"That is one of the names of the sphinx--Harmachis, god of dawn." "If this god," I repeated, "should be destroyed, the nation of the Fung, whose forefathers fashioned it as they say, must move away from that country across the great river which lies to the south.

I have forgotten its name at the moment, but I think it must be a branch of the Nile.
"I suggested to her that, in the circumstances, her people had better try to destroy the idol.

Maqueda laughed and said it was impossible, since the thing was the size of a small mountain, adding that the Abati had long ago lost all courage and enterprise, and were content to sit in their fertile and mountain-ringed land, feeding themselves with tales of departed grandeur and struggling for rank and high-sounding titles, till the day of doom overtook them.
"I inquired whether she were also content, and she replied, 'Certainly not'; but what could she do to regenerate her people, she who was nothing but a woman, and the last of an endless line of rulers?
"'Rid me of the Fung,' she added passionately, 'and I will give you such a reward as you never dreamed.

The old cave-city yonder is full of treasure that was buried with its ancient kings long before we came to Mur.

To us it is useless, since we have none to trade with, but I have heard that the peoples of the outside world worship gold.' "'I do not want gold,' I answered; 'I want to rescue my son who is a prisoner yonder.' "'Then,' said the Child of Kings, 'you must begin by helping us to destroy the idol of the Fung.