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and pressed her down into the deep； whence she rose no more。
So she sank with all her crew。 And in that same storm also sank the
galley which Cleopatra had sent to search for the Syrian merchant。
Thus all traces of me were lost； and of a surety she believed that I
was dead。
But I rode on toward the shore。 The wind shrieked and the salt waves
lashed my face as； alone with the tempest； I rushed upon my way； while
the sea…birds screamed about my head。 I felt no fear； but rather a
wild uplifting of the heart； and in the stress of my imminent peril
the love of life seemed to waken again。 And so I plunged and drifted；
now tossed high toward the lowering clouds； now cast into the deep
valleys of the sea； till at length the rocky headland loomed before
me； and I saw the breakers smite upon the stubborn rocks； and through
the screaming of the wind heard the sullen thunder of their fall and
the groan of stones sucked seaward from the beach。 On！ high…throned
upon the mane of a mighty billowfifty cubits beneath me the level of
the hissing waters； above me the inky sky！ It was done！ The spar was
torn from me； and； dragged downwards by the weight of the bag of gold
and the clinging of my garments； I sank struggling furiously。
Now I was underthe green light for a moment streamed through the
waters； and then came darkness； and on the darkness pictures of the
past。 Picture after pictureall the long scene of life was written
here。 Then in my ears I only heard the song of the nightingale； the
murmur of the summer sea； and the music of Cleopatra's laugh of
victory； following me softly and yet more soft as I sank away to
sleep。
Once more my life came back； and with it a sense of deadly sickness
and of aching pain。 I opened my eyes and saw a kind face bending over
me； and knew that I was in the room of a builded house。
〃How came I hither？〃 I asked faintly。
〃Of a truth； Poseidon brought thee； Stranger；〃 answered a rough voice
in barbarous Greek； 〃we found thee cast high upon the beach like a
dead dolphin and brought thee to our house； for we are fisher…folk。
And here； methinks； thou must lie a while； for thy left leg is broken
by the force of the waves。〃
I strove to move my foot and could not。 It was true； the bone was
broken above the knee。
〃Who art thou； and how art thou named？〃 asked the rough…bearded
sailor。
〃I am an Egyptian traveller whose ship has sunk in the fury of the
gale； and I am named Olympus；〃 I answered； for these people called a
mountain that we had sighted Olympus； and therefore I took the name at
hazard。 And as Olympus I was henceforth known。
Here with these rough fisher…folk I abode for the half of a year；
paying them a little out of the sum of gold that had come safely
ashore upon me。 For it was long before my bones grew together again；
and then I was left somewhat of a cripple； for I； who had been so tall
and straight and strong； now limpedone limb being shorter than the
other。 And after I recovered from my hurt； I still lived there； and
toiled with them at the trade of fishing； for I knew not whither I
should go or what I should do； and； for a while； I was fain to become
a peasant fisherman； and so wear my weary life away。 And these people
entreated me kindly； though； as others； they feared me much； holding
me to be a wizard brought hither by the sea。 For my sorrows had
stamped so strange an aspect on my face that men gazing at me grew
fearful of what lay beneath its calm。
There； then； I abode； till at length； one night as I lay and strove to
sleep； great restlessness came upon me； and a mighty desire once more
to see the face of Sihor。 But whether this desire was of the Gods or
born of my own heart； not knowing； I cannot tell。 So strong was it； at
the least； that before it was dawn I rose from my bed of straw and
clothed myself in my fisher garb； and； because I had no wish to answer
questions； thus I took farewell of my humble hosts。 First I placed
some pieces of gold on the well…cleaned table of wood； and then taking
a pot of flour I strewed it in the form of letters； writing：
〃This gift from Olympus； the Egyptian； who returns into the sea。〃
Then I went； and on the third day I came to the great city of Salamis；
that is also on the sea。 Here I abode in the fishermen's quarters till
a vessel was about to sail for Alexandria； and to the captain of this
vessel； a man of Paphos； I hired myself as a sailor。 We sailed with a
favouring wind； and on the fifth day I came to Alexandria； that
hateful city； and saw the light dancing on its golden domes。
Here I might not abide。 So again I hired myself out as a sailor；
giving my labour in return for passage； and we passed up the Nile。 And
I learned from the talk of men that Cleopatra had come back to
Alexandria； drawing Antony with her and that they lived together with
royal state in the palace on the Lochias。 Indeed； the boatmen already
had a song thereon； which they sang as they laboured at the oar。 Also
I heard how the galley that was sent to search for the vessel which
carried the Syrian merchant had foundered with all her crew； and the
tale that the Queen's astronomer； Harmachis； had flown to Heaven from
the roof of the house at Tarsus。 And the sailors wondered because I
sat and laboured and would not sing their ribald song of the loves of
Cleopatra。 For they； too； began to fear me； and mutter concerning me
among themselves。 Then I knew that I was a man accursed and set apart
a man whom none might love。
On the sixth day we drew nigh to Abouthis； where I left the craft； and
the sailors were right glad to see me go。 And； with a breaking heart；
I walked through the fertile fields； seeing faces that I knew well。
But in my rough disguise and limping gait none knew me。 At length； as
the sun sank； I came near to the great outer pylon of the temple； and
here I crouched down in the ruins of a house； not knowing why I had
come or what I was about to do。 Like a lost ox I had strayed from far；
back to the fields of my birth； and for what？ If my father； Amenemhat；
still lived； surely he would turn his face from me。 I dared not go
into the presence of my father。 I sat hidden there among the broken
rafters； and idly watched the pylon gates； to see if； perchance； a
face I knew should issue from them。 But none came forth or entered in；
though the great gates stood wide； and then I saw that herbs were
growing between the stones； where no herbs had grown for ages。 What
could this be？ Was the temple deserted？ Nay； how could the worship of
the eternal Gods have ceased； that for thousands of years had； day by
day； been offered in the holy place？ Was； then； my father dead？ It
well might be。 And yet； why this silence？ Where were the priests：
where the worshippers？
I could bear the doubt no more； but as the sun sank red I crept like a
hunted jackal through the open gates； and on till I reached the first
great Hall of Pillars