Pentuer was silent, as if not hearing the question, and drew out slowly from his wonderful bag a small statue of a divinity with crossed arms. The statue depended from a string; the priest let it hang, and whispered a prayer, while he watched it. The statue, after some turnings and quiverings, hung without motion. Rameses, by the light of the torch, looked at these acts with astonishment. "What art thou doing?" asked he. "I can only say this much to thee, worthiness," replied Pentuer, "that this divinity points with one hand at the star Eshmun.[19] This hand leads Phœnician ships through the sea during night hours." [19] Polar star. "Then the Phœnicians, too, have this god?" "They do not even know of him. The god which points one hand always to the star Eshmun, is known only to us and the priests of Chaldea. By the aid of this god every prophet night and day, in bad and good weather, can find his way on the sea or in the desert." At command of the prince, who went with a lighted torch at the side of Pentuer, the retinue and the prisoners followed the priest, northeastward. The god depending from a string trembled, but indicated with outstretched hand, the sacred star, Eshmun, the guardian of travellers. They went on foot at a good pace, leading the horses. The cold was so sharp, that even Asiatics blew on their hands, and the Libyans trembled. With that, something began to crackle and break underfoot. Pentuer stopped, and bent down. "In this place," said he, "rain has made a pool on the rock. And see, worthy lord, what has become of the water." Thus speaking, he raised and showed the prince what seemed a plate of glass, but which melted in his hand. "When there is great cold," said he, "water becomes a transparent stone." The Asiatics confirmed the words of the priest, and added that far away in the north, water turned into stone very often, and fog turned into a white salt which is tasteless, but breaks in the hands and causes pain in the teeth. The prince admired Pentuer's wisdom still more. Meanwhile, the northern side of the heavens grew clear, showing the Great Bear and the star, Eshmun. The priest repeated a prayer again, put the guiding god into his bag, and commanded to quench the torches, and to leave only a burning cord which kept the fire, and indicated time by its gradual burning. The prince enjoined watchfulness on his men, and taking Pentuer, pushed ahead some tens of paces. "Pentuer," said he, "from this hour I make thee my counsellor, both now and when it shall please the gods to give me the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt." "How have I deserved this favor?" "Before my eyes thou hast done deeds which show great wisdom, and also power over spirits. Besides thou wert ready to save me. So, although it is thy resolve to keep many things from my knowledge--"