titles, and
ruled as well as I could rule, it is given to me to talk with you for
a while this night whereon our spirits are permitted to gather from the
uttermost parts of the uttermost worlds and see each other face to face.
First, in darkness and in secret, let us speak of the mystery of the
gods and of its meanings. Next, in darkness and in secret, let us speak
of the mystery of our lives, of whence they come, of where they tarry by
the road, and whither they go at last. And afterwards, let us speak of
other matters face to face in light and openness, as we were wont to do
when we were men. Then hence to Thebes, there to celebrate our yearly
festival. Is such your will?"

"Such is our will," they answered.



It seemed to Smith that dense darkness fell upon the place, and with
it a silence that was awful. For a time that he could not reckon, that
might have been years or might have been moments, he sat there in the
utter darkness and the utter silence.

At length the light came again, first as a blue spark, then in upward
pouring rays, and lastly pervading all. There stood Menes on the steps,
and there in front of him was gathered the same royal throng.