Pagina 120 van 134

He left the study-room and repaired to the apartments of the High

Priest to seek advice and instructions. Then, by the exercise of

his potent will, he made the necessary observations to see if it

were wise to convey the knowledge of the predictions to his

children, Nu-nah and Rathunor.

"Not yet will we send the reading. Our Nu-nah has not

sufficiently recovered to bear any unpleasant news."

Rathunor became impatient and thought, at times, he would write

again--the letter must have been lost--but something withheld

him. At last strange forebodings haunted him. He knew too well

the promptness of the Astrologer Priest; there must be something

that could not be revealed to Nu-nah. He thought he was strong

enough to bear resignedly all that might come, but when it did

come all his forebodings had not prepared him to receive it. It

was only a letter--no calculations--no reading, as indicated by

the stars, was in it. The letter had been dictated by the Priest

and transcribed by the scribe Hermo, and read thus: