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diff --git a/29756-8.txt b/29756-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4c9205a..0000000 --- a/29756-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12717 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cat of Bubastes, by G. A. Henty - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Cat of Bubastes - A Tale of Ancient Egypt - -Author: G. A. Henty - -Illustrator: J. R. Weguelin - -Release Date: August 22, 2009 [EBook #29756] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT OF BUBASTES *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Anne Storer and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - [Illustration] - - THE CAT OF BUBASTES - - G.A. HENTY. - - - - - [Illustration: C. of B. - THE REBU PEOPLE LED INTO CAPTIVITY.--Page 55.] - - - - - THE CAT OF BUBASTES. - A TALE OF ANCIENT EGYPT. - BY G. A. HENTY, - - _Author of "The Young Carthaginian," "For the Temple," - "In the Reign of Terror," "Bonnie Prince Charlie," - "In Freedom's Cause," etc., etc._ - - _FIVE PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. R. WEGUELIN._ - - NEW YORK: - THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -My Dear Lads: Thanks to the care with which the Egyptians depicted -upon the walls of their sepulchers the minutest doings of their daily -life, to the dryness of the climate which has preserved these records -uninjured for so many thousand years, and to the indefatigable labor -of modern investigators, we know far more of the manners and customs -of the Egyptians, of their methods of work, their sports and -amusements, their public festivals, and domestic life, than we do of -those of peoples comparatively modern. My object in the present story -has been to give you as lively a picture as possible of that life, -drawn from the bulky pages of Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson and other -writers on the same subject. I have laid the scene in the time of -Thotmes III., one of the greatest of the Egyptian monarchs, being -surpassed only in glory and the extent of his conquests by Rameses the -Great. It is certain that Thotmes carried the arms of Egypt to the -shores of the Caspian, and a people named the Rebu, with fair hair and -blue eyes, were among those depicted in the Egyptian sculptures as -being conquered and made tributary. It is open to discussion whether -the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt took place in the reign of Thotmes -or many years subsequently, some authors assigning it to the time -of Rameses. Without attempting to enter into this much-discussed -question, I have assumed that the Israelites were still in Egypt at -the time of Thotmes, and by introducing Moses just at the time he -began to take up the cause of the people to whom he belonged, I leave -it to be inferred that the Exodus took place some forty years later. I -wish you to understand, however, that you are not to accept this date -as being absolutely correct. Opinions differ widely upon it; and as no -allusion whatever has been discovered either to the Exodus or to any -of the events which preceded it among the records of Egypt, there is -nothing to fix the date as occurring during the reign of any one among -the long line of Egyptian kings. The term Pharaoh used in the Bible -throws no light upon the subject, as Pharaoh simply means king, and -the name of no monarch bearing that appellation is to be found on the -Egyptian monuments. I have in no way exaggerated the consequences -arising from the slaying of the sacred cat, as the accidental killing -of any cat whatever was an offense punished by death throughout the -history of Egypt down to the time of the Roman connection with that -country. - - Yours sincerely, - G. A. HENTY. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. PAGE - The King of the Rebu 7 - - CHAPTER II. - The Siege of the City 26 - - CHAPTER III. - Captive 45 - - CHAPTER IV. - An Easy Servitude 64 - - CHAPTER V. - In Lower Egypt 83 - - CHAPTER VI. - Fowling and Fishing 105 - - CHAPTER VII. - Hippopotamus and Crocodile 125 - - CHAPTER VIII. - The Conspiracy in the Temple 147 - - CHAPTER IX. - A Startling Event 164 - - CHAPTER X. - The Cat of Bubastes 185 - - CHAPTER XI. - Dangers Thicken 206 - - CHAPTER XII. - The Death of Ameres 224 - - CHAPTER XIII. - The Search for Mysa 245 - - CHAPTER XIV. - A Prince of Egypt 265 - - CHAPTER XV. - Ameres is Revenged 284 - - CHAPTER XVI. - Up the Nile 308 - - CHAPTER XVII. - Out of Egypt 329 - - CHAPTER XVIII. - The Desert Journey 349 - - CHAPTER XIX. - Home at Last 365 - - CHAPTER XX. - The King of the Rebu 384 - - - - -THE CAT OF BUBASTES. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE KING OF THE REBU. - - -The sun was blazing down upon a city on the western shore of the -Caspian. It was a primitive city, and yet its size and population -rendered it worthy of the term. It consisted of a vast aggregation of -buildings, which were for the most part mere huts. Among them rose, -however, a few of more solid build and of higher pretensions. These -were the abodes of the chiefs and great men, the temples, and places -of assembly. But although larger and more solidly built, these -buildings could lay no claim to architectural beauty of any kind, but -were little more than magnified huts, and even the king's palace was -but a collection of such buildings closely adjoining each other. - -The town was surrounded by a lofty wall with battlements and -loopholes, and a similar but higher wall girt in the dwellings of the -king and of his principal captains. The streets were alive with the -busy multitude; and it was evident that although in the arts of peace -the nation had made but little progress, they had in every thing -appertaining to war made great advances. Most of the men wore helmets -closely fitting to the head and surmounted by a spike. These were -for the most part composed of hammered brass, although some of the -headpieces were made of tough hide studded with knobs of metal. All -carried round shields--those of the soldiers, of leather stiffened -with metal; those of the captains, of brass, worked with considerable -elaboration. - -In their belts all wore daggers, while at their backs were slung -quivers of iron; painted bows hung over one shoulder, and some had at -their waist a pouch of smooth flat stones and leather slings. Their -chief garment was a sort of kilt falling to the knee. Above the waist -some wore only a thin vest of white linen, others a garment not unlike -the nightgown of modern times, but with short sleeves. The kilt was -worn over this. Some had breastpieces of thick leather confined by -straps behind; while in the case of the officers the leather was -covered with small pieces of metal, forming a cuirass. - -All carried two or three javelins in the left hand and a spear some -ten feet long in the right. Horsemen galloped about at full speed -to and from the royal palace, while occasionally chariots, drawn -sometimes by one, sometimes by two horses, dashed along. These -chariots were small, the wheels not exceeding three feet in height. -Between them was placed the body of the vehicle, which was but just -large enough for two men to stand on. It consisted only of a small -platform, with a semicircular rail running round the front some -eighteen inches above it. A close observer would have perceived at -once that not only were the males of the city upon the point of -marching out on a military expedition, but that it was no mere foray -against a neighboring people, but a war on which the safety of the -city depended. - -Women were standing in tearful groups as they watched the soldiers -making toward the gates. The men themselves had a resolute and -determined look, but there was none of the light-hearted gayety among -them which betokened the expectation of success and triumph. Inside -the palace the bustle of preparation was as marked as without. The -king and his principal councilors and leaders were assembled in the -great circular hut which formed the audience-room and council-chamber. -Messengers arrived in close succession with news of the progress and -strength of the enemy, or with messages from the neighboring towns and -tribes as to the contingents they had furnished, and the time at which -these had set out to join the army. - -The king himself was a tall and warlike figure, in the prime of life. -He had led his warriors on many successful expeditions far to the -west, and had repulsed with great loss the attempts of the Persians to -encroach upon his territory. Standing behind him was his son, Amuba, a -lad of some fifteen years of age. The king and his councilors, as well -as all the wealthier inhabitants of the city, wore, in addition to the -kilt and linen jacket, a long robe highly colored and ornamented with -fanciful devices and having a broad rich border. It was fastened at -the neck with a large brooch, fell loosely from the shoulders to the -ankles, and was open in front. The girdles which retained the kilts -and in which the daggers were worn were highly ornamented, and the -ends fell down in front and terminated in large tassels. - -All wore a profusion of necklaces, bracelets, and other ornaments of -gold; many of the chiefs wore feathers in their helmets, and the -greater portion of all ranks had figures tattooed on their arms and -legs. They were fair in complexion, with blue eyes; their hair was for -the most part golden or red, and they wore their beards short and -pointed. The young Prince Amuba was attired for the field; his helmet -was of gold and his cuirass covered with plates of the same metal. He -listened with suppressed impatience to the arguments of his elders, -for he was eager to be off, this being the first time that he had been -permitted to take part in the military expeditions of his country. - -After listening for some time and perceiving that there was no -prospect of the council breaking up, he retired to the large hut -adjoining the council-chamber. This served as the dwelling place of -the ladies and their family. It was divided into several apartments by -screens formed of hide sewn together and hidden from sight by colored -hangings. In one of these a lady was seated on a low couch covered -with panthers' skins. - -"They have not done talking yet, mother. It has been a question as to -where we shall assemble to give battle. It does not seem to me to make -much difference where we fight, but they seem to think that it is most -important; and of course they know more about it than I do. They have -fixed upon a place at last--it is about fifteen miles from here. They -say that the ground in front is marshy and can hardly be traversed by -the enemy's chariots; but if they cannot get at us, it seems to me -that we cannot get at them. Messengers have been sent off to order all -the contingents to assemble at that spot. Six thousand men are to -remain behind to guard the city, but as we mean to beat them I do not -think there can be much occasion for that; for you think we shall beat -them--don't you, mother?" - -"I hope so, Amuba, but I am very fearful." - -"But we have several times repulsed them when they have invaded our -country, mother; why should we not do so this time?" - -"They are much stronger than they have ever been before when they have -come against us, my boy, and their king is a great warrior who has -been successful in almost every enterprise he has undertaken." - -"I cannot think why he wants to conquer us, mother. They say the -riches of Egypt are immense and the splendor of their temples and -buildings such as we have no idea of. We have no quarrel with them if -they will but let us alone." - -"No country is so rich that it does not desire more, my son. We -have gold and are skilled in the working of it, and no doubt they -anticipate that they will capture much treasure in the land; besides, -as you say, their expeditions against the Rebu have been several times -repulsed, and therefore their monarch will reap all the greater honor -if he should defeat us. As to their having no quarrel with us, have we -not made many expeditions to the west, returning with captives and -much booty? And yet the people had no quarrel with us--many of them, -indeed, could scarcely have known us by name when our army appeared -among them. Some day, my son, things may be managed differently; but -at present kings who have power make war upon people that are weaker -than themselves, spoil them of their goods, and make slaves of them. - -"I hope, Amuba, you will not expose yourself too much in the conflict. -You have not come to man's strength yet; and remember you are my only -child. See that your charioteer covers you with his shield when you -have entered the battle, for the Egyptians are terrible as archers. -Their bows carry much further than do ours, and the arrows will pierce -even the strongest armor. Our spearmen have always shown themselves as -good as theirs--nay, better, for they are stronger in body and full of -courage. It is in the goodness of her archers and the multitude of her -chariots that the strength of Egypt lies. Remember that although your -father, as king, must needs go into the thick of the battle to -encourage his soldiers, there is no occasion why you, who are yet a -boy, should so expose yourself. - -"It will doubtless be a terrible battle. The Egyptians have the memory -of past defeats to wipe out, and they will be fighting under the eye -of their king. I am terrified, Amuba. Hitherto when your father has -gone out to battle I have never doubted as to the result. The Persians -were not foes whom brave men need dread; nor was it difficult to force -the hordes passing us from the eastward toward the setting sun to -respect our country, for we had the advantage in arms and discipline. -But the Egyptians are terrible foes, and the arms of their king have -been everywhere victorious. My heart is filled with dread at the -thought of the approaching conflict, though I try to keep up a brave -face when your father is with me, for I would not that he should deem -me cowardly." - -"I trust, mother, that your fears are groundless, and I cannot think -that our men will give way when fighting for their homes and country -upon ground chosen by themselves." - -"I hope not, Amuba. But there is the trumpet sounding; it is the -signal that the council have broken up and that your father is about -to start. Bless you, my dear boy, and may you return safe and sound -from the conflict!" - -The queen fondly embraced her son, who left the apartment hastily as -his father entered in order that the latter might not see the traces -of tears on his cheeks. A few minutes later the king, with his -captains, started from the palace. Most of them rode in chariots, -the rest on horseback. The town was quiet now and the streets almost -deserted. With the exception of the garrison, all the men capable of -bearing arms had gone forth; the women with anxious faces stood in -groups at their doors and watched the royal party as it drove out. - -The charioteer of Amuba was a tall and powerful man; he carried a -shield far larger than was ordinarily used, and had been specially -selected by the king for the service. His orders were that he was not -to allow Amuba to rush into the front line of fighters, and that he -was even to disobey the orders of the prince if he wished to charge -into the ranks of the enemy. - -"My son must not shirk danger," his father said, "and he must needs go -well in the fight; but he is still but a boy, not fit to enter upon a -hand-to-hand contest with the picked warriors of Egypt. In time I hope -he will fight abreast of me, but at present you must restrain his -ardor. I need not bid you shield him as well as you can from the -arrows of the Egyptians. He is my eldest son, and if aught happens -to me he will be the king of the Rebu; and his life is therefore a -precious one." - -Half an hour later they came upon the tail of the stragglers making -their way to the front. The king stopped his chariot and sharply -reproved some of them for their delay in setting out, and urged them -to hasten on to the appointed place. In two hours the king arrived at -this spot, where already some forty thousand men were assembled. The -scouts who had been sent out reported that although the advance-guard -of the Egyptians might arrive in an hour's time, the main body were -some distance behind and would not be up in time to attack before -dark. - -This was welcome news, for before night the rest of the forces of the -Rebu, fully thirty thousand more, would have joined. The king at once -set out to examine the ground chosen by his general for the conflict. -It sloped gently down in front to a small stream which ran through -soft and marshy ground, and would oppose a formidable obstacle to the -passage of chariots. The right rested upon a dense wood, while a -village a mile and a half distant from the wood was held by the left -wing. - -A causeway which led from this across the marsh had been broken up, -and heavy blocks of stone were scattered thickly upon it to impede the -passage of chariots. The archers were placed in front to harass the -enemy attempting to cross. Behind them were the spearmen in readiness -to advance and aid them if pressed. The chariots were on the higher -ground in the rear ready to dash in and join in the conflict should -the enemy succeed in forcing their way through the marsh. - -The visit of inspection was scarcely finished when a cloud of dust was -seen rising over the plain. It approached rapidly. The flash of arms -could be seen in the sun, and presently a vast number of horses were -seen approaching in even line. - -"Are they horsemen, father?" Amuba asked. - -"No, they are chariots, Amuba. The Egyptians do not, like us, fight on -horseback, although there may be a few small bodies of horsemen with -the army; their strength lies in their chariots. See, they have -halted; they have perceived our ranks drawn up in order of battle." - -The chariots drew up in perfect line, and as the clouds of dust blew -away four lines of chariots could be made out ranged at a distance of -a hundred yards apart. - -"There are about a thousand in each line," the king said, "and this is -but their advance-guard. We have learned from fugitives that there are -fully fifteen thousand chariots with their army." - -"Is there no other place where they can pass this swamp, father?" - -"Not so well as here, Amuba; the valley deepens further on, and the -passage would be far more difficult than here. Above, beyond the wood, -there is a lake of considerable extent, and beyond that the ground is -broken and unsuited for the action of chariots as far as the sea. -Besides, they have come to fight us, and the pride of their king -would not permit of their making a detour. See, there is some great -personage, probably the king himself, advancing beyond their ranks to -reconnoiter the ground." - -A chariot was indeed approaching the opposite brow of the depression; -there were two figures in it; by the side walked numerous figures, -who, although too far off to be distinguished, were judged to be the -attendants and courtiers of the king. The sun flashed from the side -of the chariot, which appeared at this distance to be composed of -burnished gold. Great fans carried on wands shaded the king from the -heat of the sun. - -He drove slowly along the edge of the brow until he reached a point -opposite the wood, and then, turning, went the other way till he -reached the causeway which passed on through the village. After this -he rode back to the line of chariots and evidently gave a word of -command, for instantly the long line of figures seen above the horses -disappeared as the men stepped off the chariots to the ground. No -movement took place for an hour; then there was a sudden stir, and the -long lines broke up and wheeled round to the right and left, where -they took up their position in two solid masses. - -"The main army are at hand," the king said. "Do you see that great -cloud, ruddy in the setting sun? That is the dust raised by their -advance. In another hour they will be here, but by that time the sun -will have set, and assuredly they will not attack until morning." - -The front line were ordered to remain under arms for a time; the -others were told to fall out and prepare their food for the night. The -Egyptian army halted about a mile distant, and as soon as it was -evident that no further movement was intended, the whole of the -soldiers were ordered to fall out. A line of archers were placed along -the edge of the swamp, and ere long a party of Egyptian bowmen took up -their post along the opposite crest. Great fires were lighted, and a -number of oxen which had been driven forward in readiness were -slaughtered for food. - -"If the Egyptians can see what is going on," the king said to his son, -"they must be filled with fury, for they worship the oxen as among -their chief gods." - -"Is it possible, father, that they can believe that cattle are gods?" -Amuba asked in surprise. - -"They do not exactly look upon them as gods, my son, but as sacred to -their gods. Similarly they reverence the cat, the ibis, and many other -creatures." - -"How strange!" Amuba said. "Do they not worship, as we and the -Persians do, the sun, which, as all must see, is the giver of light -and heat, which ripens our crops and gives fertility in abundance?" - -"Not so far as I know, Amuba; but I know that they have many gods who -they believe give them victory over their enemies." - -"They don't always give them victory," Amuba said, "since four times -they have been repulsed in their endeavors to invade our land. Perhaps -our gods are more powerful than theirs." - -"It may be that, my son; but so far as I can see the gods give victory -to the bravest and most numerous armies." - -"That is to say, they do not interfere at all, father." - -"I do not say that, my son; we know little of the ways of the gods. -Each nation has its own, and as some nations overthrow others, it must -be that either some gods are more powerful than others or that they do -not interfere to save those who worship them from destruction. But -these things are all beyond our knowledge. We have but to do our part -bravely, and we need assuredly not fear the bulls and the cats and -other creatures in which the Egyptians trust." - -Some hours were spent by the king, his leaders, and his captains in -going about among the troops seeing that all the contingents had -arrived well armed and in good order, notifying to the leaders of each -the position they should take up in the morning, and doing all in -their power to animate and encourage the soldiers. When all was done -the king sat down on a pile of skins which had been prepared for him -and talked long and earnestly with his son, giving him advice as to -his conduct in future if aught should befall him in the coming fight. - -"You are my heir," he said, "and as is customary to the country the -throne goes down from father to son. Were I to survive for another -eight or ten years you would, of course, succeed me, but should I fall -to-morrow and should the Egyptians overrun the land, things may happen -otherwise. In that case the great need of the people would be a -military leader who would rouse them to prolonged resistance and lead -them again and again against the Egyptians until these, worn out by -the perpetual fighting, abandon the idea of subjecting us and turn -their attention to less stubborn-minded people. - -"For such work you are far too young, and the people would look to -Amusis or one of my other captains as their leader. Should success -crown his efforts they may choose him as their king. In that case I -would say, Amuba, it will be far better for you to acquiesce in the -public choice than to struggle against it. A lad like you would have -no prospect of success against a victorious general, the choice of the -people, and you would only bring ruin and death upon yourself and your -mother by opposing him. - -"I can assure you that there is nothing so very greatly to be envied -in the lot of a king, and as one of the nobles of the land your -position would be far more pleasant here than as king. A cheerful -acquiescence on your part to their wishes will earn you the good will -of the people, and at the death of him whom they may choose for their -king their next choice may fall upon you. Do all in your power to win -the good will of whoever may take the place of leader at my death by -setting an example of prompt and willing obedience to his orders. It -is easy for an ambitious man to remove a lad from his path, and your -safety absolutely demands that you shall give him no reason whatever -to regard you as a rival. - -"I trust that all this advice may not be needed and that we may -conquer in to-morrow's fight, but if we are beaten the probability -that I shall escape is very small, and it is therefore as well that -you should be prepared for whatever may happen. If you find that in -spite of following my advice the leader of the people, whoever he -may be, is ill-disposed toward you, withdraw to the borders of the -country, collect as large a band as you can--there are always plenty -of restless spirits ready to take part in any adventure--and journey -with them to the far west, as so many of our people have done before, -and establish yourself there and found a kingdom. - -"None of those who have ever gone in that direction have returned, and -they must therefore have found space to establish themselves, for had -they met with people skilled in war and been defeated, some at least -would have found their way back; but so long as traditions have been -handed down to us tribes from the east have poured steadily westward -to the unknown land, and no band has ever returned." - -His father spoke so seriously that Amuba lay down that night on his -couch of skins in a very different mood to that in which he had ridden -out. He had thought little of his mother's forebodings, and had looked -upon it as certain that the Rebu would beat the Egyptians as they had -done before, but his father's tone showed him that he too felt by no -means confident of the issue of the day. - -As soon as daylight broke the Rebu stood to their arms, and an hour -later dense masses of the Egyptians were seen advancing. As soon as -these reached the edge of the slope and began to descend toward the -stream, the king ordered his people to advance to the edge of the -swamp and to open fire with their arrows. - -A shower of missiles flew through the air and fell among the ranks of -the Egyptian footmen who had just arrived at the edge of the swamp. So -terrible was the discharge that the Egyptians recoiled and, retreating -halfway up the slope, where they would be beyond the reach of the -Rebu, in turn discharged their arrows. The superiority of the Egyptian -bowmen was at once manifest. They carried very powerful bows, and -standing sideways drew them to the ear, just as the English archers -did at Crecy, and therefore shot their arrows a vastly greater -distance than did their opponents, who were accustomed to draw their -bows only to the breast. - -Scores of the Rebu fell at the first discharge, and as the storm of -arrows continued, they, finding themselves powerless to damage the -Egyptians at that distance, retired halfway up the side of the slope. -Now from behind the lines of the Egyptian archers a column of men -advanced a hundred abreast, each carrying a great fagot. Their object -was evident: they were about to prepare a wide causeway across the -marsh by which the chariots could pass. Again the Rebu advanced to the -edge of the swamp and poured in their showers of arrows; but the -Egyptians, covering themselves with the bundles of fagots they -carried, suffered but little harm, while the Rebu were mown down by -the arrows of the Egyptian archers shooting calmly and steadily beyond -the range of their missiles. - -As soon as the front rank of the Egyptian column reached the edge of -the swampy ground the men of the front line laid down their fagots in -a close row and then retired in the intervals between their comrades -behind them. Each rank as it arrived at the edge did the same. Many -fell beneath the arrows of the Rebu, but the operation went on -steadily, the fagots being laid down two deep as the ground became -more marshy, and the Rebu saw, with a feeling approaching dismay, the -gradual but steady advance of a causeway two hundred yards wide across -the swamp. - -The king himself and his bravest captains, alighting from their -chariots, went down among the footmen and urged them to stand firm, -pointing out that every yard the causeway advanced their arrows -inflicted more fatal damage among the men who were forming it. Their -entreaties, however, were vain; the ground facing the causeway was -already thickly incumbered with dead, and the hail of the Egyptian -arrows was so fast and deadly that even the bravest shrank from -withstanding it. At last even their leaders ceased to urge them, and -the king gave the order for all to fall back beyond the range of the -Egyptian arrows. - -Some changes were made in the formation of the troops, and the best -and most disciplined bands were placed facing the causeway so as to -receive the charge of the Egyptian chariots. The two front lines were -of spearmen, while on the higher ground behind them were placed -archers whose orders were to shoot at the horses, and to pay no heed -to those in the chariots; then came the chariots, four hundred in -number. Behind these again was a deep line of spearmen; on the right -and left extending to the wood and village were the main body of the -army, who were to oppose the Egyptian footmen advancing across the -swamp. - -The completion of the last portion of the causeway cost the Egyptians -heavily, for while they were exposed to the arrows of the Rebu archers -these were now beyond the range of the Egyptians on the opposite -crest. But at last the work was completed. Just as it was finished -and the workmen had retired, the king leaped from his chariot, and, -leading a body of a hundred men carrying blazing brands, dashed down -the slope. As soon as they were seen the Egyptian archers ran forward -and a storm of arrows was poured into the little band. Two-thirds of -them fell ere they reached the causeway; the others applied their -torches to the fagots. - -The Egyptian footmen rushed across to extinguish the flames, while the -Rebu poured down to repel them. A desperate fight ensued, but the -bravery of the Rebu prevailed, and the Egyptians were driven back. -Their attack, however, had answered its purpose, for in the struggle -the fagots had been trodden deeper into the mire, and the fire was -extinguished. The Rebu now went back to their first position and -waited the attack which they were powerless to avert. It was upward -of an hour before it began, then the long line of Egyptian footmen -opened, and their chariots were seen fifty abreast, then with a mighty -shout the whole army advanced down the slope. The Rebu replied with -their warcry. - -At full speed the Egyptian chariots dashed down the declivity to the -causeway. This was the signal for the Rebu archers to draw their bows, -and in an instant confusion was spread among the first line of -chariots. The horses wounded by the missiles plunged madly. Many, -stepping between the fagots, fell. For a moment the advance was -checked, but the Egyptian footmen, entering the swamp waist-deep, -opened such a terrible fire with their arrows that the front line of -the Rebu were forced to fall back, and the aim of their archers became -wild and uncertain. - -In vain the king endeavored to steady them. While he was doing so, the -first of the Egyptian chariots had already made their way across the -causeway, and behind them the others poured on in an unbroken column. -Then through the broken lines of spearmen the Rebu chariots dashed -down upon them, followed by the host of spearmen. The king's object -was to arrest the first onslaught of the Egyptians, to overwhelm the -leaders, and prevent the mass behind from emerging from the crowded -causeway. - -The shock was terrible. Horses and chariots rolled over in wild -confusion, javelins were hurled, bows twanged, and the shouts of the -combatants and the cries of the wounded as they fell beneath the feet -of the struggling horses created a terrible din. Light and active, the -Rebu footmen mingled in the fray, diving under the bellies of the -Egyptian horses, and inflicting vital stabs with their long knives or -engaging in hand-to-hand conflicts with the dismounted Egyptians. -Amuba had charged down with the rest of the chariots. He was -stationed in the second line, immediately behind his father; and his -charioteer, mindful of the orders he had received, strove, in spite of -the angry orders of the lad, to keep the chariot stationary; but the -horses, accustomed to maneuver in line, were not to be restrained, and -in spite of their driver's efforts charged down the slope with the -rest. - -Amuba, who had hunted the lion and leopard, retained his coolness, -and discharged his arrows among the Egyptians with steady aim. For -a time the contest was doubtful. The Egyptian chariots crowded on -the causeway were unable to move forward, and in many places their -weight forced the fagots so deep in the mire that the vehicles were -immovable. Meanwhile, along the swamp on both sides a terrible contest -was going on. The Egyptians, covered by the fire of their arrows, -succeeded in making their way across the swamp, but here they were met -by the Rebu spearmen, and the fight raged along the whole line. - -Then two thousand chosen men, the bodyguard of the Egyptian king, made -their way across the swamp close to the causeway, while at the same -time there was a movement among the densely packed vehicles. A -tremendous impulse was given to them from behind: some were pressed -off into the swamp, some were overthrown or trampled under foot, some -were swept forward on to the firm ground beyond, and thus a mass of -the heaviest chariots drawn by the most powerful horses forced their -way across the causeway over all obstacles. - -In their midst was the King of Egypt himself, the great Thotmes. - -The weight and impetus of the mass of horses and chariots pressed all -before it up the hill. This gave to the chariots which came on behind -room to open to the right and left. The king's bodyguard shook the -solid formation of the Rebu spearmen with their thick flights of -arrows, and the chariots then dashed in among them. The Rebu fought -with the valor of their race. The Egyptians who first charged among -them fell pierced with their arrows, while their horses were stabbed -in innumerable places. But as the stream of chariots poured over -without a check, and charged in sections upon them, bursting their way -through the mass of footmen by the force and fury with which they -charged, the infantry became broken up into groups, each fighting -doggedly and desperately. - -At this moment the officer in command of the Rebu horse, a thousand -strong, charged down upon the Egyptian chariots, drove them back -toward the swamp, and for a time restored the conflict; but the breaks -which had occurred between the Rebu center and its two flanks had -enabled the Egyptian bodyguard to thrust themselves through and to -fall upon the Rebu chariots and spearmen, who were still maintaining -the desperate conflict. The Rebu king had throughout fought in the -front line of his men, inspiriting them with his voice and valor. Many -times, when his chariot was so jammed in the mass that all movement -was impossible, he leaped to the ground, and, making his way through -the throng, slew many of the occupants of the Egyptian chariots. - -But his efforts and those of his captains were unavailing. The -weight of the attack was irresistible. The solid phalanx of Egyptian -chariots pressed onward, and the Rebu were forced steadily back. Their -chariots, enormously outnumbered, were destroyed rather than defeated. -The horses fell pierced by the terrible rain of arrows, and the wave -of Egyptians passed over them. The king, looking round in his -chariot, saw that all was lost here, and that the only hope was to -gain one or other of the masses of his infantry on the flank, and to -lead them off the field in solid order. But as he turned to give -orders, a shaft sent by a bowman in a chariot a few yards away struck -him in the eye and he fell back dead in his chariot. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE SIEGE OF THE CITY. - - -Amuba saw his father fall, and leaping from his chariot, strove to -make his way through the mingled mass of footmen and chariots to the -spot. Jethro followed close behind him. He, too, had caught sight of -the falling figure, and knew what Amuba did not--that the Rebu had -lost their king. He was not forgetful of the charge which had been -laid on him, but the lad was for a moment beyond his control, and he, -too, was filled with fury at the fall of the king, and determined if -possible to save his body. He reached Amuba's side just in time to -interpose his shield between the boy and an Egyptian archer in a -chariot he was passing. The arrow pierced the shield and the arm that -held it. Jethro paused an instant, broke off the shaft at the shield, -and seizing the point, which was projecting two inches beyond the -flesh, pulled the arrow through the wound. - -It was but a moment's work, but short as it was it almost cost Amuba -his life, for the archer, leaning forward, dropped the end of his bow -over the lad's head--a trick common among the Egyptian archers--and in -a moment dragged him to the ground, while his comrade in the chariot -raised his spear to dispatch him. Jethro sprang forward with a shout -of rage, and with a blow of his sword struck off the head of the spear -as it was descending. Then shortening his sword, he sprang into the -chariot, ran the man holding the bow through the body, and grappled -with the spearman. - -The struggle was a short one. Leaving his sword in the body of the -archer, Jethro drew his dagger and speedily dispatched his foe. Then -he jumped down, and lifting Amuba, who was insensible from the sharp -jerk of the bowstring upon his throat and the violence of his fall, -carried him back to his chariot. This with the greatest difficulty he -managed to draw out of the heat of the conflict, which was for the -moment raging more fiercely than before. The Rebu who had seen the -fall of their king had dashed forward to rescue the body and to avenge -his death. They cleared a space round him, and as it was impossible to -extricate his chariot, they carried his body through the chaos of -plunging horses, broken chariots, and fiercely struggling men to the -rear. - -Then it was placed in another chariot, and the driver started with it -at full speed for the city. Jethro, on emerging from the crowd, paused -for a moment to look round. He saw at once that the battle was lost. -The center was utterly broken, and the masses of the Egyptians who had -crossed the swamp were pressing heavily on the flanks of the Rebu -footmen, who were still opposing a firm stand to those attacking them -in front. For the moment the passage of the Egyptian chariots was -arrested; so choked was the causeway with chariots and horses which -were imbedded in the mire, or had sunk between the fagots that further -passage was impossible, and a large body of footmen were now forming a -fresh causeway by the side of the other. - -This would soon be completed, for they were now working undisturbed by -opposition, and Jethro saw that as soon as it was done the Egyptian -host would sweep across and fall upon the rear of the Rebu. Jethro ran -up to two mounted men, badly wounded, who had like himself made their -way out of the fight. - -"See," he said, "in a quarter of an hour a new causeway will be -completed, and the Egyptians will pour over. In that case resistance -will be impossible, and all will be lost. Do one of you ride to each -flank and tell the captains that the king is dead, that there are none -to give orders here, and that their only chance to save their troops -is to retreat at full speed but keeping good order to the city." - -The horsemen rode off immediately, for Jethro, as the king's own -charioteer, was a man of some impatience. After dispatching the -messengers he returned to his chariot and at once drove off. Amuba was -now recovering, and the rough motion of the vehicle as it dashed along -at full speed aroused him. - -"What is it, Jethro? What has happened?" - -"The battle is lost, prince, and I am conveying you back to the city. -You have had a rough fall and a narrow escape of your life, and can do -no more fighting even if fighting were of any good, which it is not." - -"And the king, my father?" Amuba said, struggling to his feet. "What -of him? Did I not see him fall?" - -"I know naught of him for certain," Jethro replied. "There was a -terrible fight raging, and as I had you to carry out I could take no -share in it. Besides, I had an arrow through my left arm--if I had -been a moment later it would have gone through your body instead. And -now, if you do not mind taking the reins, I will bandage it up. I have -not had time to think about it yet, but it is bleeding fast, and I -begin to feel faint." - -This was indeed true; but Jethro had called Amuba's attention to his -wound principally for the sake of diverting his thoughts for a moment -from his fear for his father. As Amuba drove, he looked back. The -plain behind him was covered with a mass of fugitives. - -"I see that all is lost," he said mournfully. "But how is it that we -are not pursued?" - -"We shall be pursued before long," Jethro answered. "But I fancy that -few of the Egyptian chariots which first passed are in a condition to -follow. Most of them have lost horses or drivers. Numbers were broken -to pieces in the _mêlée_. But they are making a fresh causeway, and -when that is completed those who cross will take up the pursuit. As -for their footmen, they have small chance of catching the Rebu." - -"Surely our men ought to retreat in good order, Jethro. Scattered as -they are, they will be slaughtered in thousands by the Egyptian -chariots." - -"They could not oppose much resistance to them anyhow," Jethro -replied. "On a plain footmen cannot withstand a chariot charge. As it -is, many will doubtless fall; but they will scatter to the right and -left, numbers will reach the hills in safety, some will take refuge -in woods and jungles, while many will outrun the chariots. The new -causeway is narrow, and a few only can cross abreast, and thus, though -many of our men will be overtaken and killed, I trust that the greater -part will escape." - -"Let us draw up here for a short time, Jethro. I see there are several -chariots and some horsemen behind, and as they are with the main body -of the fugitives, they are doubtless friends. Let us join them and -proceed in a body to the town. I should not like to be the first to -enter with the news of our defeat." - -"You are right, prince. As our horses are good, we need not fear being -overtaken. We can therefore wait a few minutes." - -A score of chariots presently came up, and all halted on seeing Amuba. -One of them contained Amusis, the chief captain of the army. He leaped -from his chariot when he saw Amuba, and advanced to him. - -"Prince," he said, "why do you delay? I rejoice at seeing that you -have escaped in the battle, for I marked you bravely fighting in the -midst; but let me beg you to hasten on. A few minutes and the host of -Egyptian chariots will be upon us." - -"I am ready to proceed, Amusis, since you have come. Have you any news -of my father?" - -"The king has been sorely wounded," the general said, "and was carried -off out of the battle; but come, prince, we must hasten on. Our -presence will be sorely needed in the city, and we must get all in -readiness for defense before the Egyptians arrive." - -The chariots again started, and reached the city without seeing -anything of the Egyptians, who did not indeed arrive before the walls -until an hour later, having been delayed by the slaughter of the -fugitives. As the party entered the town they found confusion and -terror prevailing. The arrival of the body of the king was the first -intimation of disaster, and this had been followed by several horsemen -and chariots, who had spread the news of the defeat of the army. The -cries of women filled the air; some in their grief and terror ran -wildly here and there; some sat at their doors with their faces hidden -by their hands, wailing loudly; others tore their garments and behaved -as if demented. - -On their way to the palace they met the troops who had been left -behind to guard the city, moving down stern and silent to take their -places on the wall. During the drive Amusis, who had driven in Amuba's -chariot, had broken to the boy the news that his father was dead, and -Amuba was prepared for the loud lamentation of women which met him as -he entered the royal inclosure. - -"I will see my mother," he said to Amusis, "and then I will come down -with you to the walls and will take whatever part you may assign me in -the defense. It is to your experience and valor we must now trust." - -"I will do all that I can, prince. The walls are strong, and if, as I -hope, the greater part of our army find their way back, I trust we may -be able to defend ourselves successfully against the Egyptian host. -Assure your royal mother of my deep sympathy for her in her sorrow, -and of my devotion to her personally." - -The general now drove off, and Amuba entered the royal dwellings. In -the principal apartment the body of the king was laid upon a couch in -the middle of the room. The queen stood beside it in silent grief, -while the attendants raised loud cries, wrung their hands, and filled -the air with their lamentation, mingled with praises of the character -and bravery of the king. Amuba advanced to his mother's side. She -turned and threw her arms round him. - -"Thank the gods, my son, that you are restored to me; but what a loss, -what a terrible loss is ours!" - -"It is indeed, mother. No better father ever lived than mine. But I -pray you, mother, lay aside your grief for awhile; we shall have time -to weep and mourn for him afterward. We have need of all our courage. -In a few hours the Egyptian hosts will be before our walls, and every -arm will be needed for their defense. I am going down to take my place -among the men, to do what I can to encourage them; but the confusion -in the city is terrible. None know whether they have lost husbands or -fathers, and the cries and lamentations of the women cannot but -dispirit and dishearten the men. I think, mother, that you might do -much if you would; and I am sure that my father in his resting-place -with the gods would far rather see you devoting yourself to the safety -of his people than to lamentations here." - -"What would you have me do?" - -"I should say, mother, mount a chariot and drive through the streets -of the town; bid the women follow the example of their queen and defer -their lamentation for the fallen until the foe has been repelled. Bid -each do her part in the defense of the city; there is work for -all--stones to be carried to the walls, food to be cooked for the -fighting men, hides to be prepared in readiness to be carried to the -ramparts where the attack is hottest, to shield our soldiers from -arrows. In these and other tasks all can find employment, and, in thus -working for the defense of the town, the women would find distraction -from their sorrows and anxieties." - -"Your advice is wise, Amuba, and I will follow it. Order a chariot -to be brought down. My maidens shall come with me; and see that two -trumpeters are in readiness to precede us. This will insure attention -and silence, and my words will be heard as we pass along. How did you -escape from the conflict?" - -"The faithful Jethro bore me off, mother, or I, too, should have -fallen; and now, with your permission, I will go to the wall." - -"Do so, Amuba, and may the gods preserve you. You must partake of some -food before you go, for you will need all your strength, my son." - -Amuba hastily ate the food that was placed before him in another -apartment, and drank a goblet of wine, and then hurried down to the -wall. - -The scene was a heart-rending one. All over the plain were scattered -groups of men hurrying toward the city, while among them dashed the -Egyptian chariots, overthrowing and slaying them; but not without -resistance. The Rebu were well disciplined, and, as the chariots -thundered up, little groups gathered together, shield overlapping -shield, and spears projecting, while those within the circle shot -their arrows or whirled stones from their slings. The horses wounded -by the arrows often refused to obey their drivers, but rushed headlong -across the plain; others charged up only to fall pierced with the -spears, while the chariots were often empty of their occupants before -they broke into the phalanx. - -Thus, although many fell, many succeeded in gaining the gates of the -town, and the number of men available for the defense had already -largely increased when Amuba reached the walls. Although the Egyptian -chariots came up in great numbers, night fell without the appearance -of the main body of the Egyptian army. After darkness set in great -numbers of the Rebu troops who had escaped to the hills made their way -into the town. The men of the contingents furnished by the other Rebu -cities naturally made their way direct to their homes, but before -morning the six thousand men left behind to guard the city when the -army set out had been swelled to four times their numbers. - -Although this was little more than half the force which had marched -out to battle, the return of so large a number of the fugitives caused -a great abatement of the panic and misery that had prevailed. The -women whose husbands or sons had returned rejoiced over those whom -they had regarded as lost, while those whose friends had not yet -returned gained hopes from the narratives of the fresh comers that -their loved ones might also have survived, and would ere long make -their way back. The example of the queen had already done much to -restore confidence. All knew the affection that existed between the -king and her, and the women all felt that if she could lay aside her -deep sorrow, and set such an example of calmness and courage at such a -time, it behooved all others to set aside their anxieties and to do -their best for the defense of the town. - -Amusis gave orders that all those who had returned from battle should -rest for the night in their homes, the troops who had remained in the -city keeping guard upon the walls. In the morning, however, all -collected at the trumpet-call, and were formed up according to the -companies and battalions to which they belonged. Of some of these -which had borne the brunt of the combat there were but a handful of -survivors, while of others the greater portion were present; weak -battalions were joined to the strong; fresh officers were appointed to -take the place of those who were missing; the arms were examined, and -all deficiencies made good from the public stores. - -Ten thousand men were set aside as a reserve to be brought up to the -points most threatened, while to the rest were allotted those portions -of the wall which they were to occupy. As soon as morning broke the -women recommenced the work that had been interrupted by night, making -their way to the walls in long trains, carrying baskets of stones on -their heads. Disused houses were pulled down for the sake of their -stones and timber, parties of women with ropes dragging the latter to -the walls in readiness to be hurled down upon the heads of the enemy. -Even the children joined in the work, carrying small baskets of earth -to those portions of the wall which Amusis had ordered to be -strengthened. - -The position of the city had been chosen with a view to defense. It -stood on a plateau of rock raised some fifty feet above the plain. -The Caspian washed its eastern face; on the other three sides a high -wall, composed of earth roughly faced with stones, ran along at the -edge of the plateau; above it, at distances of fifty yards apart, rose -towers. The entire circuit of the walls was about three miles. Since -its foundation by the grandfather of the late king the town had never -been taken, although several times besieged, and the Rebu had strong -hopes that here, when the chariots of the Egyptians were no longer to -be feared, they could oppose a successful resistance to all the -efforts of the enemy. - -At noon the Egyptian army was seen advancing, and, confident as the -defenders of the city felt, they could not resist a feeling of -apprehension at the enormous force which was seen upon the plain. The -Egyptian army was over three hundred thousand strong. It moved in -regular order according to the arms or nationality of the men. Here -were Nubians, Sardinians, Etruscans, Oscans, Dauni, Maxyes, Kahaka, a -race from Iberia, and bodies of other mercenaries from every tribe and -people with whom the Egyptians had any dealings. - -The Sardinians bore round shields, three or four spears or javelins, a -long straight dagger, and a helmet surmounted by a spike, with a ball -at the top. The Etruscans carried no shields, and instead of the -straight dagger were armed with a heavy curved chopping-knife; their -headdress resembled somewhat in shape that now worn by the Armenians. -The Dauni were Greek in the character of their arms, carrying a round -shield, a single spear, a short straight sword, and a helmet of the -shape of a cone. - -The Egyptians were divided according to their arms. There were -regiments of archers, who carried, for close combat, a slightly curved -stick of heavy wood; other regiments of archers carried hatchets. The -heavy infantry all bore the Egyptian shield, which was about three -feet long. It was widest at the upper part, where it was semicircular, -while the bottom was cut off straight. The shields had a boss near the -upper part. Some regiments carried, in addition to the spears, heavy -maces, others axes. Their helmets all fitted closely to the head; most -of them wore metal tassels hanging from the top. The helmets were for -the most part made of thick material, quilted and padded; these were -preferred to metal, being a protection from the heat of the sun. - -Each company carried its own standard; these were all of religious -character, and represented animals sacred to the gods, sacred boats, -emblematic devices, or the names of the king or queen. These were -in metal, and were raised at the ends of spears or staves. The -standard-bearers were all officers of approved valor. Behind the army -followed an enormous baggage-train; and as soon as this had arrived on -the ground the tents of the king and the principal officers were -pitched. - -"What a host!" Jethro said to Amuba, who, after having his arm dressed -on his arrival at the palace, had accompanied the young prince to the -walls. "It seems a nation rather than an army. I do not wonder now -that we were defeated yesterday, but that we so long held our ground, -and that so many escaped from the battle." - -"It is wonderful, truly, Jethro. Look at the long line of chariots -moving in as regular order as the footmen. It is well for us that they -will now be forced to be inactive. As to the others, although they are -countless in numbers, they cannot do much against our walls. No towers -that they can erect upon the plains will place them on a level with us -here, and the rock is so steep that it is only here and there that it -can be climbed." - -"It would seem impossible for them to take it, prince; but we must not -be too confident. We know that many towns which believed themselves -impregnable have been captured by the Egyptians, and must be prepared -for the most daring enterprises. The gates have been already fastened, -and so great a thickness of rocks piled against them that they are now -the strongest part of the wall; those parts of the roads leading up to -them that were formed of timber have been burned, and they cannot now -reach the gates except by climbing, as at other points. We have -provisions enough to last for well-nigh a year, for all the harvest -has been brought in from the whole district round, together with many -thousands of cattle; of wells there are abundance." - -"Yes, I heard the preparations that were being made, Jethro, and doubt -not that if we can resist the first onslaught of the Egyptians we can -hold out far longer than they can, for the difficulty of victualing so -huge an army will be immense. In what way do you think they will -attack? For my part I do not see any method which offers a hope of -success." - -"That I cannot tell you. We know that to us and to the peoples around -our cities seem impregnable. But the Egyptians are skilled in all the -devices of war. They have laid siege to and captured great numbers of -cities, and are doubtless full of plans and expedients of which we -know nothing. However, to-morrow morning will show us something. -Nothing will be attempted to-day. The generals have first to inspect -our walls and see where the assault is to be delivered, and the army -will be given a day's rest at least before being called upon to -assault such a position." - -In the afternoon a _cortége_ of chariots made the circuit of the walls -from the shore of the sea round the great plateau to the sea again, -keeping just beyond the range of arrows. - -"If we had but a few of their archers here," Jethro said, "the -Egyptian king would not be so overbold in venturing so near. It is -wonderful how strongly they shoot. Their arrows have fully double the -range of ours, and their power is sufficient to carry them through the -strongest shields, even when strengthened with metal. Had I not seen -it I should have thought it impossible that living men, and those no -bigger or stronger than we, could have sent their arrows with such -power. They stand in a different attitude to that of our archers, and -though their shafts are fully a foot longer than ours they draw them -to the head. I regarded myself as a good bowman till I met the -Egyptians, and now I feel as a child might do when watching a man -performing feats of strength of which he had not even imagined a -possibility." - -In the evening the great council met. It included all the principal -officers of the army, the priests, the royal councilors, and the -leading men in the state. After a discussion it was determined that -in the present crisis it were best to postpone taking any steps to -appoint a successor to the late king, but that so long as the siege -lasted Amusis should be endowed with absolute powers. In order that -there should be no loss of time for the necessity of consulting any -one Amuba was present with his mother at the council, though neither -of them took any active part in it. But at its commencement an -announcement was made in their name that they were willing to abide by -whatever the council should decide, and that indeed both mother and -son desired that while this terrible danger hung over the state the -supreme power should be placed in the hands of whomsoever the general -voice might select as the person best fitted to take the command in -such an extremity. - -That night the body of the king was consumed on a great funeral pile. -Under ordinary occasions the ceremony would have taken place on a -narrow promontory jutting out into the sea, about five miles from the -city. Here the previous monarchs had been consumed in sight of a -multitude of their people, and had been buried beneath great mounds of -earth. The priests had long ago pronounced this place the most sacred -in the kingdom, and had declared that the anger of the gods would fall -upon any who ventured to set foot upon the holy ground. But it was -impossible for the present to lay the ashes of the king by the side of -those of his forefathers, and the ceremony was therefore conducted -within the royal inclosure, only the officiating priests and the wife -and son of the deceased being present. When all was over the ashes -were collected and were placed in a casket, which was destined, when -better times returned, to be laid, in the sight of the whole people, -in the sacred inclosure on the promontory. - -Early next morning the trumpets of the guards on the walls called all -the troops to arms. As soon as Amuba reached his post he saw the -Egyptian army marching against the city. When they arrived within -bowshot the archers, who formed the front lines, opened fire upon the -defenders on the walls. Their arrows, however, for the most part fell -short, while those of the besieged rained down upon them with effect. -They were therefore withdrawn a short distance, and contracting their -ranks a vast number of footmen poured through, and in irregular order -ran forward to the foot of the rock, where they were sheltered from -the arrows of those on the wall. - -"What can they be going to do now?" Amuba exclaimed, laying aside his -bow. - -Jethro shook his head. - -"They are working with a plan," he said. "We shall see before very -long. Listen." - -Even above the din caused by so vast a multitude a sharp metallic -sound was presently heard like that of innumerable hammers striking on -steel. - -"Surely," Amuba exclaimed, "they can never be thinking of quarrying -the rock away! That is too great a task even were the whole people of -Egypt here." - -"It certainly is not that," Jethro agreed; "and yet I cannot think -what else can be their intentions." - -It was nigh an hour before the mystery was solved. Then, at the blast -of a trumpet sounded at the post where the Egyptian king had placed -himself, and taken up along the whole of the line, a great number of -heads appeared along the edge of rock at the foot of the walls. The -Egyptians had been employed in driving spikes in the crevices of the -rock. Standing on the first so driven, they then inserted others three -feet higher, and so had proceeded until a number of men had climbed up -the face of the rock. These let down ropes, and ladders had been -hauled up the steepest places. Great numbers of ropes were hung down -to assist those who followed in the ascent, and the men who first -showed themselves over the brow were followed by a stream of others, -until the ledge, which was in most cases but a few feet wide, was -crowded with soldiers. - -The ladders were now hauled up and placed against the wall, and the -Egyptians swarmed up in great numbers; but the Rebu were prepared for -the assault, and a storm of stones, beams of wood, arrows, javelins, -and other missiles rained down on the Egyptians. Many of the ladders, -in spite of the number of men upon them, were thrown back by the -defenders, and fell with a crash over the edge of the rock to the -plain below. Here and there the Egyptians gained a footing on the wall -before the Rebu had recovered from their first surprise at their -daring manner of attack; but so soon as they rallied they attacked the -Egyptians with such fury that in every case the latter were slain -fighting or were thrown over the embattlements. - -For several hours the Egyptians continued their efforts, but after -losing vast numbers of men without obtaining any success they were -recalled by the sound of the trumpet. - -"That has not been very serious, Jethro," Amuba said, wiping the -perspiration from his forehead; for he had been encouraging the men by -assisting in the lifting and casting over the massive stones and beams -of wood. - -"It was not difficult to repulse them under such conditions," Jethro -said; "but the manner of their attack was a surprise indeed to us, and -they have fought with the greatest bravery. You will see that the next -time they will have benefited by the lesson, and that we shall have -some new device to cope with. Now that they have once found a way to -scale the rock we may expect but little rest." - -The fight was not renewed until evening, when, just as darkness fell, -a large number of the Egyptians again ascended the rock. As before, -the Rebu poured missiles down upon them; but this time only a -sufficient number had climbed up to be able to stand along close to -the foot of the wall, where they were to a great extent sheltered from -the missiles from above. The night was a dark one, and all night long -the Rebu continued to shower down missiles upon their invisible foe, -of whose continued presence they were assured by the sounds which from -time to time were heard. - -When daylight enabled the defenders to see what was going on at the -foot of their walls they raised a shout of surprise and dismay. During -the night the Egyptians had hoisted up by ropes a quantity of the -timber brought with them for the construction of shelters for those -who were engaged on siege operations. The timbers were all cut and -prepared for fitting together, and were easily jointed even in the -dark. Thus, then, when the besiegers looked over, they saw forty or -fifty of these shelters erected against the foot of their walls. They -were so formed that they sloped down like a pent-house and were -thickly covered with hides. - -The besieged soon found that so solid were these constructions that -the beams and great stones which they dropped upon them simply bounded -off and leaped down into the plain. Ladders fastened together had been -fixed by the Egyptians from each of these shelters to the plain below, -so that the men at work could be relieved or reinforced as the -occasion required. - -In vain the besieged showered down missiles, in vain poured over the -caldrons of boiling oil they had prepared in readiness. The strength -of the beams defied the first; the hides lapping over each other -prevented the second from penetrating to those below. - -"Truly these are terrible foes, prince," Jethro said. "I told you that -we might expect new plans and devices, but I did not think that the -very day after the siege began we should find that they had overcome -all the difficulties of our natural defenses, and should have -established themselves in safety at the foot of our walls." - -"But what is to be done, Jethro? The men working in those shelters -will speedily dislodge these stones facing the walls, and will then -without difficulty dig through the earthwork behind." - -"The matter is serious," Jethro agreed; "but as yet there is no -reason to alarm ourselves. The greater portion of our troops will be -assembled behind the wall, and should the Egyptians gain a way through -we should pour in at the openings, and as they can be only reinforced -slowly, would speedily hurl them all over the edge of the cliff. It is -not that I fear." - -"What is it that you do fear, Jethro?" - -"I fear, prince, because I do not know what it is I have to fear. -We are as children in a struggle of this kind as opposed to the -Egyptians. Already they have wholly overthrown all our calculations, -and it is just because I do not know what they will do next that I am -afraid. It must be as plain to them as it is to us that if they dig -through the walls we shall rush in and overpower them." - -"Perhaps they intend to work right and left and to undermine the -walls, until large portions of them tumble over and breaches are -made." - -Jethro shook his head. - -"That would destroy the Egyptian shelters and bury their workmen; or, -even did they manage to retire before the walls fell, they would gain -nothing by it. In fact, I wish that we ourselves could tumble the -walls over, for in that case the heap of earth and stones would rise -from the very edge of the rock, and as the Egyptians could only -climb up in small numbers at a time, we could destroy them without -difficulty. I see now that our builders made a mistake in surrounding -the city with a high wall; it would have been best to have built a -mere breastwork at the very edge of the cliff all round. Here comes -Amusis; we shall hear what his opinion of the matter is." - -Amusis looked flushed and anxious, although when he saw the prince he -assumed an expression of carelessness. - -"The Egyptians are going to burrow through our walls," he said; "but -when they do we will drive them like rats out of the holes. Do you not -think so, Jethro?" - -"I do not know," Jethro said gravely. "If they dig through our walls -we shall certainly, as you say, drive them out of their holes; but I -cannot believe that that is what they are going to do." - -"What do you think they are going to do?" Amusis asked roughly. - -"I have no idea, Amusis. I wish that I had; but I am quite sure that -they haven't taken all this trouble for nothing." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -CAPTIVE. - - -So confident were the Rebu that if the Egyptians dug through their -walls, or even threw them down by undermining them, they could repel -their assault, that they took but little heed to the huts established -at the foot of the wall, except that a strong body of men were -stationed behind the walls, half of whom were always to be under arms -in readiness to repel the Egyptians should they burrow through. This -confidence proved their ruin. The Egyptians were thoroughly accustomed -to mining operations, and were fully aware that were they to pierce -the wall the Rebu could at once overwhelm the small working parties; -they, therefore, after penetrating a considerable distance into the -embankment, drove right and left, making an excavation of considerable -size, the roof being supported by beams and planks hauled up at night. - -The number of those employed in the work was increased as fast as -there was room for them; and while the Rebu thought that there were at -most a dozen men in each of the sheltered places, there were, at the -end of twenty-four hours, fully two hundred men at work in the heart -of the embankment at each point. The Egyptian king had ordered the -chief of his engineers to have everything in readiness for the capture -of the city by the end of the third day. - -Each night the numbers of workmen increased, while the excavations -were carried in further and further. No picks were used in the work, -the earth being cut away with wide daggers. Absolute silence was -enjoined among the workers, and they were thus enabled to extend their -excavations close to the surface without the defenders having an idea -of their proximity. The distance that they were from the inner face -was ascertained by boring through at night-time with spears. By the -end of the third day the excavations had been carried so far that -there was but a foot or so of earth remaining, this being kept from -moving, on pressure from the outside, by a lining of boards supported -by beams. Thus at twenty points the Egyptians were in readiness to -burst through among the unsuspecting defenders. - -As soon as it was dark the preparations for the assault began. Great -numbers of stagings of vast length had been prepared, together with an -immense number of broad and lofty ladders. These last were brought -forward noiselessly to the foot of the cliff, and great numbers of the -Egyptians mounted before the alarm was given by those on the walls. -But by this time the excavations were all crowded with men. The -Egyptian army now advanced with shouts to the assault. The great -stages were brought forward by the labor of thousands of men and -placed against the cliff. - -The besieged had now rushed to defend the walls, and volleys of -missiles of all sorts were poured down upon the Egyptians as they -strove to mount the ladders and stages. No one thought of any possible -danger from the little shelters lying at the foot of the wall, and the -din was so great that the work of digging through the remaining wall -of earth was unheard. The troops who had been specially told off to -watch these points had joined their comrades on the walls, and none -marked the stream of dark figures which presently began to pour out -from the embankment at twenty different points. - -At last the besieged, whose hopes were rising as the Egyptians -appeared to falter under the showers of missiles poured down, were -startled by the sound of a trumpet in their rear--a sound which was -answered instantly from a score of points. Rushing with cries of -dismay to the back of the rampart, they saw dark bodies of footmen -drawn up in regular order, and a rain of arrows was opened upon them. -The Rebu, without a moment's hesitation, rushed down to attack the -foes who had gained a footing, they scarce knew how, in their -fortress. But each of the Egyptian companies was four hundred strong, -composed of picked troops, and these for a time easily beat off the -irregular attacks of the Rebu. - -Amusis and the other leaders of the Rebu strove to get their men into -solid order, for so alone could they hope to break the phalanxes of -the Egyptians; but the confusion was too great. In the meantime the -Egyptians outside had taken advantage of the diversion created by -the attack within, and poured up their ladders and stagings in vast -numbers. Some dragging up ladders after them planted them against the -walls, others poured through by the passages which had been dug, and -these, as soon as they were numerous enough, ascended the embankments -from behind and fell upon the Rebu still defending the wall. - -Never did the tribesmen fight with greater bravery; but the -completeness of the surprise, the number of the Egyptians who had -established themselves in their rear, the constant pushing in of -reinforcements both through and over the wall, rendered it impossible -for them to retrieve their fortunes; and in the confusion and darkness -they were unable to distinguish friend from foe. The various -battalions and companies were hopelessly mixed together; the orders -of their leaders and officers were unheard in the din. - -Upon the Egyptian side everything had been carefully planned. One of -the companies which first entered had made their way quietly along the -foot of the wall, and were not noticed until they suddenly threw -themselves upon defenders of one of the gates. As soon as they had -obtained possession of this, great fires were lighted, and a large -body of Egyptian troops, headed by engineers carrying beams and -planks, advanced. The gaps across the roadway were bridged over, and -the Egyptians poured in at the gate before the Rebu could dislodge the -party which had taken possession of it. Every moment added to the -confusion of the scene. To the Rebu it seemed as if their foes were -springing from the very earth upon them, and, despairing of regaining -the ground that had been lost, they began to break away and make some -for their homes, some for the water face of the city--the only one -which was open to them, for the Egyptians were now pressing forward -from the three other faces of the town. The boats lying along the sand -were quickly crowded with fugitives and pushed off from shore, and -those who arrived later found all means of escape gone. Some threw -down their arms and made their way to their homes, others ran back to -meet the Egyptians and die fighting. - -It was some hours before the conflict ceased, for the Egyptians too -were confused with the darkness, and many desperate fights took place -between different battalions before they discovered they were friends. -Light was gained by firing numbers of the houses lying nearest to the -walls; but as soon as the Egyptians advanced beyond the arc of light -they were fiercely attacked by the Rebu, and at last the trumpet -sounded the order for the troops to remain in the positions they -occupied until daylight. - -As soon as morning broke a vast crowd of women were seen advancing -from the center of the town. As they neared the Egyptians they threw -themselves on the ground with loud cries for mercy. There was a pause; -and then some Egyptian officers advanced and bade a score of the women -follow them to the presence of the king. Thotmes had entered with the -troops who made their way into the city by the gate, but yielding to -the entreaties of the officers that he would not expose himself to be -killed in the confusion, perhaps by an arrow shot by his own soldiers, -he had retired to the plain, and had just returned to take part in the -occupation of the city. - -The Rebu women were led to him over ground thickly covered with dead. -Fully half the defenders of the city had fallen, while the loss of -the Egyptians had been almost as large. The women threw themselves -on their faces before the great monarch and implored mercy for -themselves, their children, and the remnant of the men of the city. - -Thotmes was well satisfied. He had captured a city which was regarded -as impregnable; he had crushed the people who had inflicted defeats -upon his predecessors; he had added to his own glory and to the renown -of the Egyptian arms. The disposition of the Egyptians was lenient. -Human sacrifices were unknown to their religion, and they do not -appear at any time to have slain in cold blood captives taken in war. -Human life was held at a far higher value in Egypt than among any -other nation of antiquity, and the whole teaching of their laws tended -to create a disposition toward mercy. - -An interpreter translated to the king the words of the women. - -"Has all resistance ceased?" the king asked. "Have all the men laid -down their arms?" - -The women exclaimed that there was not now an armed man in the city, -all the weapons having been collected during the night and placed in -piles in the open space in front of the entrance to the palace. - -"Then I give to all their lives," the king said graciously. "When I -fight with cowards I have little mercy upon them, for men who are not -brave are unfit to live; but when I fight with men I treat them as -men. The Rebu are a valiant people, but as well might the jackal fight -with the lion as the Rebu oppose themselves to the might of Egypt. -They fought bravely in the field, and they have bravely defended their -walls; therefore I grant life to all in the city--men, women, and -children. Where is your king?" - -"He died in the battle four days since," the women replied. - -"Where is your queen?" - -"She drank poison last night, preferring to join her husband than to -survive the capture of the city." - -Thotmes had now ordered the whole of the inhabitants to be taken -out to the plain and kept there under a guard. The town was then -methodically searched and everything of value brought together. The -king set aside a certain portion of the golden vessels for the -services of the Temple, some he chose for himself, and after -presenting others to his generals, ordered the rest to be divided -among the troops. He then ordered a hundred captives--fifty young men -and fifty maidens of the highest rank--to be selected to be taken to -Egypt as slaves, and then fixed the tribute which the Rebu were in -future to pay. The army then evacuated the city and the inhabitants -were permitted to return. - -The next day messengers arrived from the other Rebu towns. The fall of -the capital, which had been believed to be impregnable, after so short -a siege had struck terror into the minds of all, and the messengers -brought offers of submission to the king, with promises to pay any -tribute that he might lay upon them. - -The king, well satisfied with his success and anxious to return -to Egypt, from which he had been absent nearly two years, replied -graciously to the various deputations, informing them that he had -already fixed the tribute that the nation was to pay annually, and -ordered a contribution to be sent in at once by each city in -proportion to its size. In a few days the required sums, partly -in money, partly in vessels of gold, embroidered robes, and other -articles of value, were brought in. When the full amount had been -received the camp was struck and the army started on their long march -back to Egypt, an officer of high rank being left as governor of the -newly captured province, with ten thousand men as a garrison. - -Amuba was one of the fifty selected as slaves. Amusis had escaped in -the confusion, as had many others. Jethro was also one of the selected -band. Amuba was for a time careless of what befell him. The news of -the death of his mother, which had met him as, after fighting to the -last, he returned to the palace, had been a terrible blow, following -as it did so closely upon the loss of his father and the overthrow -of the nation. His mother had left the message for him that although -as life had no longer a charm for her she preferred death to the -humiliation of being carried a prisoner to Egypt, she trusted that he -would bear the misfortunes which had fallen on him and his people with -submission and patience; he was young, and there was no saying what -the future had in store for him. - -"You will doubtless, my son," were the words of her message, "be -carried away captive into Egypt, but you may yet escape some day and -rejoin your people, or may meet with some lot in which you may find -contentment or even happiness there. At any rate, my last words to you -are, bear patiently whatever may befall you, remember always that your -father was king of the Rebu, and whatever your station in life may be, -try to be worthy of the rank to which you were born. There is no -greater happiness on a throne than in a cottage. Men make their own -happiness, and a man may be respected even though only a slave. May -the gods of your country preside over and protect you always." - -The message was delivered by an old woman who had been with the queen -since her birth, and struck down with grief as Amuba was at his -mother's death, he yet acknowledged to himself that even this loss was -less hard to bear than the knowledge that she who had been so loved -and honored by the people should undergo the humiliation of being -dragged a slave in the train of the conquering Egyptians. He was, -however, so prostrate with grief that he obeyed with indifference the -order to leave the city, and was scarcely moved when the Egyptian -officer appointed to make the selection chose him as one of the party -that were to be taken as slaves to Egypt. - -Prostrate as he was, however, he felt it to be a satisfaction and -comfort when he found that Jethro was also of the party set aside. - -"It is selfish, Jethro," he said, "for me to feel glad that you too -are to be dragged away as a slave, but it will be a great comfort to -have you with me. I know almost all the others of the party, but to -none shall I be able to talk of my father and mother and my home here -as I should to you whom I have known so long." - -"I am not sorry that I have been chosen," Jethro said, "for I have no -family ties, and now that the Rebu are a conquered people I should -have little satisfaction in my life here. When we get to Egypt we -shall probably be separated, but there is a march of months' duration -before us, and during that time we may at least be together; since, -then, my being with you is as you say, prince, a comfort to you, I am -well content that I have been chosen. I thought it a hard thing when -my wife died but a few weeks after our marriage. Now I rejoice that it -was so, and that I can leave without any one's heart being wrung at my -departure. You and I, prince, perhaps of all those chosen will feel -the least misery at the fate that has befallen us. Most of those here -are leaving wives and children behind; some of the youngest are still -unmarried, but they have fathers and mothers from whom they will be -separated. Therefore, let us not bemoan our lot, for it might have -been worse, and our life in Egypt may not be wholly unbearable." - -"That is just what my dear mother said, Jethro," Amuba replied, -repeating the message the queen had sent him. - -"My dear mistress was right," Jethro said. "We may find happiness in -Egypt as elsewhere; and now let us try to cheer up our companions, for -in cheering them we shall forget our own misfortunes." - -Jethro and Amuba went among the rest of the captives, most of whom -were prostrated with grief, and did their best to rouse them from -their stupor. - -"The Egyptians have seen that the Rebu are men in the field," Amuba -said to some of them. "Let them see that we can also bear misfortune -like men. Grieving will not mitigate our lot, nay, it will add to its -burden. If the Egyptians see that we bear our fate manfully they will -have far more compassion upon us than if they see that we bemoan -ourselves. Remember we have a long and toilsome journey before us, and -shall need all our strength. After all, the hardship of our lot is as -nothing to that of the women yonder. We are accustomed to exercise and -toil, but the journey, which we can support as well as the Egyptians, -will be terrible to them, delicate in nature as they are. Let us -therefore set them an example of courage and patience; let us bear -ourselves as men whose suffering is unmerited, who have been conquered -but not disgraced, who are prepared to defy fate and not to succumb to -it." - -Amuba's words had a great effect upon the captives. They regarded him -with respect as the son of their late king, and as one who would have -been king himself had not this misfortune befallen them; and his -calmness and manly speech encouraged them to strive against their -grief and to look their fate more hopefully in the face. As long as -the army remained in camp the hands of the captives were tied behind -them, but when the march was begun they were relieved of their bonds -and were placed in the center of an Egyptian regiment. - -It was a long and tedious journey. On the way the train of captives -was very largely increased by those who had been taken in the earlier -conquests of the army, and who had been left in charge of the troops -told off to the various provinces brought into subjection by the -Egyptians until the army passed through on its homeward march. -Provisions had been everywhere collected to supply it on its progress, -and as the distance traversed each day was small the captives suffered -but little until they entered upon the passage of the desert tract -between the southern point of Syria and the mouth of the Nile. - -Here, although vast quantities of water were carried in the train of -the army, the supply given to the captives was extremely small, -and as the sun blazed down with tremendous heat, and they were -half-suffocated by the dust which rose in clouds under the feet of the -vast body of men, their sufferings were very severe. The Rebu captives -had gained the respect of the troops who escorted them by their manly -bearing and the absence of the manifestations of grief which were -betrayed by most of the other captives. The regiment was composed of -Libyan mercenaries, hardy, active men, inured alike to heat and -fatigue. - -During the three months which the march had occupied Amuba and Jethro, -and indeed most of the captives, had acquired some knowledge of the -Egyptian language. Jethro had from the first impressed upon the young -prince the great advantage this would be to them. In the first place, -it would divert their thoughts from dwelling upon the past, and in the -second, it would make their lot more bearable in Egypt. - -"You must remember," he said, "that we shall be slaves, and masters -are not patient with their slaves. They give them orders, and if the -order is not understood so much the worse for the slaves. It will add -to our value, and therefore obtain for us better treatment, if we are -able to converse in their tongue." - -Amuba was thankful indeed when the gray monotony of the desert was -succeeded by the bright verdure of the plains of Egypt. As they -entered the land the order in which they had marched was changed, and -the long line of captives followed immediately after the chariot of -the king. Each of them was laden with a portion of the spoil taken -from their native country. Amuba bore on his head a large golden vase -which had been used in the ceremonies of the temple. Jethro carried a -rich helmet and armor which had belonged to the king. - -The first city they entered Amuba was astonished at the massive -splendor of the buildings and at the signs of comfort and wealth which -everywhere met his eye. The streets were thronged with people who, -bending to the ground, shouted their acclamations as the king passed -along, and who gazed with interest and surprise at the long procession -of captives representing the various nations who had been subjected to -his arms. Most of all he was surprised at the temples with their long -avenues of sphinxes, the gigantic figures representing the gods, the -rows of massive pillars, the majesty and grandeur of the edifices -themselves. - -"How were they built, Jethro?" he exclaimed over and again. "How were -these massive stones placed in order? How did they drag these huge -figures across the plains? What tools could they have used to carve -them out of the solid granite?" - -"I am afraid, Amuba," Jethro said grimly, for the lad had positively -forbidden him to address him any longer as prince, saying that such -title addressed to a slave was no better than mockery, "we are likely -to learn to our cost before long how they manage these marvels, for -marvels they assuredly are. It must have taken the strength of -thousands of men to have transported even one of these strange -figures, and although the people themselves may have aided in the -work, you may be sure the slaves bore the brunt of it." - -"But what is the meaning of these figures, Jethro? Surely neither in -this country nor in any other are there creatures with the faces of -women and the bodies of lions and great wings such as these have. -Some, too, have the faces of men and the bodies of bulls, while others -have heads like birds and bodies like those of men." - -"Assuredly there can be no such creatures, Amuba; and I wonder that a -people so enlightened and wise as the Egyptians should choose such -strange figures for their gods. I can only suppose that these figures -represent their attributes rather than the gods themselves. Do you -see, the human head may represent their intelligence, the bodies of -the lions or bulls their strength and power, the wings of the bird -their swiftness. I do not know that it is so, but it seems to me that -it is possible that it may be something of this sort. We cannot but -allow that their gods are powerful, since they give them victory over -all other people; but no doubt we shall learn more of them and of many -other things in time." - -The journey was continued for another three weeks, and was the cause -of constant surprises to the captives. The extraordinary fertility of -the land especially struck them. Cultivation among the Rebu was of a -very primitive description, and the abundance and variety of the crops -that everywhere met their eye seemed to them absolutely marvelous. -Irrigation was not wholly unknown to the Rebu, and was carried on to a -considerable extent in Persia; but the enormous works for the purpose -in Egypt, the massive embankments of the river, the network of canals -and ditches, the order and method everywhere apparent, filled them -with surprise and admiration. - -Many of the cities and temples greatly surpassed in magnificence and -splendor those they had first met with, and Amuba's wonder reached its -climax when they arrived at Memphis, till lately the capital of Egypt. -The wealth and contents of the city astonished the captives, but most -of all were they surprised when they saw the enormous bulk of the -pyramids rising a few miles distant from the town, and learned that -these were some of the tombs of the kings. - -The country had now altered in character. On the left a range of steep -hills approached the river, and as the march proceeded similar though -not so lofty hills were seen on the right. - -At last, after another fortnight's traveling, a shout of joy from the -army proclaimed that Thebes, the capital of Egypt, the goal of the -long and weary march was in view. - -Thebes stood on both sides of the Nile. On the eastern bank the -largest portion of the population was gathered, but this part of the -city was inhabited principally by the poorer class. There was, too, a -large population on the Libyan side of the Nile, the houses being -densely packed near the bank of the river. Behind these were numbers -of temples and palaces, while the tombs of the kings and queens were -excavated in a valley further back, whose precipitous sides were -honeycombed with the rock sepulchers of the wealthy. As the -dwelling-houses were all low, the vast piles of the temples, palaces, -and public buildings rose above them, and presented a most striking -appearance to those approaching the city, which lay in a great natural -amphitheater, the hills on both sides narrowing toward the river both -above and below it. The march of the royal army from Memphis had been -on the western bank of the river, and it was the great Libyan suburb -with its palaces and temples that they were approaching. As they -neared the city an enormous multitude poured out to welcome the king -and the returning army. Shouts of enthusiasm were raised, the sound of -trumpets and other musical instruments filled the air, religious -processions from the great temples moved with steady course through -the dense crowd, which separated at once to allow of the passage of -the figures of the gods, and of the priests and attendants bearing -their emblems. - -"Indeed, Jethro," Amuba exclaimed with enthusiasm, "it is almost worth -while being made a slave if it is only to witness this glorious scene. -What a wonderful people are these; what knowledge, and power, and -magnificence! Why, my father's palace would be regarded as a mere hut -in Thebes, and our temples, of which we thought so much, are pygmies -by the side of these immense edifices." - -"All that is true enough, Amuba, and I do not say that I, too, am not -filled with admiration, and yet you know the Rebu several times drove -back their forces, and man for man are more than a match for their -soldiers. Our people are taller than they by half a head. We have not -so much luxury, nor did we want it. All this must make people -effeminate." - -"Perhaps so," Amuba assented; "but you must remember it is not so very -long ago that we were a people living in tents, and wandering at will -in search of pasture, and we have not, I think, become effeminate -because we have settled down and built towns. No one can say that the -Egyptians are not brave; certainly it is not for us to say so, though -I agree with you that physically they are not our equals. See how the -people stare and point at us, Jethro. I should think they have never -seen a race like ours with blue eyes and fair hair, though even among -them there are varying shades of darkness. The nobles and upper -classes are lighter in hue than the common people." - -The surprise of the Egyptians was indeed great at the complexion of -their captives, and the decoration of their walls has handed down in -paintings which still remain the blue eyes and fair hair of the Rebu. -The rejoicings upon the return of the king went on for several days; -at the end of that time the captives were distributed by the royal -order. Some were given to the generals who had most distinguished -themselves. Many were assigned to the priests, while the great bulk -were sent to labor upon the public works. - -The Rebu captives, whose singular complexion and fairness caused them -to be regarded with special interest, were distributed among the -special favorites of the king. Many of the girls were assigned to the -queen and royal princesses, others to the wives of the priests and -generals who formed the council of the king. The men were, for the -most part, given to the priests for service about the temples. - -To his great delight Amuba found that Jethro and himself were among -the eight captives who were assigned to the service of the priests of -one of the great temples. This was scarcely the effect of chance, for -the captives were drawn up in line, and the number assigned to each -temple were marched off together in order that there might be no -picking and choosing of the captives, but that they might be divided -impartially between the various temples, and as Jethro always placed -himself by Amuba's side, it naturally happened that they fell to the -same destination. - -On reaching the temple the little band of captives were again drawn -up, and the high priest, Ameres, a grave and distinguished-looking -man, walked along the line scrutinizing them. He beckoned to Amuba to -step forward. "Henceforth," he said, "you are my servant. Behave well, -and you will be well treated." He again walked down the line, and -Amuba saw that he was going to choose another, and threw himself on -his knees before him. - -"Will my lord pardon my boldness," he said, "but may I implore you to -choose yonder man who stood next beside me? He has been my friend -from childhood, he covered me with his shield in battle, he has been a -father to me since I have lost my own. Do not, I implore you, my lord, -separate us now. You will find us both willing to labor at whatsoever -you may give us to do." - -The priest listened gravely. - -"It shall be as you wish," he said; "it is the duty of every man to -give pleasure to those around him if it lies in his power, and as your -friend is a man of thews and sinews, and has a frank and honest face, -he will assuredly suit me as well as another; do you therefore both -follow me to my house." - -The other captives saluted Amuba as he and Jethro turned to follow. -The priest observed the action, and said to the lad: - -"Were you a person of consequence among your people that they thus at -parting salute you rather than your comrade, who is older than you?" - -"I am the son of him who was their king," Amuba said. "He fell in -action with your troops, and had not our city been taken, and the -nation subdued by the Egyptians, I should have inherited the throne." - -"Is it so?" the priest said. "Truly the changes and fortunes of life -are strange. I wonder that, being the son of their king, you were not -specially kept by Thotmes himself." - -"I think that he knew it not," Amuba said. "We knew not your customs, -and my fellow-captives thought that possibly I might be put to death -were it known that I was a son of their king, and therefore abstained -from all outward marks of respect, which, indeed, would to one who was -a slave like themselves have been ridiculous." - -"Perhaps it is best so," the priest said thoughtfully. "You would not -have been injured, for we do not slay our captives taken in war; -still maybe your life will be easier to bear as the servant of a -priest than in the household of the king. You had better, however, -mention to no one the rank you have borne, for it might be reported to -the king, and then you might be sent for to the palace; unless indeed -you would rather be a spectator of the pomp and gayety of the court -than a servant in a quiet household." - -"I would far rather remain with you, my lord," Amuba said eagerly. -"You have already shown the kindness of your heart by granting my -request, and choosing my comrade Jethro as my fellow-slave, and I feel -already that my lot will be a far happier one than I had ventured to -hope." - -"Judge not hastily by appearances," the priest said. "At the same -time, here in Egypt, slaves are not treated as they are among the wild -peoples of Nubia and the desert. There is a law for all, and he who -kills a slave is punished as if he took the life of an Egyptian. -However, I think I can say that your life will not be a hard one; you -have intelligence, as is shown by the fact that you have so rapidly -acquired sufficient knowledge of our tongue to speak it intelligibly. -Can you, too, speak our language?" he asked Jethro. - -"I can speak a little," Jethro said; "but not nearly so well as Amuba. -My lips are too old to fashion a strange tongue as rapidly as can his -younger ones." - -"You speak sufficiently well to understand," the priest said, "and -doubtless will in time acquire our tongue perfectly. This is my -house." - -The priest entered an imposing gateway, on each side of which -stretched a long and lofty wall. At a distance of fifty yards from the -gate stood a large dwelling, compared to which the royal abode which -Amuba had been brought up in was but a miserable hut. Inclosed within -the walls was a space of ground some three hundred yards square, which -was laid out as a garden. Avenues of fruit trees ran all round it, a -portion was laid out as a vineyard, while separated from the rest by -an avenue of palm trees was a vegetable garden. - -In front of the house was a large piece of water in which floated a -gayly-painted boat; aquatic plants of all kinds bordered its edges. -Graceful palms grouped their foliage over it, the broad flat leaves of -lilies floated on its surface, while the white flowers which Amuba had -seen carried in all the religious processions and by large numbers of -people of the upper rank, and which he heard were called the lotus, -rose above them. The two captives were struck with surprise and -admiration at the beauty of the scene, and forgot for a moment that -they were slaves as they looked round at a vegetation more beautiful -than they had ever beheld. A smile passed over the countenance of the -priest. - -"Perfect happiness is for no man," he said, "and yet methinks that you -may in time learn at least contentment here." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -AN EASY SERVITUDE. - - -Just as the priest finished speaking, a lad of about the same age as -Amuba appeared at the portico of the house, and ran down to his -father. - -"Oh, father!" he exclaimed, "have you brought two of those strange -captives home? We saw them in the procession, and marveled greatly at -the color of their hair and eyes. Mysa and I particularly noticed this -lad, whose hair is almost the color of gold." - -"As usual, Chebron, your tongue outruns your discretion. This youth -understands enough Egyptian to know what you are saying, and it is not -courteous to speak of a person's characteristics to his face." - -The lad flushed through his olive cheeks. - -"Pardon me," he said courteously to Amuba. "I did not think for a -moment that one who had but newly arrived among us understood our -language." - -"Do not apologize," Amuba replied with a smile. "Doubtless our -appearance is strange to you, and indeed even among the peoples of -Lydia and Persia there are few whose hair and eyes are as fair as -ours. Even had you said that you did not like our appearance I should -not have felt hurt, for all people I think like that to which they are -accustomed; in any case, it is good of you to say that you regret what -you said; people do not generally think that captives have feelings." - -"Chebron's apology was right," his father said. "Among us politeness -is the rule, and every Egyptian is taught to be considerate to all -people. It is just as easy to be polite as to be rude, and men are -served better for love than for fear." - -"And are they to stay here, father," Chebron asked, "or have you only -brought them for to-day?" - -"They are to stay here, my son. I have chosen them from those set -aside for our temple. I selected the younger because he was about your -age, and it is good for a man to have one near him who has been -brought up with him, and is attached to him; who, although -circumstances may not have made them equal in condition, can yet be a -comrade and a friend, and such, I hope, you will find in Amuba, for -such he tells me is his name. I have said whom circumstances have -placed in an inferior position, for after all circumstances are -everything. This youth, in his own country, held a position even -higher than you do here, for he was the son of the king; and, since -his father fell in battle, would now be the king of his people had -they not been subjected to us. Therefore, Chebron, bear it always in -mind that although misfortune has placed him a captive among us, he is -in birth your superior, and treat him as you yourself would wish to be -treated did you fall a captive into the hands of a hostile nation." - -"I will gladly treat you as my friend," the young Egyptian said -frankly to Amuba. "Although you are so different from me in race, I -can see in your face that you are true and loyal. Besides," he added, -"I am sure that my father would not have bade me so trust you had he -not read your character and been certain that you will be a fit friend -for me." - -"You and your father are both good," Amuba replied. "I know how hard -is the lot of captives taken in war, for we Rebu had many slaves whom -we took in various expeditions, and I was prepared to suffer. You can -judge, then, how grateful I feel to our gods that they have placed me -in hands so different from those I had looked for, and I swear to you, -Chebron, that you shall find me faithful and devoted to you. So, too, -will you find my friend here, who in any difficulty would be far more -able to render you service than I could. He was one of our bravest -warriors. He drove my chariot in the great battle we fought with your -people, and saved my life several times; and should you need the -service of a strong and brave man, Jethro will be able to aid you." - -"And have you been in battle?" Chebron asked in surprise. - -"That was the first time I had ever fought with men," Amuba said; "but -I had often hunted the lion, and he is almost as terrible an enemy as -your soldiers. I was young to go to battle, but my father naturally -wished me to take my place early among the fighting men of our -nation." - -"By the way, Chebron," Ameres said, "I would warn you, mention to no -one the rank that Amuba held in his own country. Were it known he -might be taken away from us to serve in the palace. His people who -were taken captives with him said nothing as to his rank, fearing that -ill might befall him were it known, and it was therefore supposed that -he was of the same rank as the other captives, who were all men of -noble birth among the Rebu. Therefore tell no one, not even your -mother or your sister Mysa. If there is a secret to be kept, the fewer -who know it the better." - -While this conversation had been going on Amuba had been narrowly -examining the lad who had promised to treat him as a friend. - -Like his father he was fairer in complexion than the majority of the -Egyptians, the lighter hue being, indeed, almost universal among the -upper class. He was much shorter and slighter than the young Rebu, but -he carried himself well, and had already in his manner something of -the calm and dignity that distinguished Egyptians born to high rank. -He was disfigured, as Amuba thought, by the custom, general throughout -Egypt, of having his head smoothly shaven, except one lock which fell -down over the left ear. This, as Amuba afterward learned, was the -distinguishing sign of youth, and would be shaved off when he attained -man's estate, married, or entered upon a profession. - -At present his head was bare, but when he went out he wore a -close-fitting cap with an orifice through which the lock of hair -passed out and fell down to his shoulder. He had not yet taken to the -custom general among the upper and middle classes of wearing a wig. -This general shaving of the head had, to Amuba, a most unpleasant -effect until he became accustomed to it. It was adopted, doubtless, by -the Egyptians for the purpose of coolness and cleanliness; but Amuba -thought that he would rather spend any amount of pains in keeping his -hair free from dust than go about in the fantastic and complicated -wigs that the Egyptians wore. - -The priest now led them within the house. On passing through the -entrance they entered a large hall. Along its side ran a row of -massive columns supporting the ceiling, which projected twelve feet -from each wall; the walls were covered with marble and other colored -stones; the floor was paved with the same material; a fountain played -in the middle, and threw its water to a considerable height, for the -portion of the hall between the columns was open to the sky; seats of -a great variety of shapes stood about the room; while in great pots -were placed palms and other plants of graceful foliage. The ceiling -was painted with an elaborate pattern in colors. A lady was seated -upon a long couch. It had no back, but one end was raised as a support -for the arm, and the ends were carved into the semblance of the heads -of animals. - -Two Nubian slave girls stood behind her fanning her, and a girl about -twelve years old was seated on a low stool studying from a roll of -papyrus. She threw it down and jumped to her feet as her father -entered, and the lady rose with a languid air, as if the effort of -even so slight a movement was a trouble to her. - -"Oh, papa--" the girl began, but the priest checked her with a motion -of his hand. - -"My dear," he said to his wife, "I have brought home two of the -captives whom our great king has brought with him as trophies of his -conquest. He has handed many over for our service and that of the -temples, and these two have fallen to my share. They were of noble -rank in their own country, and we will do our best to make them forget -the sad change in their position." - -"You are always so peculiar in your notions, Ameres," the lady said -more pettishly than would have been expected from her languid -movements. "They are captives; and I do not see that it makes any -matter what they were before they were captives, so that they are -captives now. By all means treat them as you like, so that you do not -place them about me, for their strange-colored hair and eyes and their -white faces make me shudder." - -"Oh, mamma, I think it so pretty," Mysa exclaimed. "I do wish my hair -was gold-colored like that boy's, instead of being black like everyone -else's." - - [Illustration: C. of B. - THE HIGH-PRIEST PRESENTS AMUBA AND JETHRO TO - HIS WIFE.--Page 68.] - -The priest shook his head at his daughter reprovingly; but she seemed -in no way abashed, for she was her father's pet, and knew well enough -that he was never seriously angry with her. - -"I do not propose placing them near you, Amense," he said calmly in -reply to his wife. "Indeed, it seems to me that you have already more -attendants about you than you can find any sort of employment for. The -lad I have specially allotted to Chebron; as to the other I have not -exactly settled as to what his duties will be." - -"Won't you give him to me, papa?" Mysa said coaxingly. "Fatina is not -at all amusing, and Dolma, the Nubian girl, can only look good-natured -and show her white teeth, but as we can't understand each other at all -I don't see that she is of any use to me." - -"And what use do you think you could make of this tall Rebu?" the -priest asked, smiling. - -"I don't quite know, papa," Mysa said, as with her head a little on -one side she examined Jethro critically, "but I like his looks, and I -am sure he could do all sorts of things; for instance, he could walk -with me when I want to go out, he could tow me round the lake in the -boat, he could pick up my ball for me, and could feed my pets." - -"When you are too lazy to feed them yourself," the priest put in. -"Very well, Mysa, we will try the experiment. Jethro shall be your -special attendant, and when you have nothing for him to do, which will -be the best part of the day, he can look after the waterfowl. Zunbo -never attends them properly. Do you understand that?" he asked Jethro. - -Jethro replied by stepping forward, taking the girl's hand, and -bending over it until his forehead touched it. - -"There is an answer for you, Mysa." - -"You indulge the children too much, Ameres," his wife said irritably. -"I do not think in all Egypt there are any children so spoiled as -ours. Other men's sons never speak unless addressed, and do not think -of sitting down in the presence of their father. I am astonished -indeed that you, who are looked up to as one of the wisest men in -Egypt, should suffer your children to be so familiar with you." - -"Perhaps, my dear," Ameres said with a placid smile, "it is because -I am one of the wisest men in Egypt. My children honor me in their -hearts as much as do those who are kept in slavelike subjection. How -is a boy's mind to expand if he does not ask questions, and who -should be so well able to answer his questions as his father? There, -children, you can go now. Take your new companions with you, and show -them the garden and your pets." - -"We are fortunate, indeed, Jethro," Amuba said as they followed -Chebron and Mysa into the garden. "When we pictured to ourselves as we -lay on the sand at night during our journey hither what our life would -be, we never dreamed of anything like this. We thought of tilling the -land, of aiding to raise the great dams and embankments, of quarrying -stones for the public buildings, of a grinding and hopeless slavery, -and the only thing that ever we ventured to hope for was that we might -toil side by side, and now, see how good the gods have been to us. Not -only are we together, but we have found friends in our masters, a home -in this strange land." - -"Truly it is wonderful, Amuba. This Priest Ameres is a most excellent -person, one to be loved by all who come near him. We have indeed been -most fortunate in having been chosen by him." - -The brother and sister led the way through an avenue of fruit trees, -at the end of which a gate led through a high paling of rushes into an -inclosure some fifty feet square. It was surrounded by trees and -shrubs, and in their shade stood a number of wooden structures. - -In the center was a pool occupying the third of the area, and like the -large pond before the house bordered with aquatic plants. At the edge -stood two ibises, while many brilliantly plumaged waterfowl were -swimming on its surface or cleaning their feathers on the bank. - -As soon as the gate closed there was a great commotion among the -waterfowl; the ibises advanced gravely to meet their young mistress, -the ducks set up a chorus of welcome, those on the water made for the -shore, while those on land followed the ibises with loud quackings. -But the first to reach them were two gazelles, which bounded from one -of the wooden huts and were in an instant beside them, thrusting their -soft muzzles into the hands of Chebron and Mysa, while from the other -structures arose a medley of sounds--the barking of dogs and the -sounds of welcome from a variety of creatures. - -"This is not your feeding-time, you know," Chebron said, looking at -the gazelles, "and for once we have come empty-handed; but we will -give you something from your stores. See, Jethro, this is their -larder," and he led the way into a structure somewhat larger than the -rest; along the walls were a number of boxes of various sizes, while -some large bins stood below them. "Here, you see," he went on, opening -one of the bins and taking from it a handful of freshly cut vetches, -and going to the door and throwing it down before the gazelles, "this -is their special food; it is brought in fresh every morning from our -farm, which lies six miles away. The next bin contains the seed for -the waterfowl. It is all mixed here, you see. Wheat and peas and -pulse and other seeds. Mysa, do give them a few handfuls, for I can -hardly hear myself speak from their clamor. - -"In this box above you see there is a pan of sopped bread for the -cats. There is a little mixed with the water; but only a little, for -it will not keep good. Those cakes are for them, too. Those large, -plain, hard-baked cakes in the next box are for the dogs; they have -some meat and bones given them two or three times a week. These frogs -and toads in this cage are for the little crocodile; he has a tank all -to himself. All these other boxes are full of different food for the -other animals you see. There's a picture of the right animal upon -each, so there is no fear of making a mistake. We generally feed them -ourselves three times a day when we are here, but when we are away it -will be for you to feed them." - -"And please," Mysa said, "above all things be very particular that -they have all got fresh water; they do love fresh water so much, and -sometimes it is so hot that the pans dry up in an hour after it has -been poured out. You see, the gazelles can go to the pond and drink -when they are thirsty, but the others are fastened up because they -won't live peaceably together as they ought to do; but we let them out -for a bit while we are here. The dogs chase the waterfowl and frighten -them, and the cats will eat up the little ducklings, which is very -wrong when they have plenty of proper food; and the ichneumon, even -when we are here, would quarrel with the snakes if we let him into -their house. They are very troublesome that way, though they are all -so good with us. The houses all want making nice and clean of a -morning." - -The party went from house to house inspecting the various animals, all -of which were most carefully attended. The dogs, which were, Chebron -said, of a Nubian breed, were used for hunting; while on comfortable -beds of fresh rushes three great cats lay blinking on large cushions, -but got up and rubbed against Mysa and Chebron in token of welcome. A -number of kittens that were playing about together rushed up with -upraised tails and loud mewings. Amuba noticed that their two guides -made a motion of respect as they entered the house where the cats -were, as well as toward the dogs, the ichneumon, and the crocodile, -all of which were sacred animals in Thebes. - -Many instructions were given by Mysa to Jethro as to the peculiar -treatment that each of her pets demanded, and having completed their -rounds the party then explored the garden, and Amuba and Jethro were -greatly struck by the immense variety of plants, which had indeed been -raised from seeds or roots brought from all the various countries -where the Egyptian arms extended. - -For a year the time passed tranquilly and pleasantly to Amuba in the -household of the priest. His duties and those of Jethro were light. In -his walks and excursions Amuba was Chebron's companion. He learned to -row his boat when he went out fishing on the Nile. When thus out -together the distinction of rank was altogether laid aside; but when -in Thebes the line was necessarily more marked, as Chebron could not -take Amuba with him to the houses of the many friends and relatives of -his father among the priestly and military classes. When the priest -and his family went out to a banquet or entertainment Jethro and Amuba -were always with the party of servants who went with torches to escort -them home. The service was a light one in their case; but not so in -many others, for the Egyptians often drank deeply at these feasts, and -many of the slaves always took with them light couches upon which to -carry their masters home. Even among the ladies, who generally took -their meals apart from the men upon these occasions, drunkenness was -by no means uncommon. - -When in the house Amuba was often present when Chebron studied, and as -he himself was most anxious to acquire as much as he could of the -wisdom of the Egyptians, Chebron taught him the hieroglyphic -characters, and he was ere long able to read the inscriptions upon the -temple and public buildings and to study from the papyrus scrolls, of -which vast numbers were stowed away in pigeon-holes ranged round one -of the largest rooms in the house. - -When Chebron's studies were over Jethro instructed him in the use of -arms, and also practiced with Amuba. A teacher of the use of the bow -came frequently--for Egyptians of all ranks were skilled in the use of -the national weapon--and the Rebu captives, already skilled in the bow -as used by their own people, learned from watching his teaching of -Chebron to use the longer and much more powerful weapon of the -Egyptians. Whenever Mysa went outside the house Jethro accompanied -her, waiting outside the house she visited until she came out, or -going back to fetch her if her stay was a prolonged one. - -Greatly they enjoyed the occasional visits made by the family to their -farm. Here they saw the cultivation of the fields carried on, watched -the plucking of the grapes and their conversion into wine. To extract -the juice the grapes were heaped in a large flat vat above which ropes -were suspended. A dozen barefooted slaves entered the vat and trod out -the grapes, using the ropes to lift themselves in order that they -might drop with greater force upon the fruit. Amuba had learned from -Chebron that although he was going to enter the priesthood as an -almost necessary preliminary for state employment, he was not intended -to rise to the upper rank of the priesthood, but to become a state -official. - -"My elder brother will, no doubt, some day succeed my father as high -priest of Osiris," he told Amuba. "I know that my father does not -think that he is clever, but it is not necessary to be very clever to -serve in the temple. I thought that, of course, I too should come to -high rank in the priesthood; for, as you know, almost all posts are -hereditary, and though my brother as the elder would be high priest, I -should be one of the chief priests also. But I have not much taste -that way, and rejoiced much when one day saying so to my father, he -replied at once that he should not urge me to devote my life to the -priesthood, for that there were many other offices of state which -would be open to me, and in which I could serve my country and be -useful to the people. Almost all the posts in the service of the state -are, indeed, held by the members of priestly families; they furnish -governors to the provinces, and not infrequently generals to the army. - -"'Some,' he said, 'are by disposition fitted to spend their lives in -ministering in the temples, and it is doubtless a high honor and -happiness to do so; but for others a more active life and a wider -field of usefulness is more suitable. Engineers are wanted for the -canal and irrigation works, judges are required to make the law -respected and obeyed, diplomatists to deal with foreign nations, -governors for the many peoples over whom we rule; therefore, my son, -if you do not feel a longing to spend your life in the service of the -temple, by all means turn your mind to study which will fit you to be -an officer of the state. Be assured that I can obtain for you from the -king a post in which you will be able to make your first essay, and -so, if deserving, rise to high advancement.'" - -There were few priests during the reign of Thotmes III. who stood -higher in the opinion of the Egyptian people than Ameres. His piety -and learning rendered him distinguished among his fellows. He was high -priest in the temple of Osiris, and was one of the most trusted of the -councilors of the king. He had by heart all the laws of the sacred -books; he was an adept in the inmost mysteries of the religion. His -wealth was large, and he used it nobly; he lived in a certain pomp and -state which were necessary for his position, but he spent but a tithe -of his revenues, and the rest he distributed among the needy. - -If the Nile rose to a higher level than usual and spread ruin and -destruction among the cultivators, Ameres was ready to assist the -distressed. If the rise of the river was deficient, he always set the -example of remitting the rents of the tenants of his broad lands, and -was ready to lend money without interest to tenants of harder or more -necessitous landlords. - -Yet among the high priesthood Ameres was regarded with suspicion, and -even dislike. It was whispered among them that, learned and pious as -he was, the opinions of the high priest were not in accordance with -the general sentiments of the priesthood; that although he performed -punctiliously all the numerous duties of his office, and took his part -in the sacrifices and processions of the god, he yet lacked reverence -for him, and entertained notions widely at variance with those of his -fellows. - -Ameres was, in fact, one of those men who refuse to be bound by the -thoughts and opinions of others, and to whom it is a necessity to -bring their own judgment to bear on every question presented to them. -His father, who had been high priest before him--for the great offices -of Egypt were for the most part hereditary--while he had been -delighted at the thirst for knowledge and the enthusiasm for study in -his son, had been frequently shocked at the freedom with which he -expressed his opinions as step by step he was initiated into the -sacred mysteries. - -Already at his introduction to the priesthood, Ameres had mastered all -there was to learn in geometry and astronomy. He was a skillful -architect, and was deeply versed in the history of the nation. He had -already been employed as supervisor in the construction of canals and -irrigation works on the property belonging to the temple, and in all -these respects his father had every reason to be proud of the success -he had attained and the estimation in which he was held by his -fellows. It was only the latitude which he allowed himself in -consideration of religious questions which alarmed and distressed -his father. - -The Egyptians were the most conservative of peoples. For thousands -of years no change whatever took place in their constitution, their -manners, customs, and habits. It was the fixed belief of every -Egyptian that in all respects their country was superior to any other, -and that their laws and customs had approached perfection. All, from -the highest to the lowest, were equally bound by these. The king -himself was no more independent than the peasant; his hour of rising, -the manner in which the day should be employed, the very quantity and -quality of food he should eat, were all rigidly dictated by custom. He -was surrounded from his youth by young men of his own age--sons of -priests, chosen for their virtue and piety. - -Thus he was freed from the influence of evil advisers, and even had he -so wished it, had neither means nor power of oppressing his subjects, -whose rights and privileges were as strictly defined as his own. In a -country then, where every man followed the profession of his father, -and where from time immemorial everything had proceeded on precisely -the same lines, the fact that Ameres, the son of the high priest of -Osiris, and himself destined to succeed to that dignity, should -entertain opinions differing even in the slightest from those held by -the leaders of the priesthood, was sufficient to cause him to be -regarded with marked disfavor among them; it was indeed only because -his piety and benevolence were as remarkable as his learning and -knowledge of science that he was enabled at his father's death to -succeed to his office without opposition. - -Indeed, even at that time the priests of higher grade would have -opposed his election; but Ameres was as popular with the lower classes -of the priesthood as with the people at large, and their suffrages -would have swamped those of his opponents. The multitude had, indeed, -never heard so much as a whisper against the orthodoxy of the high -priest of Osiris. They saw him ever foremost in the sacrifices and -processions; they knew that he was indefatigable in his services in -the temple, and that all his spare time was devoted to works of -benevolence and general utility; and as they bent devoutly as he -passed through the streets they little dreamed that the high priest of -Osiris was regarded by his chief brethren as a dangerous innovator. - -And yet it was on one subject only that he differed widely from his -order. Versed as he was in the innermost mysteries, he had learned -the true meaning of the religion of which he was one of the chief -ministers. He was aware that Osiris and Isis, the six other great -gods, and the innumerable divinities whom the Egyptians worshiped -under the guise of deities with the heads of animals, were in -themselves no gods at all, but mere attributes of the power, the -wisdom, the goodness, the anger of the one great God--a God so mighty -that his name was unknown, and that it was only when each of his -attributes was given an individuality and worshiped as a god that it -could be understood by the finite sense of man. - -All this was known to Ameres and the few who, like him, had been -admitted to the inmost mysteries of the Egyptian religion. The rest -of the population in Egypt worshiped in truth and in faith the -animal-headed gods and the animals sacred to them; and yet as to these -animals there was no consensus of opinion. In one nome or division of -the kingdom the crocodile was sacred; in another he was regarded with -dislike, and the ichneumon, that was supposed to be his destroyer, was -deified. In one the goat was worshiped, and in another eaten for food; -and so it was throughout the whole of the list of sacred animals, -which were regarded with reverence or indifference according to the -gods who were looked upon as the special tutelary deities of the nome. - -It was the opinion of Ameres that the knowledge, confined only to the -initiated, should be more widely disseminated, and, without wishing to -extend it at present to the ignorant masses of the peasantry and -laborers, he thought that all the educated and intelligent classes of -Egypt should be admitted to an understanding of the real nature of the -gods they worshiped and the inner truths of their religion. He was -willing to admit that the process must be gradual, and that it would -be necessary to enlarge gradually the circle of the initiated. His -proposals were nevertheless received with dismay and horror by his -colleagues. They asserted that to allow others besides the higher -priesthood to become aware of the deep mysteries of their religion -would be attended with terrible consequences. - -In the first place, it would shake entirely the respect and reverence -in which the priesthood were held, and would annihilate their -influence. The temples would be deserted, and, losing the faith which -they now so steadfastly held in the gods, people would soon cease to -have any religion at all. "There are no people," they urged, "on the -face of the earth so moral, so contented, so happy, and so easily -ruled as the Egyptians; but what would they be did you destroy all -their beliefs, and launch them upon a sea of doubt and speculation! No -longer would they look up to those who have so long been their guides -and teachers, and whom they regard as possessing a knowledge and -wisdom infinitely beyond theirs. They would accuse us of having -deceived them, and in their blind fury destroy alike the gods and -their ministers. The idea of such a thing is horrible." - -Ameres was silenced, though not convinced. He felt, indeed, that there -was much truth in the view they entertained of the matter, and that -terrible consequences would almost certainly follow the discovery by -the people that for thousands of years they had been led by the -priests to worship as gods those who were no gods at all, and he saw -that the evil which would arise from a general enlightenment of the -people would outweigh any benefit that they could derive from the -discovery. The system had, as his colleagues said, worked well; and -the fact that the people worshiped as actual deities imaginary beings -who were really but the representatives of the attributes of the -infinite God, could not be said to have done them any actual harm. At -any rate, he alone and unaided could do nothing. Only with the general -consent of the higher priesthood could the circle of initiated be -widened, and any movement on his part alone would simply bring upon -himself disgrace and death. Therefore, after unburdening himself in a -council composed only of the higher initiates, he held his peace and -went on the quiet tenor of his way. - -Enlightened as he was, he felt that he did no wrong to preside at -the sacrifices and take part in the services of the gods. He was -worshiping not the animal-headed idols, but the attributes which they -personified. He felt pity for the ignorant multitude who laid their -offerings upon the shrine; and yet he felt that it would shatter their -happiness instead of adding to it were they to know that the deity -they worshiped was a myth. He allowed his wife and daughter to join -with the priestesses in the service at the temple, and in his heart -acknowledged that there was much in the contention of those who argued -that the spread of the knowledge of the inner mysteries would not -conduce to the happiness of all who received it. Indeed he himself -would have shrunk from disturbing the minds of his wife and daughter -by informing them that all their pious ministrations in the temple -were offered to non-existent gods; that the sacred animals they tended -were in no way more sacred than others, save that in them were -recognized some shadow of the attributes of the unknown God. - -His eldest son was, he saw, not of a disposition to be troubled with -the problems which gave him so much subject for thought and care. He -would conduct the services consciously and well. He would bear a -respectable part when, on his accession to the high-priesthood, he -became one of the councilors of the monarch. He had common sense, but -no imagination. The knowledge of the inmost mysteries would not -disturb his mind in the slightest degree, and it was improbable that -even a thought would ever cross his mind that the terrible deception -practiced by the enlightened upon the whole people was anything but -right and proper. - -Ameres saw, however, that Chebron was altogether differently -constituted. He was very intelligent, and was possessed of an ardent -thirst for knowledge of all kinds; but he had also his father's habit -of looking at matters from all points of view and of thinking for -himself. The manner in which Ameres had himself superintended his -studies and taught him to work with his understanding, and to convince -himself that each rule and precept was true before proceeding to the -next, had developed his thinking powers. Altogether, Ameres saw that -the doubts which filled his own mind as to the honesty, or even -expediency, of keeping the whole people in darkness and error would -probably be felt with even greater force by Chebron. - -He had determined, therefore, that the lad should not work up through -all the grades of the priesthood to the upper rank, but should, after -rising high enough to fit himself for official employment, turn his -attention to one or other of the great departments of state. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -IN LOWER EGYPT. - - -"I am going on a journey," Ameres said to his son a few days after the -return from the farm. "I shall take you with me, Chebron, for I am -going to view the progress of a fresh canal that is being made on our -estate in Goshen. The officer who is superintending it has doubts -whether, when the sluices are opened, it will altogether fulfill its -purpose, and I fear that some mistake must have been made in the -levels. I have already taught you the theory of the work; it is well -that you should gain some practical experience in it; for there is no -more useful or honorable profession than that of carrying out works by -which the floods of the Nile are conveyed to the thirsty soil." - -"Thank you, father. I should like it greatly," Chebron replied in a -tone of delight, for he had never before been far south of Thebes. -"And may Amuba go with us?" - -"Yes; I was thinking of taking him," the high priest said. "Jethro can -also go, for I take a retinue with me. Did I consult my own pleasure I -would far rather travel without this state and ceremony; but as a -functionary of state I must conform to the customs. And, indeed, even -in Goshen it is as well always to travel in some sort of state. The -people there are of a different race to ourselves. Although they have -dwelt a long time in the land and conform to its customs, still they -are notoriously a stubborn and obstinate people, and there is more -trouble in getting the public works executed there than in any other -part of the country." - -"I have heard of them, father. They belong to the same race as the -shepherd kings who were such bitter tyrants to Egypt. How is it that -they stayed behind when the shepherds were driven out?" - -"They are of the same race, but they came not with them, and formed no -part of their conquering armies. The shepherds, who, as you know, came -from the land lying to the east of the Great Sea, had reigned here for -a long time when this people came. They were relations of the Joseph -who, as you have read in your history, was chief minister of Egypt. - -"He came here as a slave, and was certainly brought from the country -whence our oppressors came. But they say that he was not of their -race, but that his forefathers had come into the land from a country -lying far to the east; but that I know not. Suffice it he gained the -confidence of the king, became his minister, and ruled wisely as far -as the king was concerned, though the people have little reason to -bless his memory. In his days was a terrible famine, and they say he -foretold its coming, and that his gods gave him warning of it. So vast -granaries were constructed and filled to overflowing, and when the -famine came and the people were starving the grain was served out, but -in return the people had to give up their land. Thus the whole tenure -of the land in the country was changed, and all became the property of -the state, the people remaining as its tenants upon the land they -formerly owned. Then it was that the state granted large tracts to the -temples, and others to the military order, so that at present all -tillers of land pay rent either to the king, the temples, or the -military order. - -"Thus it is that the army can always be kept up in serviceable order, -dwelling by its tens of thousands in the cities assigned to it. Thus -it is that the royal treasury is always kept full, and the services of -the temples maintained. The step has added to the power and dignity of -the nation, and has benefited the cultivators themselves by enabling -vast works of irrigation to be carried out--works that could never -have been accomplished had the land been the property of innumerable -small holders, each with his own petty interests." - -"But you said, father, that it has not been for the good of the -people." - -"Nor has it in one respect, Chebron, for it has drawn a wide chasm -between the aristocratic classes and the bulk of the people, who can -never own land, and have no stimulus to exertion." - -"But they are wholly ignorant, father. They are peasants, and nothing -more." - -"I think they might be something more, Chebron, under other -circumstances. However, that is not the question we are discussing. -This Joseph brought his family out of the land at the east of the -Great Sea, and land was given to them in Goshen, and they settled -there and throve and multiplied greatly. Partly because of the -remembrance of the services Joseph had rendered to the state, partly -because they were a kindred people, they were held in favor as long as -the shepherd kings ruled over us. But when Egypt rose and shook off -the yoke they had groaned under so long, and drove the shepherds and -their followers out of the land, this people--for they had now so -grown in numbers as to be in verity a people--remained behind, and -they have been naturally viewed with suspicion by us. They are akin to -our late oppressors, and lying as their land does to the east, they -could open the door to any fresh army of invasion. - -"Happily, now that our conquests have spread so far, and the power of -the people eastward of the Great Sea has been completely broken, this -reason for distrust has died out, but Joseph's people are still viewed -unfavorably. Prejudices take long to die out among the masses, and the -manner in which these people cling together, marrying only among -themselves and keeping themselves apart from us, gives a certain -foundation for the dislike which exists. Personally, I think the -feeling is unfounded. They are industrious and hard-working, though -they are, I own, somewhat disposed to resist authority, and there is -more difficulty in obtaining the quota of men from Goshen for the -execution of public works than from any other of the provinces of -Egypt." - -"Do they differ from us in appearance, father?" - -"Considerably, Chebron. They are somewhat fairer than we are, their -noses are more aquiline, and they are physically stronger. They do not -shave their heads as we do, and they generally let the hair on their -faces grow. For a long time after their settlement I believe that they -worshiped their own gods, or rather their own God, but they have long -adopted our religion." - -"Surely that must be wrong," Chebron said. "Each nation has its gods, -and if a people forsake their own gods it is not likely that other -gods would care for them as they do for their own people." - -"It is a difficult question, Chebron, and one which it is best for you -to leave alone at present. You will soon enter into the lower grade of -the priesthood, and although if you do not pass into the upper grades -you will never know the greater mysteries, you will yet learn enough -to enlighten you to some extent." - -Chebron was too well trained in the respect due to a parent to ask -further questions, but he renewed the subject with Amuba as they -strolled in the garden together afterward. - -"I wonder how each nation found out who were the gods who specially -cared for them, Amuba?" - -"I have no idea," Amuba, who had never given the subject a thought, -replied. "You are always asking puzzling questions, Chebron." - -"Well, but it must have been somehow," Chebron insisted. "Do you -suppose that any one ever saw our gods? and if not, how do people know -that one has the head of a dog and another of a cat, or what they are -like? Are some gods stronger than others, because all people offer -sacrifices to the gods and ask for their help before going to battle? -Some are beaten and some are victorious; some win to-day and lose -to-morrow. Is it that these gods are stronger one day than another, or -that they do not care to help their people sometimes? Why do they not -prevent their temples from being burned and their images from being -thrown down? It is all very strange." - -"It is all very strange, Chebron. I was not long ago asking Jethro -nearly the same question, but he could give me no answer. Why do you -not ask your father. He is one of the wisest of the Egyptians." - -"I have asked my father, but he will not answer me," Chebron said -thoughtfully. "I think sometimes that it is because I have asked these -questions that he does not wish me to become a high priest. I did not -mean anything disrespectful to the gods. But somehow when I want to -know things, and he will not answer me, I think he looks sadly, as if -he was sorry at heart that he could not tell me what I want to know." - -"Have you ever asked your brother Neco?" - -"Oh, Neco is different," Chebron said with an accent almost of -disdain. "Neco gets into passions and threatens me with all sorts of -things; but I can see he knows no more about it than I do, for he has -a bewildered look in his face when I ask him these things, and once or -twice he has put his hands to his ears and fairly run away, as if I -was saying something altogether profane and impious against the gods." - -On the following day the high priest and his party started for Goshen. -The first portion of the journey was performed by water. The craft was -a large one, with a pavilion of carved wood on deck, and two masts, -with great sails of many colors cunningly worked together. Persons of -consequence traveling in this way were generally accompanied by at -least two or three musicians playing on harps, trumpets, or pipes; -for the Egyptians were passionately fond of music, and no feast was -thought complete without a band to discourse soft music while it was -going on. The instruments were of the most varied kinds; stringed -instruments predominated, and these varied in size from tiny -instruments resembling zithers to harps much larger than those used in -modern times. In addition to these they had trumpets of many forms, -reed instruments, cymbals, and drums, the last-named long and narrow -in shape. - -Ameres, however, although not averse to music after the evening meal, -was of too practical a character to care for it at other times. He -considered that it was too often an excuse for doing nothing and -thinking of nothing, and therefore dispensed with it except on state -occasions. As they floated down the river he explained to his son the -various objects which they passed; told him the manner in which the -fishermen in their high boats made of wooden planks bound together by -rushes, or in smaller crafts shaped like punts formed entirely of -papyrus bound together with bands of the same plant, caught the fish; -pointed out the entrances to the various canals, and explained the -working of the gates which admitted the water; gave him the history of -the various temples, towns, and villages; named the many waterfowl -basking on the surface of the river, and told him of their habits and -how they were captured by the fowlers; he pointed out the great tombs -to him, and told him by whom they were built. - -"The largest, my son, are monuments of pride and folly. The greatest -of the pyramids was built by a king who thought it would immortalize -him; but so terrible was the labor that its construction inflicted -upon the people that it caused him to be execrated, and he was never -laid in the mausoleum he had built for himself. You see our custom of -judging kings after their death is not without advantages. After a -king is dead the people are gathered together and the question is put -to them, Has the dead monarch ruled well? If they reply with assenting -shouts, he is buried in a fitting tomb which he has probably prepared -for himself, or which his successor raises to him; but if the answer -is that he has reigned ill, the sacred rites in his honor are omitted -and the mausoleum he has raised stands empty forever. - -"There are few, indeed, of our kings who have thus merited the -execration of their people, for as a rule the careful manner in which -they are brought up, surrounded by youths chosen for their piety and -learning, and the fact that they, like the meanest of their subjects, -are bound to respect the laws of the land, act as sufficient check -upon them. But there is no doubt that the knowledge that after death -they must be judged by the people exercises a wholesome restraint -even upon the most reckless." - -"I long to see the pyramids," Chebron said. "Are they built of brick -or stone? for I have been told that their surface is so smooth and -shiny that they look as if cut from a single piece." - -"They are built of vast blocks of stone, each of which employed the -labor of many hundreds of men to transport from the quarries where -they were cut." - -"Were they the work of slaves or of the people at large?" - -"Vast numbers of slaves captured in war labored at them," the priest -replied. "But numerous as these were they were wholly insufficient for -the work, and well-nigh half the people of Egypt were forced to leave -their homes to labor at them. So great was the burden and distress -that even now the builders of these pyramids are never spoken of save -with curses; and rightly so, for what might not have been done with -the same labor usefully employed! Why, the number of the canals in the -country might have been doubled and the fertility of the soil vastly -increased. Vast tracts might have been reclaimed from the marshes and -shallow lakes, and the produce of the land might have been doubled." - -"And what splendid temples might have been raised!" Chebron said -enthusiastically. - -"Doubtless, my son," the priest said quietly after a slight pause. -"But though it is meet and right that the temples of the gods shall -be worthy of them, still, as we hold that the gods love Egypt and -rejoice in the prosperity of the people, I think that they might have -preferred so vast an improvement as the works I speak of would have -effected in the condition of the people, even to the raising of long -avenues of sphinxes and gorgeous temples in their own honor." - -"Yes, one would think so," Chebron said thoughtfully. "And yet, -father, we are always taught that our highest duty is to pay honor to -the gods, and that in no way can money be so well spent as in raising -fresh temples and adding to the beauty of those that exist." - -"Our highest duty is assuredly to pay honor to the gods, Chebron; but -how that honor can be paid most acceptably is another and deeper -question which you are a great deal too young to enter upon. It will -be time enough for you to do that years hence. There, do you see that -temple standing on the right bank of the river? That is where we stop -for the night. My messenger will have prepared them for our coming, -and all will be in readiness for us." - -As they approached the temple they saw a number of people gathered on -the great stone steps reaching down to the water's edge, and strains -of music were heard. On landing Ameres was greeted with the greatest -respect by the priests all bowing to the ground, while those of -inferior order knelt with their faces to the earth, and did not raise -them until he had passed on. As soon as he entered the temple a -procession was formed. Priests bearing sacred vessels and the symbols -of the gods walked before him to the altar; a band of unseen musicians -struck up a processional air; priestesses and maidens, also carrying -offerings and emblems, followed Ameres. He naturally took the -principal part in the sacrifice at the altar, cutting the throat of -the victim, and making the offering of the parts specially set aside -for the gods. - -After the ceremonies were concluded the procession moved in order as -far as the house of the chief priest. Here all again saluted Ameres, -who entered, followed by his son and attendants. A banquet was already -in readiness. To this Ameres sat down with the principal priests, -while Chebron was conducted to the apartment prepared for him, where -food from the high table was served to him. Amuba and the rest of the -suit of the high priest were served in another apartment. As soon as -Chebron had finished he joined Amuba. - -"Let us slip away," he said. "The feasting will go on for hours, and -then there will be music far on into the night. My father will be -heartily tired of it all; for he loves plain food, and thinks that the -priests should eat none other. Still, as it would not be polite for a -guest to remark upon the viands set before him, I know that he will go -through it all. I have heard him say that it is one of the greatest -trials of his position that whenever he travels people seem to think -that a feast must be prepared for him; whereas I know he would rather -sit down to a dish of boiled lentils and water than have the richest -dishes set before him." - -"Is it going to be like this all the journey?" Amuba asked. - -"Oh, no! I know that all the way down the river we shall rest at a -temple, for did my father not do so the priests would regard it as -a slight; but then we leave the boat and journey in chariots or -bullock-carts. When we reach Goshen we shall live in a little house -which my father has had constructed for him, and where we shall have -no more fuss and ceremony than we do at our own farm. Then he will -be occupied with the affairs of the estates and in the works of -irrigation; and although we shall be with him when he journeys about, -as I am to begin to learn the duties of a superintendent, I expect we -shall have plenty of time for amusement and sport." - -They strolled for an hour or two on the bank of the river, for the -moon was shining brightly and many boats were passing up and down; -the latter drifted with the stream, for the wind was so light that the -sails were scarce filled; the former kept close to the bank, and were -either propelled by long poles or towed by parties of men on the bank. -When they returned to the house they listened for a time to the music, -and then retired to their rooms. Amuba lay down upon the soft couch -made of a layer of bulrushes, covered with a thick woollen cloth, and -rested his head on a pillow of bulrushes which Jethro had bound up for -him; for neither of the Rebu had learned to adopt the Egyptian fashion -of using a stool for a pillow. - -These stools were long, and somewhat curved in the middle to fit the -neck. For the common people they were roughly made of wood, smoothed -where the head came; but the head-stools of the wealthy were -constructed of ebony, cedar, and other scarce woods, beautifully -inlaid with ivory. Amuba had made several trials of these head-stools, -but had not once succeeded in going to sleep with one under his head, -half an hour sufficing to cause such an aching of his neck that he was -glad to take to the pillow of rushes to which he was accustomed. -Indeed, to sleep upon the stool-pillows it was necessary to lie upon -the side with an arm so placed as to raise the head to the exact level -of the stool, and as Amuba had been accustomed to throw himself down -and sleep on his back or any other position in which he first lay, for -he was generally thoroughly tired either in hunting or by exercise of -arms, he found the cramped and fixed position necessary for sleeping -with a hard stool absolutely intolerable. - -For a week the journey down the river continued, and then they arrived -at Memphis, where they remained for some days. Ameres passed the time -in ceremonial visits and in taking part in the sacrifices in the -temple. Chebron and Amuba visited all the temples and public -buildings, and one day went out to inspect the great pyramids attended -by Jethro. - -"This surpasses anything I have seen," Jethro said as they stood at -the foot of the great pyramid of Cheops. "What a wonderful structure, -but what a frightful waste of human labor!" - -"It is marvelous, indeed," Amuba said. "What wealth and power a -monarch must have had to raise such a colossal pile! I thought you -said, Chebron, that your kings were bound by laws as well as other -people. If so, how could this king have exacted such terrible toil and -labor from his subjects as this must have cost?" - -"Kings should be bound by the laws," Chebron replied; "but there are -some so powerful and haughty that they tyrannize over the people. -Cheops was one of them. My father has been telling me that he ground -down the people to build this wonderful tomb for himself. But he had -his reward, for at his funeral he had to be judged by the public -voice, and the public condemned him as a bad and tyrannous king. -Therefore he was not allowed to be buried in the great tomb that he -had built for himself. I know not where his remains rest, but this -huge pyramid stands as an eternal monument of the failure of human -ambition--the greatest and costliest tomb in the world, but without an -occupant, save that Theliene, one of his queens, was buried here in a -chamber near that destined for the king." - -"The people did well," Jethro said heartily; "but they would have done -better still had they risen against him and cut off his head directly -they understood the labor he was setting them to do." - -On leaving Memphis one more day's journey was made by water, and the -next morning the party started by land. Ameres rode in a chariot, -which was similar in form to those used for war, except that the sides -were much higher, forming a sort of deep open box, against which those -standing in it could rest their bodies. Amuba and Chebron traveled in -a wagon drawn by two oxen; the rest of the party went on foot. - -At the end of two days they arrived at their destination. The house -was a small one compared to the great mansion near Thebes, but it was -built on a similar plan. A high wall surrounded an inclosure of a -quarter of an acre. In the center stood the house with one large -apartment for general purposes, and small bedchambers opening from it -on either side. The garden, although small, was kept with scrupulous -care. Rows of fruit trees afforded a pleasant shade. In front of the -house there was a small pond bordered with lilies and rushes. A Nubian -slave and his wife kept everything in readiness for the owner whenever -he should appear. A larger retinue of servants was unnecessary, as a -cook and barber were among those who traveled in the train of Ameres. -The overseer of the estate was in readiness to receive the high -priest. - -"I have brought my son with me," Ameres said when the ceremonial -observances and salutations were concluded. "He is going to commence -his studies in irrigation, but I shall not have time at present to -instruct him. I wish him to become proficient in outdoor exercises, -and beg you to procure men skilled in fishing, fowling, and hunting, -so that he can amuse his unoccupied hours with sport. At Thebes he has -but rare opportunities for these matters; for, excepting in the -preserves, game has become well-nigh extinct, while as for fowling, -there is none of it to be had in Upper Egypt, while here in the -marshes birds abound." - -The superintendent promised that suitable men should be forthcoming, -one of each caste; for in Egypt men always followed the occupation of -their fathers, and each branch of trade was occupied by men forming -distinct castes, who married only in their own caste, worked just as -their fathers had done before them, and did not dream of change or -elevation. Thus the fowler knew nothing about catching fish or the -fishermen of fowling. Both, however, knew something about hunting; for -the slaying of the hyenas, that carried off the young lambs, and kids -from the villages, and the great river-horses, which came out and -devastated the fields, was a part of the business of every villager. - -The country where they now were was for the most part well cultivated -and watered by the canals, which were filled when the Nile was high. - -A day's journey to the north lay Lake Menzaleh--a great shallow lagoon -which stretched away to the Great Sea, from which it was separated -only by a narrow bank of sand. The canals of the Nile reached nearly -to the edge of this, and when the river rose above its usual height -and threatened to inundate the country beyond the usual limits, and to -injure instead of benefiting the cultivators, great gates at the end -of these canals would be opened, and the water find its way into the -lagoon. There were, too, connections between some of the lower arms of -the Nile and the lake, so that the water, although salt, was less so -than that of the sea. The lake was the abode of innumerable waterfowl -of all kinds, and swarmed also with fish. - -These lakes formed a fringe along the whole of the northern coast of -Egypt, and it was from these and the swampy land near the mouths of -the Nile that the greater portion of the fowl and fish that formed -important items in the food of the Egyptians was drawn. To the -southeast lay another chain of lakes, whose water was more salt than -that of the sea. It was said that in olden times these had been -connected by water both with the Great Sea to the north and the -Southern Sea; and even now, when the south wind blew strong and the -waters of the Southern Sea were driven up the gulf with force, the -salt water flowed into Lake Timsah, so called because it swarmed with -crocodiles. - -"I shall be busy for some days, to begin with," Ameres said to his son -on the evening of their arrival, "and it will therefore be a good -opportunity for you to see something of the various branches of sport -that are to be enjoyed in this part of Egypt. The steward will place -men at your disposal, and you can take with you Amuba and Jethro. He -will see that there are slaves to carry provisions and tents, for it -will be necessary for much of your sport that you rise early, and not -improbably you may have to sleep close at hand." - -In the morning Chebron had an interview with the steward, who told him -that he had arranged the plan for an expedition. - -"You will find little about here, my lord," he said, "beyond such game -as you would obtain near Thebes. But a day's journey to the north you -will be near the margin of the lake, and there you will get sport of -all kinds, and can at your will fish in its waters, snare waterfowl, -hunt the great river-horse in the swamps, or chase the hyena in the -low bushes on the sandhills. I have ordered all to be in readiness, -and in an hour the slaves with the provisions will be ready to start. -The hunters of this part of the country will be of little use to you, -so I have ordered one of my chief men to accompany you. - -"He will see that when you arrive you obtain men skilled in the sport -and acquainted with the locality and the habits of the wild creatures -there. My lord your father said you would probably be away for a week, -and that on your return you would from time to time have a day's -hunting in these parts. He thought that as your time will be more -occupied then it were better that you should make this distant -expedition to begin with." - -An hour later some twenty slaves drew up before the house, carrying on -their heads provisions, tents, and other necessaries. A horse was -provided for Chebron, but he decided that he would walk with Amuba. - -"There is no advantage in going on a horse," he said, "when you have -to move at the pace of footmen, and possibly we may find something to -shoot on the way." - -The leader of the party, upon hearing Chebron's decision, told him -that doubtless when they left the cultivated country, which extended -but a few miles further north, game would be found. Six dogs -accompanied them. Four of them were powerful animals, kept for the -chase of the more formidable beasts, the hyena or lion, for although -there were no lions in the flat country, they abounded in the broken -grounds at the foot of the hills to the south. The other two were much -more lightly built, and were capable of running down a deer. Dogs were -held in high honor in Egypt. In some parts of the country they were -held to be sacred. In all they were kept as companions and friends in -the house as well as for the purposes of the chase. The season was the -cold one, and the heat was so much less than they were accustomed to -at Thebes--where the hills which inclosed the plain on which the city -was built cut off much of the air, and seemed to reflect the sun's -rays down upon it--that the walk was a pleasant one. - -Chebron and Amuba, carrying their bows, walked along, chatting gayly, -at the head of the party. Jethro and Rabah the foreman came next. Then -followed two slaves, leading the dogs in leashes, ready to be slipped -at a moment's notice, while the carriers followed in the rear. -Occasionally they passed through scattered villages, where the women -came to their doors to look at the strangers, and where generally -offerings of milk and fruit were made to them. The men were for the -most part at work in the fields. - -"They are a stout-looking race. Stronger and more bony than our own -people," Chebron remarked to the leader of the party. - -"They are stubborn to deal with," he replied. "They till their ground -well, and pay their portion of the produce without grumbling, but when -any extra labor is asked of them there is sure to be trouble. It is -easier to manage a thousand Egyptian peasants than a hundred of these -Israelites, and if forced labor is required for the public service it -is always necessary to bring down the troops before we can obtain it. - -"But indeed they are hardly treated fairly, and have suffered much. -They arrived in Egypt during the reign of Usertuen I., and had land -allotted to them. During the reign of the king and other successors of -his dynasty they were held in favor and multiplied greatly; but when -the Theban dynasty succeeded that of Memphis, the kings, finding this -foreign people settled here, and seeing that they were related by -origin to the shepherd tribes who at various times have threatened our -country from the east, and have even conquered portions of it and -occupied it for long periods, regarded them with hostility, and have -treated them rather as prisoners of war than as a portion of the -people. Many burdens have been laid upon them. They have had to give -far more than their fair share of labor toward the public works, the -making of bricks, and the erection of royal tombs and pyramids." - -"It is strange that they do not shave their heads as do our people," -Chebron said. - -"But I do not," Amuba laughed, "nor Jethro." - -"It is different with you," Chebron replied. "You do not labor and get -the dust of the soil in your hair. Besides, you do keep it cut quite -short. Still, I think you would be more comfortable if you followed -our fashion." - -"It is all a matter of habit," Amuba replied. "To us, when we first -came here, the sight of all the poorer people going about with their -heads shaven was quite repulsive--and as for comfort, surely one's own -hair must be more comfortable than the great wigs that all of the -better class wear." - -"They keep off the sun," Chebron said, "when one is out of doors, and -are seldom worn in the house, and then when one comes in one can wash -off the dust." - -"I can wash the dust out of my hair," Amuba said. "Still, I do think -that these Israelites wear their hair inconveniently long; and yet the -long plaits that their women wear down their back are certainly -graceful, and the women themselves are fair and comely." - -Chebron shook his head. "They may be fair, Amuba, but I should think -they would make very troublesome wives. They lack altogether the -subdued and submissive look of our women. They would, I should say, -have opinions of their own, and not be submissive to their lords; is -that not so, Rabah?" - -"The women, like the men, have spirit and fire," the foreman answered, -"and have much voice in all domestic matters; but I do not know that -they have more than with us. They can certainly use their tongues; for -at times, when soldiers have been here to take away gangs of men for -public works, they have had more trouble with them than with the men. -The latter are sullen, but they know that they must submit; but the -women gather at a little distance and scream curses and abuse at the -troops, and sometimes even pelt them with stones, knowing that the -soldiers will not draw weapon upon them, although not infrequently it -is necessary in order to put a stop to the tumult to haul two or three -of their leaders off to prison." - -"I thought they were viragoes," Chebron said with a laugh. "I would -rather hunt a lion than have the women of one of these villages set -upon me." - -In a few miles cultivation became more rare; sandhills took the place -of the level fields, and only here and there in the hollows were -patches of cultivated ground. Rabah now ordered the slave leading the -two fleet dogs to keep close up and be in readiness to slip them. - -"We may see deer at any time now," he said. "They abound in these -sandy deserts which form their shelter, and yet are within easy -distance of fields where when such vegetation as is here fails them -they can go for food." - -A few minutes later a deer started from a clump of bushes. The dogs -were instantly let slip and started in pursuit. - -"Hurry on a hundred yards and take your position on that mound!" Rabah -exclaimed to Chebron, while at the same time he signaled to the slaves -behind to stop. "The dogs know their duty, and you will see they will -presently drive the stag within shot." - -Chebron called Amuba to follow him and ran forward. By the time they -reached the mound the stag was far away, with the dogs laboring in -pursuit. At present they seemed to have gained but little, if at all, -upon him, and all were soon hidden from sight among the sandhills. In -spite of the assurance of Rabah the lads had doubts whether the dogs -would ever drive their quarry back to the spot where they were -standing, and it was full a quarter of an hour before pursuers and -pursued came in sight again. The pace had greatly fallen off, for one -of the dogs was some twenty yards behind the stag; the other was out -on its flank at about the same distance away, and was evidently aiding -in turning it toward the spot where the boys were standing. - -"We will shoot together," Chebron said. "It will come within fifty -yards of us." - -They waited until the stag was abreast of them. The dog on its flank -had now fallen back to the side of his companion as if to leave the -stag clear for the arrows of the hunters. The lads fired together just -as the stag was abreast; but it was running faster than they had -allowed for, and both arrows flew behind it. They uttered exclamations -of disappointment, but before the deer had run twenty yards it gave a -sudden leap into the air and fell over. Jethro had crept up and taken -his post behind some bushes to the left of the clump in readiness to -shoot should the others miss, and his arrow had brought the stag to -the ground. - -"Well done, Jethro!" Amuba shouted. "It is so long since I was out -hunting that I seem to have lost my skill; but it matters not since we -have brought him down." - -The dogs stood quiet beside the deer that was struggling on the -ground, being too well trained to interfere with it. Jethro ran out -and cut its throat. The others were soon standing beside it. It was -of a species smaller than those to which the deer of Europe belong, -with two long straight horns. - -"It will make a useful addition to our fare to-night," Rabah said, -"although, perhaps, some of the other sorts are better eating." - -"Do the dogs never pull them down by themselves?" Amuba asked. - -"Very seldom. These two are particularly fleet, but I doubt whether -they would have caught it. These deer can run for a long time, and -although they will let dogs gain upon them they can leave them if they -choose. Still I have known this couple run down a deer when they could -not succeed in driving it within bowshot; but they know very well they -ought not to do so, for, of course, deer are of no use for food unless -the animals are properly killed and the blood allowed to escape." - -Several other stags were startled, but these all escaped, the dogs -being too fatigued with their first run to be able to keep up with -them. The other dogs were therefore unloosed and allowed to range -about the country. They started several hyenas, some of which they -themselves killed; others they brought to bay until the lads ran up -and dispatched them with their arrows, while others which took to -flight in sufficient time got safely away, for the hyena, unless -overtaken just at the start, can run long and swiftly and tire out -heavy dogs such as those the party had with them. - -After walking some fifteen miles the lads stopped suddenly on the brow -of a sandhill. In front of them was a wide expanse of water bordered -by a band of vegetation. Long rushes and aquatic plants formed a band -by the water's edge, while here and there huts with patches of -cultivated ground dotted the country. - -"We are at the end of our journey," Rabah said. "These huts are -chiefly inhabited by fowlers and fishermen. We will encamp at the foot -of this mound. It is better for us not to go too near the margin of -the water, for the air is not salubrious to those unaccustomed to it. -The best hunting ground lies a few miles to our left, for there, when -the river is high, floods come down through a valley which is at all -times wet and marshy. There we may expect to find game of all kinds in -abundance." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -FOWLING AND FISHING. - - -The tents, which were made of light cloth intended to keep off the -night dews rather than to afford warmth, were soon pitched, fires were -lighted with fuel that had been brought with them in order to save -time in searching for it, and Rabah went off to search for fish and -fowl. He returned in half an hour with a peasant carrying four ducks -and several fine fish. - -"We shall do now," he said; "with these and the stag our larder is -complete. Everything but meat we have brought with us." - -Chebron, although he had kept on bravely, was fatigued with his walk -and was glad to throw himself down on the sand and enjoy the prospect, -which to him was a new one, for he had never before seen so wide an -expanse of water. - -When on the top of the hill he had made out a faint dark line in the -distance, and this Rabah told him was the bank of sand that separated -the lake from the Great Sea. Now from his present position this was -invisible, and nothing but a wide expanse of water stretching away -until it seemed to touch the sky met his view. Here and there it was -dotted with dark patches which were, Rabah told him, clumps of -waterfowl, and in the shallow water near the margin, which was but a -quarter of a mile away, he could see vast numbers of wading birds, -white cranes, and white and black ibises, while numbers of other -waterfowl, looking like black specks, moved about briskly among them. - -Sometimes with loud cries a number would rise on the wing, and either -make off in a straight line across the water or circle round and -settle again when they found that their alarm was groundless. - -"It is lovely, is it not?" he exclaimed to Amuba, who was standing -beside him leaning on his bow and looking over the water. - -Amuba did not reply immediately, and Chebron looking up saw that there -were tears on his cheeks. - -"What is it, Amuba?" he asked anxiously. - -"It is nothing, Chebron; but the sight of this wide water takes my -thoughts homeward. Our city stood on a sea like this, not so large as -they say is this Great Sea we are looking at, but far too large for -the eye to see across, and it was just such a view as this that I -looked upon daily from the walls of our palace, save that the shores -were higher." - -"Maybe you will see it again some day, Amuba," Chebron said gently. - -Amuba shook his head. - -"I fear the chances are small indeed, Chebron. Jethro and I have -talked it over hundreds of times, and on our route hither we had -determined that if we fell into the hands of harsh masters, we would -at all hazards try some day to make our escape; but the journey is -long and would lie through countries subject to Egypt. The people of -the land to be passed over speak languages strange to us, and it would -be well-nigh impossible to make the journey in safety. Still we would -have tried it. As it is, we are well contented with our lot, and -should be mad indeed to forsake it on the slender chances of finding -our way back to the land of the Rebu, where, indeed, even if we -reached it, I might not be well received, for who knows what king may -now be reigning there?" - -"And if you could get away and were sure of arriving there safely, -would you exchange all the comforts of a civilized country like Egypt -for a life such as you have described to me among your own people?" - -"There can be no doubt, Chebron, that your life here is far more -luxurious and that you are far more civilized than the Rebu. By the -side of your palaces our houses are but huts. We are ignorant even of -reading and writing. A pile of rushes for our beds and a rough table -and stools constitute our furniture; but, perhaps, after all one is -not really happier for all the things you have. You may have more -enjoyments, but you have greater cares. I suppose every man loves his -own country best, but I do not think that we can love ours as much as -you do. In the first place, we have been settled there but a few -generations, large numbers of our people constantly moving west, -either by themselves or joining with one of the peoples who push past -us from the far East; beside, wherever we went we should take our -country with us, build houses like those we left behind, live by the -chase or fishing in one place as another, while the Egyptians could -nowhere find a country like Egypt. I suppose it is the people more -than the country, the familiar language, and the familiar faces and -ways. I grant freely that the Egyptians are a far greater people than -we, more powerful, more learned, the masters of many arts, the owners -of many comforts and luxuries, and yet one longs sometimes for one's -free life among the Rebu." - -"One thing is, Amuba, you were a prince there and you are not here. -Had you been but a common man, born to labor, to toil, or to fight at -the bidding of your king, you might perhaps find that the life even of -an Egyptian peasant is easier and more pleasant than yours was." - -"That may be," Amuba said thoughtfully, "and yet I think that the very -poorest among us was far freer and more independent than the richest -of your Egyptian peasants. He did not grovel on the ground when the -king passed along. It was open to him if he was braver than his -fellows to rise in rank. He could fish, or hunt, or till the ground, -or fashion arms as he chose; his life was not tied down by usage or -custom. He was a man, a poor one, perhaps--a half-savage one, if you -will--but he was a man, while your Egyptian peasants, free as they may -be in name, are the very slaves of law and custom. But I see that the -meal is ready, and I have a grand appetite." - -"So have I, Amuba. It is almost worth while walking a long way for the -sake of the appetite one gets at the end." - -The meal was an excellent one. One of the slaves who had been brought -was an adept at cooking, and fish, birds, and venison were alike -excellent, and for once the vegetables that formed so large a portion -of the ordinary Egyptian repast were neglected. - -"What are we going to do to-morrow, Rabah?" Chebron asked after the -meal was concluded. - -"I have arranged for to-morrow, if such is your pleasure, my lord, -that you shall go fowling. A boat will take you along the lake to a -point about three miles off where the best sport is to be had; then -when the day is over it will carry you on another eight miles to the -place I spoke to you of where good sport was to be obtained. I shall -meet you on your landing there, and will have everything in readiness -for you." - -"That will do well," Chebron said. "Amuba and Jethro, you will, of -course, come with me." - -As soon as it was daylight Rabah led Chebron down to the lake, and the -lad with Amuba and Jethro entered the boat, which was constructed of -rushes covered with pitch and drew only two or three inches of water. -Two men with long poles were already in the boat; they were fowlers by -profession, and skilled in all the various devices by which the -waterfowl were captured. They had, during the night, been preparing -the boat for the expedition by fastening rushes all round it; the -lower ends of these dipped into the water, the upper ends were six -feet above it, and the rushes were so thickly placed together as to -form an impenetrable screen. - -The boat was square at the stern, and here only was there an opening a -few inches wide in the rushes to enable the boatman standing there to -propel the boat with his pole. One of the men took his station here, -the other at the bow, where he peered through a little opening between -the rushes, and directed his comrade in the stern as to the course he -should take. In the bottom of the boat lay two cats who, knowing that -their part was presently to come, watched all that was being done with -an air of intelligent interest. A basket well stored with provisions, -and a jar of wine, were placed on board, and the boat then pushed -noiselessly off. - -Parting the reeds with their fingers and peeping out, the boys saw -that the boat was not making out into the deeper part of the lake, but -was skirting the edge, keeping only a few yards out from the band of -rushes at its margin. - -"Do you keep this distance all the way?" Chebron asked the man with -the pole. - -The man nodded. - -"As long as we are close to the rushes the waterfowl do not notice our -approach, while were we to push out into the middle they might take -the alarm; although we often do capture them in that way, but in that -case we get to windward of the flock we want to reach, and then drift -down slowly upon them, but we shall get more sport now by keeping -close in. The birds are numerous, and you will soon be at work." - -In five minutes the man at the bow motioned his passengers that they -were approaching a flock of waterfowl. Each of them took up his bow -and arrows and stood in readiness, while the man in the stern used his -pole even more quickly and silently than before. Presently at a signal -from his comrades he ceased poling. All round the boat there were -slight sounds--low contented quackings, and fluttering of wings, as -the birds raised themselves and shook the water from their backs. -Parting the rushes in front of them, the two lads and Jethro peeped -through them. - -They were right in the middle of a flock of wildfowl who were feeding -without a thought of danger from the clump of rushes in their midst. -The arrows were already in their notches, the rushes were parted a -little further, and the three shafts were loosed. The twangs of the -bows startled the ducks, and stopping feeding they gazed at the rushes -with heads on one side. Three more arrows glanced out, but this time -one of the birds aimed at was wounded only, and uttering a cry of pain -and terror it flapped along the surface of the water. - - [Illustration: C. of B. FOWLING WITH THE THROWING-STICK.--Page 111.] - -Instantly, with wild cries of alarm, the whole flock arose, but before -they had fairly settled in their flight, two more fell pierced with -arrows. The cats had been standing on the alert, and as the cry of -alarm was given leaped overboard from the stern, and proceeded to -pick up the dead ducks, among which were included that which had at -first flown away, for it had dropped in the water about fifty yards -from the boat. A dozen times the same scene was repeated until some -three score ducks and geese lay in the bottom of the boat. By this -time the party had had enough of sport, and had indeed lost the -greater part of their arrows, as all which failed to strike the bird -aimed at went far down into the deep mud at the bottom and could not -be recovered. - -"Now let the men show us their skill with their throwing-sticks," -Chebron said. "You will see they will do better with them than we with -our arrows." - -The men at once turned the boat's head toward a patch of rushes -growing from the shallow water a hundred yards out in the lake. -Numbers of ducks and geese were feeding round it, and the whole rushes -were in movement from those swimming and feeding among them, for the -plants were just at that time in seed. The birds were too much -occupied to mark the approach of this fresh clump of rushes. The men -had removed the screen from the side of the boat furthest from the -birds, and now stood in readiness, each holding half a dozen sticks -about two feet long, made of curved and crooked wood. - -When close to the birds the boat was swung round, and at once with -deafening cries the birds rose; but as they did so the men with great -rapidity hurled their sticks one after another among them, the last -being directed at the birds which, feeding among the rushes, were not -able to rise as rapidly as their companions. The lads were astonished -at the effect produced by these simple missiles. So closely packed -were the birds that each stick, after striking one, whirled and -twisted among the others, one missile frequently bringing down three -or four birds. - -The cats were in an instant at work. The flapping and noise was -prodigious, for although many of the birds were killed outright, -others struck in the wing or leg were but slightly injured. Some made -off along the surface of the water, others succeeded in getting up and -flying away, but the greater part were either killed by the cats, or -knocked on the head by the poles of the two fowlers. Altogether -twenty-seven birds were added to the store in the boat. - -"That puts our arrows to shame altogether, Amuba," Chebron said. "I -have always heard that the fowlers on these lakes were very skilled -with these throwing-sticks of theirs, but I could not have believed it -possible that two men should in so short a space have effected such a -slaughter; but then I had no idea of the enormous quantities of birds -on these lakes." - -Jethro was examining the sticks which, as well as the ducks, had been -retrieved by the cats. - -"They are curious things," he said to Amuba. "I was thinking before -the men used them that straight sticks would be much better, and was -wondering why they chose curved wood, but I have no doubt now the -shape has something to do with it. You see, as the men threw they gave -them a strong spinning motion. That seems the secret of their action. -It was wonderful to see how they whirled about among the fowl, -striking one on the head, another on the leg, another on the wing, -until they happened to hit one plump on the body; that seemed to stop -them. I am sure one of those sticks that I kept my eyes fixed on must -have knocked down six birds. I will practice with these things, and if -I ever get back home I will teach their use to our people. There are -almost as many waterfowl on our sea as there are here. I have seen it -almost black with them down at the southern end, where it is bordered -by swamps and reed-covered marshes." - -"How do they catch them there, Jethro?" Chebron asked. - -"They net them in decoys, and sometimes wade out among them with their -heads hidden among floating boughs, and so get near enough to seize -them by the legs and pull them under water; in that way a man will -catch a score of them before their comrades are any the wiser." - -"We catch them the same way here," one of the fowlers who had been -listening remarked. "We weave little bowers just large enough for our -heads and shoulders to go into, and leave three or four of them -floating about for some days near the spot where we mean to work. The -wild fowl get accustomed to them, and after that we can easily go -among them and capture numbers." - -"I should think fowling must be a good trade," Chebron said. - -"It is good enough at times," the man replied; "but the ducks are not -here all the year. The long-legged birds are always to be found here -in numbers, but the ducks are uncertain, so are the geese. At certain -times in the year they leave us altogether. Some say they go across -the Great Sea to the north; others that they go far south into Nubia. -Then even when they are here they are uncertain. Sometimes they are -thick here, then again there is scarce one to be seen, and we hear -they are swarming on the lakes further to the west. Of course the -wading birds are of no use for food; so you see when the ducks and -geese are scarce, we have a hard time of it. Then, again, even when we -have got a boat-load we have a long way to take it to market, and when -the weather is hot all may get spoiled before we can sell them; and -the price is so low in these parts when the flocks are here that it -is hard to lay by enough money to keep us and our families during the -slack time. If the great cities Thebes and Memphis lay near to us, -it would be different. They could consume all we could catch, and -we should get better prices, but unless under very favorable -circumstances there is no hope of the fowl keeping good during the -long passage up the river to Thebes. In fact, were it not for our -decoys we should starve. In these, of course, we take them alive, and -send them in baskets to Thebes, and in that way get a fair price for -them." - -"What sort of decoys do you use?" Jethro asked. - -"Many kinds," the man replied. "Sometimes we arch over the rushes, tie -them together at the top so as to form long passages over little -channels among the rushes; then we strew corn over the water, and -place near the entrance ducks which are trained to swim about outside -until a flock comes near; then they enter the passage feeding, and the -others follow. There is a sort of door which they can push aside -easily as they pass up, but cannot open on their return." - -"That is the sort of decoy they use in our country," Jethro said. - -"Another way," the fowler went on, "is to choose a spot where the -rushes form a thick screen twenty yards deep along the bank; then a -light net two or three hundred feet long is pegged down on to the -shore behind them, and thrown over the tops of the rushes, reaching to -within a foot or two of the water. Here it is rolled up, so that when -it is shaken out it will go down into the water. Then two men stand -among the rushes at the ends of the net, while another goes out far on -to the lake in a boat. When he sees a flock of ducks swimming near the -shore he poles the boat toward them; not so rapidly as to frighten -them into taking flight, but enough so to attract their attention and -cause uneasiness. He goes backward and forward, gradually approaching -the shore, and of course managing so as to drive them toward the point -where the net is. When they are opposite this he closes in faster, and -the ducks all swim in among the rushes. Directly they are in, the men -at the ends of the net shake down the rolled-up part, and then the -whole flock are prisoners. After that the fowlers have only to enter -the rushes, and take them as they try to fly upward and are stopped by -the net. With luck two or three catches can be made in a day, and a -thousand ducks and sometimes double that number can be captured. Then -they are put into flat baskets just high enough for them to stand in -with their heads out through the openings at the top, and so put on -board the boat and taken up the Nile." - -"Yes, I have often seen the baskets taken out of the boats," Chebron -said, "and thought how cruel it was to pack them so closely. But how -do they feed them for they must often be a fortnight on the way?" - -"The trader who has bought them of us and other fowlers waits until he -has got enough together to freight a large craft--for it would not pay -to work upon a small scale--accompanies them up the river, and feeds -them regularly with little balls made of moistened flour, just in the -same way that they do at the establishments in Upper Egypt, where they -raise fowl and stuff them for the markets. If the boat is a large one, -and is taking up forty or fifty thousand fowl, of course he takes two -or three boys to help him, for it is no light matter to feed such a -number, and each must have a little water as well as the meal. It -seems strange to us here, where fowl are so abundant, that people -should raise and feed them just as if they were bullocks. But I -suppose it is true." - -"It is quite true," Chebron replied. "Amuba and I went to one of the -great breeding-farms two or three months ago. There are two sorts--one -where they hatch, the other where they fat them. The one we went to -embraced both branches, but this is unusual. From the hatching-places -collectors go round to all the people who keep fowls for miles round -and bring in eggs, and beside these they buy them from others at a -greater distance. The eggs are placed on sand laid on the floor of -a low chamber, and this is heated by means of flues from a fire -underneath. It requires great care to keep the temperature exactly -right; but of course men who pass their lives at this work can -regulate it exactly, and know by the feel just what is the heat at -which the eggs should be kept. - -"There are eight or ten such chambers in the place we visited, so that -every two or three days one or other of them hatches out and is ready -for fresh eggs to be put down. The people who send the eggs come in at -the proper time and receive each a number of chickens in proportion to -the eggs they have sent, one chicken being given for each two eggs. -Some hatchers give more, some less; what remain over are payment -for their work; so you see they have to be very careful about the -hatching. If they can hatch ninety chickens out of every hundred eggs, -it pays them very well; but if, owing to the heat being too great or -too little, only twenty or thirty out of every hundred are raised, -they have to make good the loss. Of course they always put in a great -many of the eggs they have themselves bought. They are thus able to -give the right number to their customers even if the eggs have not -turned out well. - -"Those that remain after the proper number has been given to the -farmers the breeders sell to them or to others, it being no part of -their business to bring up the chickens. The fattening business is -quite different. At these places there are long rows of little boxes -piled up on each other into a wall five feet high. The door of each of -these boxes has a hole in it through which the fowl can put its head, -with a little sort of shutter that closes down on it. A fowl is placed -in each box. Then the attendants go around two together; one carries a -basket filled with little balls of meal, the other lifts the shutter, -and as the fowl puts its head out catches it by the neck, makes it -open its beak, and with his other hand pushes the ball of meal down -its throat. They are so skillful that the operation takes scarce a -moment; then they go on to the next, and so on down the long rows -until they have fed the last of those under their charge. Then they -begin again afresh." - -"Why do they keep them in the dark?" the fowler asked. - -"They told us that they did it because in the dark they were not -restless, and slept all the time between their meals. Then each time -the flap is lifted they think it is daylight, and pop out their heads -at once to see. In about ten days they get quite fat and plump, and -are ready for market." - -"It seems a wonderful deal of trouble," the fowler said. "But I -suppose, as they have a fine market close at hand, and can get good -prices, it pays them. It seems more reasonable to me than the hatching -business. Why they should not let the fowls hatch their own eggs is -more than I can imagine." - -"Fowls will lay a vastly greater number of eggs than they will hatch," -Chebron said. "A well-fed fowl should lay two hundred and fifty eggs -in the year; and, left to herself, she will not hatch more than two -broods of fifteen eggs in each. Thus, you see, as it pays the -peasants much better to rear fowls than to sell eggs, it is to their -profit to send their eggs to the hatching-places, and so to get a -hundred and twenty-five chickens a year instead of thirty." - -"I suppose it does," the fowler agreed. "But here we are, my lord, at -the end of our journey. There is the point where we are to land, and -your servant who hired us is standing there in readiness for you. I -hope that you are satisfied with your day's sport." - -Chebron said they had been greatly pleased, and in a few minutes the -boat reached the landing-place, where Rabah was awaiting them. One of -the fowlers, carrying a dozen of the finest fowl they had killed, -accompanied them to the spot Rabah had chosen for the encampment. Like -the last, it stood at the foot of the sandhills, a few hundred yards -from the lake. - -"Is the place where we are going to hunt near here?" was Chebron's -first question. - -"No, my lord; it is two miles away. But, in accordance with your -order last night, I have arranged for you to fish to-morrow. In the -afternoon I will move the tents a mile nearer to the country where you -will hunt, but it is best not to go too close, for near the edge of -these great swamps the air is unhealthy to those who are not -accustomed to it." - -"I long to get at the hunting," Chebron said; "but it is better, as -you say, to have the day's fishing first, for the work would seem tame -after the excitement of hunting the river-horse. We shall be glad of -our dinner as soon as we can get it, for although we have done justice -to the food you put on board, we are quite ready again. Twelve hours -of this fresh air from the sea gives one the appetite of a hyena." - -"Everything is already in readiness, my lord. I thought it better not -to wait for the game you brought home, which will do well to-morrow, -and so purchased fish and fowl from the peasants. As we have seen your -boat for the last two or three hours, we were able to calculate the -time of your arrival, and thus have everything in readiness." - -The dinner was similar to that on the previous day, except that a hare -took the place of the venison--a change for the better, as the hare -was a delicacy much appreciated by the Egyptians. The following day -was spent in fishing. For this purpose a long net was used, and the -method was precisely similar to that in use in modern times. One end -of the net was fastened to the shore, the net itself being coiled up -in the boat. This was rowed out into the lake, the fishermen paying -out the net as it went. A circuit was then made back to the shore, -where the men seized the two ends of the net and hauled it to land, -capturing the fish inclosed within its sweep. After seeing two or -three hauls made, the lads went with Jethro on board the boat. They -were provided by the fishermen with long two-pronged spears. - -The boat was then quietly rowed along the edge of the rushes, where -the water was deeper than usual. It was, however, so clear that they -could see to the bottom, and with their spears they struck at the fish -swimming there. At first they were uniformly unsuccessful, as they -were ignorant that allowance must be made for diffraction, and were -puzzled at finding that their spears instead of going straight down at -the fish they struck at seemed to bend off at an angle at the water's -edge. The fishermen, however, explained to them that an allowance must -be made for this, the allowance being all the greater the greater the -distance the fish was from the boat, and that it was only when it lay -precisely under them that they could strike directly at it. But even -after being instructed in the matter they succeeded but poorly, and -presently laid down their spears and contented themselves with -watching their boatmen, who rarely failed in striking and bringing -up the prey they aimed at. - -Presently their attention was attracted to four boats, each containing -from six to eight men. Two had come from either direction, and when -they neared each other volleys of abuse were exchanged between their -occupants. - -"What is all this about?" Chebron asked as the two fishermen laid by -their spears, and with faces full of excitement turned round to watch -the boats. - -"The boats come from two villages, my lord, between which at present -there is a feud arising out of some fishing-nets that were carried -away. They sent a regular challenge to each other a few days since, as -is the custom here, and their champions are going to fight it out. You -see the number of men on one side are equal to those on the other, and -the boats are about the same size." - -Amuba and Jethro looked on with great interest, for they had seen -painted on the walls representations of these fights between boatmen, -which were of common occurrence, the Egyptians being a very combative -race, and fierce feuds being often carried on for a long time between -neighboring villages. The men were armed with poles some ten feet in -length, and about an inch and a half in diameter, their favorite -weapons on occasions of this kind. The boats had now come in close -contact, and a furious battle at once commenced, the clattering of the -sticks, the heavy thuds of the blows, and the shouts of the combatants -creating a clamor that caused all the waterfowl within a circle of -half a mile to fly screaming away across the lake. The men all used -their heavy weapons with considerable ability, the greater part of the -blows being warded off. Many, however, took effect, some of the -combatants being knocked into the water, others fell prostrate in -their boats, while some dropped their long staves after a disabling -blow on the arm. - -"It is marvelous that they do not all kill each other," Jethro said. -"Surely this shaving of the head, Amuba, which has always struck us as -being very peculiar, has its uses, for it must tend to thicken the -skull, for surely the heads of no other men could have borne such -blows without being crushed like water-jars." - -That there was certainly some ground for Jethro's supposition is -proved by the fact that Herodotus, long afterward writing of the -desperate conflicts between the villagers of Egypt, asserted that -their skulls were thicker than those of any other people. - -Most of the men who fell into the water scrambled back into the boats -and renewed the fight, but some sank immediately and were seen no -more. At last, when fully half the men on each side had been put _hors -de combat_, four or five having been killed or drowned, the boats -separated, no advantage resting with either party; and still shouting -defiance and jeers at each other, the men poled in the direction of -their respective villages. - -"Are such desperate fights as these common?" Chebron asked the -fishermen. - -"Yes; there are often quarrels," one of them replied, quietly resuming -his fishing as if nothing out of the ordinary way had taken place. "If -they are water-side villages their champions fight in boats, as you -have seen; if not, equal parties meet at a spot halfway between the -villages and decide it on foot. Sometimes they fight with short -sticks, the hand being protected by a basket hilt, while on the left -arm a piece of wood, extending from the elbow to the tips of the -fingers, is fastened on by straps serving as a shield; but more -usually they fight with the long pole, which we call the neboot." - -"It is a fine weapon," Jethro said, "and they guard their heads with -it admirably, sliding their hands far apart. If I were back again, -Amuba, I should like to organize a regiment of men armed with those -weapons. It would need that the part used as a guard should be covered -with light iron to prevent a sword or ax from cutting through it; but -with that addition they would make splendid weapons, and footmen armed -with sword and shield would find it hard indeed to repel an assault by -them." - -"The drawback would be," Amuba observed, "that each man would require -so much room to wield his weapon that they must stand far apart, and -each would be opposed to three or four swordsmen in the enemy's line." - -"That is true, Amuba, and you have certainly hit upon the weak point -in the use of such a weapon; but for single combat, or the fighting of -broken ranks, they would be grand. When we get back to Thebes if I can -find any peasant who can instruct me in the use of these neboots I -will certainly learn it." - -"You ought to make a fine player," one of the fishermen said, looking -at Jethro's powerful figure. "I should not like a crack on the head -from a neboot in your hands. But the sun is getting low, and we had -best be moving to the point where you are to disembark." - -"We have had another capital day, Rabah," Chebron said when they -reached their new encampment. "I hope that the rest will turn out as -successful." - -"I think that I can promise you that they will, my lord. I have been -making inquiries among the villagers, and find that the swamp in the -river bed abounds with hippopotami." - -"How do you hunt them--on foot?" - -"No, my lord. There is enough water in the river bed for the flat -boats made of bundles of rushes to pass up, while in many places are -deep pools in which the animals lie during the heat of the day." - -"Are they ferocious animals?" Amuba asked. "I have never yet seen one; -for though they say that they are common in the Upper Nile, as well as -found in swamps like this at its mouth, there are none anywhere in the -neighborhood of Thebes. I suppose that there is too much traffic for -them, and that they are afraid of showing themselves in such water." - -"There would be no food for them," Rabah said. "They are found only in -swamps like this, or in places on the Upper Nile where the river is -shallow and bordered with aquatic plants, on whose roots they -principally live. They are timid creatures and are found only in -little-frequented places. When struck they generally try to make their -escape; for although occasionally they will rush with their enormous -mouth open at a boat, tear it in pieces, and kill the hunter, this -very seldom happens. As a rule they try only to fly." - -"They must be cowardly beasts!" Jethro said scornfully. "I would -rather hunt an animal, be it ever so small, that will make a fight for -its life. However, we shall see." - -Upon the following morning they started for the scene of action. An -exclamation of surprise broke from them simultaneously when, on -ascending a sandhill, they saw before them a plain a mile wide -extending at their feet. It was covered with rushes and other aquatic -plants, and extended south as far as the eye could see. - -"For one month in the year," Rabah said, "this is a river, for eleven -it is little more than a swamp, though the shallower boats can make -their way up it many miles. But a little water always finds its way -down, either from the Nile itself or from the canals. It is one of the -few places of Northern Egypt where the river-horse is still found, and -none are allowed to hunt them unless they are of sufficient rank to -obtain the permission of the governor of the province. The steward -wrote for and obtained this as soon as he knew by letter from your -father that you were accompanying him and would desire to have some -sport." - -"Are there crocodiles there?" Amuba asked. - -"Many," Rabah replied, "although few are now found in the lakes. The -people here are not like those of the Theban zone, who hold them in -high respect--here they regard them as dangerous enemies, and kill -them without mercy." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -HIPPOPOTAMUS AND CROCODILE. - - -Guided by Rabah the party now descended to the edge of the swamp. Here -in the shallow water lay three boats, or rather rafts, constructed of -bundles of bulrushes. They were turned up in front so as to form a -sort of swan-necked bow, and in outline were exactly similar to the -iron of modern skates. Upon each stood a native with a pole for -pushing the rafts along, and three or four spears. These were of -unusual shape, and the lads examined them with curiosity. They had -broad short blades, and these were loosely attached to the shafts, so -that when the animal was struck the shaft would drop out, leaving the -head imbedded in its flesh. To the head was attached a cord which was -wound up on a spindle passing through a handle. - -"Those rafts do not look as if they would carry three," Chebron said. - -"They will do so at a push," the man replied; "but they are better -with two only." - -"I will stop onshore, with your permission, Chebron," Jethro said. "I -see there are a number of men here with ropes. I suppose they have -something to do with the business, and I will accompany them." - -"The ropes are for hauling the beasts ashore after we have struck -them." - -"Well, I will go and help pull them. I can do my share at that, and -should be of no use on one of those little rafts; indeed, I think -that my weight would bury it under the water." - -"We have been out this morning, my lord," the boatman said, addressing -Chebron, "and have found out that there is a river-horse lying in a -pool a mile up the river. I think he is a large one and will give us -good sport." - -Chebron and Amuba now took their places on the two rafts; and the men, -laying down the spears and taking the poles, pushed off from the -shore. Noiselessly they made their way among the rushes. Sometimes the -channels were so narrow that the reeds almost brushed the rafts on -both sides; then they opened out into wide pools, and here the water -deepened so much that the poles could scarce touch the bottom. Not a -word was spoken, as the men had warned them that the slightest noise -would scare the hippopotami and cause them to sink to the bottom of -the pools, where they would be difficult to capture. After half an -hour's poling they reached a pool larger than any that they had -hitherto passed, and extending on one side almost to the bank of the -river. - -The man on his raft now signed to Chebron to take up one of the -spears; but the lad shook his head and motioned to him to undertake -the attack, for he felt that, ignorant as he was of the habits of the -animal, it would be folly for him to engage in such an adventure. The -man nodded, for he had indeed been doubting as to the course which the -affair would take, for it needed a thrust with a very powerful arm to -drive the spear through the thick hide of the hippopotamus. Amuba -imitated Chebron's example, preferring to be a spectator instead of an -actor in this unknown sport. - -For three or four minutes the boats lay motionless, then a blowing -sound was heard, and the boatman pointed to what seemed to the boys -two lumps of black mud projecting an inch or two above the water near -the margin of the rushes. They could not have believed that these -formed part of an animal but that slight ripples widening out on the -glassy water showed that there had been a movement at the spot -indicated. With a noiseless push Chebron's hunter sent the boat in -that direction, and then handed the end of the pole to Chebron, -signing to him to push the boat back when he gave the signal. - -When within ten yards of the two little black patches there was a -sudden movement; they widened into an enormous head, and a huge beast -rose to his feet, startled at the discovery he had just made that men -were close at hand. In an instant the hunter hurled his spear with all -his force. Tough as was the animal's hide, the sharp head cut its way -through. With a roar the beast plunged into the rushes, the shaft of -the spear falling out of its socket as it did so, and the strong cord -ran out rapidly from the reel held by the hunter. Presently the strain -ceased. "He has laid down again in shelter," the hunter said; "we will -now follow him and give him a second spear." - -Pushing the rushes aside the boat was forced along until they again -caught sight of the hippopotamus, that was standing up to its belly in -water. - -"Is he going to charge?" Chebron asked, grasping a spear. - -"No, there is little chance of that. Should he do so and upset the -boat, throw yourself among the rushes and lie there with only your -face above water. I will divert his attention and come back and get -you into the boat when he has made off." - -Another spear was thrown with good effect. There was a roar and a -great splash. Chebron thought that the animal was upon them; but he -turned off and dashed back to the pool where he had been first lying. - -"I thought that was what he would do," the hunter said. "They always -seek shelter in the bottom of the deep pools; and here, you see, the -water is not deep enough to cover him." - -The boat again followed the hippopotamus. Amuba was still on his raft -on the pool. - -"What has become of him?" Chebron asked as they passed beyond the -rushes. - -"He has sunk to the bottom of the pool," Amuba replied. "He gave me a -start, I can tell you. We heard him bursting through the rushes, and -then he rushed out with his mouth open--a mouth like a cavern; and -then, just as I thought he was going to charge us, he turned off and -sank to the bottom of the pool." - -"How long will he lie there?" Chebron asked the hunter. - -"A long time if he is left to himself, but we are going to stir him -up." - -So saying he directed the boat toward the rushes nearest to the bank -and pushed the boat through them. - -"Oh, here you are, Jethro!" Chebron said, seeing the Rebu and the men -he had accompanied standing on the bank. - -"What has happened, Chebron--have you killed one of them? We heard a -sort of roar and a great splashing." - -"We have not killed him, but there are two spear-heads sticking into -him." - -The hunter handed the cords to the men and told them to pull steadily, -but not hard enough to break the cords. Then he took from them the end -of the rope they carried and poled back into the pool. - -"Those cords are not strong enough to pull the great beast to the -shore, are they?" Chebron asked. - -"Oh, no, they would not move him; but by pulling on them it causes the -spear-heads to give him pain, he gets uneasy, and rises to the surface -in anger. Then, you see, I throw this noose over his head, and they -can pull upon that." - -In two or three minutes the animal's head appeared above the water. -The instant it did so the hunter threw the noose. The aim was correct, -and with a jerk he tightened it round the neck. - -"Now pull!" he shouted. - -The peasants pulled, and gradually the hippopotamus was drawn toward -the bank, although struggling to swim in the opposite direction. - -As soon, however, as he reached the shallow water and his feet touched -the ground he threw his whole weight upon the rope. The peasants were -thrown to the ground and the rope dragged through their fingers as -the hippopotamus again made his way to the bottom of the pool. The -peasants regained their feet and pulled on the rope and cords. Again -the hippopotamus rose and was dragged to the shallow, only to break -away again. For eight or ten times this happened. - -"He is getting tired now," the hunter said. "Next time or the time -after they will get him on shore. We will land then and attack him -with spears and arrows." - -The hippopotamus was indeed exhausted, and allowed itself to be -dragged ashore at the next effort without opposition. As soon as it -did so he was attacked with spears by the hunters, Jethro, and the -boys. The latter found that they were unable to drive their weapons -through the thick skin, and betook themselves to their bows and -arrows. The hunters, however, knew the points at which the skin was -thinnest, and drove their spears deep into the animal just behind the -fore leg, while the boys shot their arrows at its mouth. Another noose -had been thrown over its head as it issued from the water, and the -peasants pulling on the ropes prevented it from charging. Three or -four more thrusts were given from the hunters; then one of the spears -touched a vital part--the hippopotamus sank on its knees and rolled -over dead. - -The peasants sent up a shout of joy, for the flesh of the hippopotamus -is by no means bad eating, and here was a store of food sufficient for -the whole neighborhood. - -"Shall we search for another, my lord?" the hunter asked Chebron. - -"No. I think I have had enough of this. There is no fun in killing an -animal that has not spirit to defend itself. What do you think, -Amuba?" - -"I quite agree with you, Chebron. One might almost as well slaughter a -cow. What is that?" he exclaimed suddenly as a loud scream was heard -at a short distance away. "It is a woman's voice." - -Chebron darted off in full speed in the direction of the sound, -closely followed by Amuba and Jethro. They ran about a hundred yards -along the bank, when they saw the cause of the outcry. An immense -crocodile was making his way toward the river, dragging along with it -the figure of a woman. - -In spite of his reverence for the crocodile Chebron did not hesitate a -moment, but rushing forward smote the crocodile on the nose with all -his strength with the shaft of his spear. The crocodile dropped its -victim and turned upon its assailant, but Jethro and Amuba were close -behind, and these also attacked him. The crocodile seeing this -accession of enemies now set out for the river, snapping its jaws -together. - -"Mind its tail!" one of the hunters exclaimed, running up. - -But the warning was too late, for the next moment Amuba received a -tremendous blow which sent him to the ground. The hunter at the same -moment plunged his spear into the animal through the soft skin at the -back of its leg. Jethro followed his example on the other side. The -animal checked its flight, and turning round and round lashed with its -tail in all directions. - -"Keep clear of it!" the hunter shouted. "It is mortally wounded and -will need no more blows." - -In fact, the crocodile had received its death-wound. Its movements -became more languid, it ceased to lash its tail, though it still -snapped at those nearest to it, but gradually this action also ceased, -its head sank, and it was dead. Jethro as soon as he had delivered his -blow ran to Amuba. - -"Are you hurt?" he asked anxiously. - -"No, I don't think so," Amuba gasped. "The brute has knocked all the -breath out of my body; but that's better than if he had hit me in the -leg, for I think he would have broken it had he done so. How is the -woman--is she dead?" - -"I have not had time to see," Jethro replied. "Let me help you to your -feet, and let us see if any of your ribs are broken. I will see about -her afterward." - -Amuba on getting up declared that he did not think he was seriously -hurt, although unable for the time to stand upright. - -"I expect I am only bruised, Jethro. It was certainly a tremendous -whack he gave me, and I expect I shall not be able to take part in any -sporting for the next few days. The crocodile was worth a dozen -hippopotami. There was some courage about him." - -They now walked across to Chebron, who was stooping over the figure of -the crocodile's victim. - -"Why, she is but a girl!" Amuba exclaimed. "She is no older than your -sister, Chebron." - -"Do you think she is dead?" Chebron asked in hushed tones. - -"I think she has only fainted," Jethro replied. "Here," he shouted to -one of the peasants who were gathered round the crocodile, "one of you -run down to the water and bring up a gourdful." - -"I don't think she is dead," Amuba said. "It seemed to me that the -crocodile had seized her by the leg." - -"We must carry her somewhere," Jethro said, "and get some woman to -attend to her. I will see if there is a hut near." He sprang up to the -top of some rising ground and looked round. "There is a cottage close -at hand," he said as he returned. "I dare say she belongs there." - -Bidding two of the peasants run to fetch some women, he lifted up the -slight figure and carried her up the slope, the two lads following. On -turning round the foot of a sandhill they saw a cottage lying nestled -behind it. It was neater and better kept than the majority of the huts -of the peasants. The walls of baked clay had been whitewashed and were -half-covered with bright flowers. A patch of carefully cultivated -ground lay around it. Jethro entered the cottage. On a settle at the -further end a man was sitting. He was apparently of great age; his -hair and long beard were snowy white. - -"What is it?" he exclaimed as Jethro entered. "Has the God of our -fathers again smitten me in my old age, and taken from me my pet lamb? -I heard her cry, but my limbs have lost their power, and I could not -rise to come to her aid." - -"I trust that the child is not severely injured," Jethro said. "We had -just killed a hippopotamus when we heard her scream, and running up -found a great crocodile dragging her to the river, but we soon made -him drop her. I trust that she is not severely hurt. The beast seemed -to us to have seized her by the leg. We have sent to fetch some women. -Doubtless they will be here immediately. Ah! here's the water." - -He laid the girl down upon a couch in the corner of the room, and -taking the gourd from the peasant who brought it sprinkled some water -on her face, while Amuba, by his direction, rubbed her hands. It was -some minutes before she opened her eyes, and just as she did so two -women entered the hut. Leaving the girl to their care, Jethro and the -boys left the cottage. - -"I trust that the little maid is not greatly hurt," Amuba said. "By -her dress it seems to me that she is an Israelite, though I thought we -had left their land behind us on the other side of the desert. Still -her dress resembles those of the women we saw in the village as we -passed, and it is well for her it does so, for they wear more and -thicker garments than the Egyptian peasant women, and the brute's -teeth may not have torn her severely." - -In a few minutes one of the women came out and told them that the maid -had now recovered and that she was almost unhurt. "The crocodile seems -to have seized her by her garments rather than her flesh, and although -the teeth have bruised her, the skin is unbroken. Her grandfather -would fain thank you for the service you have rendered him." - -They re-entered the cottage. The girl was sitting on the ground at her -grandfather's feet holding one of his hands in hers, while with his -other he was stroking her head. As they entered, the women, seeing -that their services were no longer required, left the cottage. - -"Who are those to whom I owe the life of my grandchild?" the old man -asked. - -"I am Chebron, the son of Ameres, the high priest of the temple of -Osiris at Thebes. These are my friends, Amuba and Jethro, two of the -Rebu nation who were brought to Egypt and now live in my father's -household." - -"We are his servants," Amuba said, "though he is good enough to call -us his friends." - -"'Tis strange," the old man said, "that the son of a priest of Osiris -should thus come to gladden the last few hours of one who has always -withstood the Egyptian gods. And yet had the crocodile carried off my -Ruth, it might have been better for her, seeing that ere the sun has -risen and set many times she will be alone in the world." - -The girl uttered a little cry, and rising on her knees threw her arms -round the old man's neck. - -"It must be so, my Ruth. I have lived a hundred and ten years in this -land of the heathen, and my course is run; and were it not for your -sake I should be glad that it is so, for my life has been sorrow and -bitterness. I call her my grandchild, but she is in truth the daughter -of my grandchild, and all who stood between her and me have passed -away before me and left us alone together. But she trusts in the God -of Abraham, and he will raise up a protector for her." - -Chebron, who had learned something of the traditions of the Israelites -dwelling in Egypt, saw by the old man's words that Jethro's surmises -were correct and that he belonged to that race. - -"You are an Israelite," he said gently. "How is it that you are not -dwelling among your people instead of alone among strangers?" - -"I left them thirty years back when Ruth's mother was but a tottering -child. They would not suffer me to dwell in peace among them, but -drove me out because I testified against them." - -"Because you testified against them?" Chebron repeated in surprise. - -"Yes. My father was already an old man when I was born, and he was one -of the few who still clung to the faith of our fathers. He taught me -that there was but one God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of -Jacob, and that all other gods were but images of wood and stone. To -that faith I clung, though after awhile I alone of all our people held -to the belief. The others had forgotten their God and worshiped the -gods of the Egyptians. When I would speak to them they treated my -words as ravings and as casting dishonor on the gods they served. - -"My sons went with the rest, but my daughter learned the true faith -from my lips and clung to it. She taught her daughter after her, and -ten years ago, when she too lay dying, she sent Ruth by a messenger to -me, praying me to bring her up in the faith of our fathers, and saying -that though she knew I was of a great age, she doubted not that when -my time came God would raise up protectors for the child. So for ten -years we have dwelt here together, tilling and watering our ground and -living on its fruit and by the sale of baskets that we weave and -exchange for fish with our neighbors. The child worships the God of -our fathers, and has grown and thriven here for ten years; but my -heart is heavy at the thought that my hours are numbered and that I -see no way after me but that Ruth shall return to our people, who will -assuredly in time wean her from her faith." - -"Never, grandfather," the girl said firmly. "They may beat me and -persecute me, but I will never deny my God." - -"They are hard people the Israelites," the old man said, shaking his -head, "and they are stubborn and must needs prevail against one so -tender. However, all matters are in the hands of God, who will again -reveal himself in his due time to his people who have forgotten him." - -Amuba, looking at the girl, thought that she had more power of -resistance than the old man gave her credit for. Her face was of the -same style of beauty as that of some of the young women he had seen in -the villages of the Israelites, but of a higher and finer type. Her -face was almost oval, with soft black hair, and delicately marked -eyebrows running almost in a straight line below her forehead. Her -eyes were large and soft, with long lashes veiling them, but there was -a firmness about the lips and chin that spoke of a determined will, -and gave strength to her declaration "Never." - -There was silence a moment, and then Chebron said almost timidly: - -"My father, although high priest of Osiris, is not a bigot in his -religion. He is wise and learned, and views all things temperately, as -my friends here can tell you. He knows of your religion; for I have -heard him say that when they first came into this land the Israelites -worshiped one God only. I have a sister who is of about the same age -as Ruth, and is gentle and kind. I am sure that if I ask my father he -will take your grandchild into his household to be a friend and -companion to Mysa, and I am certain that he would never try to shake -her religion, but would let her worship as she chooses." - -The old man looked fixedly at Chebron. - -"Your speech is pleasant and kind, young sir, and your voice has an -honest ring. A few years back I would have said that I would rather -the maiden were dead than a handmaid in the house of an Egyptian; but -as death approaches we see things differently, and it may be that she -would be better there than among those who once having known the true -God have forgotten him and taken to the worship of idols. I have -always prayed and believed that God would raise up protectors for -Ruth, and it seems to me now that the way you have been brought hither -in these latter days of my life is the answer to my prayer. Ruth, my -child, you have heard the offer, and it is for you to decide. Will you -go with this young Egyptian lord and serve his sister as a handmaiden, -or will you return to the villages of our people?" - -Ruth had risen to her feet now, and was looking earnestly at Chebron, -then her eyes turned to the faces of Amuba and Jethro, and then slowly -went back again to Chebron. - -"I believe that God has chosen for me," she said at last, "and has -sent them here not only to save my life, but to be protectors to me; -their faces are all honest and good. If the father of this youth will -receive me, I will, when you leave me, go and be the handmaid of his -daughter." - -"It is well," the old man said. "Now I am ready to depart, for my -prayers have been heard. May God deal with you and yours, Egyptian, -even as you deal with my child." - -"May it be so," Chebron replied reverently. - -"I can tell you," Jethro said to the old man, "that in no household in -Egypt could your daughter be happier than in that of Ameres. He is the -lord and master of Amuba and myself, and yet, as you see, his son -treats us not as servants, but as friends. Ameres is one of the -kindest of men; and as to his daughter Mysa, whose special attendant I -am, I would lay down my life to shield her from harm. Your grandchild -could not be in better hands. As to her religion, although Ameres has -often questioned Amuba and myself respecting the gods of our people, -he has never once shown the slightest desire that we should abandon -them for those of Egypt." - -"And now," Chebron said, "we will leave you; for doubtless the -excitement has wearied you, and Ruth needs rest and quiet after her -fright. We are encamped a mile away near the lake, and will come and -see you to-morrow." - -Not a word was spoken for some time after they left the house, and -then Chebron said: - -"It really would almost seem as if what that old man said was true, -and that his God had sent us there that a protector might be found for -his daughter. It was certainly strange that we should happen to be -within sound of her voice when she was seized by that crocodile, and -be able to rescue her just in time. It needed, you see, first, that we -should be there, then that the crocodile should seize her at that -moment, and, lastly, that we should be just in time to save her being -dragged into the river. A crocodile might have carried her away ten -thousand times without any one being within reach to save her and the -chances were enormously against any one who did save her being in a -position to offer her a suitable home at her grandfather's death." - -"It is certainly strange. You do not think that your father will have -any objection to take her?" Amuba asked. - -"Oh, no; he may say that he does not want any more servants in the -house, but I am sure that when he sees her he will be pleased to have -such a companion for Mysa. If it was my mother I do not know. Most -likely she would say no; but when she hears that it has all been -settled, she will not trouble one way or the other about it. I will -write my father a letter telling him all about it, and send off one of -the slaves with it at once. He can get back to-morrow, and it will -gladden the old man's heart to know that it is all arranged. I wish to -tell my father, too, of my trouble." - -"What trouble?" Amuba asked in surprise. "You have told me nothing -about anything troubling you." - -"Do you not understand, Amuba? I am in trouble because I struck the -crocodile; it is an impious action, and yet what could I do?" - -Amuba repressed an inclination to smile. - -"You could do nothing else, Chebron, for there was no time to mince -matters. He was going too fast for you to explain to him that he was -doing wrong in carrying off a girl, and you therefore took the only -means in your power of stopping him; besides, the blow you dealt him -did him no injury whatever. It was Jethro and the hunter who killed -him." - -"But had I not delayed his flight they could not have done so." - -"That is true enough, Chebron; but in that case he would have reached -the water with his burden and devoured her at his leisure. Unless you -think that his life is of much more importance than hers, I cannot see -that you have anything to reproach yourself with." - -"You do not understand me, Amuba," Chebron said pettishly. "Of course -I do not think that the life of an ordinary animal is of as much -importance as that of a human being; but the crocodiles are sacred, -and misfortune falls upon those who injure them." - -"Then in that case, Chebron, misfortune must fall very heavily on the -inhabitants of those districts where the crocodile is killed wherever -he is found. I have not heard that pestilence and famine visit those -parts of Egypt with more frequency than they do the districts where -the crocodile is venerated." - -Chebron made no answer. What Amuba said was doubtless true; but upon -the other hand, he had always been taught that the crocodile was -sacred, and if so he could not account for the impunity with which -these creatures were destroyed in other parts of Egypt. It was another -of the puzzles that he so constantly met with. After a long pause he -replied: - -"It may seem to be as you say; but you see, Amuba, there are some -gods specially worshiped in one district, others in another. In the -district that a god specially protects he would naturally be indignant -were the animals sacred to him to be slain, while he might pay no heed -to the doings in those parts in which he is little concerned." - -"In that case, Chebron, you can clearly set your mind at rest. Let us -allow that it is wrong to kill a crocodile in the district in which he -is sacred and where a god is concerned about his welfare, but that no -evil consequences can follow the slaying of him in districts in which -he is not sacred, and where his god, as you say, feels little interest -in him." - -"I hope that is so, Amuba; and that as the crocodile is not a sacred -animal here no harm may come from my striking one, though I would give -much that I had not been obliged to do so. I hope that my father will -regard the matter in the same light." - -"I have no doubt that he will do so, Chebron, especially as we agreed -that you did no real harm to the beast." - -"Is it not strange, Jethro," Amuba said when Chebron had gone into the -tent, "that wise and learned people like the Egyptians should be so -silly regarding animals?" - -"It is strange, Amuba, and it was hard to keep from laughing to hear -you so gravely arguing the question with Chebron. If all the people -held the same belief I should not be surprised; but as almost every -animal worshiped in one of the districts is hated and slain in -another, and that without any evil consequences arising, one would -have thought that they could not but see for themselves the folly of -their belief. What are we going to do to-morrow?" - -"I do not think that it is settled; we have had one day at each of the -sports. Rabah said that to-morrow we could either go out and see new -modes of fishing, or accompany the fowlers and watch them catching -birds in the clap nets, or go out into the desert and hunt ibex. -Chebron did not decide, but I suppose when he has finished his letter -we shall hear what he intends to do." - -After Chebron had finished his letter, which was a long one, he called -Rabah and asked him to dispatch it at once by the fleetest-footed of -the slaves. - -"He will get there," he said, "before my father retires to rest. If he -does not reply at once, he will probably answer in the morning, and at -any rate the man ought to be back before midday." - -At dinner Amuba asked Chebron whether he had decided what they should -do the next day. - -"We might go and look at the men with the clap nets," Chebron -answered. "They have several sorts in use, and take numbers of pigeons -and other birds. I think that will be enough for to-morrow. We have -had four days' hard work, and a quiet day will be pleasant, and if we -find the time goes slowly, we can take a boat across the lake and look -at the Great Sea beyond the sandhills that divide the lake from it; -beside, I hope we shall get my father's answer, and I should like some -further talk with that old Israelite. It is interesting to learn about -the religion that his forefathers believed in, and in which it seems -that he and his grandchild are now the last who have faith." - -"It will suit me very well to have a quiet day, Chebron; for in any -case I do not think I could have accompanied you. My ribs are sore -from the whack the crocodile gave me with his tail, and I doubt -whether I shall be able to walk to-morrow." - -Indeed, the next morning Amuba was so stiff and sore that he was -unable to rise from his couch. - -Soon after breakfast the messenger returned, bringing a letter from -Ameres. It was as follows: - - "It seems to me, Chebron, that Mysa has no occasion for further - attendants; but as your story of this old Israelite and his - daughter interests me, and the girl is of Mysa's age and might - be a pleasant companion for her, I have no objection to her - entering our household. I should have liked to talk with the - old man himself, and to have heard from him more about the - religion that Joseph and his people brought to Egypt. It is - recorded in some of the scrolls that these people were - monotheists; but although I have many times questioned - Israelites, all have professed to be acquainted with no - religion but that of Egypt. If you have further opportunity - find out as much as you can from this old man upon the subject. - - "Assure him from me that his daughter shall be kindly treated - in my household, and that no attempt whatever will be made to - turn her from the religion she professes. As to your adventure - with the crocodile, I do not think that your conscience need - trouble you. It would certainly be unfortunate to meet in Upper - Egypt a crocodile carrying off a peasant, and I am not called - upon to give an opinion as to what would be the proper course - to pursue under the circumstances; but as you are at present in - a district where the crocodile, instead of being respected, is - held in detestation, and as the people with you would probably - have overtaken and slain him even without your intervention, I - do not think that you need trouble yourself about the knock - that you gave him across his snout. Had I found myself in the - position you did I should probably have taken the same course. - With respect to the girl, you had best give them instructions - that when the old man dies she shall travel by boat to Thebes; - arrived there, she will find no difficulty in learning which is - my house, and on presenting herself there she will be well - received. I will write at once to Mysa, telling her that you - have found a little Israelite handmaiden as her special - attendant, and that, should the girl arrive before my return, - she is at once to assume that position. - - "It would not do for her to come here were her grandfather to - die before we leave for home. In the first place, she would be - in the way, and in the second, her features and dress would - proclaim her to be an Israelite. The people in the villages she - passed through might detain her, and insist on her remaining - with them; or, should she arrive here, the fact of her - departing with us might be made a subject of complaint, and the - Israelites would not improbably declare that I had carried off - a young woman of their tribe as a slave. Therefore, in all - respects it is better that she should proceed up the river to - Thebes. - - "As they are poor you had best leave a sum of money with them - to pay for her passage by boat, and for her support during the - voyage. I find that I shall have finished with the steward - earlier than I had expected, and shall be starting in about - three days to inspect the canals and lay out plans for some - fresh ones; therefore, if by that time you have had enough - sport to satisfy you, you had best journey back." - -"My father has consented," Chebron said joyously as he finished the -letter. "I felt sure that he would; still, I was anxious till I got -the letter, for it would have been a great disappointment to the old -man could it not have been managed. I will go off and tell him at -once. I shall not want you this morning, Jethro; so you can either -stay here with Amuba or do some fishing or fowling on the lake. The -boat is all in readiness, you know." - -Chebron went off to the cottage. Ruth was in the garden tending the -vegetables, and he stopped to speak to her before entering. - -"I have not heard yet," he said, "how it came about that you were -seized by the crocodile." - -"I hardly know how it was," she said. "I am in the habit of going down -many times a day to fetch up water for the garden, and I always keep a -lookout for these creatures before I fill my jar; but yesterday I had -just gone round the corner of the sandhill when I was struck down with -a tremendous blow, and a moment afterward the creature seized me. I -gave a scream; but I thought I was lost, for there are no neighbors -within sound of the voice, and my grandfather has not been able to -walk for months. Then I prayed as well as I could for the pain, and -God heard me and sent you to deliver me." - -"It is not often that they go up so far from the river, is it?" - -"Not often. But yesterday we had a portion of a kid from a neighbor -and were cooking it, and perhaps the smell attracted the crocodile; -for they say that they are quick at smell, and they have been known to -go into cottages and carry off meat from before the fire." - -"I see you walk very lame still." - -"Yes. Grandfather would have me keep still for a day or two; but I -think that as soon as the bruises die out and the pain ceases I shall -be as well as ever. Beside, what would the garden do without water? My -grandfather will be glad to see you, my lord; but he is rather more -feeble than usual this morning. The excitement of yesterday has shaken -him." - -She led the way into the cottage. - -"Your granddaughter has told me you are not very strong to-day," -Chebron began. - -"At my age," the old man said, "even a little thing upsets one, and -the affair of yesterday was no little thing. I wonder much that the -agitation did not kill me." - -"I have satisfactory news to give you," Chebron said. "I yesterday -dispatched a message to my father, and have just received the answer." -And taking out the scroll he read aloud the portion in which Ameres -stated his readiness to receive Ruth in his household, and his promise -that no pressure whatever should be put upon her to abandon her -religion. - -"The Lord be praised!" the old man exclaimed. "The very animals are -the instruments of his will, and the crocodile that threatened death -to the child was, in truth, the answer sent to my prayer. I thank you, -my young lord; and as you and yours deal with my child, so may the God -of my fathers deal with you. But she may stay on with me for the -little time that remains, may she not?" - -"Surely. We should not think of taking her now. My father sends -instructions as to what she is to do, and money to pay for her journey -up the Nile to Thebes. This is what he says." And he read the portion -of the scroll relating to the journey. "And now," he said, "let me -read to you what my father says about your religion. He is ever a -searcher after truth, and would fain that I should hear from your lips -and repeat to him all that you can tell me relating to this God whom -you worship." - -"That will I with gladness, my young lord. The story is easily told, -for it is simple, and not like that of your religion with its many -deities." - -Chebron took a seat upon a pile of rushes and prepared to listen to -the old man's story of the God of the Israelites. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE CONSPIRACY IN THE TEMPLE. - - -For two days longer the party lingered by the side of the lake fishing -and fowling, and then returned across the desert to the headquarters -of Ameres. Two months were spent in examining canals and water -courses, seeing that the dykes were strengthened where needed, and -that the gates and channels were in good repair. Levels were taken for -the construction of several fresh branches, which would considerably -extend the margin of cultivation. The natives were called upon to -furnish a supply of labor for their formation; but the quota was -not furnished without considerable grumbling on the part of the -Israelites, although Ameres announced that payment would be given them -for their work. At last, having seen that everything was in train, -Ameres left one of his subordinates to carry out the work, and then -started with his son for Thebes. - -A fortnight after his return home he was informed that a young female, -who said her name was Ruth, wished to see him. He bade the servant -conduct her to him, and at the same time summon Chebron from his -studies. The lad arrived first, and as Ruth entered presented her to -his father. - -"Welcome, child, to this house," the high priest said. "I suppose by -your coming that the old man, your great-grandfather, of whom my son -has spoken to me, is no more?" - -"He died a month since, my lord," Ruth replied; "but it was two weeks -before I could find a passage in a boat coming hither." - -"Chebron, tell Mysa to come here," Ameres said, and the lad at once -fetched Mysa, who had already heard that an Israelite girl was coming -to be her special attendant, and had been much interested in Chebron's -account of her and her rescue from the crocodile. - -"This is Ruth, Mysa," Ameres said when she entered, "who has come to -be with you. She has lost her last friend, and I need not tell you, my -child, to be kind and considerate with her. You know what you would -suffer were you to be placed among strangers, and how lonely you would -be at first. She will be a little strange to our ways, but you will -soon make her at home, I hope." - -"I will try and make her happy," Mysa replied, looking at her new -companion. - -Although the girls were about the same age, Ruth looked the elder of -the two. Mysa was still little more than a child, full of fun and -life. Ruth was broken down by the death of her grandfather and by the -journey she had made; but in any case she would have looked older than -Mysa, the difference being in manner rather than in face or figure. -Ruth had long had many responsibilities on her shoulders. There was -the care and nursing of the old man, the cultivation of the garden on -which their livelihood depended, the exchange of its products for -other articles, the preparation of the meals. Her grandfather had been -in the habit of talking to her as a grown-up person, and there was an -expression of thoughtfulness and gravity in her eyes. Mysa, on the -contrary, was still but a happy child, who had never known the -necessity for work or exertion; her life had been like a summer day, -free from all care and anxiety. Naturally, then, she felt as she -looked at Ruth that she was a graver and more serious personage than -she had expected to see. - -"I think I shall like you," she said when her examination was -finished, "when we know each other a little better, and I hope you -will like me; because, as my father says, we are to be together." - -"I am sure we shall," Ruth replied, looking admiringly at Mysa's -bright face. "I have never had anything to do with girls of my own -age, and you will find me clumsy at first; but I will do my best to -please you, for your father and brother have been very good to me." - -"There, take her away, Mysa. I have told your mother about her coming, -and want to go on with my reading," Ameres said. "Show her your garden -and animals, and where she is to sleep; and give her in charge of old -Male, who will see that she has all that she wants, and get suitable -garments and all that is requisite." - -Before many days were over Ruth became quite at home in her new abode. -Her position was a pleasant one. She was at once companion and -attendant to Mysa, accompanying her in her walks under the escort of -Jethro, playing with her in the garden, helping her to feed the -animals, and amusing her when she preferred to sit quiet by telling -her about her life near the lake by the Great Sea, about the fowling -and fishing there, and especially about the river course close to the -cottage, with its hippopotami and crocodiles. Ruth brightened up -greatly in her new surroundings, which to her were marvelous and -beautiful; and she soon caught something of the cheerfulness of her -young mistress, and the laughter of the two girls was often heard -rising from Mysa's inclosure at the further end of the quiet garden. - -Shortly after the return from their visit to Lower Egypt an important -event took place, Chebron being initiated into the lowest grade of the -priesthood. His duties at first were slight; for aspirants to the -higher order, who were with scarce an exception the sons of the -superior priesthood, were not expected to perform any of the drudgery -that belonged properly to the work of the lower class of the order. It -was necessary to ascend step by step; but until they arrived at the -grade beyond which study and intelligence alone led to promotion, -their progress was rapid, and they were expected only to take part in -such services and ceremonies of the temple as required the attendance -of all attached to it. - -His duties, therefore, interfered but little with his studies or -ordinary mode of life, and he was almost as much at home as before. He -could now, however, enter the temple at all hours, and had access to -the inner courts and chambers, the apartments where the sacred animals -were kept, and other places where none but the priests were permitted -to enter. He availed himself of this privilege chiefly of an evening. -All the great courts were open to the sky, and Chebron loved to roam -through them in the bright moonlight, when they were deserted by the -crowd of worshipers and all was still and silent. At that time the -massive columns, the majestic architecture, the strange figures of the -gods exercised an influence upon his imagination which was wanting in -the daytime. Upon the altars before the chief gods fire ever burned, -and in the light of the flickering flames the faces assumed life and -expression. - -Now and then a priest in his white linen robe moved through the -deserted courts; but for the most part Chebron had undisturbed -possession, and was free to meditate without interruption. He found -that his mind was then attuned to a pitch of reverence and devotion -to the gods that it failed to attain when the sun was blazing down -upon the marble floor and the courts were alive with worshipers. Then, -strive as he would, he could not enter as he wanted into the spirit of -the scene. When he walked in the solemn procession carrying a sacred -vessel or one of the sacred emblems, doubts whether there could be -anything in common between the graven image and the god it represented -would occur to him. - -He would wonder whether the god was really gratified by these -processions, whether he felt any real pleasure in the carrying about -of sacred vessels, emblems, and offerings of flowers. He was shocked -at his own doubts, and did his best to banish them from his mind. At -times it seemed to him that some heavy punishment must fall upon him -for permitting himself to reason on matters so far beyond his -comprehension, and he now rejoiced at what he before was inclined to -regret, that his father had decided against his devoting his whole -life to the service of the temple. - -Sometimes he thought of speaking to his father and confessing to him -that his mind was troubled with doubts, but the thought of the horror -with which such a confession would be received deterred him from doing -so. Even to Amuba he was silent on the subject, for Amuba he thought -would not understand him. His friend believed firmly in the gods of -his own country, but accepted the fact that the Egyptian deities were -as powerful for good or evil to the Egyptians as were his own to the -Rebu. And, indeed, the fact that the Egyptians were so great and -powerful, and prevailed over other nations, was, he was inclined to -think, due to the superior power of their gods. - -The majesty of the temples, the splendor of the processions, and the -devoutness with which the people worshiped their gods, alike impressed -him; and although the strangeness of the images struck him as -singular, he was ready to admit that the gods might take any shape -they pleased. Thus, then, Chebron could look for no sympathy from him, -and shrank from opening his mind to him. Nevertheless he sometimes -took Amuba with him in his visits to the temple. The doors at all -times stood open, and any could enter who chose, and had they in the -inner courts met with any of the priests, Amuba would have passed -unnoticed as being one of the attendants of the temple in company with -Chebron. - -But few words were exchanged between the lads during these rambles, -for the awful grandeur of the silent temple and its weird aspect in -the moonlight affected Amuba as strongly as it did Chebron. At times -he wondered to himself whether if he ever returned home and were to -introduce the worship of these terrible gods of Egypt, they would -extend their protection to the Rebu. - -Near the house of Ameres stood that of Ptylus, a priest who occupied a -position in the temple of Osiris, next in dignity to that of the high -priest. - -Between the two priests there was little cordiality, for they differed -alike in disposition and manner of thought. Ptylus was narrow and -bigoted in his religion, precise in every observance of ceremonial; -austere and haughty in manner, professing to despise all learning -beyond that relating to religion, but secretly devoured with jealousy -at the esteem in which Ameres was held by the court, and his -reputation as one of the first engineers, astronomers and statesmen of -Egypt. He had been one of the fiercest in the opposition raised to the -innovations proposed by Ameres, and had at the time exerted himself to -the utmost to excite such a feeling against him as would render it -necessary for him to resign his position in the temple. - -His disappointment had been intense when--owing in no slight degree to -the influence of the king himself, who regarded Ameres with too much -trust and affection to allow himself to be shaken in his confidence -even by what he held to be the erroneous views of the high priest of -Osiris--his intrigue came to nothing; but he had ever since kept an -unceasing watch upon the conduct of his colleague, without, however, -being able to find the slightest pretense for complaint against him. -For Ameres was no visionary; and having failed in obtaining a -favorable decision as to the views he entertained, he had not striven -against the tide, knowing that by doing so he would only involve -himself and his family in ruin and disgrace, without forwarding in the -smallest degree the opinions he held. - -He was thus as exact as ever in his ministration in the temple, -differing only from the other performers of the sacred rites inasmuch -as while they offered their sacrifices to Osiris himself, he in his -heart dedicated his offerings to the great God of whom Osiris was but -a feeble type or image. - -A certain amount of intimacy was kept up between the two families. -Although there was no more liking between the wives of the two priests -than between their husbands, they were of similar dispositions--both -were fond of show and gayety, both were ambitious; and although in -society both exhibited to perfection the somewhat gentle and indolent -manner which was considered to mark high breeding among the women of -Egypt, the slaves of both knew to their cost that in their own homes -their bearing was very different. - -In their entertainments and feasts there was constant rivalry between -them, although the wife of the high priest considered it nothing short -of insolence that the wife of one inferior to her husband's rank -should venture to compete with her; while upon the other hand, the -little airs of calm superiority her rival assumed when visiting her -excited the deepest indignation and bitterness in the heart of the -wife of Ptylus. She, too, was aware of the enmity that her husband -bore to Ameres, and did her best to second him by shaking her head and -affecting an air of mystery whenever his name was mentioned, leaving -her friends to suppose that did she choose she could tell terrible -tales to his disadvantage. - -Ameres on his part had never alluded at home either to his views -concerning religion or to his difference of opinion with his -colleagues. There was but little in common between him and his -wife. He allowed her liberty to do as she chose, to give frequent -entertainments to her female friends, and to spend money as she liked -so long as his own mode of life was not interfered with. He kept in -his own hands, too, the regulation of the studies of Chebron and Mysa. - -One day when he was in his study his wife entered. He looked up with -an expression of remonstrance, for it was an understood thing that -when occupied with his books he was on no account to be disturbed -except upon business of importance. - -"You must not mind my disturbing you for once, Ameres; but an -important thing has happened. Nicotis, the wife of Ptylus, has been -here this afternoon, and what do you think she was the bearer of--a -proposal from her husband and herself that their son Plexo should -marry our Mysa." - -Ameres uttered an exclamation of surprise and anger. - -"She is a child at present; the thing is ridiculous!" - -"Not so much a child, Ameres, after all. She is nearer fifteen than -fourteen, and betrothal often takes place a year earlier. I have been -thinking for some time of talking the matter over with you, for it is -fully time that we thought of her future." - -Ameres was silent. What his wife said was perfectly true, and Mysa -had reached the age at which the Egyptian maidens were generally -betrothed. It came upon him, however, as an unpleasant surprise. He -had regarded Mysa as still a child, and his affections were centered -in her and Chebron; for his eldest son, who resembled his mother in -spirit, he had but little affection or sympathy. - -"Very well," he said at last in a tone of irritation very unusual to -him, "if Mysa has reached the age when we must begin to think whom she -is to marry, we will think of it, but there is no occasion whatever -for haste. As to Plexo, I have marked him often when he has been here -with Chebron, and I do not like his disposition. He is arrogant and -overbearing, and, at the same time, shallow and foolish. Such is not -the kind of youth to whom I shall give Mysa." - -The answer did not quite satisfy his wife. She agreed with him in -objecting to the proposed alliance, but on entirely different grounds. -She had looked forward to Mysa making a brilliant match, which would -add to her own consequence and standing. On ceremonial occasions, as -the wife of the high priest, and herself a priestess of Osiris, she -was present at all the court banquets; but the abstemious tastes and -habits of Ameres prevented her from taking the part she desired in -other festivities, and she considered that were Mysa to marry some -great general, or perhaps even one of the princes of the blood, she -would then be able to take that position in society to which she -aspired, and considered, indeed, that she ought to fill as the wife of -Ameres, high priest of Osiris and one of the most trusted counselors -of the king. - -Such result would certainly not flow from Mysa's marriage to the son -of one of less rank in the temple than her husband, and far inferior -in public estimation. Being content, however, that her husband -objected to the match on other grounds, she abstained from pressing -her own view of the subject, being perfectly aware that it was one -with which Ameres would by no means sympathize. She therefore only -said: - -"I am glad that you object to the match, Ameres, and am quite in -accord with you in your opinion of the son of Ptylus. But what reason -shall I give Nicotis for declining the connection?" - -"The true one, of course!" Ameres said in surprise. "What other reason -could there be? In respect to position no objection could arise, nor -upon that of wealth. He is an only son, and although Ptylus may not -have so large an income as myself (for I have had much state -employment), he can certainly afford to place his son in at least as -good a position as we can expect for Mysa. Were we to decline the -proposal without giving a reason Ptylus would have good ground for -offense." - -"I do not suppose, Amense, he will be pleased at fault being found -with his son, but that we cannot help. Parents cannot expect others -to see their offspring with the same eyes that they do. I should -certainly feel no offense were I to propose for a wife for Chebron to -receive as an answer that he lacked some of the virtues the parents -required in a husband for their daughter. I might consider that -Chebron had those virtues, but if they thought otherwise why should I -be offended?" - -"It is not everyone who sees matters as you do, Ameres, and no one -likes having his children slighted. Still, if it is your wish that I -should tell Nicotis that you have a personal objection to her son, of -course I will do so." - -"Do not put it that light, Amense. It is not that I have a personal -objection to him. I certainly do not like him, but that fact has -nothing to do with my decision. I might like him very much, and yet -consider that he would not make Mysa a good husband; or, on the other -hand, I might dislike him personally, and yet feel that I could safely -intrust Mysa's happiness to him. You will say, then, to Nicotis that -from what I have seen of Plexo, and from what I have learned of his -character, it does not appear to me that a union between him and Mysa -would be likely to conduce to her happiness; and that, therefore, I -decline altogether to enter into negotiations for the bringing about -of such a marriage." - -Amense was well pleased, for she felt that this message, given in her -husband's name, would be a great rebuff for her rival, and would far -more than counterbalance the many triumphs she had gained over her by -the recital of the number of banquets and entertainments in which she -had taken part. - -Had Amense been present when Nicotis informed Ptylus of the refusal of -their proposal for the hand of Mysa, she might have felt that even the -satisfaction of mortifying a rival may be dearly purchased. - -"You know the woman, Ptylus, and can picture to yourself the air of -insolence with which she declined our proposal. I wished at the moment -we had been peasants' wives instead of ladies of quality. I would have -given her cause to regret her insolence for a long time. As it was, it -was as much as I could do to restrain myself, and to smile and say -that perhaps, after all, the young people were not as well suited for -each other as could be wished; and that we had only yielded to the -wishes of Plexo, having in our mind another alliance which would in -every respect be more advantageous. Of course she replied that she was -glad to hear it, but she could not but know that I was lying, for the -lotus flower I was holding in my hand trembled with the rage that -devoured me." - -"And it was, you say, against Plexo personally that the objection was -made?" Ptylus said gloomily. - -"So she seemed to say. Of course she would not tell me that she had -set her mind on her daughter marrying one of the royal princes, though -it is like enough that such is her thought, for the woman is pushing -and ambitious enough for anything. She only said, in a formal sort of -way, that while the alliance between the two families would naturally -be most agreeable to them, her husband was of opinion that the -dispositions of the young people were wholly dissimilar, and that he -feared such a union would not be for the happiness of either; and that -having perhaps peculiar ideas as to the necessity for husband and wife -being of one mind in all matters, he thought it better that the idea -should be abandoned. I had a mind to tell her that Ameres did not seem -to have acted upon those ideas in his own case, for everyone knows -that he and Amense have not a thought in common--that she goes her way -and he goes his." - -"Let them both beware!" Ptylus said. "They shall learn that we are not -to be insulted with impunity. This Ameres, whom the people regard as -so holy, is at heart a despiser of the gods. Had he not been a -favorite of Thotmes he would ere now have been disgraced and degraded, -and I should be high priest in his place; for his son, Neco, is too -young for such a dignity. But he is ascending in the scale, and every -year that his father lives and holds office he will come more and more -to be looked upon as his natural successor. A few more years and my -chance will be extinguished." - -"Then," Nicotis said decidedly, "Ameres must not hold office for many -more years. We have talked the matter over and over again, and you -have always promised me that some day I should be the wife of the high -priest, and that Plexo should stand first in the succession of the -office. It is high time that you carried your promises into effect." - -"It is time, Nicotis. This man has too long insulted the gods by -ministering at their services, when in his heart he was false to them. -It shall be so no longer; this last insult to us decides me! Had he -agreed to our proposal I would have laid aside my own claims, and with -my influence could have secured that Plexo, as his son-in-law, should -succeed, rather than that shallow-brained fool, Neco. He has refused -the offer, and he must bear the consequences. I have been too patient. -I will be so no longer, but will act. I have a strong party among the -upper priesthood who have long been of my opinion that Ameres is a -disgrace to our caste and a danger to our religion. They will join me -heart and soul, for they feel with me that his position as high priest -is an outrage to the gods. Ask me no questions, Nicotis, but be -assured that my promises shall be kept. I will be high priest; Plexo -shall marry this child he fancies, for his doing so will not only -strengthen my position, but render his own succession secure, by -silencing those who might at my death seek to bring back the -succession to Neco." - -"That is well, Ptylus. I have long wondered that you were content to -be lorded over by Ameres. If I can aid you in any way be sure that I -will do so. By the way, Amense invited us to a banquet she is about to -give next week. Shall we accept the invitation?" - -"Certainly. We must not show that we are in any way offended at what -has passed. As far as Ameres himself is concerned it matters not, for -the man has so good an opinion of himself that nothing could persuade -him that he has enemies; but it would not do, in view of what I have -resolved upon, that any other should entertain the slightest suspicion -that there exists any ill-feeling between us." - -Great preparations were made by Amense for the banquet on the -following week, for she had resolved that this should completely -eclipse the entertainments of Nicotis. Ameres had, as usual, left -everything in her hands, and she spared no expense. For a day or two -previous large supplies of food arrived from the farm and from the -markets in the city; and early on the morning of the entertainment a -host of professional cooks arrived to prepare the dinner. The head -cooks superintended their labors. The meat consisted of beef and -goose, ibex, gazelle, and oryx; for although large flocks of sheep -were kept for their wool, the flesh was not eaten by the Egyptians. -There were, besides, great numbers of ducks, quails, and other small -fowl. The chief cooks superintended the cutting up of the meat and the -selection of the different joints for boiling or roasting. One servant -worked with his feet a bellows, raising the fire to the required heat; -another skimmed the boiling caldrons with a spoon; and a third pounded -salt, pepper, and other ingredients in a large mortar. Bakers and -confectioners made light bread and pastry; the former being made in -the form of rolls, sprinkled at the top with carraway and other seeds. -The confectionary was made of fruit and other ingredients mixed with -dough, and this was formed by a skillful workman into various artistic -shapes, such as recumbent oxen, vases, temples, and other forms. -Besides the meats there was an abundance of all the most delicate -kinds of fish. - -When the hour of noon approached Ameres and Amense took their seats on -two chairs at the upper end of the chief apartment, and as the guests -arrived each came up to them to receive their welcome. When all had -arrived the women took their places on chairs at the one side of the -hall, the men on the other. Then servants brought in tables, piled up -with dishes containing the viands, and in some cases filled with -fruits and decorated with flowers, and ranged them down the center of -the room. - -Cups of wine were then handed round to the guests, lotus flowers -presented to them to hold in their hands, and garlands of flowers -placed round their necks. Stands, each containing a number of jars of -wine, stoppered with heads of wheat and decked with garlands, were -ranged about the room. Many small tables were now brought in, and -round these the guests took their seats upon low stools and -chairs--the women occupying those on one side of the room, the men -those on the other. - -The servants now placed the dishes on the small tables, male -attendants waiting on the men, while the women were served by females. -Egyptians were unacquainted with the use of knives and forks, the -joints being cut up by the attendants into small pieces, and the -guests helping themselves from the dishes with the aid of pieces of -bread held between the fingers. Vegetables formed a large part of the -meal, the meats being mixed with them to serve as flavoring; for in so -hot a climate a vegetable diet is far more healthy than one composed -principally of meat. While the meal was proceeding a party of female -musicians, seated on the ground in one corner of the room, played and -sang. - -The banquet lasted for a long time, the number of dishes served being -very large. When it was half over the figure of a mummy, of about -three feet in length, was brought round and presented to each guest in -succession, as a reminder of the uncertainty of existence. But as all -present were accustomed to this ceremony it had but little effect, and -the sound of conversation and laughter, although checked for a moment, -broke out again as soon as the figure was removed. Wine of many kinds -was served during the dinner, the women as well as the men partaking -of it. - -When all was concluded servants brought round golden basins with -perfumed water and napkins, and the guests removed from their fingers -the gravy that even with the daintiest care in feeding could not be -altogether escaped. Then the small tables and stools were removed, and -the guests took their places on the chairs along the sides of the -room. Then parties of male and female dancers by turn came in and -performed. Female acrobats and tumblers then entered, and went through -a variety of performances, and jugglers showed feats of dexterity with -balls, and other tricks, while the musicians of various nationalities -played in turns upon the instruments in use in their own countries. -All this time the attendants moved about among the guests, serving -them with wine and keeping them supplied with fresh flowers. A bard -recited an ode in honor of the glories of King Thotmes, and it was not -until late in the evening that the entertainment came to an end. - -"It has gone off splendidly," Amense said to Ameres when all was -over, and the last guest had been helped away by his servants; for -there were many who were unable to walk steadily unaided. "Nothing -could have been better--it will be the talk of the whole town; and I -could see Nicotis was devoured by envy and vexation. I do think great -credit is due to me, Ameres, for you have really done nothing toward -the preparations." - -"I am perfectly willing that you should have all the credit, Amense," -Ameres said wearily, "and I am glad that you are satisfied. To me the -whole thing is tedious and tiresome to a degree. All this -superabundance of food, this too lavish use of wine, and the postures -and antics of the actors and dancers is simply disgusting. However, if -everyone else was pleased, of course I am content." - -"You are the most unsatisfactory husband a woman ever had," Amense -said angrily. "I do believe you would be perfectly happy shut up in -your study with your rolls of manuscript all your life, without seeing -another human being save a black slave to bring you in bread and fruit -and water twice a day." - -"I think I should, my dear," Ameres replied calmly. "At any rate, I -should prefer it vastly to such a waste of time, and that in a form to -me so disagreeable as that I have had to endure to-day." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A STARTLING EVENT. - - -It was some days later that Chebron and Amuba again paid a visit to -the temple by moonlight. It was well-nigh a month since they had been -there; for, save when the moon was up, the darkness and gloom of the -courts, lighted only by the lamps of the altars, was so great that the -place offered no attractions. Amuba, free from the superstitions which -influenced his companion, would have gone with him had he proposed it, -although he too felt the influence of the darkness and the dim, weird -figures of the gods, seen but faintly by the lights that burned at -their feet. But to Chebron, more imaginative and easily affected, -there was something absolutely terrible in the gloomy darkness, and -nothing would have induced him to wander in the silent courts save -when the moon threw her light upon them. - -On entering one of the inner courts they found a massive door in the -wall standing ajar. - -"Where does this lead to?" Amuba asked. - -"I do not know. I have never seen it open before. I think it must have -been left unclosed by accident. We will see where it leads to." - -Opening it they saw in front of them a flight of stairs in the -thickness of the wall. - -"It leads up to the roof," Chebron said in surprise. "I knew not there -were any stairs to the roof, for when repairs are needed the workmen -mount by ladders." - -"Let us go up, Chebron; it will be curious to look down upon the -courts." - -"Yes, but we must be careful, Amuba; for, did any below catch sight of -us, they might spread an alarm." - -"We need only stay there a minute or two," Amuba urged. "There are so -few about that we are not likely to be seen, for if we walk -noiselessly none are likely to cast their eyes so far upward." - -So saying Amuba led the way up the stairs, and Chebron somewhat -reluctantly followed him. They felt their way as they went, and after -mounting for a considerable distance found that the stairs ended in a -narrow passage, at the end of which was an opening scarce three feet -high and just wide enough for a man to pass through. This evidently -opened into the outer air, as sufficient light passed through to -enable them to see where they were standing. Amuba crept out through -the opening at the end. Beyond was a ledge a foot wide; beyond that -rose a dome some six feet high and eight or ten feet along the ledge. - -"Come on, Chebron; there is plenty of room for both of us," he said, -looking backward. Chebron at once joined him. - -"Where can we be?" Amuba asked. "There is the sky overhead. We are -twenty feet from the top of the wall, and where this ledge ends, just -before it gets to the sides of this stone, it seems to go straight -down." - -Chebron looked round him. - -"This must be the head of one of the statues," he said after a pause. -"What a curious place! I wonder what it can have been made for. See, -there is a hole here!" - -Just in front of them was an opening of some six inches in diameter in -the stone. - -Amuba pushed his hand down. - -"It seems to go a long way down," he said; "but it is narrowing," and -removing his arm he looked down the hole. - -"There is an opening at the other end," he said; "a small narrow slit. -It must have been made to enable any one standing here to see down, -though I don't think they could see much through so small a hole. I -should think, Chebron, if this is really the top of the head of one of -the great figures, that slit must be where his lips are. Don't you -think so?" - -Chebron agreed that it was probable. - -"In that case," Amuba went on, "I should say that this hole must be -made to allow the priests to give answers through the mouth of the -image to supplications made to it. I have heard that the images -sometimes gave answers to the worshipers. Perhaps this is the secret -of it." - -Chebron was silent. The idea was a painful one to him; for if this -were so, it was evident that trickery was practiced. - -"I think we had better go," he said at last. "We have done wrong in -coming up here." - -"Let me peep over the side first," Amuba said. "It seems to me that I -can hear voices below." - -But the projection of the head prevented his seeing anything beyond. -Returning he put his foot in the hole and raised himself sufficiently -to get on the top of the stone, which was here so much flattened that -there was no risk of falling off. Leaning forward he looked over the -edge. As Amuba had guessed would be the case, he found himself on the -head of the principal idol in the temple. Gathered round the altar at -its foot were seven or eight men, all of whom he knew by the whiteness -of their garment to be priests. Listening intently he could -distinctly hear their words. After waiting a minute he crawled back. - -"Come up here, Chebron; there is something important going on." - -Chebron joined him, and the two, lying close together, looked down at -the court. - -"I tell you we must do away with him," one of the group below said in -tones louder than had been hitherto used. "You know as well as I do -that his heart is not in the worship of the gods. He has already shown -himself desirous of all sorts of innovations, and unless we take -matters in our hands there is no saying to what lengths he may go. He -might shatter the very worship of the gods. It is no use to try to -overthrow him openly; for he has the support of the king, and the -efforts that have been made have not in any way shaken his position. -Therefore he must die. It will be easy to put him out of the way. -There are plenty of small chambers and recesses which he might be -induced to enter on some pretext or other, and then be slain without -difficulty, and his body taken away by night and thrown into some of -the disused catacombs. - -"It would be a nine days' wonder when he was missed, but no one could -ever learn the truth of his disappearance. I am ready to kill him with -my own hands, and should regard the deed as one most pleasing to the -gods. Therefore if you are ready to undertake the other arrangements, -and two of you will join me in seeing that the deed is carried out -without noise or outcry, I will take the matter in hand. I hate him, -with his airs of holiness and his pretended love for the people. -Besides, the good of our religion requires that he shall die." - -There was a chorus of approbation from the others. - -"Leave me to determine the time and place," the speaker went on, "and -the excuse on which we will lead him to his doom. Those who will not -be actually engaged with me in the business must be in the precincts -of the place, and see that no one comes that way, and make some excuse -or other should a cry by chance be heard, and must afterward set on -foot all sorts of rumors to account for his actions. We can settle -nothing to-night; but there is no occasion for haste, and on the third -night hence we will again gather here." - -Chebron touched Amuba, and the two crept back to where they had been -standing on the ledge. - -"The villains are planning a murder in the very temple!" Chebron said. -"I will give them a fright;" and applying his mouth to the orifice he -cried: - -"Beware, sacrilegious wretches! Your plots shall fail and ruin fall -upon you!" - -"Come on, Chebron!" Amuba exclaimed, pulling his garment. "Some of the -fellows may know the secret of this statue, and in that case they will -kill us without mercy if they find us here." - -Passing through the opening they groped their way to the top of the -stairs, hurried down these as fast as they could in the darkness, and -issued out from the door. - -"I hear footsteps!" Amuba exclaimed as they did so. "Run for your -life, Chebron!" - -Just as they left the court they heard the noise of angry voices and -hurried footsteps close by. At full speed they ran through several -courts and apartments. - -"We had better hide, Amuba." - -"It will be no use trying to do that. They will guard the entrance -gates, give the alarm, and set all the priests on duty in the temple -in search. No, come along quickly. They cannot be sure that it is we -who spoke to them, and will probably wait until one has ascended the -stairs to see that no one is lurking there. I think we are safe for -the moment; but there are no good hiding-places. I think you had -better walk straight to the entrance, Chebron. Your presence here is -natural enough, and those they post at the gates would let you pass -out without suspicion. I will try and find myself a hiding-place." - -"I certainly will not do that, Amuba. I am not going to run away and -leave you in the scrape, especially as it was I who got us into it by -my rashness." - -"Is there any place where workmen are engaged on the walls?" Amuba -asked suddenly. - -"Yes, in the third court on the right after entering," Chebron -replied. "They are repainting the figures on the upper part of the -wall. I was watching them at work yesterday." - -"Then in that case there must be some ladders. With them we might get -away safely. Let us make for the court at once, but tread noiselessly, -and if you hear a footstep approaching hide in the shadow behind the -statue. Listen! they are giving the alarm. They know that their number -would be altogether insufficient to search this great temple -thoroughly." - -Shouts were indeed heard, and the lads pressed on toward the court -Chebron had spoken of. The temple now was echoing with sounds, for the -priests on duty, who had been asleep as usual when not engaged in -attending to the lights, had now been roused by one of their number, -who ran in and told them some sacrilegious persons had made their way -into the temple. - -"Here is the place," Chebron said, stopping at the foot of the wall. - -Here two or three long light ladders were standing. Some of these -reached part of the distance only up the walls, but the top of one -could be seen against the skyline. - -"Mount, Chebron! There is no time to loose. They may be here at any -moment." - -Chebron mounted, followed closely by his companion. Just as he gained -the top of the wall several men carrying torches ran into the court -and began to search along the side lying in shadow. Just as Amuba -joined Chebron one of the searchers caught sight of them, and with a -shout ran toward the ladder. - -"Pull, Chebron!" Amuba exclaimed as he tried to haul up the ladder. - -Chebron at once assisted him, and the foot of the ladder was already -many feet above the ground before the men reached it. The height of -the wall was some fifty feet, and light as was the construction of the -ladder, it was as much as the lads could do to pull it up to the top. -The wall was fully twelve feet in thickness, and as soon as the ladder -was up Amuba said: - -"Keep away from the edge, Chebron, or it is possible that in this -bright moonlight we may be recognized. We must be going on at once. -They will tie the short ladders together and be after us directly." - -"Which way shall we go?" - -"Toward the outer wall, as far as possible from the gate. Bring the -ladder along." - -Taking it upon their shoulders they hurried along. Critical as the -position was, Amuba could not help remarking on the singularity of -the scene. The massive walls were all topped with white cement and -stretched like broad ribbons, crossing and recrossing each other in -regular parallelograms on a black ground. - -Five minutes' running took them to the outer wall, and the ladder was -again lowered and they descended, and then stood at its foot for a -moment to listen. Everything was still and silent. - -"It is lucky they did not think of sending men to watch outside the -walls when they first caught sight of us, or we should have been -captured. I expect they thought of nothing but getting down the other -ladders and fastening them together. Let us make straight out and get -well away from the temple, and then we will return to your house at -our leisure. We had better get out of sight if we can before our -pursuers find the top of the ladder, then as they will have no idea in -which direction we have gone they will give up the chase." - -After an hour's walking they reached home. On the way they had -discussed whether or not Chebron should tell Ameres what had taken -place, and had agreed that it would be best to be silent. - -"Your father would not like to know that you have discovered the -secret of the image, Chebron. If it was not for that I should say you -had best have told him. But I do not see that it would do any good -now. We do not know who the men were who were plotting or whom they -were plotting against. But one thing is pretty certain, they will not -try to carry out their plans now, for they cannot tell how much of -their conversation was overheard, and their fear of discovery will put -an end for the present to this scheme of theirs." - -Chebron agreed with Amuba's views, and it was decided to say nothing -about the affair unless circumstances occurred which might alter their -intentions. They entered the house quietly and reached their apartment -without disturbing any of the inmates. - -On the following morning one of the priests of the temple arrived at -an early hour and demanded to see Ameres. - -"I have evil tidings to give you, my lord," he said. "Your son Neco -has this morning been killed." - -"Neco killed?" Ameres repeated. - -"It is, alas! but too true, my lord. He left the house where he lives -with two other priests but a short distance from the gate of the -temple at his usual hour. It was his turn to offer the sacrifices at -dawn, and it must have been still dark when he left the house. As he -did not arrive at the proper time a messenger was sent to fetch him, -and he found him lying dead but a few paces from his own door, stabbed -to the heart." - -Ameres waved his hand to signify that he would be alone, and sat down -half-stunned by the sudden shock. - -Between himself and his eldest son there was no great affection. Neco -was of a cold and formal disposition, and although Ameres would in his -own house have gladly relaxed in his case, as he had done in that of -Chebron, the rigid respect and deference demanded by Egyptian custom -on the part of sons toward their father, Neco had never responded to -his advances and had been punctilious in all the observances practiced -at the time. Except when absolutely commanded to do so, he had never -taken a seat in his father's presence, had never addressed him unless -spoken to, had made his appearance only at stated times to pay his -respects to him, and when dismissed had gladly hurried away to the -priest who acted as his tutor. - -As he grew up the gap had widened instead of closing. Ameres saw with -regret that his mind was narrow and his understanding shallow, that in -matters of religion he was bigoted; while at the same time he -perceived that his extreme zeal in the services of the temple, his -absorption in ceremonial observances of all kinds, were due in no -slight degree to ambition, and that he was endeavoring to obtain -reputation for distinguished piety with a view to succeeding some day -to the office of high priest. He guessed that the eagerness with which -Neco embraced the first opportunity of withdrawing himself from his -home and joining two other young priests in their establishment was -due to a desire to disassociate himself from his father, and thus to -make an unspoken protest against the latitude of opinion that had -raised up a party hostile to Ameres. - -Although living so close it was very seldom that he had, after once -leaving the house, again entered it; generally choosing a time when -his father was absent and so paying his visits only to his mother. -Still the news of his sudden death was a great shock, and Ameres sat -without moving for some minutes until a sudden outburst of cries in -the house betokened that the messenger had told his tidings to the -servants, and that these had carried them to their mistress. Ameres at -once went to his wife's apartment and endeavored to console her, but -wholly without success. - -Amense was frantic with grief. Although herself much addicted to the -pleasures of the world, she had the highest respect for religion, and -the ardor of Neco in the discharge of his religious duties had been a -source of pride and gratification to her. Not only was it pleasant to -hear her son spoken of as one of the most rising of the young -priesthood, but she saw that he would make his way rapidly and would -ere long become the recognized successor to his father's office. -Chebron and Mysa bore the news of their brother's death with much more -resignation. For the last three years they had scarcely seen him, and -even when living at home there had been nothing in common between him -and them. They were indeed more awed by the suddenness of his death -than grieved at his loss. - -When he left them Ameres went at once to the house of Neco to make -further inquiries into the matter. There he could learn nothing that -could afford any clew. Neco had been late at the temple and had not -returned until long after the rest of the household were in bed, and -none had seen him before he left in the morning. No sound of a -struggle or cry for help had been heard. His death had apparently been -instantaneous. He had been stabbed in the back by some one who had -probably been lurking close to the door awaiting his coming out. - -The general opinion there and in the temple was that he must have -fallen a victim to a feeling of revenge on the part of some attendant -in the building who on his report had undergone disgrace and -punishment for some fault of carelessness or inattention in the -services or in the care of the sacred animals. As a score of -attendants had at one time or other been so reported by Neco, for -he was constantly on the lookout for small irregularities, it was -impossible to fix the crime on one more than another. - -The magistrates, who arrived soon after Ameres to investigate the -matter, called the whole of those who could be suspected of harboring -ill-will against Neco to be brought before them and questioned as to -their doings during the night. All stoutly asserted that they had been -in bed at the time of the murder, and nothing occurred to throw a -suspicion upon one more than another. As soon as the investigation was -concluded Ameres ordered the corpse to be brought to his own house. - - [Illustration: C. of B. - AMENSE AND MYSA BEWAIL THE DEATH OF NECO.--Page 175.] - -Covered by white cloths it was placed on a sort of sledge. This was -drawn by six of the attendants of the temple; Ameres and Chebron -followed behind, and after them came a procession of priests. When it -arrived at the house, Amense and Mysa, with their hair unbound and -falling around them, received the body--uttering loud cries of -lamentation, in which they were joined by all the women of the house. -It was carried into an inner apartment, and there until evening a loud -wailing was kept up, many female relatives and friends coming in and -joining in the outcry. Late in the evening the body was taken out, -placed upon another sledge, and, followed by the male relatives and -friends and by all the attendants and slaves of the house, was carried -to the establishment of Chigron the embalmer. During the forty days -occupied by the process the strictest mourning was observed in the -house. No meat or wheaten bread was eaten, nor wine served at the -table--even the luxury of the bath was abandoned. All the males shaved -their eyebrows, and sounds of loud lamentation on the part of the -women echoed through the house. - -At the end of that time the mummy was brought back in great state, and -placed in the room which was in all large Egyptian houses set apart -for the reception of the dead. The mummy-case was placed upright -against the wall. Here sacrifices similar to those offered at the -temple were made. Ameres himself and a number of the priests of the -rank of those decorated with leopard skins took part of the services. -Incense and libation were offered. Amense and Mysa were present at the -ceremony, and wailed with their hair in disorder over their shoulders -and dust sprinkled on their heads. Oil was poured over the head of the -mummy, and after the ceremony was over Amense and Mysa embraced the -mummied body, bathing its feet with their tears and uttering -expressions of grief and praises of the deceased. - -In the evening a feast was held in honor of the dead. On this occasion -the signs of grief were laid aside, and the joyful aspect of the -departure of the dead to a happy existence prevailed. A large number -of friends and relatives were present. The guests were anointed and -decked with flowers, as was usual at these parties, and after the meal -the mummy was drawn through the room in token that his spirit was -still present among them. Amense would fain have kept the mummy for -some time in the house, as was often the practice, but Ameres -preferred that the funeral should take place at once. - -Three days later the procession assembled and started from the house. -First came servants bearing tables laden with fruit, cakes, flowers, -vases of ointment, wine, some young geese in a crate for sacrifice, -chairs, wooden tables, napkins, and other things. Then came others -carrying small closets containing the images of the gods; they also -carried daggers, bows, sandals, and fans, and each bore a napkin upon -his shoulder. Then came a table with offerings and a chariot drawn by -a pair of horses, the charioteer driving them as he walked behind the -chariot. Then came the bearers of a sacred boat and the mysterious eye -of Horus, the god of stability. Others carried small images of blue -pottery representing the deceased under the form of Osiris, and the -bird emblematic of the soul. Then eight women of the class of paid -mourners came along beating their breasts, throwing dust upon their -heads, and uttering loud lamentations. Ameres, clad in a leopard skin, -and having in his hands the censer and vase of libation, accompanied -by his attendants bearing the various implements used in the services, -and followed by a number of priests also clad in leopard skins, now -came along. Immediately behind them followed the consecrated boat -placed upon a sledge, and containing the mummy-case in a large -exterior case covered with paintings. It was drawn by four oxen and -seven men. In the boat Amense and Mysa were seated. The sledge was -decked with flowers, and was followed by Chebron and other relatives -and friends of the deceased, beating their breasts and lamenting -loudly. - -When they arrived at the sacred lake, which was a large piece of -artificial water, the coffin was taken from the small boat in which it -had been conveyed and placed in the baris, or consecrated boat of the -dead. This was a gorgeously painted boat with a lofty cabin. Amense, -Mysa, and Chebron took their places here. It was towed by a large boat -with sails and oars. The members of the procession then took their -places in other richly decorated sailing boats, and all crossed the -lake together. The procession was then reformed and went in the same -order to the tomb. Here the mummy-case was placed on the slab prepared -for it, and a sacrifice with libation and incense offered. The door of -the tomb was then closed, but not fastened, as sacrificial services -would be held there periodically for many years. The procession then -returned on foot to the house. - -During all this time no certain clew had been obtained as to the -authors of the murder. Upon going up to the temple on the day of -Neco's death Chebron found all sorts of rumors current. The affair of -the previous night had been greatly magnified, and it was generally -believed that a strong party of men had entered the temple with the -intention of carrying off the sacred vessels, but that they had been -disturbed just as they were going to break into the subterranean -apartments where these were kept, and had then fled to the ladders and -escaped over the wall before a sufficient force could be collected to -detain them. It was generally supposed that this affair was in some -way connected with the death of Neco. Upon Chebron's return with this -news he and Amuba agreed that it was necessary to inform Ameres at -once of their doings on the previous night. After the evening meal -was over Ameres called Chebron into his study. - -"Have you heard aught in the temple, Chebron, as to this strange -affair that took place there last night? I cannot see how it can have -any connection with your brother's death; still, it is strange. Have -you heard who first discovered these thieves last night? Some say that -it was Ptylus, though what he should be doing there at that hour I -know not. Four or five others are named by priests as having aroused -them; but curiously not one of these is in the temple to-day. I have -received a letter from Ptylus saying that he has been suddenly called -to visit some relations living on the seashore near the mouths of the -Nile. The others sent similar excuses. I have sent to their houses, -but all appear to have left at an early hour this morning. This is -most strange, for none notified to me yesterday that they had occasion -to be absent. What can be their motive in thus running away when -naturally they would obtain praise and honor for having saved the -vessels of the temple? Have you heard anything that would seem to -throw any light upon the subject?" - -"I have heard nothing, father; but I can tell you much. I should have -spoken to you the first thing this morning had it not been for the -news about Neco." Chebron then related to Ameres how he and Amuba had -the night before visited the temple, ascended the stairs behind the -image of the god, and overheard a plot to murder some unknown person. - -"This is an extraordinary tale, Chebron," Ameres said when he had -brought his story to a conclusion. "You certainly would have been -slain had you been overtaken. How the door that led to the staircase -came to be open I cannot imagine. The place is only used on very rare -occasions, when it is deemed absolutely necessary that we should -influence in one direction or another the course of events. I can only -suppose that when last used, which is now some months since, the door -must have been carelessly fastened, and that it only now opened of -itself. Still, that is a minor matter, and it is fortunate that it -is you who made the discovery. As to this conspiracy you say you -overheard, it is much more serious. To my mind the sudden absence of -Ptylus and the others would seem to show that they were conscious of -guilt. Their presence in the temple so late was in itself singular; -and, as you say, they cannot know how much of their conversation was -overheard. Against whom their plot was directed I can form no idea; -though, doubtless, it was a personage of high importance." - -"You do not think, father," Chebron said hesitatingly, "that the plot -could have been to murder Neco? This is what Amuba and I thought when -we talked it over this afternoon." - -"I do not think so," Ameres said after a pause. "It is hardly likely -that four or five persons would plot together to carry out the murder -of one in his position; it must be some one of far greater importance. -Neco may not have been liked, but he was certainly held in esteem by -all the priests in the temple." - -"You see, father," Chebron said, "that Ptylus is an ambitious man, and -may have hoped at some time or other to become high priest. Neco would -have stood in his way, for, as the office is hereditary, if the eldest -son is fitted to undertake it, Neco would almost certainly be -selected." - -"That is true, Chebron, but I have no reason to credit Ptylus with -such wickedness; beside, he would hardly take other people into his -confidence did he entertain such a scheme. Moreover, knowing that -they were overheard last night, although they cannot tell how much may -have been gathered by the listener, they would assuredly not have -carried the plan into execution; besides which, as you say, no plan -was arrived at, and after the whole temple was disturbed they would -hardly have met afterward and arranged this fresh scheme of murder. -No. If Neco was killed by them, it must have been that they suspected -that he was one of those who overheard them. His figure is not unlike -yours. They may probably have obtained a glimpse of you on the walls, -and have noticed your priest's attire. He was in the temple late, and -probably left just before you were discovered. Believing, then, that -they were overheard, and thinking that one of the listeners was Neco, -they decided for their own safety to remove him. Of course it is mere -assumption that Ptylus was one of those you overheard last night. His -absence to-day is the only thing we have against him, and that alone -is wholly insufficient to enable us to move in the matter. The whole -affair is a terrible mystery; be assured I will do my best to unravel -it. At present, in any case, we can do nothing. Ptylus and the four -priests who are absent will doubtless return when they find that no -accusation is laid against them. They will suppose that the other -person who overheard them, whoever he was, is either afraid to come -forward, or perhaps heard only a few words and is ignorant of the -identity of the speakers. Indeed, he would be a bold man who would -venture to prefer so terrible an accusation against five of the -priests of the temple. I do not blame you in the matter, for you could -not have foreseen the events that have happened. It was the will of -the gods that you should have learned what you have learned; perhaps -they intend some day that you shall be their instrument for bringing -the guilty to justice. As to the conspiracy, no doubt, as you say, the -plot, against whomsoever it was directed, will be abandoned, for they -will never be sure as to how much is known of what passed between -them, and whether those who overheard them may not be waiting for the -commission of the crown to denounce them. In the meantime you will on -no account renew your visit to the temple or enter it at any time, -except when called upon to do so by your duties." - -The very day after Neco's funeral Mysa and her mother were thrown into -a flutter of excitement by a message which arrived from Bubastes. Some -months before the sacred cat of the great temple there--a cat held in -as high honor in Lower Egypt as the bull Apis in the Thebaid--had -fallen sick, and, in spite of the care and attendance lavished upon -it, had died. The task of finding its successor was an important and -arduous one, and, like the bull of Apis, it was necessary not only -that the cat should be distinguished for its size and beauty, but that -it should bear certain markings. Without these particular markings no -cat could be elevated to the sacred post, even if it remained vacant -for years; therefore as soon as the cat was dead a party of priests -set out from Bubastes to visit all the cities of Egypt in search of -its successor. - -The whole country was agitated with the question of the sacred cat, -and at each town they visited lists were brought to the priests of all -the cats which, from size, shape, and color, could be considered as -candidates for the office. As soon as one of the parties of the -priests had reached Thebes Amense had sent to them a description of -Mysa's great cat Paucis. Hitherto Amense had evinced no interest -whatever in her daughter's pets, seldom going out into the garden, -except to sit under the shade of the trees near the fountain for a -short time in the afternoon when the sun had lost its power. - -In Paucis, indeed, she had taken some slight interest; because, in -the first place, it was only becoming that the mistress of the house -should busy herself as to the welfare of animals deemed so sacred; -and in the second, because all who saw Paucis agreed that it was -remarkable alike in size and beauty, and the presence of such a -creature in the house was in itself a source of pride and dignity. -Thus, then, she lost no time in sending a message to the priests -inviting them to call and visit her and inspect the cat. Although, as -a rule, the competitors for the post of sacred cat of Bubastes were -brought in baskets by their owners for inspection, the priests were -willing enough to pay a visit in person to the wife of so important a -man as the high priest of Osiris. - -Amense received them with much honor, presented Mysa to them as the -owner of the cat, and herself accompanied the priests in their visit -to the home of Mysa's pets. Their report was most favorable. They had, -since they left Bubastes, seen no cat approaching Paucis in size and -beauty, and although her markings were not precisely correct, they yet -approximated very closely to the standard. They could say no more than -this, because the decision could not be made until the return of all -the parties of searchers to Bubastes. Their reports would then be -compared, and unless any one animal appeared exactly to suit all -requirements, a visit would be made by the high priest of the temple -himself to three or four of the cats most highly reported upon. If he -found one of them worthy of the honor, it would be selected for the -vacant position. - -If none of them came up to the lofty standard the post would remain -unfilled for a year or two, when it might be hoped that among the -rising generation of cats a worthy successor to the departed one might -be found. For themselves, they must continue their search in Thebes -and its neighborhood, as all claimants must be examined; but they -assured Amense that they thought it most improbable that a cat equal -to Paucis would be found. - -Some months had passed, and it was not until a week after the funeral -of Neco that a message arrived, saying that the report concerning -Paucis by the priests who had visited Thebes was so much more -favorable than that given by any of the other searchers of the animals -they had seen, that it had been decided by the high priest that it -alone was worthy of the honor. - -The messenger stated that in the course of a fortnight a deputation -consisting of the high priest and several leading functionaries of the -temple, with a retinue of the lower clergy and attendants, would set -out from Bubastes by water in order to receive the sacred cat, and to -conduct her with all due ceremony to the shrine of Bubastes. Mysa was -delighted at the honor which had befallen her cat. Privately she was -less fond of Paucis than of some of the less stately cats; for Paucis, -from the time it grew up, had none of the playfulness of the tribe, -but deported itself with a placid dignity which would do honor to its -new position, but which rendered it less amusing to Mysa than its -humbler but more active companions. - -Amense was vastly gratified at the news. It was considered the highest -honor that could befall an Egyptian for one of his animals to be -chosen to fill the chief post in one of the temples, and next in -dignity to Apis himself was the sacred cat of the great goddess known -as Baste, Bubastes, or Pasht. - -As soon as the news was known, all the friends and acquaintances of -the family flocked in to offer their congratulations; and so many -visits were paid to Mysa's inclosure that even the tranquility of -Paucis was disturbed by the succession of admirers, and Amense, -declaring that she felt herself responsible for the animal being in -perfect health when the priests arrived for it, permitted only the -callers whom she particularly desired to honor to pay a visit of -inspection to it. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE CAT OF BUBASTES. - - -For several days, upon paying their morning visit to the birds and -other pets in the inclosure in the garden, Chebron and Mysa had -observed an unusual timidity among them. The wildfowl, instead of -advancing to meet them with demonstrations of welcome, remained close -among the reeds, and even the ibis did not respond at once to their -call. - -"They must have been alarmed at something," Chebron said the third -morning. "Some bird of prey must have been swooping down upon them. -See here, there are several feathers scattered about, and some of them -are stained with blood. Look at that pretty drake that was brought to -us by the merchants in trade with the far East. Its mate is missing. -It may be a hawk or some creature of the weasel tribe. At any rate, we -must try to put a stop to it. This is the third morning that we have -noticed the change in the behavior of the birds. Doubtless three of -them have been carried off. Amuba and I will watch to-morrow with our -bows and arrows and see if we cannot put an end to the marauder. If -this goes on we shall lose all our pets." - -Upon the following morning Chebron and Amuba went down to the -inclosure soon after daybreak, and concealing themselves in some -shrubs waited for the appearance of the intruder. The ducks were -splashing about in the pond, evidently forgetful of their fright of -the day before; and as soon as the sun was up the dogs came out of -their house and threw themselves down on a spot where his rays could -fall upon them, while the cats sat and cleaned themselves on a ledge -behind a lattice, for they were only allowed to run about in the -inclosure when some one was there to prevent their interference with -birds. - -For an hour there was no sign of an enemy. Then one of the birds gave -a sudden cry of alarm, and there was a sudden flutter as all rushed to -shelter among the reeds; but before the last could get within cover a -dark object shot down from above. There was a frightened cry and a -violent flapping as a large hawk suddenly seized one of the waterfowl -and struck it to the ground. In an instant the watchers rose to their -feet, and as the hawk rose with its prey in its talons they shot their -arrows almost simultaneously. Amuba's arrow struck the hawk between -the wings, and the creature fell dead still clutching its prey. -Chebron's arrow was equally well aimed, but it struck a twig which -deflected its course and it flew wide of the mark. - -Amuba gave a shout of triumph and leaped out from among the bushes. -But he paused and turned as an exclamation of alarm broke from -Chebron. To his astonishment, he saw a look of horror on his -companion's face. His bow was still outstretched, and he stood as if -petrified. - -"What's the matter, Chebron?" Amuba exclaimed. "What has happened? Has -a deadly snake bit you? What is it, Chebron?" - -"Do you not see?" Chebron said in a low voice. - -"I see nothing," Amuba replied, looking round, and at the same time -putting another arrow into his bowstring ready to repel the attack of -some dangerous creature. "Where is it? I can see nothing." - -"My arrow; it glanced off a twig and entered there; I saw one of the -cats fall. I must have killed it." - -Two years before Amuba would have laughed at the horror which -Chebron's face expressed at the accident of shooting a cat, but he had -been long enough in Egypt to know how serious were the consequences of -such an act. Better by far that Chebron's arrow had lodged in the -heart of a man. In that case an explanation of the manner in which the -accident had occurred, a compensation to the relatives of the slain, -and an expiatory offering at one of the temples would have been deemed -sufficient to purge him from the offense; but to kill a cat, even by -accident, was the most unpardonable offense an Egyptian could commit, -and the offender would assuredly be torn to pieces by the mob. Knowing -this, he realized at once the terrible import of Chebron's words. - -For a moment he felt almost as much stunned as Chebron himself, but he -quickly recovered his presence of mind. - -"There is only one thing to be done, Chebron; we must dig a hole and -bury it at once. I will run and fetch a hoe." - -Throwing down his bow and arrows he ran to the little shed at the -other end of the garden where the implements were kept, bidding a -careless good-morning to the men who were already at work there. He -soon rejoined Chebron, who had not moved from the spot from which he -had shot the unlucky arrow. - -"Do you think this is best, Amuba? Don't you think I had better go and -tell my father?" - -"I do not think so, Chebron. Upon any other matter it would be right -at once to confer with him, but as high priest it would be a fearful -burden to place upon his shoulders. It would be his duty at once to -denounce you; and did he keep it secret, and the matter be ever found -out, it would involve him in our danger. Let us therefore bear the -brunt of it by ourselves." - -"I dare not go in," Chebron said in awestruck tones. "It is too -terrible." - -"Oh, I will manage that," Amuba said lightly. "You know to me a cat is -a cat and nothing more, and I would just as soon bury one as that -rascally hawk which has been the cause of all this mischief." - -So saying he crossed the open space, and entering a thick bush beyond -the cat house, dug a deep hole; then he went into the house. Although -having no belief whatever in the sacredness of one animal more than -another, he had yet been long enough among the Egyptians to feel a -sensation akin to awe as he entered and saw lying upon the ground the -largest of the cats pierced through by Chebron's arrow. - -Drawing out the shaft he lifted the animal, and putting it under his -garment went out again, and entering the bushes buried it in the hole -he had dug. He leveled the soil carefully over it, and scattered a few -dead leaves on the top. - -"There, no one would notice that," he said to himself when he had -finished; "but it's awfully unlucky it's that cat of all others." - -Then he went in, carefully erased the marks of blood upon the floor, -and brought out the shaft, took it down to the pond and carefully -washed the blood from it, and then returned to Chebron. - -"Is it--" the latter asked as he approached. He did not say more, but -Amuba understood him. - -"I am sorry to say it is," he replied. "It is horribly unlucky, for -one of the others might not have been missed. There is no hoping that -now." - -Chebron seemed paralyzed at the news. - -"Come, Chebron," Amuba said, "it will not do to give way to fear; we -must brave it out. I will leave the door of the cat house open, and -when it is missed it will be thought that it has escaped and wandered -away. At any rate, there is no reason why suspicion should fall upon -us if we do but put a bold face upon the matter; but we must not let -our looks betray us. If the worst comes to the worst and we find that -suspicions are entertained, we must get out of the way. But there will -be plenty of time to think of that; all that you have got to do now is -to try and look as if nothing had happened." - -"But how can I?" Chebron said in broken tones. "To you, as you say, it -is only a cat; to me it is a creature sacred above all others that I -have slain. It is ten thousand times worse than if I had killed a -man." - -"A cat is a cat," Amuba repeated. "I can understand what you feel -about it, though to my mind it is ridiculous. There are thousands of -cats in Thebes; let them choose another one for the temple. But I -grant the danger of what has happened, and I know that if it is found -out there is no hope for us." - -"You had nothing to do with it," Chebron said; "there is no reason why -you should take all this risk with me." - -"We were both in the matter, Chebron, and that twig might just as well -have turned my arrow from its course as yours. We went to kill a hawk -together and we have shot a cat, and it is a terrible business, there -is no doubt; and it makes no difference whatever whether I think the -cat was only a cat if the people of Thebes considered it is a god. If -it is found out it is certain death, and we shall need all our wits to -save our lives; but unless you pluck up courage and look a little more -like yourself, we may as well go at once and say what has happened -and take the consequences. Only if you don't value your life I do -mine; so if you mean to let your looks betray us, say so, and stop -here for a few hours till I get a good start." - -"I will tell my father," Chebron said suddenly, "and abide by what he -says. If he thinks it his duty to denounce me, so be it; in that case -you will run no risk." - -"But I don't mind running the risk, Chebron; I am quite ready to share -the peril with you." - -"No; I will tell my father," Chebron repeated, "and abide by what he -says. I am sure I can never face this out by myself, and that my looks -will betray us. I have committed the most terrible crime an Egyptian -can commit, and I dare not keep such a secret to myself." - -"Very well, Chebron, I will not try to dissuade you, and I will go and -see Jethro. Of course to him as to me the shooting of a cat is a -matter not worth a second thought; but he will understand the -consequences, and if we fly will accompany us. You do not mind my -speaking to him? You could trust your life to him as to me." - -Chebron nodded, and moved away toward the house. - -"For pity sake, Chebron!" Amuba exclaimed, "do not walk like that. If -the men at work get sight of you they cannot but see that something -strange has happened, and it will be recalled against you when the -creature is missed." - -Chebron made an effort to walk with his usual gait. Amuba stood -watching him for a minute, and then turned away with a gesture of -impatience. - -"Chebron is clever and learned in many things, and I do not think that -he lacks courage; but these Egyptians seem to have no iron in their -composition when a pinch comes. Chebron walks as if all his bones had -turned to jelly. Of course he is in a horrible scrape; still, if he -would but face it out with sense and pluck it would be easier for us -all. However, I do not think that it is more the idea that he has -committed an act of horrible sacrilege than the fear of death that -weighs him down. If it were not so serious a matter one could almost -laugh at any one being crushed to the earth because he had -accidentally killed a cat." - -Upon entering the house Chebron made his way to the room where his -father was engaged in study. Dropping the heavy curtains over the door -behind him he advanced a few paces, then fell on his knees, and -touched the ground with his forehead. - -"Chebron!" Ameres exclaimed, laying down the roll of papyrus on which -he was engaged and rising to his feet. "What is it, my son? Why do you -thus kneel before me in an attitude of supplication? Rise and tell me -what has happened." - -Chebron raised his head, but still continued on his knees. Ameres was -startled at the expression of his son's face. The look of health and -life had gone from it, the color beneath the bronze skin had faded -away, drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, his lips were -parched and drawn. - -"What is it, my son?" Ameres repeated, now thoroughly alarmed. - -"I have forfeited my life, father! Worse, I have offended the gods -beyond forgiveness! This morning I went with Amuba with our bows and -arrows to shoot a hawk which has for some time been slaying the -waterfowl. It came down and we shot together. Amuba killed the hawk, -but my arrow struck a tree and flew wide of the mark, and entering the -cats' house killed Paucis, who was chosen only two days to take the -place of the sacred cat in the temple of Bubastes." - -An exclamation of horror broke from the high priest, and he recoiled a -pace from his son. - -"Unhappy boy," he said, "your life is indeed forfeited. The king -himself could not save his son from the fury of the populace had he -perpetrated such a deed." - -"It is not my life I am thinking of, father," Chebron said, "but first -of the horrible sacrilege, and then that I alone cannot bear the -consequences, but that some of these must fall upon you and my mother -and sister; for even to be related to one who has committed such a -crime is a terrible disgrace." - -Ameres walked up and down the room several times before he spoke. - -"As to our share of the consequences, Chebron, we must bear it as best -we can," he said at last in a calmer tone than he had before used; "it -is of you we must first think. It is a terrible affair; and yet, as -you say, it was but an accident, and you are guiltless of any -intentional sacrilege. But that plea will be as nothing. Death is the -punishment for slaying a cat; and the one you have slain having been -chosen to succeed the cat of Bubastes is of all others the one most -sacred. The question is, What is to be done? You must fly and that -instantly, though I fear that flight will be vain; for as soon as the -news is known it will spread from one end of Egypt to the other, and -every man's hand will be against you, and even by this time the -discovery may have been made." - -"That will hardly be, father; for Amuba has buried the cat among the -bushes, and has left the door of the house open so that it may be -supposed for a time that it has wandered away. He proposed to me to -fly with him at once; for he declares that he is determined to share -my fate since we were both concerned in the attempt to kill the hawk. -But in that of course he is wrong; for it is I, not he, who has done -this thing." - -"Amuba has done rightly," Ameres said. "We have at least time to -reflect." - -"But I do not want to fly, father. Of what good will life be to me -with this awful sin upon my head? I wonder that you suffer me to -remain a moment in your presence--that you do not cast me out as a -wretch who has mortally offended the gods." - -Ameres waved his hand impatiently. - -"That is not troubling me now, Chebron. I do not view things in the -same way as most men, and should it be that you have to fly for your -life I will tell you more; suffice for you that I do not blame you, -still less regard you with horror. The great thing for us to think of -at present is as to the best steps to be taken. Were you to fly now -you might get several days' start, and might even get out of the -country before an alarm was spread; but upon the other hand, your -disappearance would at once be connected with that of the cat as soon -as it became known that she is missing, whereas if you stay here -quietly it is possible that no one will connect you in any way with -the fact that the cat is gone. - -"That something has happened to it will speedily be guessed, for a cat -does not stray away far from the place where it has been bred up; -besides, a cat of such a size and appearance is remarkable, and were -it anywhere in the neighborhood it would speedily be noticed. But now -go and join Amuba in your room, and remain there for the morning as -usual. I will give orders that your instructor be told that you will -not want him to-day, as you are not well. I will see you presently -when I have thought the matter fully out and determined what had best -be done. Keep up a brave heart, my boy; the danger may yet pass over." - -Chebron retired overwhelmed with surprise at the kindness with which -his father had spoken to him, when he had expected that he would be so -filled with horror at the terrible act of sacrilege that he would not -have suffered him to remain in the house for a moment after the tale -was told. And yet he had seemed to think chiefly of the danger to his -life, and to be but little affected by what to Chebron himself was by -far the most terrible part of the affair--the religious aspect of the -deed. On entering the room where he pursued his studies he found -Jethro as well as Amuba there. - -"I am sorry for you, young master," Jethro said as he entered. "Of -course to me the idea of any fuss being made over the accidental -killing of a cat is ridiculous; but I know how you view it, and the -danger in which it has placed you. I only came in here with Amuba to -say that you can rely upon me, and that if you decide on flight I am -ready at once to accompany you." - -"Thanks, Jethro," Chebron replied. "Should I fly it will indeed be a -comfort to have you with me as well as Amuba, who has already promised -to go with me; but at present nothing is determined. I have seen my -father and told him everything, and he will decide for me." - -"Then he will not denounce you," Amuba said. "I thought that he would -not." - -"No; and he has spoken so kindly that I am amazed. It did not seem -possible to me that an Egyptian would have heard of such a dreadful -occurrence without feeling horror and destation of the person who did -it, even were he his own son. Still more would one expect it from a -man who, like my father, is a high priest to the gods." - -"Your father is a wise as well as a learned man," Jethro said: "and -he knows that the gods cannot be altogether offended at an affair for -which fate and not the slayer is responsible. The real slayer of the -cat is the twig which turned the arrow, and I do not see that you are -any more to blame, or anything like so much to blame, as is the hawk -at whom you shot." - -This, however, was no consolation to Chebron, who threw himself down -on a couch in a state of complete prostration. It seemed to him that -even could this terrible thing be hidden he must denounce himself and -bear the penalty. How could he exist with the knowledge that he was -under the ban of the gods? His life would be a curse rather than a -gift under such circumstances. Physically, Chebron was not a coward, -but he had not the toughness of mental fibre which enables some men to -bear almost unmoved misfortunes which would crush others to the -ground. As to the comforting assurances of Amuba and Jethro, they -failed to give him the slightest consolation. He loved Amuba as a -brother, and in all other matters his opinion would have weighed -greatly with him; but Amuba knew nothing of the gods of Egypt, and -could not feel in the slightest the terrible nature of the act of -sacrilege, and therefore on this point his opinion could have no -weight. - -"Jethro," Amuba said, "you told me you were going to escort Mysa one -day or other to the very top of the hills, in order that she could -thence look down upon the whole city. Put it into her head to go this -morning, or at least persuade her to go into the city. If she goes -into the garden she will at once notice that the cat is lost; whereas -if you can keep her away for the day it will give us so much more -time." - -"But if Ameres decides that you had best fly, I might on my return -find that you have both gone." - -"Should he do so, Jethro, he will tell you the route we have taken, -and arrange for some point at which you can join us. He would -certainly wish you to go with us, for he would know that your -experience and strong arm would be above all things needful." - -"Then I will go at once," Jethro agreed. "There are two or three -excursions she has been wanting to make, and I think I can promise -that she shall go on one of them to-day. If she says anything about -wanting to go to see her pets before starting, I can say that you have -both been there this morning and seen after them." - -"I do not mean to fly," Chebron said, starting up, "unless it be that -my father commands me to do so. Rather a thousand worlds I stay here -and meet my fate!" - -Jethro would have spoken, but Amuba signed to him to go at once, and -crossing the room took Chebron's hand. It was hot and feverish, and -there was a patch of color in his cheek. - -"Do not let us talk about it, Chebron," he said. "You have put the -matter in your father's hands, and you may be sure that he will decide -wisely; therefore the burden is off your shoulders for the present. -You could have no better counselor in all Egypt, and the fact that he -holds so high and sacred an office will add to the weight of his -words. If he believes that your crime against the gods is so great -that you have no hope of happiness in life, he will tell you so; if he -considers that, as it seems to me, the gods cannot resent an accident -as they might do a crime against them done willfully, and that you may -hope by a life of piety to win their forgiveness, then he will bid you -fly. - -"He is learned in the deepest of the mysteries of your religion, and -will view matters in a different light to that in which they are -looked at by the ignorant rabble. At any rate, as the matter is in -his hands, it is useless for you to excite yourself. As far as -personal danger goes, I am willing to share it with you, to take half -the fault of this unfortunate accident, and to avow that as we were -engaged together in the act that led to it we are equally culpable of -the crime. - -"Unfortunately, I cannot share your greater trouble--your feeling of -horror at what you regard as sacrilege; for we Rebu hold the life of -one animal no more sacred than the life of another, and have no more -hesitation in shooting a cat than a deer. Surely your gods cannot be -so powerful in Egypt and impotent elsewhere; and yet if they are as -powerful, how is it that their vengeance has not fallen upon other -peoples who slay without hesitation the animals so dear to them?" - -"That is what I have often wondered," Chebron said, falling readily -into the snare, for he and Amuba had had many conversations on such -subjects, and points were constantly presenting themselves which he -was unable to solve. - -An hour later, when a servant entered and told Chebron and Amuba that -Ameres wished to speak to them, the former had recovered to some -extent from the nervous excitement under which he had first suffered. -The two lads bowed respectfully to the high priest, and then standing -submissively before him waited for him to address them. - -"I have sent for you both," he said after a pause, "because it seems -to me that although Amuba was not himself concerned in this sad -business, it is probable that as he was engaged with you at the time -the popular fury might not nicely discriminate between you." He paused -as if expecting a reply, and Amuba said quietly: - -"That is what I have been saying to Chebron, my lord. I consider -myself fully as guilty as he is. It was a mere accident that his arrow -and not mine was turned aside from the mark we aimed at, and I am -ready to share his lot, whether you decide that the truth shall be -published at once, or whether we should attempt to fly." Ameres bowed -his head gravely, and then looked at his son. - -"I, father, although I am ready to yield my wishes to your will, and -to obey you in this as in all other matters, would beseech you to -allow me to denounce myself and to bear my fate. I feel that I would -infinitely rather die than live with this terrible weight and guilt -upon my head." - -"I expected as much of you, Chebron, and applaud your decision," -Ameres said gravely. - -Chebron's face brightened, while that of Amuba fell. Ameres, after a -pause, went on: - -"Did I think as you do, Chebron, that the accidental killing of a cat -is a deadly offense against the gods, I should say denounce yourself -at once, but I do not so consider it." - -Chebron gazed at his father as if he could scarce credit his sense of -hearing, while even Amuba looked surprised. - -"You have frequently asked me questions, Chebron, which I have either -turned aside or refused to answer. It was, indeed, from seeing that -you had inherited from me the spirit of inquiry that I deemed it best -that you should not ascend to the highest order of the priesthood; for -if so, the knowledge you would acquire would render you, as it has -rendered me, dissatisfied with the state of things around you. Had it -not been for this most unfortunate accident I should never have spoken -to you further on the subject, but as it is I feel that it is my duty -to tell you more. - -"I have had a hard struggle with myself, and have, since you left me, -thought over from every point of view what I ought to do. On the one -hand, I should have to tell you things known only to an inner circle, -things which were it known I had whispered to any one my life would be -forfeited. On the other hand, if I keep silent I should doom you to a -life of misery. I have resolved to take the former alternative. I may -first tell you what you do not know, that I have long been viewed with -suspicion by those of the higher priesthood who know my views, which -are that the knowledge we possess should not be confined to ourselves, -but should be disseminated, at least among that class of educated -Egyptians capable of appreciating it. - -"What I am about to tell you is not, as a whole, fully understood -perhaps by any. It is the outcome of my own reflections, founded upon -the light thrown upon things by the knowledge I have gained. You asked -me one day, Chebron, how we knew about the gods--how they first -revealed themselves, seeing that they are not things that belong to -the world? I replied to you at the time that these things are -mysteries--a convenient answer with which we close the mouths of -questioners. - -"Listen now and I will tell you how religion first began upon earth, -not only in Egypt, but in all lands. Man felt his own powerlessness. -Looking at the operations of nature--the course of the heavenly -bodies, the issues of birth and life and death--he concluded, and -rightly, that there was a God over all things, but this God was too -mighty for his imagination to grasp. - -"He was everywhere and nowhere, he animated all things, and yet was -nowhere to be found; he gave fertility and he caused famine, he gave -life and he gave death, he gave light and heat, he sent storms and -tempests. He was too infinite and too various for the untutored mind -of the early man to comprehend, and so they tried to approach him -piecemeal. They worshiped him as the sun, the giver of heat and life -and fertility; they worshiped him as a destructive god, they invoked -his aid as a beneficent being, they offered sacrifices to appease his -wrath as a terrible one. And so in time they came to regard all these -attributes of his--all his sides and lights under which they viewed -him--as being distinct and different, and instead of all being the -qualities of one God as being each the quality or attribute of -separate gods. - -"So there came to be a god of life and a god of death, one who sends -fertility and one who causes famine. All sorts of inanimate objects -were defined as possessing some fancied attribute either for good or -evil, and the one Almighty God became hidden and lost in the crowd of -minor deities. In some nations the fancies of man went one way, in -another another. The lower the intelligence of the people the lower -their gods. In some countries serpents are sacred, doubtless because -originally they were considered to typify at once the subtleness and -the destructive power of a god. In others trees are worshiped. There -are peoples who make the sun their god. Others the moon. Our -forefathers in Egypt being a wiser people than the savages around -them, worshiped the attributes of gods under many different names. -First, eight great deities were chosen to typify the chief -characteristics of the Mighty One. Chnoumis, or Neuf, typified the -idea of the spirit of God--that spirit which pervades all creation. -Ameura, the intellect of God. Osiris, the goodness of God. Ptah -typified at once the working power and the truthfulness of God. Khem -represents the productive power--the god who presides over the -multiplication of all species: man, beast, fish, and vegetable--and so -with the rest of the great gods and of the minor divinities, which are -reckoned by the score. - -"In time certain animals, birds, and other creatures whose qualities -are considered to resemble one or other of the deities are in the -first place regarded as typical of them, then are held as sacred to -them, then in some sort of way become mixed up with the gods and to be -held almost as the gods themselves. This is, I think, the history of -the religions of all countries. The highest intelligences, the men of -education and learning, never quite lose sight of the original truths, -and recognize that the gods represent only the various attributes of -the one Almighty God. The rest of the population lose sight of the -truth, and really worship as gods these various creations, that are -really but types and shadows. - -"It is perhaps necessary that it should be so. It is easier for the -grosser and more ignorant classes to worship things that they can see -and understand, to strive to please those whose statues and temples -they behold, to fear to draw upon themselves the vengeance of those -represented to them as destructive powers, than to worship an -inconceivable God, without form or shape, so mighty the imagination -cannot picture him, so beneficent, so all-providing, so equable and -serene that the human mind cannot grasp even a notion of him. Man is -material, and must worship the material in a form in which he thinks -he can comprehend it, and so he creates gods for himself with figures, -likenesses, passions, and feelings like those of the many animals he -sees around him. - -"The Israelite maid whom we brought hither, and with whom I have -frequently conversed, tells me that her people before coming to this -land worshiped but one God like unto him of whom I have told you, save -that they belittled him by deeming that he was their own special God, -caring for them above all peoples of the earth; but in all other -respects he corresponded with the Almighty One whom we who have gained -glimpses of the truth which existed ere the Pantheon of Egypt came -into existence, worship in our hearts, and it seems to me as if this -little handful of men who came to Egypt hundreds of years ago were the -only people in the world who kept the worship of the one God clear and -undefiled." - -Chebron and Amuba listened in awestruck silence to the words of the -high priest. Amuba's face lit up with pleasure and enthusiasm as he -listened to words which seemed to clear away all the doubts and -difficulties that had been in his mind. To Chebron the revelation, -though a joyful one, came as a great shock. His mind, too, had long -been unsatisfied. He had wondered and questioned, but the destruction -at one blow of all the teachings of his youth, of all he had held -sacred, came at first as a terrible shock. Neither spoke when the -priest concluded, and after a pause he resumed. - -"You will understand, Chebron, that what I have told you is not in its -entirety held even by the most enlightened, and that the sketch I have -given you of the formation of all religions is, in fact, the idea -which I myself have formed as the result of all I have learned, both -as one initiated in all the learning of the ancient Egyptians and from -my own studies both of our oldest records and the traditions of all -the peoples with whom Egypt has come in contact. But that all our gods -merely represent attributes of the one deity, and have no personal -existence as represented in our temples, is acknowledged more or less -completely by all those most deeply initiated in the mysteries of our -religion. - -"When we offer sacrifices we offer them not to the images behind our -altar, but to God the creator, God the preserver, God the fertilizer, -to God the ruler, to God the omnipotent over good and evil. Thus, you -see, there is no mockery in our services, although to us they bear an -inner meaning not understood by others. They worship a personality -endowed with principle; we the principle itself. They see in the -mystic figure the representation of a deity; we see in it the type of -an attribute of a higher deity. - -"You may think that in telling you all this I have told you things -which should be told only to those whose privilege it is to have -learned the inner mysteries of their religion; that maybe I am -untrue to my vows. These, lads, are matters for my own conscience. -Personally, I have long been impressed with the conviction that it -were better that the circles of initiates should be very widely -extended, and that all capable by education and intellect of -appreciating the mightiness of the truth should no longer be left in -darkness. I have been overruled, and should never have spoken had not -this accident taken place; but when I see that the whole happiness of -your life is at stake, that should the secret ever be discovered you -will either be put to death despairing and hopeless, or have to fly -and live despairing and hopeless in some foreign country, I have -considered that the balance of duty lay on the side of lightening your -mind by a revelation of what was within my own. And it is not, as I -have told you, so much the outcome of the teaching I have received as -of my own studies and a conviction I have arrived at as to the nature -of God. Thus, then, my son, you can lay side the horror which you have -felt at the thought that by the accidental slaying of a cat you -offended the gods beyond forgiveness. The cat is but typical of the -qualities attributed to Baste. Baste herself is but typical of one of -the qualities of the One God." - -"Oh, my father!" Chebron exclaimed, throwing himself on his knees -beside Ameres and kissing his hand, "how good you are. What a weight -have you lifted from my mind! What a wonderful future have you opened -to me if I escape the danger that threatens me now! If I have to die I -can do so like one who fears not the future after death. If I live I -shall no longer be oppressed with the doubts and difficulties which -have so long weighed upon me. Though till now you have given me no -glimpse of the great truth, I have at times felt not only that the -answers you gave me failed to satisfy me, but it seemed to me also -that you yourself with all your learning and wisdom were yet unable to -set me right in these matters as you did in all others upon which I -questioned you. My father, you have given me life, and more than -life--you have given me a power over fate. I am ready now to fly, -should you think it best, or to remain here and risk whatever may -happen." - -"I do not think you should fly, Chebron. In the first place, flight -would be an acknowledgment of guilt; in the second, I do not see where -you could fly. To-morrow, at latest, the fact that the creature is -missing will be discovered, and as soon as it was known that you had -gone a hot pursuit would be set up. If you went straight down to the -sea you would probably be overtaken long before you got there; and -even did you reach a port before your pursuers you might have to wait -days before a ship sailed. - -"Then, again, did you hide in any secluded neighborhood, you would -surely be found sooner or later, for the news will go from end to end -of Egypt, and it will be everyone's duty to search for and denounce -you. Messengers will be sent to all countries under Egyptian -government, and even if you passed our frontiers by land or sea your -peril would be as great as it is here. Lastly, did you surmount all -these difficulties and reach some land beyond the sway of Egypt, you -would be an exile for life. Therefore I say that flight is your last -resource, to be undertaken only if a discovery is made; but we may -hope that no evil fortune will lead the searchers to the conclusion -that the cat was killed here. - -"When it is missed there will be search high and low in which every -one will join. When the conclusion is at last arrived at that it has -irrecoverably disappeared all sorts of hypotheses will be started to -account for it; some will think that it probably wandered to the hills -and became the prey of hyenas or other wild beasts; some will assert -that it has been killed and hidden away; others that it has made its -way down to the Nile and has been carried off by a crocodile. Thus -there is no reason why suspicion should fall upon you more than upon -others, but you will have to play your part carefully." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -DANGERS THICKEN. - - -When Chebron and Amuba returned to the room set apart for their use -and study their conversation did not turn upon the slaying of the cat -or the danger which threatened them, but upon the wonderful revelation -that Ameres had made. Neither of them thought for a moment of doubting -his words. Their feeling of reverence for his wisdom and learning -would have been sufficient in itself for them to accept without a -question any statement that he made to them. But there was in addition -their own inward conviction of the truth of his theory. It appealed at -once to their heads and hearts. It satisfied all their longing and -annihilated their doubts and difficulties; cleared away at once the -pantheon of strange and fantastic figures that had been a source of -doubting amusement to Amuba, of bewilderment to Chebron. - -"The Israelite maid Ruth was right, then," Amuba said. "You know that -she told us that her forefathers who came down into Egypt believed -that there was one God only, and that all the others were false gods. -She said that he could not be seen or pictured; that he was God of all -the heavens, and so infinite that the mind of man could form no idea -of him. Everything she said of him seems to be true, except inasmuch -as she said he cared more for her ancestors than for other men; but of -course each nation and people would think that." - -"It is wonderful," Chebron replied as he paced restlessly up and down -the room. "Now that I know the truth it seems impossible I could have -really believed that all the strange images of our temples really -represented gods. It worried me to think of them. I could not see how -they could be, and yet I never doubted their existence. It seems to me -now that all the people of Egypt are living in a sort of nightmare. -Why do those who know so much suffer them to remain in such darkness?" - -"I understood your father to say, Chebron, that he himself is only in -favor of the more enlightened and educated people obtaining a glimpse -of the truth. I think I can understand that. Were all the lower class -informed that the gods they worshiped were merely shadows of a great -God and not real living deities, they would either fall upon and rend -those who told them so as impious liars, or, if they could be made to -believe it, they would no longer hold to any religion, and in their -rage might tear down the temples, abolish the order of priesthood -altogether, spread tumult and havoc through the land, rebel against -all authority, destroy with one blow all the power and glory of -Egypt." - -"That is true," Chebron said thoughtfully. "No doubt the ignorant mass -of the people require something material to worship. They need to -believe in gods who will punish impiety and wrong and reward -well-doing; and the religion of Egypt, as they believe it, is better -suited to their daily wants than the worship of a deity so mighty and -great and good that their intellect would fail altogether to grasp -him." - -Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of Ruth. - -"Paucis is missing. When we came back from our walk we went out to the -animals, and the door of the house is open and the cat has gone. Mysa -says will you come at once and help look for it? I was to send all the -women who can be spared from the house to join in the search." - -Work was instantly abandoned, for all knew that Paucis had been chosen -to be the sacred cat at Bubastes; but even had it been one of the -others, the news that it was missing would have caused a general -excitement. So esteemed were even the most common animals of the cat -tribe that, if a cat happened to die in a house, the inhabitants went -into mourning and shaved their eyebrows in token of their grief; the -embalmers were sent for, the dead cat made into a mummy, and conveyed -with much solemnity to the great catacombs set aside for the burial of -the sacred animals. Thus the news that Paucis was missing was so -important that work was at once laid aside and the men and female -slaves began to search the garden thoroughly, examining every bush and -tree, and calling loudly to the missing animal. Chebron and Amuba -joined in the search as actively as the rest. - -"Where can it be?" Mysa exclaimed. "Why should it have wandered away? -It never did so before, though the door of the cat house is often left -open all day. Where do you think it can have gone to? Do you think it -could have got over the wall?" - -"It could get over the wall easily enough," Chebron replied. - -"It is a terrible misfortune!" continued Mysa with tears in her eyes. -"Mamma fainted on hearing the news, and her women are burning feathers -under her nose and slapping her hands and sprinkling water on her -face. Whatever will be done if it does not come back before to-morrow? -for I hear a solemn procession is coming from Bubastes to fetch it -away. Poor dear Paucis! And it seemed so contented and happy, and it -had everything it could want! What can have induced her to wander -away?" - -"Cats are often uncertain things," Amuba said. "They are not like -dogs, who are always ready to follow their masters, and who will lie -down for hours, ready to start out whenever called upon." - -"Yes, but Paucis was not a common cat, Amuba. It did not want to catch -mice and birds for a living. It had everything it could possibly -want--cushions to lie on, and fresh water and milk to drink, and -plenty of everything to eat." - -"But even all that will not satisfy cats when the instinct to wander -comes upon them," Amuba said. - -Ameres himself soon came out of the house, and, upon hearing that the -cat was not to be found either in the garden or within, gave orders -for the whole of the males of the household to sally out in the -search, to inform all the neighbors what had happened, and to pray -them to search their gardens. They were also to make inquiries of all -they met whether they had seen a cat resembling Paucis. - -"This is a very serious matter," Ameres said. "After the choice of the -priest of Bubastes had fixed upon Paucis to be the sacred cat of the -temple of Bubastes, the greatest care and caution should have been -exercised respecting an animal toward whom all the eyes of Egypt were -turned. For the last two or three weeks the question as to which cat -was to succeed to the post of honor has been discussed in every -household. Great has been the excitement among all the families -possessing cats that had the smallest chance whatever of being -selected; and what will be said if the cat is not forthcoming when the -procession arrives to-morrow from Bubastes to conduct her there, I -tremble to think of. The excitement and stir will be prodigious, and -the matter will become of state importance. Well, do not stand here, -but go at once and join in the search." - -"I felt horribly guilty when talking to Mysa," Chebron said. "Of -course she is very proud that Paucis was chosen for the temple, but I -know that she has really been grieving over the approaching loss of -her favorite. But of course that was nothing to what she will feel -when she finds that no news whatever can be obtained of the creature; -and it was hard to play the part and to pretend to know nothing about -it, when all the time one knew it was lying dead and buried in the -garden." - -"Yes, I felt that myself," Amuba agreed, "but we cannot help it. Mysa -will probably in the course of her life have very much more serious -grief to bear than the loss of a cat." - -All day the search was maintained, and when it was dark great numbers -of men with torches searched every point far and near on that side of -Thebes. The news had now spread far and wide, and numbers of the -friends of the high priest called to inquire into the particulars of -the loss and to condole with him on the calamity which had befallen -his house. Innumerable theories were broached as to the course the -animal would have taken after once getting out of the garden, while -the chances of its recovery were eagerly discussed. The general -opinion was that it would speedily be found. A cat of such remarkable -appearance must, it was argued, attract notice wherever it went; and -even if it did not return of its own accord, as was generally -expected, it was considered certain that it would be brought back -before many hours. - -But when upon the following morning it was found that it had not -returned and that all search for it had been fruitless, there was a -feeling akin to consternation. For the first time men ventured to hint -that something must have befallen the sacred cat. Either in its -rambles some evil dog must have fallen upon it and slain it, or it -must have been carried off by a crocodile as it quenched its thirst at -a pool. That it had fallen by the hand of man no one even suggested. -No Egyptian would be capable of an act of such sacrilege. The idea was -too monstrous to entertain for a moment. - -Mysa had cried herself to sleep, and broke forth in fresh lamentation -when upon waking in the morning she heard that her favorite was still -absent; while her mother took the calamity so seriously to heart that -she kept her bed. The slaves went about silently and spoke with bated -breath, as if a death had taken place in the house. Ameres and Chebron -were both anxious and disturbed, knowing that the excitement would -grow every hour; while Amuba and Jethro, joining busily in the search -and starting on horseback the first thing in the morning to make -inquiries in more distant localities, were secretly amused at the fuss -and excitement which was being made over the loss of a cat. - -It was well for the household of Ameres that he occupied so exalted a -position in the priesthood. Had he been a private citizen, the -excitement, which increased hour by hour when the vigilant search -carried on far and wide for the missing cat proved fruitless, would -speedily have led to an outbreak of popular fury. But the respect due -to the high priest of Osiris, his position, his well-known learning -and benevolence rendered it impossible for the supposition to be -entertained for a moment that the cat could have come to an untimely -end within the limits of his house or garden, but it was now generally -believed that, after wandering away, as even the best conducted of -cats will do at times, it had fallen a victim to some savage beast or -had been devoured by a crocodile. - -So heavy was the penalty for the offense, so tremendous the sacrilege -in killing a cat, that such an act was almost unknown in Egypt, and -but few instances are recorded of its having taken place. As in the -present case the enormity of the act would be vastly increased by the -size and beauty of the cat, and the fact that it had been chosen for -the temple of Bubastes seemed to put it altogether beyond the range of -possibility that the creature had fallen by the hands of man. When a -week passed without tidings it was generally accepted as a fact that -the cat must be dead, and Ameres and his household, in accordance with -the custom, shaved their eyebrows in token of mourning. - -Although not suspected of having had anything to do with the loss -of the cat, the event nevertheless threw a sort of cloud over the -household of Ameres. It was considered to be such a terrible stroke of -ill-luck that a cat, and above all such a cat, should have been lost -upon the very eve of her being installed as the most sacred animal in -the temple of Bubastes, that it seemed as if it must be a direct proof -of the anger of the gods, and there was a general shrinking on the -part of their friends and acquaintances from intercourse with people -upon whom such a misfortune had fallen. Ameres cared little for public -opinion, and continued on his way with placid calmness, ministering in -the temple and passing the rest of his time in study. - -The example of Ameres, however, was wholly lost upon his wife. The -deference paid to her as the wife of the high priest, and also to -herself as the principal figure in the services in which women took -part, was very dear to her, and she felt the change greatly. Her -slaves had a very bad time of it, and she worried Ameres with constant -complaints as to the changed demeanor of her acquaintances and his -indifference to the fact that they were no longer asked to -entertainments; nor was she in any way pacified by his quiet -assurances that it was useless for them to irritate themselves over -trifles, and that matters would mend themselves in time. - -But as the days went on, so far from mending things became worse; -groups of people frequently assembled round the house, and shouts of -anger and hatred were raised when any of the occupants entered or -left. Even when Ameres was passing through the streets in procession -with the sacred emblems hoots and cries were raised among the crowd. -Chebron took this state of things greatly to heart, and more than once -he implored his father to allow him to declare the truth openly and -bear the consequences. - -"I am not afraid of death, father. Have you not trained me to regard -life as of no account? Do we not in our feasts always see the image of -a dead man carried past to remind us that death is always among us? -You have Mysa and my mother. I fear death far less than this constant -anxiety that is hanging over us." - -But Ameres would not hear of the sacrifice. "I do not pretend that -there is no danger, Chebron. I thought at first that the matter would -soon pass over, but I own that I was wrong. The unfortunate fact that -the creature was chosen as sacred cat for the temple at Bubastes has -given its loss a prominence far beyond that which there would have -been had it been an ordinary animal of its class, and the affair has -made an extraordinary sensation in the city. Still I cannot but think -that an enemy must be at work stirring up the people against me. I -suspect, although I may be wrong, that Ptylus is concerned in the -matter. Since he reappeared after his sudden absence following the -night when you overheard that conversation, he has affected a feeling -of warmth and friendship which I believe has been entirely feigned. - -"Whether he was one of those you overheard I am unable to say, but his -sudden disappearance certainly favors that idea. At any rate, he can -have no real reason for any extra cordiality toward me at present, but -would more naturally still feel aggrieved at my rejection of his son -as a husband for Mysa. I thought at first when you told me what you -had overheard that possibly it was a plot against my life. Now I feel -sure of it. - -"No doubt they believe, as no measures were taken, that their -conversation was not overheard or that only a few words reached the -listeners, and his manner to me is designed to allay any suspicion I -might have conceived had as much of the conversation as was overheard -been reported to me. It has had just the opposite effect. At any rate, -an enemy is at work, and even were you to sacrifice yourself by -admitting that you slew the missing animal, not only would your death -be the result, but a general ruin would fall upon us. - -"The mob would easily be taught to believe that I must to a great -extent be responsible; the opinions I have expressed would be quoted -against me, and even the favor of the king could not maintain me in my -present position in defiance of popular clamor. No, my son, we must -stand or fall together. Jethro offered yesterday if I liked to dig up -the remains of the cat, carry it away and hide it under some rocks at -a distance, but I think the danger would be greater than in allowing -matters to remain as they are. It is certain that the house is -watched. As you know, servants going in and out after nightfall have -been rudely hustled and thrown down. Some have been beaten, and -returned well-nigh stripped to the skin. I doubt not that these -attacks were made in order to discover if they had anything concealed -under their garments. Were Jethro to venture upon such an attempt he -might either be attacked and the cat found upon him, or he might be -followed and the place where he hid it marked down. Things must go on -as they are." - -Ameres did not tell Chebron the whole of the conversation he had had -with Jethro. After declining his offer to endeavor to dispose of the -body of the cat elsewhere he said: - -"But, Jethro, although I cannot accept this perilous enterprise you -have offered to undertake, I will intrust you with a charge that will -show you how I confide in your devotion to my family. Should this -storm burst, should the populace of this town once become thoroughly -imbued with the idea that the sacred cat has been slain here, there -will be an outburst of fanatical rage which will for the time carry -all before it. - -"For myself I care absolutely nothing. I am perfectly willing to die -as soon as my time comes. I have done my work to the best of my power, -and can meet the Mighty One with uplifted head. I have wronged no man, -and have labored all my life for the good of the people. I have never -spared myself, and am ready for my rest; but I would fain save Chebron -and Mysa from harm. Even in their wrath the populace will not injure -the women, but Mysa without a protector might fall into evil hands. As -to her, however, I can do nothing; but Chebron I would save. If he -grows up he will, I think, do good in the world. He has not the -strength and vigor of Amuba, but he is not behind other lads of his -age. He has been well educated. His mind is active and his heart -good. I look to you, Jethro, to save him, if it be possible, with -Amuba, for I fear that Amuba is in as much danger as he is. - -"Should the slaves be seized and questioned, and perhaps flogged, till -they say what they know, the fact would be sure to come out that the -two lads were together among the animals on the morning before the cat -was missed. It will be noticed, too, that they took with them their -bows and arrows. It will therefore be assumed that the responsibility -of the act lies upon both of them. Chebron, I know, would proclaim the -truth if he had an opportunity for speech, but an angry crowd does not -stop to listen, and the same fate will befall them both. - -"You who are a stranger to our manners can hardly conceive the frenzy -of excitement and rage in which the population of Egypt are thrown by -the killing of a cat. I doubt whether even the king's person would be -held sacred were the guilt of such an offense brought home to him; -and, of course, the fact that this unfortunate beast was to have gone -to the temple of Bubastes makes its death a matter ten times graver -than ordinary. Therefore should the storm burst, there is no hope for -either of them but in flight. The question is, whither could they fly? - -"Certainly they would be safe nowhere in Egypt. Nor were it possible -that they could journey north and reach the sea, could they do so -before the news reached the ports. Naturally messengers would be sent -to the frontier towns, and even the governors of the provinces lying -east of the Great Sea would hear of it; and could they leave the -country and cross the desert they might be seized and sent back on -their arrival. For the same reason the routes from here to the ports -on the Arabian Sea are closed to them. It seems to me that their only -hope of safety lies in reaching the country far up the Nile and -gaining Meroe, over whose people the authority of Egypt is but a -shadow; thence possibly they might some day reach the Arabian Sea, -cross that and pass up through the country east of the Great Sea, and -traveling by the route by which you came hither reach your country. -Long before they could leave the savage tribes and start upon their -journey this matter would have been forgotten, and whatever dangers -might befall them, that of arrest for participation in this matter -would not be among them. - -"I know that your fidelity and friendship for the son of your late -king would cause you to risk all dangers and hardships for his sake, -and that if bravery and prudence could take him safely through such -terrible dangers as would be encountered in such a journey as I speak -of, you will conduct him through them. I ask you to let Chebron share -your protection, and to render him such service as you will give to -Amuba." - -"I can promise that willingly, my lord," Jethro answered. "He has -treated Amuba more as a brother than a servant since we came here, and -I will treat him as if he were a brother to Amuba, now that danger -threatens. The journey you speak of would, indeed, be a long and -dangerous one; but I agree with you that only by accomplishing it is -there even a chance of escape." - -"Then I commit my son to your charge, Jethro, and I do so with full -confidence that if it be possible for him to make this journey in -safety he will do so. I have already placed in the hands of Chigron, -the embalmer, a large sum of money. You can trust him absolutely. It -is through my patronage that he has risen from being a small worker to -be the master of one of the largest businesses in Egypt, and he has -the embalming of all the sacred animals belonging to our temple and -several others. He will hide the boys for a time until you are ready -to start on your journey. - -"When you are once a few days south of Thebes you will be fairly safe -from pursuit, for they will never think of looking for you in that -direction, but will make sure that you will attempt to leave the -country either by sea, by the Eastern Desert, or that you may possibly -try to reach some of the tribes in the west, and so to go down upon -the Great Sea there. I thought at first that this might be the best -direction; but the tribes are all subject to us and would naturally -regard Egyptians going among them as fugitives from justice, and so -hand them over to us." - -"You can rely upon me, my lord, to carry out your directions and do -all that is possible to serve the two lads. What the country through -which we have to pass is like, or its inhabitants, I know not, but at -least we will do our best to reach the Arabian Sea as you direct. -Amuba is hardy and strong, and Chebron, though less powerful in frame, -is courageous, and able to use his weapons. We should, of course, -travel in disguise. But you spoke something about your daughter--in -what way can I serve her? I have now accompanied her in her walks for -months, and would lay down my life for her." - -"I fear that you can do nothing," Ameres said after a pause. "We have -many friends, one of whom will doubtless receive her. At first I -would, if it were possible, that she should go to some relatives of -mine who live at Amyla, fifty miles up the river. She was staying with -them two years ago and will know the house; but I do not see how you -could take her--the boys will be sufficient charge on your hands. She -will have her mother with her, and though I fear that the latter has -little real affection for her, having no time to think of aught but -her own pleasure and amusement, she will be able to place her among -the many friends she has. - -"It is not her present so much I am thinking of as her future. I -should like my little Mysa to marry happily. She is a little -self-willed, and has been indulged; and although, of course, she would -marry as I arrange for her, I would not give her to any one who was -not altogether agreeable to her. I fear that should anything happen to -me the same consideration might not be paid to her inclinations. -However, Jethro, I see no manner in which you can be useful to Mysa. -So far as she is concerned things must be left to take their own -course." - -"I trust," Jethro said, "that your forebodings will not be verified. I -cannot believe that an absurd suspicion can draw away the hearts of -the people from one whom they have so respected as yourself." - -Ameres shook his head. - -"The people are always fickle, Jethro, and easily led; and their love -and respect for the gods renders it easy for any one who works on that -feeling to lash them into fury. All else is as nothing in their eyes -in comparison with their religion. It is blind worship, if you will; -but it is a sincere one. Of all the people in the world there are none -to whom religion counts so much as to the Egyptians. It is interwoven -with all their daily life. Their feasts and processions are all -religious, they eat and drink and clothe themselves according to its -decrees, and undertake no action, however trifling, without consulting -the gods. Thus, therefore, while in all other respects obedience is -paid to the law, they are maddened by any supposed insult to their -religion, or any breach of its observances. I know that we are in -danger. The ideas that I have held of the regeneration of the people -by purifying their religious beliefs have been used as weapons against -me. I know from what has come to my ears that it has been hinted among -them that in spite of my high office I have no respect for the gods. - -"The accusation is false, but none the less dangerous for that. -Nothing is more difficult than to expose or annihilate a falsehood. It -spreads like wildfire, and the clearest demonstration of its falsity -fails to reach a tithe of those who believe it. However, it is -needless to speak of it now. You know what I wish you to do if danger -comes--get the boys away, and conduct them to the place I have -indicated. If they are from home seek them and take them there. Do not -waste time in vain attempts to succor me. If you are attacked, and -this may possibly be the case, make, I pray you, no resistance save -such as may be needed to get away. Above all, do not try to interfere -on my behalf. One man, though endowed with supernatural strength, -cannot overcome a mob, and your trying to aid me would not benefit me, -and might cost you your life, and so deprive Chebron and Amuba of -their protector." - -Jethro promised strictly to follow the instructions he had received, -and to devote himself in case of need solely to insuring the safety of -the boys. - -Two days later, Ameres sent Chebron and Amuba away to the farm, and -told them to remain there until he sent for them. - -"You cannot go in and out here without unpleasantness," he said, "and -had best be away. Your presence here can be of no use, and you are -probably quite as much suspected as I am. As to your mother and -sister, the present state of things is inconvenient to them, but that -is all. There can be no danger for them; however violent a mob they -would not molest females." - -"Why should not you also, father, go away until the trouble is -passed?" - -"I cannot leave my duties, Chebron; nor would it benefit me if I did. -I am convinced that this cry against us is a mere pretext which has -been seized by enemies who dare not attack me openly. Were I to depart -from Thebes my absence would be denounced as a proof of my guilt, and -the people be inflamed more and more against me, and nowhere in Egypt -should I be safe. My only course is to face the storm, trusting to the -integrity of my life, to the absence of any deed which could offend -the great God I believe in, and to the knowledge that my life is in -his hands. When it is his will, and not before, it will return to him -who gave it me." - -"Could you not apply to the king for guards?" - -"The king spoke to me yesterday at the termination of the council," -Ameres replied, "and told me that he had been informed of the murmurs -of the populace against me. He said that as one of his most trusted -counselors, and as a high priest of Osiris, he knew that the charges -against me were baseless; but that in view of the proneness of the -people of Thebes to excitement and tumult, he should be glad to order -a company of soldiers to keep guard over my house. I refused. I said -that I was conscious of no evil, that none could say that I was slack -in my ministrations in the temple, or that I had ever spoken a word in -disrespect of our religion. That as for the disappearance of the -sacred cat, of which so much had been made, I had had no hand in it, -and that whatever had happened to it had been, I was sure, the result -of accident. Were I to have soldiers placed to guard me it would be a -confession that I was conscious of ill-doing, and knew that I had -forfeited the protection of the gods. It would, too, help to keep up -the talk and excitement, which I trusted would die away ere long." - -Chebron did not think of further questioning the orders of Ameres, and -an hour later he and Amuba rode out to the farm. Before they started -Ameres had a long talk with Chebron, and told him that he had placed -him in charge of Jethro in the event of any popular outbreak taking -place. - -"Remember, Chebron," he said, "that whatever comes of this affair you -are not to blame yourself for the accident of killing the cat. All -things are in the hands of the great God, and your arrow would not -have struck the twig and flown straight to the heart of that creature -had it not been his will. Moreover, you must always remember that the -loss of this cat is but a pretext for the tumult. - -"The populace believe that they are angry on account of the loss of -the sacred cat, whereas, in fact, they are but instruments in the -hands of my enemies. I have no doubt whatever now that the plot you -overheard in the temple was directed against my life, and had not the -loss of the cat happened opportunely and served them as a lever with -which to work against me, the plot would have taken some other form. I -trust sincerely that whatever fate may befall your sister she may -never have to marry the son of the man who has plotted against my -life. But it is no use thinking of that now. Should aught happen -before we meet again, remember I have placed you in the hands of -Jethro, and have delegated my authority to him. He is shrewd, strong, -and courageous, and can be relied upon to do what is best. In Amuba -you will find a friend who will be as a brother to you. So farewell, -my son, and may the great One who rules all things keep you!" - -A stay at the farm had hitherto been regarded by Chebron as a -delightful change from the city, but upon this occasion he proceeded -there sad and depressed in spirit. - -"Even here we are watched, you see, Chebron," Amuba said as they rode -along. "Do you see those runners behind us? Doubtless they will follow -us to the farm, and set a watch upon us there. However, there, at -least, they can search as much as they like, and find out nothing." - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE DEATH OF AMERES. - - -The days passed slowly at the farm. The lads went out listlessly to -watch the cattle treading in the seed and the other operations on the -lands, but they were too anxious as to what was going on in the city -to feel the slightest interest in the work of the farm. The second and -fourth days after their coming, Jethro had paid them a short visit to -say that there was no change in the situation. The officer in command -of some troops whom the king had sent down to within a short distance -of the house had come down to the mob as they were shouting outside -the gate, and threatened them with the severe displeasure of the king -unless they desisted from their demonstrations, but had been answered -with shouts, "The gods are above all kings, and not even kings can -protect those who insult them." Amense, he said, on the occasion of -his second visit, had left the house and taken up her abode with some -relations in the city, declaring that the anxiety and disgrace were -killing her. She had wished to take Mysa with her, but the girl had -positively refused to leave her father; and as her mother seemed -indifferent whether she went or stayed she had had her way. In a -private talk with Amuba, Jethro said: - -"It is a relief to us all that she has gone; she was bad enough before -you went, but for the last three days she has been doing nothing but -weep and bewail herself till the house has been well-nigh unbearable. -Ameres goes backward and forward between his house and the temple, -walking unmoved through those gathered near his door, who are for the -most part quiet when he passes, being abashed by the presence of one -who has so long been held in high esteem among them. As for Mysa, she -seems to think only of her father. The Hebrew girl is a great comfort -to her, for while the example of their mistress and the shouts of the -populace have terribly scared the other maids, and they go about the -house in fear and trembling, Ruth is quiet and self-contained as if -she were again in her quiet cottage with her grandfather. She greatly -comforts and sustains Mysa, and Ameres said to me only this morning -that Mysa was fortunate indeed in that Chebron had furnished her with -so brave and steadfast a companion at a time like this." - -On the evening of the fifth day Jethro came suddenly in at the house. -The boys started to their feet as he entered, for they saw at once -that something terrible had happened. His face was stained with blood, -his breath came short, for he had run for the six intervening miles -between the farm and the city at the top of his speed. - -"Quick, my lord!" he said, "there is not a moment to lose. The whole -matter has been discovered, and ere long they will be here in pursuit -of you." - -"What of my father?" Chebron exclaimed. - -"I will tell you all about it afterward, Chebron. There is no time for -talking now, his orders must be instantly carried out. Where are the -fellows who are spying over you?" - -"One of them is probably seated outside at the entrance to the farm. -You must have passed him as you entered," Amuba replied. "I have not -seen more than one at a time since they first came." - -"Take up your arms and follow me," Jethro said, taking a heavy staff -from the corner of the room, and, followed by the lads, he went -outside the gate. - -It was now getting dark, and as they passed out a man standing near -approached as if to see who they were. Without a word Jethro sprang -forward and brought down the staff with tremendous force upon his -head, and he fell without a cry upon the road. - -"There is no fear of his giving the alarm," Jethro said grimly, and -set off in a run in the direction of the city at a pace that taxed the -powers of Chebron to keep up with. Once or twice as he ran the boy -gasped out a question as to his father's safety, but Jethro did not -appear to hear him, but kept on at a steady pace. - -Presently he stopped suddenly and listened. A vague, confused sound -was heard in front of them, and Jethro quitted the road and took his -course over the fields. Amuba heard the sound increase, and was -presently conscious that a crowd of people were passing along the -road. - -"It is well I managed to get through," Jethro said. "They would have -made short work of you both had they arrived at the farm and found you -unprepared." - -Jethro did not return to the road, but kept on in an oblique line -toward the foot of the hills near the city. - -"Where are you going, Jethro?" Amuba asked at last. - -"I am going to Chigron, the embalmer. Ameres has arranged with him to -hide you there for the present." - -The boys knew the place, for they had more than once been there to -watch the process of embalming the bodies and preparing them for -burial. It was an extensive establishment, for Chigron was one of the -most celebrated embalmers of the day; and not only did he embalm, but -he kept with him men who performed the further processes required, -namely, the wrapping up in the mummy cloths, and the construction of -the great cases and the placing the bodies in them ready to be handed -over to their friends. These were usually distinct and separate -trades, the embalmers generally returning the bodies to the friends -after they had completed the process of embalming. Another set of -men then prepared the corpse for burial, while the mummy-cases or -sarcophagi were prepared by men of another trade. Of the three trades, -that of the embalmers was held in by far the highest respect, the work -being considered as sacred and the embalmers ranking and associating -with the priests. - -In Chigron's establishment the men of the three trades worked apart -and separate from each other; and although Chigron was in fact at the -head of all, he personally superintended only the embalming, the men -of the other trades being directed by their own masters, and it was as -if the three establishments had been placed near each other simply for -the purpose of convenience. - -When they reached the house of Chigron Jethro went forward alone and -knocked at the door. An attendant presented himself. "Give this ring -to Chigron," Jethro said, "and say that the bearer of it would fain -speak to him here." - -In two or three minutes Chigron himself came out. - -"I have brought the lads hither in obedience to the order of Ameres," -Jethro said. "He told me that he had arranged the matter with you." - -"And Ameres himself?" Chigron asked. - -"He is no more," Jethro said. "The villains who sought his ruin have -triumphed, and a furious mob this afternoon broke into his house and -murdered him. Chebron does not know it yet, though he cannot but -suspect that something terrible has happened, as I would not answer -his questions, fearing that he might break down when his strength was -most needed." - -The Egyptian uttered an exclamation of sorrow. - -"Fools and madmen!" he exclaimed; "in all the land none were more -worthy of honor than Ameres. He was just and generous, ever ready to -befriend those who needed his aid, calm in judgment, and powerful in -council. Surely the gods must be angry with Egypt when they suffered -such a one to fall a victim to the passions of the mob. But where are -the lads? I myself will conduct them to the place I have already -prepared. The workers have all left, so there is no fear in passing -through the house." - -At Jethro's call the lads came up. - -"Follow me, my lord," Chigron said to Chebron. "I have had everything -in readiness for your reception for some days. Would that your visit -had been made on some more cheerful occasion." - -The embalmer led the way through the portion of the house occupied by -himself, then he entered a large apartment whose floor was covered -with sawdust. - -Here on slabs of stone lay a number of bodies of those in the first -state of preparation, while in a still larger apartment behind were a -number of stone baths each long enough to contain a body. These were -occupied by the corpses which had undergone their first state of -preparation, and which were now lying covered with a strong solution -of salt and water. Beyond again were other chambers for the reception -of bodies embalmed by other processes than that of salt. - -Passing through a door at the rear the lads found themselves in the -open air again. Above them the hill rose in a precipitous rock. -Chigron led the way along the foot of this for some little distance, -and then stopped at a portal hewn in the rock itself. All this time -he had carried a lighted lamp, although the chambers in which the dead -were lying were illuminated with lamps hanging from the ceiling. Upon -entering the portal and closing the door behind him he produced from a -niche in the wall several other lamps, lighted them, and gave one to -each of his companions. - -"This," he said, "was cut by a wealthy inhabitant of Thebes centuries -ago as a tomb for himself and his family. What happened to him I know -not, but the place was never used beyond this chamber, which has been -utilized for mummies of sacred animals. Beyond in the main chamber -everything is as it was left by those who formed it. There I have -during the last ten days privately stored up such articles as would be -necessary for you, and I trust that you will not find yourself -uncomfortable." - -Upon entering the apartment, which was some twenty feet square, they -found that the embalmer had not exaggerated what he had done. A table -with several settles stood in the middle; three couches piled with -rushes were placed against the wall. Mats had been laid down to cover -the floor and give warmth to the feet, and lamps ready for burning -stood upon the table. In a corner stood two jars of wine, with -drinking vessels. - -"All is here except food," Chigron said. "That I could not prepare -until I knew you were coming; but be assured that you shall be served -regularly. There is no fear of intrusion from any employed in the -establishment. They have no occasion to come out to the back of the -house, and probably few know of the existence of this tomb. Should I -have any ground for believing that there is danger, I will take other -measures for your concealment. Should you need anything, do not -hesitate to say so. I owe my position to the patronage of my lord -Ameres, and there is nothing I would not do to insure the safety of -his son. And now, my lord, I will retire, and will presently send you -by a trusty servant the food of which I have no doubt that you stand -in need." - -Chebron said a few words in thanks, but he was too anxious and full of -grief to say more. Directly Chigron had left he turned to Jethro. - -"Now, Jethro, tell me all; I am prepared for the worst. My dear father -is no more. Is it not so?" - -"It is too true, Chebron," Jethro replied. "Your noble father has been -killed by a base and cowardly mob urged on by some villains of the -priesthood." - -Chebron threw himself down on one of the couches and wept bitterly, -while Amuba was almost as deeply affected, for Ameres had behaved to -him with the kindness of a father. It was not until the following -morning that Chebron was sufficiently recovered to ask Jethro to -relate to him the details of his father's death. - -"I was in the garden," Jethro began. "Mysa and Ruth were in a boat on -the pond, and I was towing them when I heard a tumult at the gate. I -pulled the boat ashore, and hurried them up to the house and told Mysa -to retire to her apartment, and that she was not to leave it whatever -noise she might hear, that being her father's command. Then I went out -to the gate. Just as I got there it fell in, and a crowd of people -rushed through. As there were only myself and two or three of the -gardeners who had run up we could do nothing to stop them. Just as -they reached the house your father came out into the portico and said, -'Good people, what will you have?' - -"Those in front of him were silent a moment, abashed by his presence -and the calm manner in which he spoke, but others behind set up the -cry 'Where is the sacred cat? We will find it!' while others again -shouted out 'Down with the impious priest!' Ameres replied, 'You can -search the place if you will; though, indeed, it seems that you need -not my permission, seeing that you have taken the matter into your own -hands. Only I pray you enter not the house. There are the ladies of my -family and other women there, and I swear to you that neither alive -nor dead is the cat to be found there.' - -"The cry was raised, 'Let us search the garden!' In all this it struck -me that there were two parties among the mob, the one ignorant and -bigoted, believing really that an offense had been committed against -their gods; the other, men who kept in the background, but who were -the moving spirits. I was not pleased when I saw the crowd so readily -abandon the idea of searching the house and scatter themselves over -the garden, for it seemed to me that from one of the gardeners or -others they might have obtained some sort of clew that might put them -on the road to discovery. I saw that several among the crowd had with -them dogs trained for the chase, and this made me more uneasy. I told -one of the men to run at once and summon the troops, and then followed -the crowd. - -"I was the more uneasy to see that without wasting time in searching -elsewhere they made straight to the inclosure where the animals were -kept. No sooner did they get there than they began to search, urging -on the dogs to assist them. Suddenly I started, for there was a touch -upon my shoulder, and looking round I saw Ameres. 'Remember my -instructions, Jethro,' he said in a quiet voice; 'I commit Chebron to -your charge.' - -"'Oh, my lord!' I exclaimed, 'why are you here? The troops are but a -short distance away. Why do you not place yourself under their -protection?' - -"'Because I have done no wrong, Jethro,' he replied calmly. 'I have -not offended the gods, nor have I ever wronged one of my countrymen. -Why should I fly?' - -"At this moment there was a yell of rage among the crowd, and I knew -that one of those accursed hounds must have smelled the dead cat and -scratched the earth from over it. Then I heard a voice cry above the -rest, 'See! even now the wounds are manifest; it has been pierced by -an arrow, even as I told you. The sacred cat has been slain!' Then the -crowd turned. 'Fly, Jethro,' Ameres said. 'It is my last command.' - -"But even then I could not obey him. There was death in the eyes of -those who were rushing toward him shouting 'Down with the despiser of -the gods! Down with the slayer of the sacred cat!' and seeing that, I -rushed at them. After that all was confusion. I had caught up a staff -from the portico as I passed, and with it I struck right and left. -Many fell, I know, before they closed with me. Blows were showered -upon me, and the staff then fell from my hands, but I fought with my -naked fists. Several times I was beaten down, but each time I rose -again. Then, as in a dream, I seemed to hear your father's command, 'I -commit Chebron to your care,' and I burst my way through them and -threw myself upon a group standing further on, but I saw as I broke -through them that I could do nothing there. - -"Your father lay on the ground looking as calm and peaceful as when he -had spoken to me but five minutes before; but his white garments were -stained with blood, and the half of a dagger stood up just over his -heart. There was no time to see more. His last command was to be -obeyed, and shaking off those who tried to hold me, and evading the -blows aimed at me with their knives, I fled. As I rushed out through -the gate I saw the troops I had sent for coming toward the house. But -they were too late now; besides, some of my pursuers were close -behind me, and so without a pause I took the road to the farm. I think -that is all I have to tell you." - -Chebron was weeping bitterly, and Amuba, who was himself deeply -affected, went over to him. - -"Console yourself, Chebron. I know what you are feeling now, but do -not blame yourself too greatly for this calamity. You know what your -father said--that it was but an accident, and that it was doubtless -the will of the great God that your arrow should fly as it did; and he -himself declared that he believed that all this was but the result of -conspiracy, and that, as we heard in the temple, there were men -determined to take his life." - -A few minutes later the embalmer entered bringing them food. He saw at -once that Chebron had been informed of the fate that had befallen his -father. - -"Have you heard aught of what is passing in the city?" Amuba asked -him. - -"Yes," Chigron answered; "naught else is talked about. Many of those -concerned in the deed escaped either by the entrance before the -soldiers arrived there, or over the walls; but many were seized, and -are now in prison for their sacrilegious deed in raising their hand -against the person of the high priest of Osiris. There were tumults in -the city during the night, many maintaining that the deed was well -done, others the contrary. - -"Those who had been taken all declared that they had been informed by -one who said he knew it for certain that the cat was buried in the -inclosure, and that it had been slain by you and my young lord here, -as you had been seen going with your bows and arrows to the inclosure -and were there for some time, after which the cat was never seen -again. The general opinion is that though the prisoners taken will be -punished--some with flogging, some with death--your lives are also -assuredly forfeited, and that even the friendship of the king for your -father would not avail to protect you, for that he, like others, must -obey the law, and that the law of Egypt is that whomsoever shall take -the life of a cat shall be slain." - -"I am perfectly willing to die," Chebron said; "and my greatest regret -now is that I did not follow my first impulse and denounce myself as -the accidental killer of the cat. No blame could have then been -attached to my father or to any but myself." - -"The disgrace would have fallen upon your whole family," the embalmer -said; "for those nearly related to one who performed an impious action -must needs suffer with him. Not that I blame you, Chebron; for I know -that your father did not do so. He told me when he arranged that I -should, if needs be, furnish you with a hiding-place, that although -you might need a refuge it would be for no fault of your own. I do not -understand how he could have said so, seeing the terrible guilt of -even accidentally taking the life of a cat, and specially of this cat, -which was sacred above all others in the land. Still I know your -father's wisdom equaled his goodness; and although I own that I cannot -understand his saying, I am content to accept it, and will do all in -my power to save you. Doubtless the search after you will be a hot -one, but we must hope for the best." - -"I will go out and see what is doing," Jethro said. "It may be that it -will be more safe to move away at once than to remain here." - -"In that case," the embalmer said, "you will need to be disguised -before you start. It is known that Ameres had two fair-skinned slaves, -and that one of them was concerned with my young lord here in the -matter; also that the other, after fighting furiously in the garden, -and, as I heard, slaying several of his master's enemies, managed to -make his escape. Fortunately I have the materials at hand. We use -paints and stains in abundance for the sere clothes of the dead and -the decorations of their coffins, and I can easily make you as dark as -any of our people. That, with one of my wigs and Egyptian garments, -will alter you so that, so long as you do not look any one fairly in -the face, there will be no fear whatever of your discovery; but you -must not look up, for even when I have blackened your lashes the -lightness of your eyes would at once betray you." - -In half an hour Jethro was transformed into a middle-class citizen of -Thebes, and started on his mission of inquiry. During the day some -officials came to the establishment and made many inquiries after the -missing lads. Not contented with denials, they went through the whole -buildings, examining all the chambers closely. - -"It is known," they said to Chigron, "that they several times came -here, and that Ameres was a patron of yours. It is our duty to search -any house where shelter might have been given them, though we can -hardly believe that any one would hold communication, far less receive -into this house, persons guilty of such an act of sacrilege as they -have been. However, there is no chance of their escaping us. Messages -have been sent all over Egypt. Moreover, as they had no horses they -cannot have gone far. Yours is the first house we have searched, for -the servants all say the same--that the son of Ameres was frequently -here." - -"He was not here very frequently," Chigron replied, "though he -certainly came sometimes, and was interested in watching the various -processes." - -Chebron had, in fact, been several times to the embalmer's. Amuba had -accompanied him, although he himself would have preferred staying -away, for to him the whole scene was repulsive. Chebron's temperament -differed, however, widely from that of his friend. The dead were -sacred in Egypt, and all the rites and ceremonies connected with them -bore a religious character. They had no fear of death, and deemed it -but a sleep that would last three thousand years. It was for this -reason that the bodies of human beings and the sacred animals were so -carefully embalmed and laid away either in massive tombs or rock-hewn -caverns. - -They believed, and as has been proved rightly, that the remains so -carefully prepared would endure for that time, and thought that when -the spirit returned to it it would resume its former shape in all -particulars. Thus the dead of all ranks were embalmed; the process, -however, in the case of the wealthy differing widely from that to -which the bodies of the poorer classes were submitted. There were many -kinds of embalming, varying according to the means of the family of -the deceased. The process employed for the wealthy was a long and -expensive one. First, an official called a scribe marked on the side -of the corpse where an aperture should be made; this was cut by -another person, who after doing so fled, pursued with execrations and -pelted with stones, as although necessary the operation was considered -a dishonorable one and as an injury to a sacred body. - -Through this aperture the embalmers removed the whole of the internal -organs, which, after being cleansed and embalmed in spices, were -deposited in four vases, which were subsequently placed in the tomb -with the coffins. Each of these vases contained the parts sacred to a -separate deity. The body was then filled with aromatic resin and -spices, and rubbed for thirty days with a mixture of the same -ingredients. In the case of the very wealthy the whole body was then -gilded; in other cases only the face and portions of the body. The -skin of the mummy so preserved is found to be of an olive color, dry -and flexible as if tanned; the features are preserved and appear as -during life, and the teeth, hair of the head, and eyebrows are well -preserved. - -In some cases, instead of the aromatic resin, the bodies were filled -with bitumen; in others saltpeter was used, the bodies being soaked in -it for a long time and finally filled with resin and bitumen. In the -second quality of mummies, those of persons of the middle class, the -incision was not made, but resin or bitumen was used and the bodies -soaked in salt for a long time. In the case of the poorer classes the -bodies were simply dipped into liquid pitch. None of these, however, -were treated in the establishment of Chigron, who operated only upon -the bodies of the wealthy. - -After the preparation was complete the body passed from the hands of -the embalmers into those of another class, who enveloped it in its -coverings. These were linen bandages, which in the case of the rich -were sometimes a thousand yards in length. It was then inclosed in a -sort of case fitting closely to the mummied body. This case was richly -painted, covered in front with a network of beads and bugles arranged -in a tasteful form, the face being overlaid with thick gold leaf and -the eyes made of enamel. This again was placed in other cases, -sometimes three or four in number, all similarly ornamented with -painting and gilding, and the whole inclosed in a sarcophagus or -coffin of wood or stone, profusely decorated with painting and -sculpture. It was then handed over to the family of the deceased, and -afterward taken in solemn procession across the sacred lake, followed -by the mourning relatives throwing dust upon their heads. - -Every Egyptian city had a lake of this kind, either natural or -artificial. Notice was given beforehand to the judges and public of -the day on which the funeral would take place, and these assembled at -the side of the lake, where the decorated boat in readiness for the -passage was lying. Before the coffin could be placed upon the boat it -was lawful for any person present to bring forward his accusation -against the deceased. If it could be proved that he had led an evil -life the judge declared that the body was deprived of the accustomed -sepulture. If the accuser failed to establish his charge he was -subject to the heaviest penalties. If there was no accuser or if the -accusation was not proved the judge declared the dead man innocent. -The body was placed in the boat and carried across the lake, and then -either taken to the family catacombs or to the room specially prepared -for its reception in the house of the deceased. - -The greatest grief and shame were felt by the family of those deprived -of the right of sepulture, for they believed that thereby he was -excluded from the mansions of the blessed, and that in the course of -the transmigrations through which his spirit would pass before it -again returned to a human form, it might be condemned to inhabit the -body of an unclean animal. - -As none from the lowest to the very highest rank could escape the -ordeal of public accusation after death, there can be little doubt -that this ceremony exercised a most wholesome effect upon the life of -the Egyptians, and was most efficacious in repressing tyranny, -cruelty, and vice of all kinds among them. Even the most powerful -kings were restrained by the knowledge that should they give cause of -complaint to their subjects they were liable after death to be accused -and deprived of the right of lying in the mighty tombs they had so -carefully prepared for their reception. - -Chebron's brain, therefore, while he was watching the process of -embalming, was busy with thoughts and fancies as to the future of the -spirit that had inhabited the body he looked at. Had it already passed -into the body of some animal? Was it still disconnected and searching -for an abode? Through what changes would it pass and how long would be -the time before it returned to this human tenement? For the three -thousand years was believed to be the shortest period of transition -through the various changes in the case of the man of the purest and -most blameless life, while in other cases the period was vastly -extended. - -As Amuba was not gifted with a strong imagination, and saw in the -whole matter merely the preservation of a body which in his opinion -had much better have been either buried or placed on a funeral pile -and destroyed by fire, these visits to the embalmers had constituted -the most unpleasant part of his duties as Chebron's companion. - -Jethro had anticipated when he left that his visit to the city would -be of short duration, and that he should return in an hour at the -latest; but as the day passed and night fell without his return the -lads became exceedingly anxious, and feared that something serious had -taken place to detain him. Either his disguise had been detected and -he had been seized by the populace, or some other great misfortune -must have befallen him. - -It had been arranged indeed that they should that night have started -upon their journey, and Jethro after his return was to have made out a -list of such articles as he deemed necessary for their flight, and -these Chigron had promised to purchase for him. Their plans, however, -were completely upset by his nonappearance, and late in the afternoon -Chigron himself went down into the city to ascertain, if he could, if -Jethro had been discovered, for his name had been associated with that -of the boys. It was not believed indeed that he had taken any actual -part in the slaying of the cat, but it was deemed certain from his -close connection with them, and his disappearance shortly before the -time they had suddenly left the farm, that he was in league with them. -Chigron returned with the news that so far as he could learn nothing -had been heard of Jethro. - -No other subject was talked of in the city but the event of the -previous day, and the indignation of the people was equally divided -between the murderers of Ameres and the slayers of the sacred cat. The -boys were full of grief and perplexity. To Amuba Jethro had taken the -place of an elder brother. He had cheered him in the darkest moment of -his life and had been his friend and companion ever since, and the -thought that ill might have befallen him filled him with sorrow. With -this was mingled an intense anxiety as to the future. Without Jethro's -strong arm and advice how was this terrible journey to be -accomplished? - -Chebron was in no state either to act or plan. A deep depression had -seized upon him; he cared not whether he escaped or not, and would -indeed have hailed detection and death as boons. Intense, therefore, -was Amuba's relief when late in the evening a footstep was heard in -the outer chamber, and Jethro entered. He sprang to his feet with a -cry of gladness. - -"Oh, Jethro! thank the gods you have returned. I have suffered -terribly on your account. What has happened to you, and so long -delayed your return here?" - -"There is fresh trouble," Jethro replied in a stern voice. - -"Fresh trouble, Jethro? In what way?" And even Chebron, who had -scarcely sat up languidly on his couch on Jethro's entrance, looked up -with some interest for Jethro's answer. - -"Mysa has been carried off," he replied grimly. - -Chebron sprang to his feet. He was devoted to his sister, and for a -moment this new calamity effaced the remembrance of those which had -preceded it. - -"Mysa carried off!" he exclaimed at the same moment as Amuba. "Who has -done it?--when was it done?--how did you learn it?" were questions -which broke quickly from the lads. - -"On leaving here I went as arranged down into the city," Jethro -replied. "There was no difficulty in learning what there was to learn, -for all business seemed suspended and the streets were full of groups -of people talking over the events of yesterday. The whole city is -shaken by the fact that two such terrible acts of sacrilege as the -slaying of the sacred cat of Bubastes and the murder of a high priest -of Osiris should have taken place within so short a time of each -other. All prophesy that some terrible calamity will befall the land, -and that the offended gods will in some way wreak their vengeance upon -it. A royal order has been issued enjoining all men to search for and -arrest every person concerned in the murder of Ameres, and doubtless -the severest penalties will be dealt to them. The same decree orders -your arrest wherever found, and enjoins upon all officials throughout -the kingdom to keep a strict watch in the towns and villages, to -examine any strangers who may present themselves, and to send hither -bound in chains all young men who may fail to give a satisfactory -account of themselves. Sacrifices will be offered up at all the -temples throughout the land to appease the wrath of the gods. -Messengers have been dispatched in all directions in the provinces, -and all seemed to consider it certain that in a few hours our -hiding-place would be discovered. All made sure that we had made -either for the seacoast or the desert on one side or the other, and as -the messengers would reach the coast long before we could do so, it -was considered impossible for us to get through unnoticed. - -"Then I went to the house, not intending to go in, but simply to see -if those in the neighborhood had heard any further news. The gates -were open, and quite a crowd of people were passing in and out to -gratify their curiosity by gazing on the scene. Relying upon my -disguise I went in with the rest. None entered the house, for a guard -of soldiers had been stationed there. I passed round at the back and -presently Lyptis, the old female slave, came out to fetch water. I -spoke to her in my assumed character, but she only shook her head and -made no reply. Then believing that she, like all the others in the -house, was attached to the family and could be trusted, I spoke to her -in my natural voice, and she at once knew me. I made a sign to her to -be silent and withdrew with her alone to some bushes. The tears were -streaming down her face. - -"'Oh, Jethro!' she exclaimed, 'did the gods ever before hurl such -calamities upon a household? My dear master is dead; my lord Chebron -is hunted for as men hunt for a wild beast; my dear young mistress, -Mysa, is missing!' - -"'Missing!' I exclaimed. 'What do you mean?' - -"'Have you not heard it?' she said. - -"'I have heard nothing!' I cried. 'Tell me all!' - -"'Just after the gates were beaten down and the crowd rushed along -into the garden, four men burst into the house and ran from chamber to -chamber until they entered that of my young mistress. We heard a -scream, and a moment later they came out again bearing a figure -enveloped in a wrapping. We strove to stop them, but there were naught -but women in the house. They struck two of us to the ground, and -rushed out. Some of us ran out into the garden crying for aid, but -there we saw a terrible scene. A great struggle was going on, and -presently you broke forth, covered with blood and wounds, and ran -swiftly past. None heeded us or our cries. - -"'When the soldiers arrived we told the officer what had happened; but -it was too late then, and nothing could be done. Had there been a -guard over the house all these things would never have happened.' - -"I asked her if she could describe to me the appearance of the men. -She said that they were attired as respectable citizens, but that from -their language and manner she believed that they were ruffians of the -lowest class. - -"For a time I was so overwhelmed with this news that I could think of -nothing, but went out and roamed through the streets. At last I -bethought me of the girl Ruth. She was with Mysa at the time, and -might, if questioned, be able to tell me more than the old woman had -done. I therefore returned, but had to wait for three hours before old -Lyptis came out again. - -"'I want to speak to Ruth,' I said. 'Send her out to me.' - -"'Ruth has gone,' she said. - -"'Gone!' I repeated. 'Where and whither?' - -"'That we know not. It was not until hours after Mysa was carried off -that any one thought of her. We were too overwhelmed with grief at the -death of our dear lord and the loss of Mysa to give a thought to the -young Israelite. Then one asked, where was she? No one had noticed -her. We went to Mysa's chamber, thinking that the villains who carried -our young mistress off might have slain her; but there were no signs -of her there.' - -"'But she was with Mysa, was she not,' I asked, 'when the attack was -made? Did she not pass in with her when she came in from the garden?' - -"'Yes,' she replied, 'they came in together and passed through us; for -we gathered in the front chamber, being greatly frightened at the -clamor at the gate. As they passed us our young mistress said, 'Keep -silent; what is the use of screaming and crying?'' - -"I asked if she was sure Ruth was not carried off as well as Mysa. - -"'Quite sure,' she said. 'One bore a figure and the other three -cleared the way.'" - -"'And that was the last time,' I asked, 'that any of you saw the -Israelite?' - -"'It was,' she answered. 'She must have passed out by the door at the -end of the passage, which she might well have done without being -observed by any of us.' - -"This was a new mystery. Why Ruth should have fled I could not guess, -because as soon as the soldiers appeared there was no more danger in -remaining. Besides, I did not think Ruth was one to shrink from -danger. However, there was no more to be learned, and I again went -out into the streets." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE SEARCH FOR MYSA. - - -"Perhaps Ruth had gone to tell my mother that Mysa was lost," Chebron -suggested when Jethro had gone so far in his story. - -"That could hardly have been," Jethro replied, "for I should have told -you that your mother returned early this morning to the house with -many relatives, and that all were weeping and mourning round the body -of your father. Had Ruth gone to her, she would either have returned -with her, or Lyptis would have heard where she was." - -"Did you hear how my mother bore her misfortunes, Jethro?" - -"She was overwhelmed with grief, Lyptis said, at your father's -death--so overwhelmed that she seemed to have no thought for anything -else. She had, of course, been told the night before that Mysa was -missing; but it seemed to make no impression upon her. She only said -that doubtless friends had carried her off to save her from the danger -that Chebron's wickedness had brought upon us all. This morning she -made some further inquiries, but did not seem in any serious alarm; -but the magistrates, when they came last night to inquire into the -whole matter, took note of Mysa having been carried off, and when on -their coming again this morning they found that nothing had been heard -of her, gave orders that a search should be made for her, and a -proclamation was issued this afternoon denouncing punishment on those -who carried her off, and enjoining all who could give any information -on the subject to present themselves before them immediately. - -"Since I came out from the house I have been wandering about trying to -think what is best to be done, and hoping that something might occur -to me which would put me upon the track of the villains who carried -Mysa off." - -"You do not think of carrying out our plans for to-morrow, Jethro?" -Chebron asked anxiously. "We could never go away from here in -ignorance of what had become of her." - -"Certainly not, Chebron. I consider it my duty, as well as my -inclination, to stay here until she is found. Your father spoke to me -of her as well as of you, but as he did not see any way in which we -could aid her he said that she must take her chance--meaning take her -chance under the guardianship of your mother to obtain some day a -husband whom she could love. But the present misfortune entirely -alters the case. She has need of our active help, and whatever are -the risks we must postpone our start. - -"Whether you will be able to stay here or not is doubtful. Each day -that passes without news being received of your capture in the -provinces north of us, will increase the belief that you are hiding -somewhere in the neighborhood of the city, and in that case the search -will become more and more earnest. However, for a day or two we may be -safe here. As to that, though, we must abide by Chigron's opinion. He -is running no small risk in concealing us here, and if he considers -the danger is becoming greater than he is willing to run, we must -betake ourselves to the hills. There are lonely spots there where we -could lie concealed for a long time, or, at least, as long as such -supplies of food and water as we could carry with us hold out. But, at -any rate, we must set aside all thought of flight for the present, and -devote all our energies to the discovery and rescue of Mysa." - -"I do not think we have far to look for the contrivers of the -outrage," Amuba said. "It seems to me that it is of a piece with the -whole of the misfortunes that have befallen us. We know that Ameres -refused the request of Ptylus for Mysa as a wife for his son. After -that came the plot which we overheard in the temple for the murder of -some one. The knowledge that they were overheard put a stop to that -scheme. Then came the stirring up of the people, partly by the story -of that unfortunate cat, partly by whispers that Ameres, although high -priest of Osiris, was yet a scorner of the gods. Then came the attack -upon the house, in which, while the main body of the mob attacked -Ameres, a chosen band carried off Mysa. - -"This villain, Ptylus, had several motives to spur him on. In the -first place, there was anger at the rejection of his son's suit; next, -that he would, at the death of Ameres, naturally succeed to the high -priesthood; thirdly, he may have thought that if he could obtain -possession of Mysa and marry her to his son, she would bring with her -no small portion of her father's lands as a dowry. With the influence -which he, as high priest, would have with the king and council he -could rely upon her obtaining a share of the estate, especially as the -villain would calculate that Chebron as well as his father would be -put out of the way. - -"He has only to keep Mysa immured until his power as high priest is -consolidated, and then if he gain the consent of the king to the match -Mysa could not refuse to accept the fate prepared for her." - -"I think that you have accurately reasoned out the case, Amuba, and -that we have penetrated the whole conspiracy. The question is, what -are we to do?" - -"It must not be, Jethro!" Chebron cried excitedly, pacing up and down -the chamber. "Mysa cannot bear Plexo. She spoke of him with something -like horror when she heard of the proposal Ptylus made. I do not like -him myself. He is thin lipped and crafty and cruel. Mysa had better be -dead than married to him." - -"I think I can promise you, Chebron," Jethro said grimly, "that that -marriage shall never come about. We may not find Mysa, who may be -hidden either in Ptylus' house, or in one of the many chambers of the -temple, or in the caves near it; but, at any rate, I can find Plexo, -and before we leave Egypt I will slay him as well as his father, whom -I regard as the murderer of Ameres. I may not be able to do this and -to get away, and in that case you must journey alone; but I am not -going to quit Egypt and leave them to enjoy the gains of their crime." -As he finished speaking Chigron entered. - -"I was coming in to see if Jethro had returned." - -He was told the reasons for his prolonged absence--the abduction of -Mysa, and the determination to remain and search for her place of -concealment. He shook his head. - -"It is a rash resolution. Even were you free to come and go as you -choose, your chance of finding out her hiding-place would be small -indeed--hunted as you yourselves are, your quest seems to be an -absolutely hopeless one. As to your remaining here long, I think it -would be madness. - -"It is not only for myself that I say this, but for you. In the first -place, there are so many men employed here that your coming in and -going out would be sure to be noticed by some one; in the second -place, the cave would scarcely escape search a second time. Were it -not for my workmen I could conceal you in the house; and if I saw men -in search of you approaching I could place you in one of the inner -casings of the mummies, and put two or three more casings on. Then, -lying as you would be among a number of corpses in a similar state of -advancement toward burial, none would think of opening the cases. - -"But with so many people about it would be well-nigh impossible to do -this without observation--unless, indeed, the search was made at night -or after the workmen had departed, which would hardly be likely to -happen. Therefore I think it impossible for you to stay here more than -another day or two; but there are many caves and burial-places higher -up on the hillside where you might be concealed. In many of these -there are sarcophagi. If we choose one in which there are several -coffins I can remove the mummies and their casings into another cave, -so that should a party of searchers approach the place you can lie -down in the sarcophagus and lower the lid down upon you." - -"It would be sacrilege to move the dead," Chebron said with a shudder. - -"It would be sacrilege for others," Chigron replied, "but not to us, -whose business and duty it is to handle the dead. I can replace the -mummies in their cases after you have left, and they will be none the -worse for their temporary removal. It will be necessary, of course, -that there should be no signs of habitation in the cave--nothing to -excite their suspicions that it has been disturbed." - -"I think that is a very good plan," Jethro said. "We can make -sleeping-places in the open air near. We shall sleep in the open air -on our journey, and it would be no hardship to begin at once. I -should think it best to remove to one of these caves at once. There is -never any saying when the searchers may be here again; therefore if -you will, Chigron, I will at early daybreak go with you, choose a -cave, and make our arrangements." - -"I think, indeed, that that will be the best plan," the embalmer -agreed. "I will, of course, take care to bring you up every night a -store of provisions. And now I will leave you to sleep." - -It was long, however, before the occupants of the chamber threw -themselves upon their piles of rushes. Sometimes they talked of Mysa, -and discussed all possible plans for discovering where she was -concealed. Then they wondered what had become of Ruth, who would be -friendless in the great city, and might not have money sufficient to -buy a meal with her. - -"She had her ornaments," Jethro said; "a silver bracelet that Mysa -gave her she always wore. She had two silver necklaces and earrings of -her own. I should think they had been handed down to her from her -mother; they seemed good and would fetch money. Ruth is a shrewd -little maid; for though but fifteen years old she has long been -accustomed to manage a house and look after her grandfather. Why she -has run away I cannot think, except that perhaps from the noise and -tumult she thought that all were going to be killed. But even in that -case she would probably have found her way back by this morning, if -not sooner." - -"I cannot help thinking myself," Chebron said, "that she has followed -Mysa. Although she has not been here for many months, I am sure that -she was very fond of her." - -"That she certainly was," Jethro said. "I often thought when I was -walking behind them that it was pretty to see them together. Mysa -knew so much more of everything; and yet it was the Hebrew maid who -gave her opinion most decidedly, and Mysa listened to her as she -talked in that grave way of hers as if she had been an elder sister. -And you think she might have followed her? I hope that it may have -been so. But in that case the women must have seen her." - -"The women were scared out of their senses," Chebron said, "and, I -have no doubt, were screaming and wringing their hands and attending -to nothing else. If I could but be sure that Ruth is with Mysa I -should feel less anxious, for I am certain she would be a comfort and -support to her." - -"She would, indeed," Jethro agreed. "And moreover I should have -greater hopes of finding where they are concealed; for if it be -possible to get away and to spread the alarm I am sure that Ruth would -seize the first opportunity promptly." - -It was but a short time after they lay down that Chigron entered and -said that morning was beginning to break. They at once rose and -followed him. He led them along the foot of the hill for some -distance, and then turning began to ascend at a spot where it sloped -gradually. They passed many tombs, partly erected with masonry and -partly cut out from the rock behind; and it was not until after -walking fully half an hour that he stopped before the entrance of one -of them. - -"This is the one that I thought of as being suitable for the purpose," -he said. "It is one of the most lonely, and there is little likelihood -of any chance passer coming near it. In the second place, I know that -the stone door which rolls across the entrance has not been cemented -in its place. I know indeed to whom the tomb belongs. The last mummy -was placed here but a short time back; and the son of the man then -buried told me that he should not have it cemented because his wife -was grievously sick, and he feared would shortly follow his father. -Therefore there will be no difficulty in effecting an entry. In the -second place, there is hard by a small tomb that was cut in the rock -and then left--the owners changing their minds and having a larger -tomb made lower down the hill. As nothing beyond the chamber and the -narrow entrance were made, we can there hide the mummies from this -chamber and heap stones and earth over the entrance, so that none -would suspect its existence." - -"Nothing could be better," Jethro said. "Let us set to work and -prepare it at once." - -The stone across the entrance to the tomb, which was but three feet -high and of the same width, was pushed back without difficulty and -they entered. Four wooden sarcophagi stood there. Jethro aided Chigron -in opening three of these. The mummies in their cases were taken out, -the outer cases opened and replaced in the coffins after the mummies -with the inner cases had been removed from them. These were then -carried to the unfinished tomb fifty yards away and there deposited. -Stones were then piled together so as to conceal the entrance, and the -men returned to the tomb. - -"Here you will be perfectly safe," Chigron said. "You can keep the -stone rolled back unless you see any one approaching; and you would be -sure to make out any considerable number of searchers mounting the -hillside long before they reach you. Should you see them, you will of -course close the door, enter each of you one of the sarcophagi, lie -down in the inner case, close the lid of the sarcophagus, and place -the lid of the inner case over you. I think it unlikely in the extreme -that any search will be made for you, or at any rate a search only -of untenanted tombs. The fact of the stone here being left uncemented -is a mere accident probably known only to myself and its owner. It is -only as an extreme resource that you could need to take to these -hiding-places. As far as passers-by are concerned you might remain -outside altogether, but in that case you would run some risk of being -noticed. You may be sure that the hills will be closely scanned, and -if figures were seen moving about here a party might set out to see -whether these were the fugitives so eagerly sought for. Therefore I -say, during the daytime keep yourselves concealed here. As soon as it -is dark you can of course issue out and pass the night wherever you -may think fit." - - [Illustration: C. of B. - THE HIDING-PLACE OF CHEBRON AND HIS FRIENDS.--Page 252.] - -"We shall certainly follow your advice," Jethro said. "Undoubtedly the -plan you propose is by far the safest. I cannot think that there is -much chance of an earnest search being made among the tombs, though -likely enough they may visit those which are open and empty; but as -you say, they would never dream of examining the tombs in use, as they -would naturally suppose that all were securely fastened. In case of -the very worst, there are the coffins for us to betake ourselves to; -and these, assuredly, no one would think of examining." - -"If you will come down," Chigron said, "as soon as it is dark, I will -give you provisions for some days, together with the peasants' dresses -I have prepared for you and the money Ameres committed to my charge. -It is not likely that anything will occur to decide you to make a move -suddenly, but it is best that you should have everything in readiness -for so doing should the occasion possibly arise. I will come up myself -to-morrow night if all is well, an hour after sunset. I name the time -exactly in order that if you sleep at any distance away you can be -here at that hour to meet me; and now I leave you to the protection -of the gods. This evening I shall dismantle the chamber you have used -and remove all signs of its having been inhabited." - -Chebron thanked the embalmer very earnestly for the kindness he had -shown them, the trouble he had taken, and the risk he had run on their -behalf. - -"I would have done more if I could," Chigron said. "Your father's son -has the highest claims upon me, and were it to half my fortune I would -spend it to carry out the last wishes that Ameres expressed to me." - -As soon as the embalmer left them the three friends sat down just -within the entrance to the tomb, looking out over the quiet city lying -in the plain below them. - -"I wish we had our peasant dresses," Chebron said, "that we might go -down with you and join in the search for Mysa." - -"It would be too dangerous," Jethro said decidedly. "Too many have -seen you taking part in the services and procession for you to have a -chance of passing unnoticed. Amuba is less likely than you to be -detected, and if his skin was stained, his eyebrows blackened, and his -head shaved, he might manage to pass providing he walked with his eyes -fixed on the ground; but in that way he would not have much chance of -coming upon traces of Mysa. - -"Any search you make must be at night. I shall to-day station myself -near the house of Ptylus. I do not expect to gain any information from -gazing at the high wall which surrounds it, but I will follow, as -closely as I can without attracting observation, all the slaves or -servants who may come out, especially if two issue forth together; I -may then catch a few words of their talk, and possibly gather some -clew to the mystery. Still I own that the chance is small, and you -must not look forward in any way to my returning with news." - -"I wish, Jethro," Chebron said, "that if possible you would again go -to our house, see the old woman, and get her to bring out to you a -suit of my priests' garments; with these I could at night enter the -temple, and wander unquestioned through the chambers and courts. The -nights are dark now, and unless I pass close to a lamp none could -recognize me. We overheard one conversation of importance there, and -it may be that I could overhear another." - -"There would be danger in the attempt," Jethro said doubtfully. - -"That matters not at all!" Chebron exclaimed impetuously. "All this -trouble has come upon us through me, and even should there be some -slight risk I would willing face it; but in truth I think there is no -chance whatever of my being recognized. See how often Amuba went there -with me, and though the nights were always moonlit we never were once -addressed, nor was it noticed that Amuba was not one of the regular -attendants of the temple, who alone have a right to penetrate beyond -the great courts." - -"So be it, then," Jethro said. "Then you shall explore the temple, -Amuba and I will search every cavern in the hills. There are many -great tombs behind the temple, and just as we have selected such a -hiding-place, Ptylus may have chosen one as a place of concealment for -Mysa. There are many tombs there built by princes, nobles, and wealthy -priests for their reception after death which could be turned into a -comfortable dwelling. After we have spent some time in searching -there, we must, if unsuccessful, try further away. Ptylus, no doubt, -like Ameres, has farms and country residences, and she may be hidden -in one of these." - -"I believe myself," Amuba said, "that a better plan than yours will -be for us to establish a watch over Plexo. Ptylus has his duties and -is no doubt fully occupied in securing his election to the high -priesthood, but Plexo would most probably go sometimes to see Mysa in -her place of imprisonment; he will naturally be anxious to conciliate -or frighten her into giving her consent to marry him as soon as -possible. Therefore, if we can but watch him sufficiently closely, he -is sure to lead us at last to her." - -"That will certainly be the best way, Amuba. I did not think of it -before, but it is clearly the plan that promises the best chance of -success. We might search the country for years without finding her; -and although I wish to keep up your hopes, I really despaired in my -own mind. But, as you say, if we follow Plexo, sooner or later he is -sure to bring us to her. But to do so we shall want many disguises. I -will think the matter over as I walk to-day, and when I see Chigron -this evening will beg him to get the disguises that seem to him the -best for us to use." - -"As for me, Jethro," Chebron said, "I will visit the temple of an -evening, as I said. But long before midnight all will be quiet there; -so that will give me plenty of time for sleep, and in the daytime I -will work with you. Get me the garb of a peasant woman. In such a -dress and with a female head-covering I could surely get myself up so -that even those who know me best would pass by without suspicion. Many -women are taller than I am. The disguise would be out of the question -for Amuba, who is well-nigh as tall as you are, besides being wide and -strong-looking, but for me it would do well." - -"Yes, I think you could pass as a woman," Jethro agreed; "and -certainly the more of us there are to watch this rascal the better. -But for myself I think that we are more likely to succeed by night -than by day. Plexo, too, has his duties in the temple, and would be -likely to pay his visits after dark. Then it would be a mere question -of speed of foot, and Amuba and I used to be trained in running, and -it will be a swift horse that will outpace us. And now I am going down -to the city. I feel more hopeful than I did, lads, and for the first -time begin to think that we have a chance of discovering where the -villains have carried Mysa." - -The day passed slowly to Chebron and Amuba. They would not show -themselves outside the tomb, as Chigron had earnestly begged them not -to do so; besides, there were frequently people about on the hillside, -for many came daily to offer prayers at the tombs of their relatives. -Still they had much to talk of--the chances of finding Mysa; the -question with whom she should be placed if recovered; the prospects -of the long and adventurous journey which lay before them. Amuba -encouraged talk on all these points, and started the conversation -afresh whenever it dropped, for he saw that the excitement concerning -Mysa had done a great deal for Chebron. It had weaned his thoughts -from the death of his father, and the consequences that had arisen -from his unfortunate shot; it had given him fresh subject for thought, -and had revived his spirits and interest in life. Both lads were glad -when, late in the afternoon, they saw Jethro ascending the hill. - -"I have no news," he said as he came up to them. "I have been all day -in the neighborhood of the house of Ptylus, and have followed all who -came out two together from it. I have overheard many scraps of -conversation, and one and all talked upon the same subject, the death -of Ameres and of the sacred cat, and the want of success in the -search for you. The fact of Mysa being carried off was spoken of once -or twice; but I was convinced by the manner in which the slaves spoke -to each other on the subject that they had not the slightest idea that -their master was concerned in the matter, and they had assuredly no -knowledge whatever of her being in the house. - -"Of course it is possible that she might be there without its being -generally known to all the slaves. Still you know how things leak out -in a household, and how everything done by the master and mistress -soon becomes public property; and had any one among them heard -something unusual was going on, it would by this time have been known -to all the servants. I hardly thought that Ptylus would have ventured -to have her carried home, for he might suppose that her mother's -suspicions might be directed toward him just as ours have been, and -that if she made a complaint against him a search of his house might -be ordered; besides, there are too many servants there for a secret to -be kept. No, if a clew is to be obtained it will be in the temple or -by our following Plexo." - -As soon as it was dark they descended the hill together. Chebron had -attired himself in the garments bearing the distinguishing marks of -the priesthood that Jethro had brought up with him, having obtained -them from old Lyptis. When near the house of the embalmer the lad -stopped, and Jethro went on and returned in half an hour with the -various disguises he had asked Chigron to obtain for him. All these, -with the exception of the scanty attire of two peasants, he hid for -the present in some bushes near the path, then he rubbed Amuba's skin -and his own with a fluid he had obtained from Chigron; and after -putting on the peasants' clothes they took their way toward the house -of Ptylus. - -While Chebron went toward the temple, which was but a short distance -from the house, Jethro and Amuba sat down by the wall close to the -gate so that none could leave it without their knowledge. But beyond -servants and visitors no one came out. At ten o'clock they heard the -bolts of the gates fastened, but remained where they were until near -midnight, when Chebron joined them. He had spent the time wandering -from court to court of the temple, but beyond a solitary priest moving -here and there replenishing the lamps of the altars he had seen no -one, and had been himself entirely unnoticed. Amuba and Chebron were -both inclined to be dispirited at the want of success of their -watching, but Jethro chid them for their impatience. - -"You do not suppose," he said, "that you are going to find out a -secret so well hidden by a few hours' watching. It may be weeks before -we succeed. To-morrow we will begin our watch two or three hours -before sundown. I am better known to the servants at the house of -Ptylus than you are, as I have often taken messages there; besides, -in my disguise I could not so well loiter about without attracting -attention as you could. I will, therefore, content myself with -watching the northern road from the city upon the chance of his taking -that way, while you in your dress as peasants can watch the house -itself. You, Chebron, might sit down by the wall fifty yards from the -house on the north side, while you, Amuba, had best keep on the other -side of the road and somewhat to the south of the gate. In this way -you will be in sight of each other and yet not together; solitary -figures are less likely to attract attention than two together, for it -is for two boys that people will be looking. As I should scarcely know -you myself now that your skins are darkened, there is, I trust, small -fear of others detecting your disguise." - -Accordingly the next day, three hours after noon, Amuba and Chebron, -disguised as peasants, went down to the house of Ptylus and took their -posts as arranged. Late in the afternoon Amuba noticed that one of the -slaves from the house of Ptylus suddenly checked his walk as he passed -Chebron and gazed fixedly at him. Amuba left the spot where he was -standing and walked quickly in that direction. The slave spoke to -Chebron, who rose to his feet. A moment later the slave seized him. As -they were struggling Amuba ran up. - -"Here is a find!" the slave exclaimed. "This is the slayer of the -sacred cat. Aid me to drag him into the house of my master." - -But to his surprise Amuba sprang upon him and struck him such a heavy -blow in the face that he released his hold of Chebron and staggered -backward. - -"Run for your life!" Amuba exclaimed to his friend. "I will take -another route." - -The slave, recovering from his blow, rushed at Amuba, shouting at the -top of his voice: - -"Death to the insulters of the gods! Death to the slayers of the -sacred cat!" - -But Amuba, who was now eighteen years of age, was at once stronger and -more active than the slave, whose easy life in the household of the -priest had unfitted him for such a struggle. Springing back to avoid -the grasp of his assailant, Amuba struck him with all his strength in -the face, and as he reeled backward repeated the blow, and the man -fell heavily to the ground. But several other people attracted by the -conflict and the shouts of the slave, were running up, and Amuba took -to his heels at the top of his speed. As he expected, the passers-by -paused to assist the fallen man and to learn the cause of the fray -before they took up the pursuit, and he was nearly two hundred yards -away when he heard the cry again raised, "Death to the slayer of the -sacred cat!" - -By this time he was alongside of Chebron, who had paused to see the -issue of the contest with the slave. - -"Do you turn off, Chebron, and take a turning or two and conceal -yourself, and then make your way up to the hill. I will keep straight -on for awhile. I have more last than you have and can outrun these -fellows, never fear. Do as I tell you," he said almost angrily as he -saw that Chebron hesitated when they reached the next turning. "If we -keep together they will overtake us both." - -Chebron hesitated no longer, but took the turning indicated. Amuba -slackened his speed now, judging correctly that his pursuers if they -saw they gained upon him would not trouble themselves about his -companion, of whose identity they were probably still ignorant. When, -on looking back, he saw that all had passed the turning, he again -quickened his speed. He was not afraid of being overtaken by those -behind him, but that he might meet other people who, seeing the -pursuit, would take him for a fugitive from justice, and endeavor to -stop him. One or two did indeed make feeble attempts to do so, but did -not care to grapple in earnest with a powerful young man, evidently -desperate, and of whose crime they knew nothing. - -As soon as he felt sure that Chebron was quite safe from pursuit, he -turned off from the road he was following and struck across the -country. A quarter of an hour's running took him fairly beyond the -villas and detached houses scattered so thickly round Thebes. The -ground here was closely cultivated. It was intersected everywhere by -channels conveying the water needed for the irrigation of the crops. -The holdings were small, and in the center of each stood a little -hut. - -Some of these were inhabited, but for the most part the cultivators -lived in the villages, using the huts only when it was necessary to -scare away the birds and keep a close watch over their fruit. In some -of these patches the fruit trees were thick, and Amuba took advantage -of the cover to turn off at right angles to the course he had been -pursuing, and then shaping his course so as to keep in shelter of the -trees, ran until he arrived at a hut whose door stood open. A glance -within showed that it was not at present used by the owner. He entered -and closed the door behind him, and then climbed up a ladder, and -threw himself down on some boards that lay on the rafters for the -storage of fruit, pulling the ladder up after him. - -The last glimpse he had of his pursuers showed him that they were -fully four hundred yards behind him when he turned off from the line -he had been following, and he would have kept on and trusted to his -speed and endurance to outrun them had he not been sure that many of -the cultivators whom he had passed in his flight, and who had -contented themselves with shouting threats at him for crossing their -land, would, on learning from his pursuers the crime with which he was -charged, join in the pursuit. Thus fresh runners would be constantly -taking up the chase, and he would eventually be run down; he therefore -thought it best to attempt to conceal himself until night fell. - -Scarcely had he thrown himself down when he heard loud shouts rise -close at hand, and had no doubt that some laborer unobserved by him -had noticed him enter the hut. He sprang down again from the loft, and -seizing a stake which with several others was standing in a corner, he -again sallied out. As he did so he was suddenly grasped. Twisting -himself free he saw a powerful Nubian armed with a hoe. Without a -moment's hesitation Amuba sprang at him with his stake. The Nubian -parried the blow with his hoe, and in turn dealt a sweeping blow at -the lad. - -Amuba sprang back just in time, and before the negro could recover his -guard, struck him a heavy blow on the wrist with his stake. The negro -dropped his hoe, uttering a cry of pain and rage. Amuba followed up -the blow on the wrist with one on the ankle, and as the man fell, -bounded away again. But the negro's shouts had been heard, and the -pursuers were now but fifty yards away. Amuba saw that their numbers -had swollen considerably, and a doubt as to his ability to escape them -for the first time entered his mind. - -They were too close for any further attempts at concealment, and he -had now only his speed to rely on. But he had already run nearly three -miles, while many of those behind him were fresh, and he soon found -that he could not again widen the space between them. For another two -miles he still kept ahead, at first leaping the ditches lightly and -without a pause, but at last often landing in the middle, and -scrambling out with difficulty. He was becoming completely exhausted -now. Those who had at first taken up the chase had long since -abandoned it; but, as he had feared, fresh men constantly joined the -ranks of his pursuers. They were but a few paces behind him when he -found himself again on the highroad. - -A few hundred yards away he saw a chariot approaching, and feeling -that further flight was hopeless he turned, stake in hand, to face his -pursuers, who were but a few paces behind him. With cries of "Kill -him!" "Death to the insulter of the gods!" they rushed at him. Panting -and breathless he defended himself as best he could. But his guard -was beaten down and blows were showered upon him. - -He fell, but with a great effort struggled to his feet again; his -senses were fast deserting him now, but he was conscious that the -chariot drew up beside him, scattering his assailants right and left. -He heard a voice raised in tones of indignant reproach, and then a -renewal of the cries of hatred. He felt strong arms round him; then he -was lifted, and for a time became unconscious. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A PRINCE OF EGYPT. - - -When Amuba recovered his senses he was lying in a heap at the bottom -of the chariot. Two men were standing in the car beside him. The one -he supposed to be the driver, the other the owner of the chariot. - -In a few minutes the chariot turned off through a stately gateway. The -driver leaped down and closed the gates, and then led the horses to -the steps leading up to a splendid mansion. The man beside him called -out, and two or three slaves ran down the steps. Then he was lifted -out, carried into the house, and laid upon a couch. A cup of wine was -placed to his lips, and after he had drunk a slave bathed his head -with cold water, and bandaged up the numerous cuts from which blood -was flowing. - -This greatly refreshed him, and he raised himself on his arm. An order -was given, and the slaves left the apartment, and Amuba looking up saw -a tall and stately figure standing before him. He recognized him at -once, for he had seen him following the king in one of the processions -among the princes of Egypt. - -"Who are you? and is it true what those men whom I found maltreating -you averred, that you are the slayer of the Cat of Bubastes?" - -"My name is Amuba, my lord," the lad said, striving to stand upright, -but his questioner signed to him to remain seated. "I am a Rebu taken -prisoner of war, and handed as a slave to Ameres, high priest of -Osiris. I am not the slayer of the cat, but it is true that I was -present at its death, and that it might just as well have been my -arrow that accidentally pierced it as that of him who did so." - -"Then it was an accident?" the noble said. - -"It was wholly an accident, my lord. We fired at a hawk that had been -thinning the pet birds of my master's daughter. One of the arrows -struck a tree, and glancing off entered the house in which the cat was -kept and unfortunately caused its death. We regretted the accident -bitterly, knowing how sacred was the animal in the sight of the -Egyptians." - -"And not in your sight, young man? You are not yet a follower of the -gods of the Egyptians?" - -"I am not, my lord," Amuba answered; "but at the same time I would not -upon any account have willfully done aught to offend the religious -opinions of others, although I myself have not been taught to consider -the life of a cat as of more value than that of other animals." - -"Then you worship the gods of your own people?" - -Amuba was silent for a moment. - -"I would answer frankly, my lord, and I hope that you will not be -displeased. Since I have come to Egypt I have come to think that -neither the gods of the Egyptians nor the gods my fathers worshiped -are the true gods. I believe that there is one great God over all, and -that the others are but as it were his attributes, which men worship -under the name of gods." - -The Egyptian uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -"Whence did you obtain such a belief as this?" he asked. - -Amuba was silent. - -"It must have been from Ameres himself," the noble went on, seeing -that the lad was reluctant to answer. "I knew him well, and also that -he carried to an extreme the knowledge he had gained. But how came it -that he should speak of such matters to you--a slave?" - -"My master was good enough to make me a companion and friend to his -son rather than a servant to him," Amuba replied, "partly because he -thought that I should lead him to a more active life, which he needed, -for he was overstudious; partly because I had high rank in my own -country, of which my father was the king. But he never spoke of this -matter until after the accident of the cat. My friend Chebron was -utterly cast down at the sin that he thought he had committed, and -would at once have denounced himself, preferring death to living with -such a burden upon his mind. Then his father, seeing that his whole -life would be imbittered, and that he would probably be forced to fly -from Egypt and dwell in some other land, told him the belief which he -himself held. I believed this all the more readily because I had heard -much the same from an Israelite maiden who served my master's -daughter." - -Again Amuba's listener uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -"I knew not," he said, after a pause, "that there was an Israelite who -still adhered to the religion of their ancestors." - -"The maiden told me that for the most part they had taken to the -worship of the Egyptians, and indeed, so far as she knew, she was the -last who clung to the old belief. She had been brought up by a -great-grandfather who had been driven from his people and forced to -dwell apart because he reproached them for having forsaken their God, -and he instructed her in the faith he held, which was that there was -but one God over all the earth." - -"Do you know who I am?" the noble asked abruptly. - -"I know that you are one of the princes of the land, my lord, for I -have seen you in a procession following closely behind the king with -his sons and other princes." - -"I also am an Israelite. It seems strange to you, doubtless," he went -on, as Amuba started in astonishment at hearing a prince of Egypt -declare himself as belonging to the hated race. "Many years ago, at -the time I was an infant, there was a great persecution of the -Israelites, and as is supposed my father and mother, fearing for my -life, placed me in a little cradle and set me afloat on the water. It -chanced--or was it chance or the will of God?--that the water took me -to the spot where the Princess Thermuthis, the daughter of the then -king, was bathing with her maidens. She had compassion upon me and -adopted me, and as I grew up I had all the rights and privileges of -her son, and rank, as you say, with the princes of Egypt. She called -me Moses; for that was the name, as it seems, that was writ upon a -piece of papyrus fastened to my cradle. I was instructed in all the -learning of the Egyptians, and grew up as one of them. So I lived for -many years, and had almost forgotten that I was not one of them; but -now--" And here he stopped and began thoughtfully to pace up and down -the apartment. - -"What has become of the maiden of whom you spoke?" he asked, suddenly -stopping before Amuba. - -"That I know not, my lord. Upon the day that Ameres was murdered by -the mob his little daughter was carried off, and Ruth, for that is her -name, has also been missing ever since. It is for that reason we have -lingered here, otherwise we should have fled at once." - -"You and the son of Ameres?" - -"Yes, my lord, and another Rebu, one of my father's warriors, who was -a fellow-captive with me, and also slave of Ameres. The high priest -had great confidence in him, and committed to him the mission of -aiding Chebron to escape and of conducting us if possible back to my -own land; but when we found that my young mistress was missing we -decided to remain to search for her." - -"What will you do when you find her?" - -"If we can rescue her from those who have carried her away we shall -hand her over to her mother, and then leave the land as we had -intended. Unless, indeed, you, my lord, in your goodness, could obtain -for Chebron a pardon for an offense which was wholly accidental." - -"That I can never do," Moses said. "This is wholly beyond my power; -the king himself could not withstand the demand of the populace for -his life. Until lately I might have in some way aided you, but I have -no longer influence and have myself fallen into disgrace at court." - -After again pacing the apartment for some time, Moses went on: - -"If you find this little Israelite maiden tell her that she is not the -last of the Israelites who believes in the God of Abraham, our -ancestor; tell her that Moses also holds to the faith. You again look -surprised, young man, and you may well be so, seeing that I have from -the days of my infancy been separated from my people. - -"But our priests keep accurate records of all things connected with -the countries and religion of the people with whom we come in contact. -Thus, then, it was easy for me, who have access to all the stores of -knowledge, to examine the rolls recording the first coming of my -people, the rule of Joseph, the great governor, the coming of his -relations here and their settlement in the country. Thus I learned -that they worshiped one God, whom they believed to be the only God, -in the world. I have been interested deeply in the learning of the -priesthood, and have long seen that behind all the forms and mysteries -of the Egyptian religion this central idea seemed to be hidden. None -with whom I have spoken acknowledged boldly that it was so; but I -heard reports that Ameres was bold enough to entertain the idea that -there was but one God, and that our far-back ancestors, who had first -worshiped him under the various attributes they ascribed to him, came -in course of time to lose the truth altogether and to regard shadows -as substances. Therefore, I said to myself, I too will believe in the -one God worshiped by my forefathers, hoping that in time it may be -that I may learn more of him. - -"Until the last two or three years I have been content to live as one -of the Egyptian princes; but of late my heart has turned much to my -oppressed people, and I have determined upon doing what I can to -relieve their burden. I have even raised my voice in the council in -their favor, and this has created a coldness between the court and -myself. They consider that I, having had the honor of adoption into -the royal family, should myself forget, and allow others to forget, -what they regard as my base origin. Sometimes I own that I myself -wonder that I should feel so drawn toward them, and even wish that I -could forget my origin and give my whole mind to the duties and -pleasures of my present rank; but I feel moved by a spirit stronger -than my own. But we must talk no longer; I see that you are now -stronger. Do you think that you can walk?" - -"Oh, yes," Amuba replied, getting up and walking across the apartment. -"I have not lost much blood, and was only dizzy from their blows." - -"Then it is better that you should leave at once. The people from whom -I snatched you will have carried the news speedily to the city, and -officials will doubtless soon arrive here to demand that you be given -up to them. Take, therefore, another draught of wine and a piece of -bread. I will then give you in charge of a trusty slave, who will lead -you through the garden and through a small door at the back, and will -guide you to any spot where you may wish to go. Even now, doubtless, a -watch is being kept up in the front of the house. When the officials -arrive I shall tell them the truth--that coming, as I drove, upon a -lad who was being attacked and murdered by a number of brutal -peasants, I carried him off in my chariot. As to the shouts I heard, -that you were the slayer of the Cat of Bubastes, I regarded it as an -invention designed to hinder me from interfering on your behalf; that -I questioned you upon your arrival here, and finding that, as I had -supposed, you were entirely innocent of the offense charged against -you, I urged you to leave at once, letting you depart by the garden -gate in order to escape the fury of your persecutors. As you are not -an Israelite, no one can suppose that I could have any motive for -shielding an offender from the punishment of his crimes. Do not thank -me, for time presses, and you must be moving, so as to be well away -before it is known that you have left. May the God we both worship, -though as yet in ignorance, guide and preserve you and carry you and -your friends through the dangers that beset you." - -Moses drew back the curtains from before the entrance to the chamber -and clapped his hands, and ordered the servant who answered the call -to tell Mephres to come to him. An old slave speedily appeared, and -Moses ordered him to take Amuba out by the private way and to guide -him by quiet roads back to the city. Then cutting short his guest's -expressions of thanks for the great kindness he had rendered him, he -hurried him away, for he knew that at any moment the officials might -arrive from the city. - -It was well that Amuba had been supplied with a guide, for upon -issuing into the night air--for by this time darkness had fallen--he -found that he could with difficulty direct his steps; his head -throbbed as if it would split from the blows that had been dealt him, -and every limb ached. The old slave, however, seeing that he stumbled -as he walked, placed his staff in one of Amuba's hands, and taking him -firmly by the arm led him steadily on. It seemed to the lad that he -went on walking all night, and yet it was less than an hour after -starting when his conductor found that he could go no further, and -that he was wholly unable to answer his questions as to whither he -wished to be guided. He determined to stop with him until he should be -able to proceed again. He therefore led Amuba aside into an orchard, -and there laid him down under the shelter of a tree, covering him with -one of his own garments. - -"It is well for the lad that my lord arrived just when he did," he -said to himself as he sat down by the side of Amuba and listened to -his heavy breathing--for all in the house had heard from the -charioteer of the rescue of the lad from the hands of furious -peasants. - -"He must have been very near death when he was saved from their hands. -Maxis said that his assailants shouted out that he was the slayer of -the Cat of Bubastes about which such a turmoil has been made. Had it -been so I do not think that my lord would have aided him thus to -escape; though for my part I care not if he had killed all the cats in -Egypt, seeing that in my native Libya we worship not the gods of the -Egyptians." - -Several times during the night the old man got up and plucked large -handfuls of grass wet with dew and placed them on Amuba's head, and -when he perceived the first faint gleam of morning in the sky he -aroused him. Amuba sat up and looked round with an air of -astonishment. - -"Where am I?" he exclaimed. - -"You are at present in an orchard, my young friend, though to whom it -may belong I know not; but finding that you were unable to continue -your journey I drew you aside here, and you have slept well all night, -and I hope feel better for it and able to proceed." - -"I remember now," Amuba said; "it seemed to me that I walked for hours -leaning on your arm." - -"It was but an hour," the slave replied; "we are not yet two miles -from my lord's house." - -"And you have watched over me all night," Amuba said; "for it was, I -know, but an hour after sunset when we started. Truly I am deeply -indebted to you for your kindness." - -"Speak not of it," the old man replied. "My lord gave you into my -charge, and I cannot return until I can tell him that you are in -safety. But if you are able to walk we must pass on, for there may be -a search for you as soon as it is light." - -"I am perfectly able to go on," Amuba said; "thanks to the wet grass I -see you have been piling round my head, the heat seems to have passed -away and the throbbing to have ceased." - -Amuba was indeed now able to walk at a brisk pace. - -"Which way do you want to go?" the slave asked him in a short time. -"It is getting light enough now for me to see your face, and it will -never do for you to meet any one. Your head is still swollen, and -there are marks of bruises and cuts all over the scalp. Your -appearance will attract attention at once, and if any saw you who had -heard of last evening's doings you would be at once suspected." - -"I will make direct for the hills," Amuba said. "They are not far -distant, and I can easily conceal myself among the rocks until -sunset." - -"Let us hurry on, then," the slave said; "it is but half an hour's -walk. But as we may at any moment now meet peasants going to their -work, I will go on ahead; do you follow a hundred yards behind me. If -I see any one coming I will lift my hand above my head, and do you at -once step aside from the road into the vineyard or orchard, and lie -there until they have passed." - -Amuba followed these instructions, and it was more than an hour before -he reached the foot of the hills, so often did he have to turn aside -to avoid groups of peasants. At last he reached the foot of the rugged -ascent. Here he took leave of his guide with many warm thanks for his -kindness and services, and with a message of gratitude to his lord. -Then Amuba ascended the hill for a short distance, and laid himself -down among some great bowlders. - -Although greatly refreshed by his night's rest he was still weak and -shaken, and felt altogether unequal to making his way along the hills -for the four miles which intervened between himself and the -hiding-place of his friends among the tombs above the city. He was -soon asleep again, and the sun was already some distance down the sky -when he awoke. He waited until it sank behind the brow of the hill -above him, and then climbing some distance higher made his way along -the hillside, having little fear that his figure would be noticed now -that the hillside was in shadow. Darkness had just fallen when he -arrived at the tomb they used as their shelter. A figure was standing -there in deep shadow. As he turned the path and approached, it -advanced to meet him. Then there was a cry of joy, and Jethro sprang -forward and clasped him in his arms. - -"My dear Amuba, I never thought to see you in life again!" - -A moment later Chebron ran out, and in his turn embraced Amuba. - -"I shall never forgive you and I shall never forgive myself," he said -reproachfully. "What right had you to take my danger upon yourself? It -was wrong, Amuba; and I have suffered horribly. Even though we are as -brothers, why should you sacrifice yourself for me, especially when it -is my life and not yours that is forfeited? I told myself a thousand -times last night that I was base and cowardly in allowing you and -Jethro to risk your lives for me, when by giving myself up the rage of -the people will be satisfied, and you could make your way out of this -land without great danger. It was bad enough that you should share my -risk, but when it comes to your taking it all upon your shoulders that -I should escape free, I can accept such sacrifice no longer; and -to-morrow I will go down and surrender myself." - -Amuba was about to burst into remonstrance, when Jethro touched him as -a sign to be silent. The Rebu knew how acutely Chebron had suffered -and how he had spent the night in tears and self-reproaches, and felt -that it was better to allow his present agitation to pass before -arguing with him. - -"Are you hungry, Amuba?" he asked. - -"That I am, Jethro. I had nothing save a mouthful of bread since our -meal here yesterday; and you will get no news out of me until I have -eaten and drunk." A meal of cakes and cool fish and a draught of wine -was soon taken; and Amuba said, "Now I will tell you all about it." - -"We know the first part," Jethro said. "When I returned here yesterday -evening I found Chebron almost beside himself with anxiety. He told me -how he had been discovered by one of the slaves of Ptylus who knew him -by sight; how you had attacked the slave, rescued him from his hands, -and then joined him in his flight; how you insisted that you should -separate; and how the pursuers had all followed on your track, leaving -him to return here unmolested. He had been here upward of two hours -when I arrived, and as the time had passed on without your return he -had become more and more anxious. Of course I at once started out to -gather news, and had the greatest difficulty in persuading him to -remain here, for he scorned the idea of danger to himself from the -search which would be sure to be again actively set on foot. However, -as I pointed out it was necessary that if you returned you should find -somebody here, he at last agreed to remain. - -"When I got into the town I found the whole city in the streets. The -news had come that the slayers of the cat had been discovered; that -one had escaped, but that the other had been overtaken after a long -chase; and that he had been set upon and would have been slain, as he -well deserved, had not one of the princes of the royal house arrived -and carried him off in his chariot. This news excited the greatest -surprise and indignation, and two officers of the city had gone out to -the prince's mansion, which was six miles away from the city, to claim -the fugitive and bring him to the town, when he would be at once -delivered to the just anger of the populace. - -"As soon as I learned this I started out along the road by which they -would return, and hurried on past the people already gathered there. I -had brought my sword with me, and my intention was that as the chariot -returned with you I would leap upon it, surprise and slay the -officials, and drive off with you; for I knew you would be able to -take no part in making the escape, as I had heard that you were -already insensible when carried off in the chariot. There were groups -of people all along the road with torches, but I thought that a sudden -surprise would probably be successful. - -"At last I heard the chariot approaching. It was being driven more -slowly than I had expected. As it came to a large group of people some -distance ahead of me it stopped for a moment, and the official -addressed the people. There was no shout or sound of exultation, and I -felt convinced at once that either upon their arrival they had found -that you were already dead, or that in some miraculous way you had -escaped. I therefore hurried back to the next group. When the chariot -came up there was a shout of, 'What is the news? Where is the -malefactor?' The officials checked their horses and replied: 'A -mistake has been made. The prince assures us that the lad was a poor -slave and wholly innocent of this affair. He has satisfied himself -that in their jealousy for the honor of the gods the peasants who -attacked the lad committed a grievous wrong and fell upon a wholly -innocent person. After assuring himself of this he had had his wounds -bound up and suffered him to depart. The prince intends to lay a -complaint before the council against the persons who have cruelly -maltreated and nearly murdered an innocent person, who, he stated, -interfered in the matter because he saw a slave attacking a young lad, -and who fled fearing trouble because of the punishment he had -inflicted upon the aggressor.' - -"The announcement was received in silence; but when the chariot had -driven on again there was much murmuring. This account had certainly -the appearance of truth; for it was already known by the narrative of -the slave who recognized Chebron that the person who rescued him was a -youth and a stranger to him, and that it was this youth who had been -pursued while Chebron himself had escaped. Still there was murmuring -that the prince should in so important a matter have suffered the -youth to depart without a more searching examination. Some said that -even if the boy's story was true he deserved punishment for attacking -the slave who had arrested Chebron, while others said that as he had -certainly been beaten almost to death, he had been punished -sufficiently. All agreed that no doubt the whole affair would be -investigated. - -"I hurried back again with the news, and all night we watched for you, -and when morning came without your arrival we were almost as anxious -as before, fearing that you had been too badly injured to rejoin us, -and that to-day you would almost certainly be recaptured. As the -search for Chebron would assuredly be actively carried out, I insisted -on his remaining quiet here while I made frequent journeys down to the -city for news; but beyond the certainty that you had not been -recaptured, although a diligent search had been made for you as well -as for Chebron, I learned nothing. Now, Amuba, I have relieved you of -the necessity for much talk; you have only to fill in the gaps of the -story and to tell us how it was that you persuaded this Egyptian -prince of your innocence." - -"It is rather a long story, Jethro; but now that I have had a meal I -feel strong enough to talk all night, for I have had nearly -twenty-four hours' sleep. First, I will tell Chebron that when I took -the pursuers off his track I had no idea of sacrificing myself, for I -made sure that I should be able to outrun them, and I should have done -so easily had it not been for fresh people constantly taking up the -pursuit and at last running me down." - -Amuba then related the whole story of his flight, his attack with -the peasants and his rescue, and then recited the whole of his -conversation with his rescuer and his proceedings after leaving his -house. "So you see," he concluded, "that strangely enough it was the -teaching of your father, Chebron, and the tale that Ruth told us, and -that her grandfather before told you, of the God of their forefathers, -that saved my life. Had it not been that this prince of Israelitish -birth also believed in one God, it could hardly be that he would have -saved me from the vengeance of the people, for as he says he is in -disfavor with the king, and his conduct in allowing me to go free -merely on my own assertion of my innocence is likely to do him further -harm. This he would assuredly never have risked had it not been for -the tie between us of a common faith in one great God." - -"It is a strange story," Jethro said when Amuba brought his narrative -to a conclusion, "and you have had a marvelous escape. Had it not been -for the arrival of this prince upon the spot at the very moment you -must have been killed. Had he not have been of a compassionate nature -he would never, in the first place, have interfered on your behalf; -and had it not been for your common faith, he would have held you -until the officials arrived to claim you. Then, too, you were -fortunate, indeed, in the kindness of your guide; for evidently had it -not been for your long rest, and the steps he took to reduce the heat -of your wounds, you must have fallen into the hands of the searchers -this morning. Above all, I consider it extraordinary that you should -at the critical moment have been rescued by perhaps the one man in -Egypt who would have had the will and the courage to save you." - -Upon the following morning Jethro and Amuba succeeded with some -difficulty in dissuading Chebron from his determination to give -himself up, the argument that had the most powerful effect being that -by so doing he would be disobeying the last orders of his father. It -was resolved that in future as a better disguise he should be attired -as a woman, and that the watch upon the house of Ptylus should be -recommenced; but that they should station themselves further away. It -was thought, indeed, that the search in that neighborhood was likely -to be less rigorous than elsewhere, as it would not be thought -probable that the fugitives would return to a spot where they had been -recognized. Amuba's disguise was completely altered. He was still in -the dress of a peasant, but, by means of pigments obtained from -Chigron, Jethro so transformed him as to give him, to a casual -observer, the appearance of advanced years. - -They had had a long discussion as to the plan they would adopt, Amuba -and Jethro wishing Chebron to leave the watching entirely to them. But -this he would not hear of, saying that he was confident that, in his -disguise as a woman, no one would know him. - -"We must find out which way he goes, to begin with," he said. "After -that none of us need go near the house. I will buy a basket and some -flowers from one of the peasant women who bring them in, and will take -my seat near the gate. By three o'clock Plexo will have finished his -offices in the temple, and may set out half an hour later. I shall see -at least which road he takes. Then, when you join me at dusk, one of -you can walk a mile or two along the road; the other twice as far. We -shall then see when he returns whether he has followed the road any -considerable distance or has turned off by any crossroads, and can -post ourselves on the following day so as to find out more." - -"The plan is a very good one, Chebron, and we will follow it. Once we -get upon his trail I will guarantee that it will not be long before we -trace him to his goal." - -Accordingly that afternoon Chebron, dressed as a peasant woman, took -his seat with a basket of flowers fifty yards from the entrance to the -house of Ptylus. At about the time he expected Plexo and his father -returned together from the temple. Half an hour later a light chariot -with two horses issued from the gate. Plexo was driving and an -attendant stood beside him. Chebron felt sure that if Plexo was going -to visit Mysa he would take the road leading into the country, and the -post he had taken up commanded a view of the point where the road -divided into three--one running straight north along the middle of the -valley, while the others bore right and left until one fell into the -great road near the river, the other into that on the side of the -valley near the hills. It was this last that Plexo took; and although -he might be going to visit acquaintances living in the many villas -scattered for miles and miles along the roadside, Chebron felt a -strong hope that he was going to Mysa's hiding-place. As soon as it -was dark he was joined by Jethro and Amuba. - -"He started at three o'clock!" Chebron exclaimed as they came up to -him, "and took the road leading to the foot of the hills." - -"We will go on there at once," Jethro said. "He may return before -long, and we must hurry. Do you walk quietly on, Chebron, and stop at -the point where the road ahead runs into the main road. Amuba shall -stop two miles further; I will go two miles further still. If he comes -along the road past me we will begin at that point to-morrow." - -Jethro had but just reached the spot at which he proposed to wait when -he heard the sound of wheels approaching, and a minute later the -chariot drove along. The moon was not up, but the night was clear and -bright; and, advancing as close he could to the passing chariot, he -was able to recognize Plexo. The latter gave an angry exclamation as -his horses shied at the figure which had suddenly presented itself, -and gave a cut with his whip at Jethro. A minute later the chariot had -disappeared and Jethro returned toward the city, picking up on his way -Amuba and Chebron. - -The next night Amuba took up his station a mile beyond the spot at -which Jethro had seen the chariot, Jethro another mile ahead, while -Chebron watched the crossroads near the town; but this time it did not -come along, although Chebron had seen him start the same hour as -before. - -"I hardly expected to see him to-night," Jethro said when he joined -the others after fruitlessly waiting for three hours. "He will hardly -be likely to visit her two days in succession. He will be more likely -to leave her for a week to meditate on the hopelessness of refusing to -purchase her liberty at the price of accepting him as her husband. -Doubtless he has to-day merely paid a visit to some friends." - -It was not, indeed, until the fourth night of waiting that Plexo came -along. This time he did not pass Jethro at all, and it was therefore -certain that he had turned off from the main road either to the right -or left at some point between the post of Jethro and that of Amuba. -When this was determined they agreed, after a consultation, not to -return to their hiding-places near Thebes that night, but to lie down -under some trees by the roadside until morning broke, and then to -examine the road carefully. It was not likely that another chariot -would pass before morning, and they might be able to follow the tracks -along the dusty road. - -In this way they discovered the road where he had turned off; but -beyond this the tracks did not show, as the road was hard and almost -free from dust. It lay, as they expected, toward the hills; but there -were so many country mansions of the wealthy classes dotted about, and -so many crossroads leading to these and to the farmhouses of the -cultivators, that they felt they were still far from attaining the -object of their search. - -After some discussion it was agreed that they should ascend the hills -and remain there during the day, and that Jethro should return to the -town as soon as it became dark to obtain a store of provisions -sufficient to last them for a week. This was done, and the next day -they separated at dawn and took up their places on the hills at a -distance of about a mile apart, choosing spots where they commanded a -view over the valley, and arranging to meet at a central point when -night came on. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -AMERES IS REVENGED. - - -Six days passed without their watch being rewarded; then Chebron, -whose post was just opposite the road where they had traced the -wheels, saw a chariot turn from the main road into it. As many others -had taken that course every day he did not at first feel very hopeful, -although the time precisely tallied with that at which Plexo should -have arrived had he started at the same hour as before. As it came -near, however, he became convinced that it was the vehicle he was -looking for. The horses tallied in color with those of Plexo, and the -color of his dress could even at that distance be distinguished. This -time, however, he was not accompanied by a servant, but by a figure -the whiteness of whose garment showed him also to be a priest. "That -must be Ptylus," he said to himself, "my father's murderer. Would I -were down by the edge of the road, with my bow and arrows; high priest -as he has now become, I would send an arrow through his heart!" - -The chariot turned off by the road parallel to that which had been -followed from Thebes, and so close to the foot of the hills that from -Chebron's post he could no longer see it. As soon as it was out of -sight he leaped to his feet and hurried along the hills to join Amuba, -whose post was next to his own. He found his friend had already gone -on, and he hurried breathlessly on until he reached Jethro, who had -been joined by Amuba a few minutes before. - -"Have you seen them?" he exclaimed. - -"I have seen them and marked them down," Jethro replied. "You see that -roof among those trees at the foot of the hill half a mile further -along? They turned off the road and entered these trees. Our search is -over at last." - -"What had we better do, Jethro? Wait until they have left again, and -then go down?" - -"No," Jethro said sternly. "There are two things to be done--the one -is to rescue Mysa; the other to punish the murderer of Ameres. But -even did we determine to delay our vengeance I should say we must -still press on. You saw that arch-villain Ptylus with his son. He has -assuredly come for some purpose; probably he may intend to terrify the -girl until he drives her into taking some solemn oath that she will -accept Plexo as her husband. What can a girl of that age do in the -hands of unscrupulous villains like these? It may be that this fox -Plexo has been trying flattery; and, finding that failed, has called -in Ptylus, who can threaten her with the anger of these gods of hers, -to say nothing of perpetual imprisonment and harsh treatment. We will -therefore push on at once. Amuba and I carry our stout peasant staves, -while you, Chebron, have your dagger concealed under that female -dress. We shall have all the advantage of surprise in our favor. It is -not likely that there are more than one or two men there, with perhaps -a female servant. Ptylus would not wish the secret to be known to more -than was absolutely necessary. Of course it is possible that the four -men who carried her off may all be on guard there, but if so, it makes -but six; and what with the surprise, and what with their not knowing -how numerous we are, that number should not be more than sufficient -for us to dispose of without difficulty. At any rate, were there -twenty I would not hesitate; honest men need never fear an encounter -with rogues." - -"Especially," Amuba said, "when the honest men possess such sinews as -yours, Jethro, and a good heavy cudgel in their hands." - -Jethro smiled, but was in too earnest a mood to answer, and at once -led the way along the hillside until immediately behind the house -among the trees; then they descended, climbing with some difficulty -over the wall surrounding the wood, and entered the inclosure. -Treading as lightly as possible Jethro and his companions passed -through the wood and made their way up to the house. It was small but -handsomely built, and was surrounded with a colonnade supported by -carved pillars. The garden immediately around it was evidently -carefully tended, and the house, from its secluded position, was well -fitted as a place of sojourn for a wealthy priest or noble desirous of -a few days' rest and retirement from the bustle of the great city. As -all were barefooted they passed across the garden to the colonnade -without the slightest sound. As they reached it Jethro held up his -hand for them to stop, for the sound of voices came through the wide -doorway of an apartment opening out to the colonnade. Both Chebron and -Amuba at once recognized the voice of Ptylus. - -"I will put up with no more of this folly, Mysa. You should think -yourself fortunate in the extreme, in the position in which you are, -belonging to a disgraced family, to receive such an offer as my son -makes to you. I will have an answer at once. You will either swear -before the gods that you accept Plexo as your future husband, that you -will reply to all who question you that you have been staying here by -your own free will, and that you remained in concealment simply -because you were overwhelmed with horror at the terrible act of -sacrilege committed by your brother, or you will this night be -confined in a tomb, where you will remain alone and without the light -of day until you agree to my conditions. You don't think, you little -fool, that I, Ptylus, high priest of Osiris, am to be thwarted in my -plans by the opposition of a child like you." - -Here a voice, which the three listeners recognized to their surprise -as that of Ruth, broke out: - -"Do not listen to him, Mysa. Whatever comes of it, never consent to -lie before God, as this wicked man would have you. You call yourself a -high priest, sir. What must be the worth of the gods you pretend to -worship if they suffer one like you to minister to them? Were they -gods, and not mere images of stone, they would strike you dead at the -altar." - -A furious exclamation broke from Ptylus, and he stepped forward and -seized the Hebrew girl roughly by the shoulder, only to start back -with another exclamation as Ruth struck him with her open hand, with -all her force, on the cheek. - -"Drag her hence, Plexo!" he exclaimed. But at this moment the entrance -was darkened, and the three listeners sprang into the room. - -Ptylus had the courage that distinguished his race, and although for a -moment startled at the sudden entry he did not recoil, but drawing a -sword from his girdle he said haughtily: - -"Who are you, and what means this intrusion?" - -"We are those whom you have been hunting to death, Ptylus; and we come -here as avengers of blood. As you brought about the murder of Ameres, -so you must die--to say naught of your offense in carrying off the -daughter of the man you slew." - -Without a word Ptylus rushed upon Jethro with his sword, thinking to -make short work of this insolent peasant; but as he did so, Jethro -whirled his massive club round his head, and catching the blow upon -it, shivered the sword in pieces. - -Ptylus stopped his arm, and, gazing steadily at his opponent, said: - -"Wretch, do you dare to murder the high priest of Osiris?" - -"No," Jethro said, "but I dare to execute him," and he brought his -heavy club down with all his strength upon the head of the priest. - -At this moment Plexo, who had stolen unobserved from the room the -instant the others entered, returned, followed by three armed men. -Chebron and Amuba were so intent upon the combat between Jethro and -the priest that they did not notice the entrance of Plexo, who, with -uplifted knife, sprang upon Chebron. - -There was a scream of warning, and quick as thought Ruth sprang -forward and pushed Plexo as he sprang through the air. The sudden -shock threw both to the ground. Ruth sprang to her feet again, but -Plexo lay there motionless. The three armed men stood for a moment -stupefied at the fall of their two employers, and then, seeing two men -and a woman, rushed forward to attack them. One sweeping blow with -Jethro's staff felled the first of his assailants to the ground; the -others paused irresolute. - -"Drop your weapons, or you are dead men!" Jethro exclaimed. "You are -outnumbered; and if you move, you die!" - -As Chebron had now thrown back his female robe and drawn his dagger, -and taken his place at the door, while Jethro and Amuba were advancing -against them, the two men dropped their weapons. - -"Hold out your hands," Jethro said. "My son, stand over them with your -club, and break the skull of either who may move." - -The men did as they were ordered. Jethro tore strips of cloth off -their garments, twisted them into ropes, and bound their wrists firmly -together. The meaning tone in which Jethro had called Amuba his son -had not escaped either Amuba or Chebron, who saw that Jethro was -desirous of concealing their names. Mysa, who had raised a cry of joy -when Jethro first spoke, had sunk terrified upon a couch, and had -hidden her face in her hands during the short encounter; while Ruth -had stood silent and vigilant beside her, moving only when Plexo -rushed at Chebron, and retiring to Mysa's side again as soon as she -had regained her feet. She, too, understood Jethro's motives in -calling Amuba his son, and stooping over Mysa she said: - -"It is all over now, Mysa, but remain quiet at present. Do not speak -until you see what is going to be done." - -As soon as the men were tied Jethro secured in the same manner the man -who was lying stunned from his blow. Then he turned to Plexo, who had -not moved since he had fallen. He half turned him round, and uttered a -low exclamation of surprise. - -"Gastrion," he said to Chebron, "go with the young lady into the -garden, and remain there until we join you." - -Chebron passed out on to the colonnade, following Mysa and Ruth. The -moment they were unobserved Mysa threw her arms round him, and burst -into tears with joy. - -"Oh, Chebron!" she exclaimed, "you have arrived just in time. I -thought we were never going to get away from that dreadful man; and I -don't know what I should have done if it hadn't been for Ruth. And, -oh! they have been telling me such terrible things--but they can't be -true--that our dear father had been killed; and that it was you, -Chebron, who killed dear Paucis; but of course I did not believe -them--I knew it was all their wickedness." - -"Never mind about that, dear," Chebron said; "we will talk about all -this afterward. The first thing is to get you away from this place. -Jethro and Amuba will soon decide what is best to be done. Are there -any others in the house?" - -"There is one other man," Ruth replied, "and an old woman; I think the -other man is at the door with the chariot." - -"I had better tell Jethro," Chebron said, and he again went into the -room and told Jethro what he had heard. - -"We will seize the woman first," Jethro said, "and then go out round -the house and come down from the other way upon the chariot. The man -will have heard the outcry; and if we came suddenly out of the door, -might leap into the chariot and drive off before we could overtake -him. But if we come upon it from behind we shall secure him." - -"But you have forgotten to bind Plexo," Chebron said. - -"Plexo is dead," Jethro replied. "As he fell his arm was beneath him, -and the knife with which he had intended to strike you pierced his -heart. I am very glad that you observed the way I spoke to Amuba. It -was of the greatest importance that the name should not be mentioned. -This affair will cause a tremendous excitement. There is nothing to -connect us with Ptylus, and it may be supposed that it is the work of -some malefactors who came down from the hills in search of plunder. -The fact that Mysa was here and was carried away is not in itself any -proof that we had a hand in it, for Libyan robbers might well have -carried her and Ruth away to make slaves of. Plexo caught but a -glimpse of us, and doubtless only rushed out and called to the men to -come to his father's assistance. At any rate, let there be no names -mentioned. Now let us finish our work here." - -The female servant was soon found and bound; then the four prisoners -were placed in different rooms, and fastened securely to the wall or -pillars. - -"Never put two prisoners together," Jethro said; "always remember -that. Tie one man up and you may keep him; tie up two and they are -sure to escape. They can bite through each other's cords, or untie the -knot with their teeth, or possibly even with their fingers." - -"Now, what is the next thing to do?" Amuba asked. - -"The next thing is to have a consultation. Do you, Chebron, go out -into the garden to the girls. Amuba and I will deal with the other -man." - -As soon as Jethro and Amuba had left him Chebron rejoined the girls. - -"You saved my life, Ruth. I shall never forget it." - -"You saved me from the crocodile, my lord. It was but a push and he -fell. I scarce know how it was done." - -"Your quickness saved my life all the same, Ruth. I had not noticed -him till you cried out, and then it would have been too late. We have -been anxious for you also, Ruth. We hoped that you might be with Mysa, -but none saw you go out with her." - -"My place was with my mistress," Ruth said quietly. "And she was more -than a mistress--she was as a friend to me." - -"But how came you here, Chebron," Mysa again asked, "and why are you -dressed up like a peasant woman? It is not seemly in any man, much -less in you, a priest. And Amuba and Jethro, too; they are dressed as -peasants, and their faces seem changed, I do not know how. They look -darker, and I should not have known them had I not recognized Jethro's -voice." - -"It is a long story, dear, and I will tell you all presently; and we -want to hear your story too. Ah! here come the others. It is to them, -Mysa, far more than to me that you owe your rescue. I may know more of -the learning of our people, but I have none of the readiness and -coolness of Amuba, while Jethro is as prudent as he is brave. It would -have fared hardly with me as well as with you, Mysa, had it not been -for these good friends." - -Mysa went up to them as they approached. - -"Oh, Jethro! I feel how much I owe to you; and to you, Amuba. My -courage had all but given way, although Ruth strove so hard to give me -hope, and I fear I could not have long withstood the threats of that -bad man. You cannot tell what joy I felt when I recognized your -voice." - -"Our joy was as great in finding you as yours in seeing us," Jethro -replied. "Amuba and I would gladly have laid down our lives for you. -And now let us have a consultation; there is much to decide upon and -arrange. Let us go round to the garden at the other side of the house. -There we can sit and talk, and at the same time keep watch that no one -else enters. It is not likely that any one will do so, for the place -is secluded, and none would know that these men were here; still a -peasant might enter to sell fowls or fruit, therefore it were best to -keep an eye upon the entrance." - -They went round to some seats placed beneath trees on the other side -of the house. A fountain worked by the water of a little rill on the -hillside played in front of them, and a few tame waterfowl swam in a -shallow basin around it. Everything was still and peaceful, and to -Chebron it seemed as if the events of the last three weeks had been a -hideous dream, and that they were again sitting in the garden of their -house at Thebes. - -"Now, first of all," Mysa said, "I must have my questions answered. -How are my father and mother and everyone?" - -Jethro took Amuba's arm and turned away. - -"We will leave you, Chebron, to tell Mysa what has taken place. It -will be better for you to do so alone." - -Ruth rose from her seat to leave also, but Mysa put her hand on her -arm. - -"I am frightened, Ruth; stay with me." - -"You told me, Mysa," Chebron began, "that they had told you tales that -our father was dead, and that it was I who killed Paucis." - -"Yes; but I did not believe them, Chebron. Of course I did not for a -moment--at least not for a moment about you. But when I thought of -those bad men at the gate, and the crash we heard, and the noise of -the people rushing in shouting, I thought--I was afraid--that perhaps -it might be true about our father. But, oh, Chebron, surely it is not -so?" - -"Alas! Mysa, it is true! They cruelly slew our father. I wish I had -been there to have fallen by his side; but you know Amuba and I were -away. Jethro fought desperately to the last, and would have died with -him had not our father himself commanded that in case anything -happened to him he was to take charge of me, and to carry me out of -the land." - -Mysa was crying bitterly now. Presently she looked up. - -"But why should you want to leave the land, Chebron? Surely--surely it -is not true that you----" - -The thing seemed too terrible for her to put into words. - -"That I killed poor Paucis? That is true also, Mysa." - -Mysa gave a little cry of horror. - -"Oh, Ruth!" she cried, "this is too dreadful!" - -Ruth put her arms round the sobbing girl. "You may be sure, Mysa, that -your brother did not do it intentionally." - -"But it is all the same," Mysa cried. "It was the sacred cat, you -know--the Cat of Bubastes." - -"It was, Mysa; and I thought at first, as you did, that although it -was the result of an accident the anger of the gods would be poured -out against me, that I was as one accursed, whose life was forfeited -in this world, and whose spirit was destined to dwell in unclean -beasts after death. But when I told my father all, he reassured me, -and told me not to fear in any way the wrath of the gods." - -He then related to his sister the manner in which the cat had been -killed, the steps he and Amuba had taken to conceal the body, and his -avowal to his father of his fault. - -"I see it was not your fault, Chebron. But you know the laws of Egypt, -and the punishment for killing even a common cat. How could our father -say that the gods would not be angry?" - -"I cannot tell you all he said, Mysa; though some day had I remained -with you I might have done so. But he did say so, and you know how -wise and good he was. Therefore I want you to remember what he said, -so that when I am gone you will not all your life think of me as one -accursed." - -"Oh! I should never do that!" Mysa exclaimed, starting up and throwing -her arms round her brother's neck. "How could you think so? But why -are you talking about going, and where are you going?" - -"I am going, Mysa, because the people of Egypt do not view this matter -in the same light as my father, but are hunting all the land to find -and slay me and Amuba; for, not knowing the exact truth, they put us -down as equally guilty. So we must fly. Our father gave full -directions to Jethro, and we should by this time have been a long -distance away had it not been that we stayed to find and rescue you." - -"Then if the other things they told me are true, Chebron, it may be -true too that the letter they showed me ordering me to consent to -marry Plexo was from my mother. How could she tell me that when she -knew that I hated him, and she has over and over again spoken -scornfully of his family before me?" - -"What did she say?" Chebron asked. - -"She said that now disgrace had fallen on the family I might think -myself very fortunate in obtaining such an offer." - -Chebron was silent. He knew that his mother had never shown any -earnest love either for Mysa or himself, that her thoughts were -entirely devoted to dress and entertainments, and that any love she -had to give had been bestowed upon his brother. - -"I fear it is true, Mysa." - -"But I will never marry Plexo!" Mysa exclaimed passionately. "My -father always said I should never marry a man I disliked." - -"You will never marry Plexo, Mysa--he is dead." - -Ruth uttered an exclamation. - -"He died by his own hand, Ruth--that is, by an accident. As he fell -his dagger pierced his own heart, and when Jethro went to look at him -he was dead." - -"The Lord requited him for his evil," Ruth said firmly. "All things -are in his hands. As I did not mean to slay him, I lament not over -his death. Besides, he strove to take your life, and had I had a -dagger in my hand I should assuredly have used it." - -"Then what is to become of me?" Mysa asked. - -"You must go back to your mother, Mysa. There is naught else for you -to do." - -"I will not!" Mysa exclaimed. "She never loved me. She would have -married me against my will to Plexo, although she knew he was bad, and -that I hated him. She would make me marry some one else who was rich, -regardless of my wishes. No, Chebron, nothing shall make me go back to -her." - -Chebron looked perplexed. - -"Here come Jethro and Amuba, dear. You had best talk it over with -them. I see nothing else for you to do." - -As Jethro came up Mysa walked to meet him. - -"I will not go back to my mother, Jethro!" she exclaimed impetuously. -"She wanted me to marry Plexo. She would give me to some one else, and -my father always said I should only marry some one I liked. You can -never be so cruel as to give me up to her?" - -"I know that your father's wishes were strong upon that point," Jethro -said; "for he spoke to me of you when he gave me his commands -respecting Chebron. He said that he wished that I could watch over you -as over him, and it was because of what he had said that I disregarded -his orders as to our instant flight, and lingered here in hopes of -freeing you. Still I see not anything else to be done. Your mother -doubtless wrote while still overpowered by grief at your father's -loss, and thought that she was acting for your welfare in securing you -an advantageous marriage in spite of the cloud under which your family -was resting." - -"I will not go to her!" Mysa repeated. "She thought of herself, as -she always did, and not of me in any way. You know it was so, -Chebron--you cannot deny it!" - -Chebron was silent. His whole affection had been given to his father, -for his mother he had comparatively little. As a child he had seldom -been allowed to come into the room where she was. She declared that -his noise was too much for her, that his talk made her head ache, and -that his fidgeting about was too much to be borne. Nor since that time -had he been much more with her. It was his father who had seen to his -welfare and that of Mysa, who would put aside his grave studies to -walk and talk with them, who was always indulgent, always anxious to -give them pleasure. He therefore thoroughly entered into Mysa's -feelings, but saw no possible alternative for her. - -"But where could you go, Mysa?" Jethro asked. "Where could you be -placed? Wherever you were your mother in time would be sure to hear of -it and would reclaim you." - -"I shall go with Chebron, and you, and Amuba," Mysa said positively. - -"Impossible!" Jethro replied. "We are going upon a tremendous journey, -full of danger and fatigue. We are going among unknown and savage -peoples; the chances are a hundred to one against our ever arriving at -the end of our journey. If this is so to myself and to young men like -Chebron and Amuba--for they are now past eighteen, and will speedily -be men--what chance would there be of success with you with us?" - -"I can walk as well as Chebron," Mysa said. "You know that, Chebron. -And I suppose I could suffer hardship just as well. At any rate, I -would rather suffer anything and be with him and all of you than stop -here. The people have murdered my father. My mother would sell me to -the highest bidder. If the chances are so great that you will never -get through your journey in safety, my being with you cannot make them -so much greater. I have only Chebron in the world, and I will go where -he goes and die where he dies. The gods can protect me just as well on -a journey as here. Have they not protected you now, and Chebron too, -by what he says? You will take me with you, dear Jethro, won't you?" -she urged pleadingly. "You say my father wished you to watch over me; -do not forsake me now. Ruth will come with us too--will you not, -Ruth?--I am sure she will not be more afraid of the journey than I -am." - -"I will assuredly go if you go, Mysa. The God of Israel can take us -safely through all dangers if it be his will." - -Jethro was silent. Such an addition to his charge would assuredly add -immensely to the difficulties of the journey; but on the other hand he -remembered the anxiety of Ameres about Mysa, and he asked himself what -his late master would have wished had he known how matters stood. He -glanced at Amuba and Chebron and saw at once that their wishes agreed -with those of Mysa. He turned away abruptly, and for some minutes -paced up and down the garden. Then he returned to the group, among -whom not a word had been exchanged since he left them. - -"Mysa," he said gravely, "this is a great thing that you ask; there is -no disguising that your presence will add greatly to our difficulties, -will add also to our perils, and may render it impossible for me to -carry out your father's wishes and to conduct Chebron to a land where -he will be beyond the persecution of Egypt. Such an enterprise must be -undertaken in no light spirit. If you go you must be prepared to face -death in all forms--by hunger and thirst and the weapons of the wild -natives. It may even be that your lot may be that of slavery among -them. It is a terrible journey for men, more terrible still for women; -still, if you are resolved, resolved with the strength and mind of a -woman and not of a child, that after having once turned your back upon -Egypt you will never repent the step you have taken or wish to return, -but will be steadfast under all the trials that may befall us, then I -say that you shall share our lot." - -Mysa uttered an exclamation of joy. - -"I promise, Jethro; and whatever may happen--hardship, danger, or -death--you shall never hear a word of complaint from me. Are you not -glad, Ruth?" - -"I think it well," Ruth said gravely. "It is a great undertaking; but -I think that God's hand is in it. I, too, would fain leave this land -of idols; and except those here I have none in the world to care for." - -"And now, Jethro," Amuba said, "what had we best do? It is already -almost dark, therefore we could set out at once. Could we make use of -the chariot?" - -Jethro considered for a short time. - -"Except for carrying any things we may want for our first start, I do -not see that we can do so," he said; "for where we leave the chariot -to-morrow morning it would be found, and when it is known that Ptylus' -chariot was missing it would soon be recognized as his, and thus a -clue be afforded to the fact that we had fled south. As to traveling -in it beyond to-night, it would be out of the question. Besides, it -will only hold three at the most. No, if we use it at all it must be -to drive north, and so throw them off the scent. I think it will be -worth doing that." - -"I will undertake that part of the business," Amuba said. "There will -be much for you to do to-morrow, Jethro, which only you can arrange. -There's the boat to be hired, stores laid in, and all got in -readiness. I think the best plan will be for you both to start at once -with the girls for Thebes. You and Chebron can occupy your -hiding-place on the hill, and Chigron will be glad to take the girls -into his house. There is no danger of an immediate search being made -for them. - -"To-night when the priest and his son do not return their servants -will suppose that they have slept here. It will not be until late -to-morrow afternoon that there will be any alarm or any likelihood of -a messenger being sent over here; then the consternation and confusion -that will be caused will be so great that probably no one will think -of carrying the news to the officials until the next morning. Besides, -until the story of Mysa's having been here and of her being missing is -generally known, there is no reason that what has taken place should -be attributed to us; therefore, for the next forty-eight hours I think -that they would be perfectly safe at the embalmer's. I will drive the -chariot thirty or forty miles north, then turn the horses loose where -they are sure to be noticed ere long, and will return on foot and join -you in your hiding-place to-morrow night." - -"I think your plan is a very good one, Amuba. Before we start I will -make a search through the house. There will be nothing we want to take -with us, nor would we touch any of the treasure of the villains were -the house full of it; but if I toss some of the things about it will -look as if robbery had been the motive of what has taken place. The -men in bonds can know nothing of the real state of things. Plexo, when -he rushed out for their aid, could have had no time to do more than -to tell them to take up their arms and follow him; indeed, it is -doubtful whether he himself had any idea that we were aught but what -we seemed. Therefore, the first impression assuredly will be that we -were malefactors of the worst kind, escaped slaves, men with no -respect for the gods; for assuredly no Egyptians, even the worst of -criminals, would, in cold blood, have laid hands on the high priest of -Osiris." - -"They laid hands on my father," Chebron said bitterly. - -"Yes, but not in cold blood. Reports had first been spread among them -that he was untrue to the gods, and then they were maddened by -fanaticism and horror at the death of that sacred cat. But in cold -blood, as I said, no Egyptian, however vile and criminal, would lift -his hand against a priest. You may as well come with me, Amuba; it -would be strange if one of us only took part in the search." - -In ten minutes Jethro and Amuba had turned the place into confusion in -forcing open chests and cabinets and littering the floor with -garments; then taking a few of the most valuable vases and jewels they -threw them into the pond round the fountain, where they would be -concealed from view by the water-lilies which floated on its surface. - -They examined afresh the fastenings of the captives, and felt assured -that by no possibility could they free themselves. - -"They will be sure to be freed by to-morrow night," Amuba said, -"otherwise I should not like to leave them here to die of hunger and -thirst." - -"I should be only too glad," Jethro said, "if I thought there was a -chance of their being here forty hours instead of twenty. Doubtless -this is not the first evil business they have carried out for their -villain master, and they may think themselves lucky indeed that we do -not take what would be in every way the safest and best course, -namely, to run a sword through their bodies and silence them forever. -If I thought they could tell anything I would do so now; but I really -do not think that anything they can tell will add to our danger. Of -course the priest's wife knows that Mysa is hidden here, and will -proclaim the fact that she has been here and is now missing, as she -would consider it might afford a clew for the apprehension of those -who attacked the house and slew her husband and son; therefore I do -not see that there would be much to be gained by silencing these -people; but if you think differently I will finish them at once." - -Amuba shook his head, for although human life in those days was -thought little of, save by the Egyptians themselves, he shrank from -the thought of slaying captives in cold blood. - -"No, they can tell nothing, Jethro. You had best be moving; there is -nothing more to talk over. I think all our plans were arranged long -ago; except, of course, that you must get rather a larger boat than -you had intended, together with garments for the girls. I think it -would be best that Chebron should still be disguised as a woman; but -we can settle that to-morrow night. There is a good store of dresses -for us to choose from at Chigron's." - -Amuba led the horses to a stone water trough and allowed them to -quench their thirst. Then he mounted the chariot and drove off, while -the rest of the party set out on foot for Thebes. It was so late -before they reached Chigron's house that they thought it better not to -arouse the inmates, as comment would be excited by the arrival of -women at so late an hour and unexpected by the master; the girls, -therefore, passed the night in the rock chamber behind the building, -while Jethro and Chebron lay down outside. - -As soon as dawn broke they moved some distance away. Jethro went to -the house as soon as there was a sign that there was any one astir, -and told Chigron that they had discovered and rescued Mysa. Chigron -was much disturbed when he heard of the death of the high priest and -his son. - -"I don't say these men were not villains, Jethro; but that two high -priests should be slaughtered in the course of a month is enough to -bring the anger of all the gods upon Egypt. However, the poor girls -are not responsible for it in any way, and I will willingly shelter -them, especially as it is but for one night; but I own that I shall be -vastly relieved when I know that you are all fairly on your journey." - -"That I can well understand," Jethro said; "and believe me, the -gratitude of those you have sheltered, which you will have as long as -they live, may well outweigh any doubts that may present themselves as -to whether you have acted wisely in aiding those who are victims to -the superstitions of your countrymen." - -Chigron called his servants and told them that he had just heard of -the arrival from the country of some friends, and ordered a room to be -prepared for them. He then went out and returned an hour later with -the two girls. He led them quietly into the house and direct to the -apartment prepared for them, so that they were unseen by any of the -servants. - -Then he called an old servant on whose fidelity he could rely, and -charged her to wait upon them during the day, and to suffer none other -to enter the apartment. He bade her convey the impression to the other -servants that the visitors were aged women, and to mention that they -intended to make a stay of a few hours only, until some friends with -whom they were going to stay should send in a cart to carry them to -their house in the country. The old woman at once prepared baths for -the girls and then supplied them with a meal, after which they lay -down on couches and were soon fast asleep; for the excitement of the -preceding evening and the strangeness of their position in the -comfortless stone chamber had prevented their closing an eye during -the night, and they had spent the hours in talking over the terrible -loss Mysa had sustained, and the journey that lay before them. - -Half an hour later Chigron went out again and was soon joined by -Jethro, who had now resumed his attire as a citizen of middle class. -It was necessary that Chigron should accompany him and take the chief -part in making the arrangements; for although Jethro had learned, in -his two years' captivity, to speak Egyptian fluently, he could not -well pass as a native. Chigron therefore did most of the bargaining, -Jethro keeping somewhat in the background. - -They first took their course down to the river bank. Here innumerable -craft lay moored; for the Nile was the highway of Egypt, and except -for short journeys all traffic was carried on on its waters. As soon -as it was known that they were looking for a boat they were surrounded -by the owners of the various craft, each praising the speed, safety, -and comfort of his boat. Chigron, however, was some time before he -made his choice; then he fixed upon a boat that seemed well suited for -the purpose. She carried a mast and large sail to take advantage of -favorable winds. She was light and of very small draught, and, being -constructed entirely for passenger traffic, she had a large -cabin--divided into two parts for the accommodation of ladies--the -crew, consisting of the captain and four men, sleeping on the deck. - -"I think your boat will do very well," he said to the captain, -"provided we can come to terms. My friend is going up with his family -as far as Syene at any rate, and possibly on to Ibsciak; his business -may take him even further. What will be your terms a week?" - -"I suppose my lord will provide food for the crew as well as for his -own family?" - -"That will be the best way," Jethro said. - -"Then will he pay for extra hands where the current runs so strong -that the crew cannot tow the boat unaided against it?" - -Jethro assented. - -"And will he return with it, or remain for awhile at the end of his -journey?" - -"It is probable that his business may detain him there for a -considerable time," Chigron replied. "He has relations there with whom -he will wish to make a stay. But this should make no difference; you -will have no difficulty in obtaining passengers or freight for your -journey down." - -It was a long time before a bargain was struck, for Chigron knew that -the boatman would consider it strange indeed were the terms he first -asked to be accepted. But at last an arrangement satisfactory to both -parties was concluded. It was arranged that the start should take -place early on the following morning, and Chigron then proceeded with -Jethro to make the purchases requisite for the voyage--mats, cushions, -and curtains for furnishing the boat, cooking utensils and provisions -for the crew and passengers. Of these, however, it was not necessary -to take a very large quantity, as the boat would lie up to the bank -every night near one of the frequent villages, and here there would be -no difficulty in purchasing provisions of all kinds. - -Some jars of good wine were, however, among the stores purchased, and -in addition to these were several bales of costly merchandise and a -large stock of such articles as would be useful for trade with the -natives of the wilder parts of the country. A supply of arms--bows, -arrows, and lances--was also placed on board. It was late in the -afternoon before all these things were got on board the boat and -everything arranged in order. Having seen all complete, Chigron -returned with Jethro to his house. Jethro, after seeing the girls, who -had just woke up and partaken of a meal, went up to the hiding-place -on the hill and found that Amuba had just joined Chebron there. - -"Is all going on well?" the lads asked as he entered. - -"Everything is in readiness. The boat is hired and furnished. I have a -good store of merchandise for trading in Meroe, besides trinkets of -many kinds for the peoples lying between Meroe and the Red Sea. So far -everything promises well. The boatmen belong to the Upper Nile, and -their dialect differs too widely from that spoken here for them to be -able to distinguish that I do not talk pure Egyptian. I wondered why -it was that Chigron was such a long time in making his choice between -the boats, when, as far as I could see, there were scores that would -have equally suited our purpose. But I found afterward that it was the -boatmen rather than the boat which he was selecting, and that he chose -those coming from far up the river, partly because their speech -differed so widely from that of Thebes that they would not detect the -roughness of my tongue; and secondly, because they would be more -likely to continue the voyage further to the south than would the -boatmen of this port, who would regard it as a serious undertaking to -proceed beyond Ibsciak. Therefore we need fear no suspicion on the -part of our boatmen. I suppose you disposed of the chariot as we -arranged, Amuba?" - -"Yes, I drove north for five hours and then turned aside into a wood. -Here I loosed the horses so that they could feed as they chose. They -would doubtless by morning stray into the fields, and so attract -attention. Then there would be a search to see to whom they belonged, -and the chariot would be found. By the time that the news spreads that -Ptylus is dead, and also that his chariot and horses are missing, and -have doubtless been taken off by those who had attacked him, the -tidings that the chariot is found will have been taken to the nearest -town, and it will shortly be reported all over the country that we are -making north, and the search for us will be made in that direction -only." - -"Are you going back to the house, Jethro?" - -"Yes. Chigron has given out to his servants that the visitors are -relatives of mine, and as I have been frequently seen going in and out -in this garb they are now accustomed to me; and it will be natural for -me to sleep there to-night and to start with them in the morning. We -shall start exactly at sunrise. You had better wait at a distance from -the house and follow us, coming up and joining us just as we reach the -river side. The boat will be taken above the city to the highest -steps; and we shall be able to proceed to that point without entering -the town itself. Be careful with your disguises. The news of the death -of Ptylus will not, I hope, be generally known in the city until we -are fairly afloat. Were it otherwise it would be dangerous for you to -run the risk of being seen abroad." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -UP THE NILE. - - -Late at night Jethro again went up to the hiding-place on the hill. -Chigron had just returned from another visit to the city. He said: - -"The whole of the town is in an uproar. The news that Ptylus and his -son have been found slain has been received, and the excitement is -tremendous. The death by violence of two high priests of Osiris -within so short a time is regarded as a presage of some terrible -national misfortune. That one should have been slain was an almost -unprecedented act--an insult of a terrible kind to the gods; but this -second act of sacrilege has almost maddened the people. Some regard it -as a judgment of Osiris, and deem that it is a proof that, as a few -ventured to whisper before, the death of Ameres was brought about by -an intrigue among a party of the priests, headed by Ptylus. Others see -in it a fresh proof of the anger of the god against Egypt. - -"The king himself will, it is said, take part in services of -propitiation in the temple of Osiris to-morrow; sacrifices are to -be offered, they say, in all the temples. A solemn fast will be -proclaimed to-morrow, and all the people, high and low, are to shave -their eyebrows and to display the usual signs of mourning. So far I -have heard nothing as to the fact that two girls who were in the house -are discovered to be missing, but to-morrow, when those who were in -the house are questioned by the magistrates, this fact will doubtless -come out, and the men will own that by the orders of Ptylus they -carried Mysa away at the time the attack on the house was made. - -"At present, however, there is no question of women in the case; and I -can go down to the boat with the girls in company with Chigron without -any fear whatever. But it is better that you should not be with us -when we embark; for when the matter comes to be talked over, some one -who sees us embark might notice that our number tallies with that of -the three persons present when Ptylus was killed, and the two missing -girls. Therefore Chigron's opinion is that it will be safer for you to -start at once and walk to Mita, a village twenty miles up the river. -There the boat will lie up to-morrow night, and as soon as it is dark -you can come on board. I shall tell the boatmen that I expect you to -join us there, as you have gone on ahead to transact some business for -me in the neighborhood." - -"That is certainly the best plan," Amuba agreed. "There are too many -who know Chebron by sight for it to be safe for him to go down to the -boat here and embark in broad daylight. I will take two hours' sleep -before I start; for as I did not sleep last night, and have walked -forty miles since I left the chariot, I feel in need of a little -repose before I start again. I was foolish not to have slept this -afternoon, for I have since midday been hiding near; but there was so -much to think about that I had no inclination to do so, especially as -I believed that we would have a night's rest here." - -"I will wake you," Chebron said. "I have been asleep the better part -of the day, having had nothing to do since we arrived here yesterday -evening." - -Chebron sat watching the stars until he saw that they had made two -hours' journey through the sky. Then he roused Amuba. Both now laid -aside their garments as peasants and put on the attire prepared for -them as the sons of a small trader. Amuba had submitted, although with -much disgust, to have his head shaved on the night following the death -of Ameres, and it was a satisfaction to him to put on a wig; for, -accustomed as he was to see the bare heads of the peasants, it was -strange and uncomfortable to him to be going about in the same -fashion. - -As soon as they were dressed they started, made their way down to the -bank of the river above the town, and walked along the broad causeway -by the stream until within a mile or two of their destination. Then -they turned off toward a clump of trees which were visible by the -first gleam of dawn a quarter of a mile away. Here they slept for some -hours, and late in the afternoon returned to the side of the river and -strolled quietly along, watching the boats. Those in the middle of the -stream were making their way down with the current lightly and easily, -the crews often singing merrily, rejoicing over the approaching -meeting with their friends after an absence of many weeks. The boats -going up the stream were all close to the bank, the crews walking -along the causeway and laboring at the towropes, for there was not -enough wind to render the sails of any utility in breasting the -stream. The craft were of various kinds, some shapeless and rudely -fashioned, used in conveying corn from the country higher up down to -Thebes, and now returning empty. Others were the fancifully painted -boats of the wealthy, with comfortable cabins and sails of many colors -richly decorated and embroidered. These were carrying their owners up -or down the river, between their country mansions and the city. - -It was half an hour after sunset when the two friends arrived at -Mita. Darkness falls quickly in Egypt after the sun has gone down, and -their features could scarcely have been recognized had they been met -by any one acquainted with them in the streets. The scene in the -streets of the little village was a busy one. Its distance from Thebes -rendered it a general halting-place for the night of the boats which -had left the capital early, and a great number of these were already -moored off the bank, while others were arriving in quick succession. -The boatmen and passengers were busy making their purchases at the -shops; fishermen, with well-filled baskets, were shouting the praises -of their fish; fowlers, with strings of ducks and geese hanging from -poles from their shoulders, were equally clamorous in offering them -for sale. - -The shops of the fruiterers and bakers and those of the venders of the -vegetables that formed so large a portion of the diet of the Egyptians -were all crowded, and the wine shops were doing a brisk business. - -Chebron and Amuba made their way through the busy scene, keeping a -sharp lookout for Jethro, for they considered it certain that owing to -the early start the boat was to make it would have arrived there some -hours before, and that he would be on the lookout for them. In a few -minutes they saw him looking into one of the shops. He started as they -went up to him and touched him, for he had not perceived them before. - -"All well?" Amuba asked. - -"Everything has gone off admirably. We got off without the slightest -trouble. But come on board at once; the girls are anxious about you, -although I assured them that there was not the slightest risk of your -being discovered on your way here." - -So saying, Jethro led the way to the boat, which was moored by the -bank a hundred yards above the village, "in order," Jethro said, "that -they could make an early start in the morning, and be off before the -rest of the boats were under way." - -"Here are your brothers," Jethro said in a loud voice as he stepped on -board. "I found them dawdling and gossiping in the street, forgetting -altogether that you were waiting for your evening meal until they came -on board." - -Both entered the cabin, which was about eight feet wide and twelve -feet long, but not high enough for them to stand upright. The floor -was spread with a thick carpet; cushions and pillows were arranged -along each side, and thick matting hung from the top. In the daytime -this was rolled up and fastened, so that the air could play through -the cabin and those within could look out at the river; but at present -it closed the openings and kept out both the night air and the glances -of passers-by. At the other end was a door opening into the smaller -cabin allotted to the girls. A lamp swung from the beams overhead. -Mysa gave a cry of pleasure as they entered and was about to spring to -her feet, when Jethro exclaimed: - -"Mind your head, child! You are not accustomed to these low quarters -yet." - -"Thank the gods we are together again!" Mysa said as Chebron, after -embracing her, sat down on the cushion beside her. "I feel almost -happy now, in spite of the dreadful times that have passed." - -"It does feel homelike here," Chebron said, looking round, "especially -after sleeping in the open air on the hard ground, as we have been -doing for the last month." - -"I should hardly have known you, Amuba," Mysa said. "You do look so -different in your wig, and with your skin darkened." - -"I must look horrible," Amuba replied rather ruefully. - -"You don't look so nice," Mysa replied frankly. "I used at first to -think that short, wavy golden hair of yours was strange, and that you -would look better in a wig like other people; but now I am sorry it is -gone." - -"Here is our meal," Jethro said as the hangings that served as a door -were drawn aside, and one of the men entered bearing a dish of fried -fish and another of stewed ducks, which he placed on the floor. - -Jethro produced some cups and a jar of wine from a locker in the -cabin, and then the men, by his orders, brought in a jar of water for -the use of the girls. Then sitting round the dishes they began their -meal, Jethro cutting up the food with his dagger, and all helping -themselves with the aid of their fingers and pieces of bread, that -served them for the purpose of forks. Mysa had been accustomed always -to the use of a table; but these were only used in the abodes of the -rich, and the people in general sat on the ground to their meals. - -"We have not begun our hardships yet," Mysa said, smiling. "I should -not mind how long this went on. I call this much better than living in -a house; don't you, Ruth?" - -"It is more natural to me than that great house of yours," Ruth -replied; "and of course to me it is far more homelike and comfortable. -For I do not think I was a favorite among the other servants; they -were jealous of the kindness you showed me." - -"There is one thing I wanted to say," Jethro said. "It is better that -we should not call each other by our names, I am sure that the boatmen -have no suspicion here that we are other than what we seem to be; but -they can hardly help hearing our names, for all Egypt has rung with -them for the last month, and it would be well if we change them for -the present. You must of necessity call me father, since that is the -relation I am supposed to bear to you. Amuba can become Amnis and -Chebron Chefu." - -"And I will be Mytis," Mysa said. "What name will you take, Ruth? -There is no Egyptian name quite like yours." - -"It matters not what you call me," Ruth said. - -"We will call you Nite," Mysa said. "I had a great friend of that -name, but she died." - -"And there is one thing, Nite," Chebron said, "that I wish you to -understand. Just now you spoke to me as my lord Chebron. That sort of -thing must not be any longer. We are all fugitives together, and Mysa -and I have no longer any rank. Jethro and Amuba are of high rank in -their own country, and if we ever get safely to their own people they -will be nobles in the land, while we shall be but strangers, as he was -when he and Jethro came into Egypt. Therefore any talk of rank among -us is but folly. We are fugitives, and my life is forfeited if I am -discovered in my own land. Jethro is our leader and guardian, alike by -the will of our father and because he is older and wiser than any of -us. Amuba is as my elder brother, being stronger and braver and more -accustomed to danger than I; while you and Mysa are sisters, inasmuch -as you are both exiled from your own land, and are friendless, save -for each other and us." - -"I am glad to hear you say that, brother," Mysa said. "I spoke to her -last night about it, for she would insist on treating me as if she -were still my servant; which is absurd, and not nice of her, when she -is going out with us to share our dangers only because she loves me. -It is I rather who should look up to her, for I am very helpless, and -know nothing of work or real life, while she can do all sorts of -things; besides, when we were captives it was she who was always brave -and hopeful, and kept up my spirits when, I do think, if it had not -been for her I should have died of grief and terror." - -"By the way," Jethro said, "we have not heard yet how it was that you -were together. We heard of your being carried off, but old Lyptis told -me that no one had seen aught of you." - -"They were all scared out of their senses," Ruth said scornfully. "The -men suddenly ran into the room and seized Mysa, and twisted a shawl -round her head before she had time to call out. I screamed, and one of -them struck me a blow which knocked me down. Then they carried her -off. I think I was stunned for a moment. When I recovered I found they -were gone. I jumped up and ran along the passage and through the hall, -where the women were screaming and crying, and then out of the house -through the garden, and out of the gate. Then I saw four men at a -short distance off carrying Mysa to a cart standing a hundred yards -away. I ran up just as they laid her in it. One of them turned upon me -with a dagger. I said: - -"'Let me go with her, and I will be quiet. If not, I will scream; and -if you kill me, it will only set the people on your traces.' - -"The men hesitated, and I ran past them and climbed into the cart, and -threw myself down by Mysa, and then they drove off." - -"It was brave and good of you, Ruth," Jethro said, laying his hand on -the girl's shoulder; "but why did you not scream when you first came -out of the gate? It might have brought aid and prevented Mysa from -being carried off." - -"I thought of that," Ruth said, "but there were numbers of rough men -still coming in at the gate; and knowing how the people had been -stirred up to anger against us, I did not know what might happen if I -gave the alarm. Besides, I was not sure at first that these men, -although they seemed so rough and violent, were not really friends, -who were taking away Mysa to save her from the popular fury." - -"Yes, that might have been the case," Jethro agreed. "At any rate, -child, you acted bravely and well. We were hoping all along that you -were with Mysa, for we knew what a comfort you would be to her. Only, -as the women all declared you did not pass out after her, we did -not see how that could be. And now, Mytis and Nite, you had better -retire to your own cabin to rest; for though you have both kept up -wonderfully, all this has been a great strain for you, and you are -both looking fagged and heavy-eyed. To-night you can sleep in comfort; -for, for the present, I think that there is no occasion whatever for -the slightest anxiety." - -It was some time before Jethro and his companions lay down to sleep. -They talked long and earnestly of the journey that lay before them; -and when they had exhausted this topic, Chebron said: - -"Till now, Jethro, I have not asked you about my father's funeral. -When is it to be? I have thought of it often, but as you did not speak -I thought it better not to question you." - -"I was glad you did not," Jethro replied. "It will be in about ten -days' time. As I believed you guessed, Chigron is embalming him; the -process will not be completed for another four days, and, as you know, -the relatives do not see the corpse after it is in the hands of the -embalmer until it is swathed and in the coffin. Chigron has done so -much that must have been against his conscience that I did not like -him to be asked to allow you to break through that custom, which to -him is a sort of religion; beside, dear lad, I thought it better for -yourself not to renew your griefs by gazing on a lifeless face. - -"During the last month you have fortunately had so much to distract -your thoughts that you have not had time to dwell upon your loss. -Moreover, you have needed all your strength and your energy for your -search for your sister, and right sure am I that your father, who was -as sensible as he was wise--and the two things do not always go -together--would be far better pleased to see you energetic and active -in your search for your sister and in preparation for this new life on -which we are entering, than in vain regrets for him; therefore, lad, -for every reason I thought it better to keep silent upon the subject. -It may be a satisfaction, however, for you to know that everything -will be done to do honor to the dead. - -"The king and all the great men of Egypt will be present, and Thebes -will turn out its thousands to express its grief for the deed done by -a section of its population. Had it not been for the express commands -of your father I should have thought that it might have been worth -while for you to present yourself on that occasion and it may be that -for once even the fanatics would have been satisfied to have pardoned -the offense of the son because of the wrong done to the father. -However, this affair of Ptylus puts that out of the question, for when -it is generally known that Mysa was carried off when Ptylus was slain, -public opinion will arrive at the truth and say that the fugitives of -whom they were in search, the slayers of the sacred cat, were the -rescuers of the daughter of Ameres and the slayers of the high -priest." - -"You are right, Jethro, it will be better for me not to have seen my -father; I can always think of him now as I saw him last, which is a -thousand times better than if he dwelt in my memory as he lies in the -cere-clothes in the embalming room of Chigron. As to what you say -about my appearing at the funeral, I would in no case have done it; I -would a thousand times rather live an exile or meet my death at the -hands of savages than crave mercy at the hands of the mob of Thebes, -and live to be pointed at all my life as the man who had committed the -abhorred offense of killing the sacred cat." - -The conversation in the cabin had all been carried on in an undertone; -for although through an opening in the curtains they could see the -crew--who had been eating their meal by the light of a torch of -resinous wood, and were now wrapped up in thick garments to keep off -the night dew--chatting merrily together and occasionally breaking -into snatches of song, it was prudent to speak so that not even a -chance word should be overheard. The boatmen, indeed, were in high -spirits. Their home lay far up near the borders of Upper Egypt, and it -was seldom indeed that they obtained a job which gave them the chance -of visiting their friends. Thus the engagement was most satisfactory -to them, for although their leader had haggled over the terms, he and -they would gladly have accepted half the rate of pay rather than let -such an opportunity slip. As Chebron finished speaking they were -preparing for the night by laying down a few mats on the boards of the -fore deck. Then they huddled closely together, pulled another mat or -two over them, extinguished the torch, and composed themselves to -sleep. - -"We will follow their example; but a little more comfortably, I hope," -Jethro said. - -The cushions and pillows were arranged, the lamp turned low, and in a -short time all on board the boat were sound asleep. No ray of light -had entered the cabin when Amuba was awakened by a movement of the -boat, caused by a stir among the crew. He felt his way to the door and -threw back the hangings and looked out; there was a faint -greenish-yellow light in the east, but the stars were still shining -brightly. - -"Good-morning, young master!" the captain said. "I hope you have slept -well." - -"So well that I could hardly believe it was morning," Amuba replied. -"How long will it be before you are off?" - -"We shall be moving in ten minutes; at present there is not light -enough to see the shore." - -"Chefu, are you awake?" - -"Yes," Chebron answered sleepily, "I am awake; thanks to your talking. -If you had lain quiet we might have slept for another hour yet." - -"You have had plenty of sleep the last twenty-four hours," Amuba -retorted. "Take a cloth and let us land and run along the banks for a -mile, and have a bath before the boat comes along." - -"It is very cold for it," Chebron said. - -"Nonsense! the water will refresh you." - -"Come along, Chefu," Jethro said, "your brother is right; a dip will -refresh us for the day." - -The Egyptians were most particular about bathing and washing. The heat -and dust of the climate rendered cleanliness an absolute necessity, -and all classes took their daily bath--the wealthy in baths attached -to their houses, the poor in the water of the lakes or canals. Jethro -and the two lads leaped ashore and ran briskly along the bank for -about a mile, stripped and took a plunge into the river, and were -dressed again just as the boat came along with the four men towing -her, and the captain steering with an oar at the stern. It was light -enough now for him to distinguish the faces of his passengers, and he -brought the boat straight alongside the bank. In a few minutes the -girls came out from their cabin, looking fresh and rosy. - -"So you have been bathing?" Mysa said. "We heard what you were saying, -and we have had our bath too." - -"How did you manage that?" Chebron asked. - -"We went out by the door at the other side of our cabin in our woollen -robes, on to that little platform on which the man is standing to -steer, and poured jars of water over each other." - -"And you both slept well?" - -"Yes, indeed, and without waking once till we heard Amnis call you to -get up." - -"You disturbed everyone, you see, Amnis," Chebron said. - -"And a very good thing too," Amuba laughed. "If we had not had our -bath when we did, we should not have got an opportunity all day. Now -we all feel fresh." - -"And ready for something to eat," Mysa put in. - -"What would you like, Mytis?" Ruth asked. "I am a capital cook, you -know, and I don't suppose the men will be preparing their breakfast -for a long time yet." - -"I think that will be a very good plan, Mytis," Jethro said; "but we -will divide the labor between us. The two boys shall stir up the -brands smoldering on the flat stone hearth forward, I will clean and -get ready some fish, Nite shall cook them, while Mytis shall, under -her directions, make us some cakes and put them into the hot ashes to -bake. We shall have to shift for ourselves later on. There is nothing -like getting accustomed to it. Of course the men will cook the -principal meals, but we can prepare little meals between times. It is -astonishing how many times you can eat during the day when you are in -the open air." - -In half an hour the meal, consisting of the fish, light dough-cakes, -which Mysa had with much amusement prepared under Ruth's directions, -and fruit, was ready. The latter consisted of grapes and melons. The -meal was greatly enjoyed, and by the time it was finished the sun was -already some distance up the sky. For an hour the party sat on the -deck forward watching the boats coming down the stream and the -villages on the opposite shore; but as the sun gained power they were -glad to enter into the cabin. The mats were rolled up now to allow a -free passage of air, and as they sat on the cushions they could look -out on both sides. - -Day after day passed quietly and smoothly. The men generally towed the -boat from sunrise until eleven o'clock in the day; then they moored -her to the bank, prepared a meal, and after eating it went ashore if -there were trees that afforded a shade there, or if not, spread out -some mats on poles over the boat and slept in their shade till three -o'clock. Then they towed until sunset, moored her for the night, -cooked their second meal, talked and sang for an hour or two, and then -lay down for the night. Sometimes the wind blew with sufficient -strength to enable the boat to stem the stream close inshore by means -of the sail alone; then the boatmen were perfectly happy and spent -their day in alternate eating and sleeping. Generally the passengers -landed and walked alongside of the boat for an hour or two after they -had had their early breakfast, and again when the heat of the day was -over; it made a change, and at the same time kept their muscles in a -state of health and activity. - -"We may have to make long journeys on foot," Jethro said, "and the -more we can accustom ourselves to walking the better." - -The time passed so quietly and pleasantly that both Mysa and Chebron -at times blamed themselves for feeling as light hearted as they did; -but when the latter once said so to Jethro he replied: - -"Do not be uneasy on that score. Remember that in the first place it -is a comfort to us all that you and your sister are cheerful -companions. It makes the journey lighter for us. In the next place, -good spirits and good health go together; and although, at present, -our life is an easy one, there will be need for health and strength -presently. This flight and exile are at present blessings rather than -misfortunes to you. Just as Amuba's captivity following so closely -upon the death of his father and mother was to him." - -"I can hardly believe," Mysa said, "that we are really going upon a -dangerous expedition. Everything is so pleasant and tranquil. The days -pass without any care or trouble. I find it difficult to believe that -the time is not very far off when we shall have to cross deserts, and -perhaps to meet savage beasts and wild people, and be in danger of our -lives." - -"It will be a long time first, Mytis. It will be months before we -arrive at Meroe, the capital of the next kingdom, which lies at the -junction of the two great arms of this river. Up to that point I do -not think there will be dangers, though there may be some little -difficulty, for they say there are tremendous rapids to be passed. -It is only lately that the king overran Meroe, defeated its armies, -and forced it to pay tribute, but as there is a considerable trade -carried on with that country I do not think there is any danger of -molestation. It is on leaving Meroe that our difficulties will -commence; for, as I hear, the road thence to the east through the -city of Axoum, which is the capital of the country named Abyssinia, -passes through a wild land abounding with savage animals; and again, -beyond Axoum the country is broken and difficult down to the sea. - -"Chigron told me, however, that he had heard from a native of Meroe -who had worked for him that there is a far shorter road to the sea -from a point at which the river takes a great bend many hundreds of -miles below the capital. When we get higher up we can of course make -inquiries as to this. I hope that it may prove to be true, for if so -it will save us months of travel." - -Several large towns were passed as they journeyed upward. Hermonthis, -standing on the western bank, by which they were traveling, was the -first passed. Then came Esneh, with grand temples dedicated to Kneph -and Neith, and standing where the Nile Valley opens to a width of five -miles. Then they passed Eilithya, standing on the eastern bank, with -many temples rising above it, and with the sandstone rock behind it -dotted with the entrances to sepulchers. - -A few miles higher up they passed Edfu. Above this the valley -gradually narrowed, the hills closing in until they rose almost -perpendicularly from the edge of the stream. Here were temples -erected especially for the worship of the Nile and of his emblem the -crocodile. It appeared to the Egyptians the most appropriate place for -the worship of the river, which seemed here to occupy the whole width -of Egypt. Here, too, were vast quarries, from which the stone was -extracted for the building of most of the temples of Upper Egypt. - -Sixteen miles higher Ombi was passed, with its great temple in honor -of the crocodile-headed god Sebak. Along this part of the river the -country was comparatively barren and the villages small and far -apart. In the narrow places the river at times ran so rapidly that it -was necessary to hire a number of peasants to assist the boatmen to -drag the boat against the stream, and the progress made each day was -very slight. - -Four days after leaving Ombi they arrived at Syene,[A] by far the -largest town they had come to since leaving Thebes. This brought the -first stage of their journey to an end. Hitherto they had been -traveling along a tranquil river, running strongly at times, but -smooth and even. Before them they had a succession of cataracts and -rapids to pass, and a country to traverse which, although often -subjugated, was continually rising against the power of Egypt. - - [A] The modern Assouan. - -At Syene they remained for three days. They would gladly have pushed -on without delay, for although the Egyptian authority extended further -up the river, Syene was the last town where the governor would concern -himself with the affairs of Egypt, or where fugitives from justice -were likely to be arrested. However, as it was customary to give -boatmen a few days of repose after their labor, and before undertaking -the still more severe work which lay before them, Jethro thought it -better to avoid any appearance of haste. - -There was much to be seen that was new to them at Syene. A great trade -was carried on with Meroe. Most of the merchants engaged in it dwelt -here, buying on the one hand the products of Upper and Lower Egypt and -sending or taking them up the river, and on the other hand buying the -products of Meroe and dispatching them to Thebes. The streets were -filled with a mingled population. Egyptians with their spotless -garments and tranquil mien; merchants absorbed in business; officers -and soldiers in large numbers, for Syene was an important military -station; officials belonging to the great quarries near, and gangs of -slaves of many nationalities working under their orders. - -Wild-looking figures moved among the crowd, their garments, thrown -loosely round them, affording a striking contrast to the cleanness of -those of the Egyptians, while their unkempt hair was in equally strong -contrast to the precise wigs of the middle-class Egyptians and the -bare heads of the lower class. Their skins, too, were much darker in -color, though there was considerable variation in this respect. Among -them were a sprinkling of men of entirely different type, almost black -in hue, with thicker lips and flatter features. These were Ethiopians, -whose land lay beyond that of Meroe and who had also felt the weight -and power of the arms of Egypt. - -"These people of Meroe," Amuba said, "are very similar in features to -the Egyptians, Chebron. And their tongue is also not unlike yours; I -can understand their speech." - -"Our oldest books," Amuba said, "say that we are kindred people, and -are Asiatic rather than African in our origin. The people of Meroe say -that their far-back ancestors came from Arabia, and first spreading -along the western shore of the Red Sea, ascended to the high lands and -drove out the black people who inhabited them. - -"As to our own origin, it is vague; but my father has told me that the -opinion among those most skilled in the ancient learning is that we -too came from Arabia. We were not all one people, that is certain; and -it is comparatively of recent years, though a vast time as far as -human lives go, that the people of the Thebaid--that is, of Upper -Egypt--extended their dominion over Lower Egypt and made the whole -country one nation. Even now, you know, the king wears two crowns--the -one of Upper Egypt, the other of the lower country. Along the shores -of the Great Sea to the west are Libyans and other peoples similar in -race to ourselves. My father considered that the tribes which first -came from Asia pressed on to the west, driving back or exterminating -the black people. Each fresh wave that came from the east pushed the -others further and further, until at last the ancestors of the people -of Lower Egypt arrived and settled there. - -"In Meroe the temples and religion are similar to our own. Whether -they brought that religion from Arabia, or whether we planted it there -during our various conquests of the country, I cannot tell you; but -certain it is that there is at present but little more difference -between Upper Egypt and Meroe than there is between Upper Egypt and -the Delta." - -"And beyond Meroe the people are all black like those we see here?" - -"So I believe, Amuba. Our merchants penetrate vast distances to the -south exchanging our products for gold and ivory, and everywhere they -find the country inhabited by black people living in wretched -villages, without, as it seems, any government, or law, or order, -waging war with each other and making slaves, whom they also sell to -our merchants. They differ so wholly from us that it is certain that -we cannot come from the same stock. But they are strong and active and -make excellent slaves. Lying between Meroe and the sea, the country -called Abyssinia is also inhabited by a race of Arab blood, but -differing more from us than those of Meroe. - -"They have great towns, but I do not think that their religion is the -same as ours; our traders say that their language can be understood by -them, although more rough and unpolished. I have heard my father say -that he considered that all the country lying east of the Nile, and of -its eastern branch that rises in Abyssinia and is called the Tacazze, -belongs to Asia rather than to Africa." - -The party found that the death by violence of two successive high -priests of Osiris was one of the principal topics of conversation -in Syene, but none appeared to think that there was the remotest -probability of any concerned in those occurrences making for the -south. However, Jethro thought it prudent that the whole party should -not land together, and therefore Amuba and Chebron usually went one -way and he with the girls another. They paid visits to the sacred -island of Ebo opposite the town, and to the quarries of Phile, four -miles away. Here they saw the gangs of slaves cutting colossal -statues, obelisks, and shrines from the solid rock. - -First the outline was traced on the rock, then the surrounding stone -was removed with chisels and wedges, and at last the statue or obelisk -was itself severed from the rock. Then it was hewn and sculptured by -the masons, placed on rollers and dragged by hundreds of men down to -the landing-place below the rapids, and these placed on rafts to be -floated down the river to its destination. They saw many of these -masses of stone in all stages of manufacture. The number of slaves -employed was enormous, and these inhabited great buildings erected -near the quarries, where also were barracks for the troops who kept -guard over them. - -Watching the slaves at their painful labor, Jethro and Amuba were both -filled with gratitude at the good fortune that had placed them with -Ameres instead of sending them to pass their lives in such unceasing -and monotonous toil. Among the slaves were several whom, by their -complexion and appearance, they judged to be Rebu. As at first all -those brought to Egypt had been distributed among the priests and -great officers, they supposed that either from obstinacy, misconduct, -or from attempts to escape they had incurred the displeasure of their -masters, and had been handed over by them for the service of the -state. - -Had the slaves been in the hands of private masters, Jethro and Amuba, -who were filled with pity at seeing their countrymen in such a state, -would have endeavored to purchase them and take them with them upon -their journey. This was out of the question now, nor was it possible -to hold any communication with them, or to present them with a small -sum of money to alleviate their misery without exciting suspicion. The -whole party were heartily glad when on the morning of the fourth day -after their arrival the boat was pushed off from the shore and the -work of ascending the rapids began. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -OUT OF EGYPT. - - -The river had begun to rise before they left Thebes, and although it -had not yet reached its highest point, a great volume of water was -pouring down; and the boatmen assured Jethro that they would be able -to ascend the cataract without difficulty, whereas when the Nile was -low there was often great danger in passing, and at times indeed no -boats could make the passage. Ten men were engaged in addition to the -crew to take the boats up beyond the rapids. - -But although assured that there was no danger, the girls declared that -they would rather walk along the bank, for the hurry and rush of the -mighty flood, rising sometimes in short angry waves, were certainly -trying to the nerves. Jethro and the lads of course accompanied them, -and sometimes seized the rope and added their weight when the force of -the stream brought the men towing to a standstill and seemed as if it -would, in spite of their efforts, tear the boat from their grasp. At -last the top of the rapids was gained, and they were glad to take -their places again in the boat as she floated on the quiet water. So a -month passed--sometimes taken along by favorable winds, at others -being towed along quiet waters close to the shore, at others battling -with the furious rapids. They found that the cataract they had first -passed was as nothing to those higher up. Here the whole cargo had to -be unloaded and carried up to the top of the rapids, and it needed -some forty men to drag the empty boat through the turmoil of waters, -while often the slightest error on the part of the helmsman would have -caused the boat to be dashed to pieces on the great rocks rising in -the midst of the channel. But before arriving at the second cataract -they had tarried for several days at Ibsciak, the city to which their -crew belonged. - -They had passed many temples and towns during the hundred and eighty -miles of journey between Syene and this place, but this was the -largest of them. Here two great grotto temples were in course of -construction, the one dedicated to the gods Amun and Phre, and built -at the expense of Rameses himself, the other dedicated to Athor by -Lofreai, the queen. On these temples were engraved the records of the -victories of Rameses over various nations of Africa and Asia. - -Jethro offered, if the boatmen wished to make a longer stay here, that -he would charter another boat to take them further; but they declared -their willingness to proceed at the end of a week after their arrival, -being well satisfied with their engagement and treatment. After -passing the second cataract they arrived at another large town named -Behni.[B] This was a very large city and abounded with temples and -public buildings. The largest temple was dedicated to Thoth. All along -the river a belt of cultivated land extended for some miles back from -the bank. This was dotted with numerous villages, and there was no -difficulty whatever in obtaining food of all kinds. - - [B] Now Wady-Halfa. - -At last they reached Semneh, the point to which the boatmen had agreed -to take them. This was the furthest boundary to which at that time the -Egyptian power extended. The river here took a great bend to the -east, then flowing south and afterward again west, forming a great -loop. This could be avoided by cutting across the desert to Merawe, a -flourishing town which marked the northern limit of the power of -Meroe, the desert forming a convenient neutral ground between the two -kingdoms. Sometimes Egypt under a powerful king carried her arms much -further to the south, at other times a warlike monarch of Meroe would -push back the Egyptian frontier almost to Syene; but as a rule the -Nile as far south as Semneh was regarded as belonging to Egypt. - -The traders arriving at Semneh generally waited until a sufficient -number were gathered together to form a strong caravan for mutual -protection against the natives inhabiting the desert, who held -themselves independent alike of Egypt and of Meroe, and attacked and -plundered parties crossing the desert, unless these were so strong and -well armed as to be able to set them at defiance. Erecting two tents -and landing their goods and merchandise, Jethro and his party encamped -near the river bank. They had not yet settled whether they would cross -the desert or continue their journey by water. - -The choice between the two routes was open to them; for although the -traders usually crossed the desert, taking with them their lighter and -more valuable merchandise, the heavier goods made the long detour in -boats, going up in large flotillas, both for protection against the -natives and for mutual aid in ascending the rapids which had to be -encountered. There was no difficulty in hiring another boat, for it -was the universal rule to make a transshipment here, as the Egyptian -boatmen were unwilling to enter Meroe. The transport beyond this -point, therefore, was in the hands of the people of this country. - -In consultation with the traders gathered at Semneh Jethro learned -that it was by no means necessary to proceed up the river to the city -of Meroe[C] and thence eastward through Axoum, the capital of -Abyssinia, to the sea, but that a far shorter road existed from the -easternmost point of the bend of the river direct to the sea. There -were, indeed, several large Egyptian towns upon the Red Sea, and from -these a flourishing trade was carried on with Meroe and Abyssinia; and -the first merchant to whom Jethro spoke was much surprised to find -that he was in ignorance of the existence of the route he had -described. - - [C] Now Khartoum. - -The journey, although toilsome, was said to be no more so than that -from Meroe through Axoum, while the distance to be traversed was small -in comparison. After much consultation it was therefore agreed that -the best plan was to dispose of the merchandise that they had brought -with them to one of the traders about to proceed south, retaining -only sufficient for the payment of the men whom it would be necessary -to take with them for protection on their journey. Jethro had no -difficulty in doing this, alleging as his reason for parting with his -goods that he found that the expenses to Meroe would greatly exceed -the sum he had calculated upon, and that therefore he had determined -to proceed no further. As they thought it best to allow six months -from the date of their departure from Thebes to elapse before they -entered any large Egyptian town, they remained for nearly two months -at Semneh, and then finding that a flotilla of boats was ready to -ascend the river, they made an arrangement with some boatmen for the -hire of their craft to the point where they were to leave the river -and again set out on their journey. - -The difficulties of the journey were very great. After traveling for -some sixty miles they came to rapids more dangerous than any they had -passed, and it took the flotilla more than a fortnight passing up -them, only four or five boats being taken up each day by the united -labors of the whole of the crews. There was great satisfaction when -the last boat had been taken up the rapids, and there was a general -feast that evening among the boatmen. During the whole time they had -been engaged in the passage a number of armed scouts had been placed -upon the rocky eminences near the bank; for the place had an evil -reputation, and attacks were frequently made by the desert tribesmen -upon those passing up or down upon the river. - -So far no signs of the presence of hostile natives had been perceived. -The usual precautions, however, had been taken; the cargoes had all -been carried up by hand and deposited so as to form a breastwork, and -as night closed in several sentries were placed to guard against -surprise. It had been arranged that the men belonging to the boats -each day brought up should that night take sentinel duty; and this -evening Jethro, his companions and boatmen were among those on guard. -Many of the boats had left Semneh before them, and they had been among -the last to arrive at the foot of the cataracts, and consequently came -up in the last batch. - -As owners they had been exempt from the labors of dragging up the -boats, and had spent much of their time during the enforced delay in -hunting. They had obtained dogs and guides from the village at the -foot of the cataracts and had had good sport among the ibex which -abounded in the rocky hills. The girls had seldom left their cabin -after leaving Semneh. There was nothing remarkable in the presence of -women in a boat going so far up the river, as many of the traders -took their wives on their journeys with them. When, however, they -journeyed beyond Semneh they left them there until their return, the -danger and hardships of the desert journey being too great for them to -encounter, and it was therefore thought advisable that the girls -should remain in seclusion. - -Jethro, Amuba, and Chebron were standing together at one of the angles -of the encampment when the former suddenly exclaimed: - -"There are men or animals moving on that steep hill opposite! I -thought several times I heard the sound of stones being displaced. I -certainly heard them then." Then turning round he raised his voice: "I -can hear sounds on the hill. It were best that all stood to their arms -and prepare to resist an attack." - -In an instant the sound of song and laughter ceased amid the groups -assembled round the fires and each man seized his arms. There was a -sharp ringing sound close to Jethro, and stooping he picked up an -arrow which had fallen close to him. - -"It is an enemy!" he shouted. "Draw up close to the breastwork and -prepare to receive them. Scatter the fires at once and extinguish the -blazing brands. They can see us, while themselves invisible." - -As he spoke a loud and terrible yell rose from the hillside and a -shower of arrows was poured into the encampment. Several men fell, but -Jethro's orders were carried out and the fires promptly extinguished. - -"Stoop down behind the breastwork," Jethro shouted, "until they are -near enough for you to take aim. Have your spears ready to check their -onslaught when they charge." - -Although Jethro held no position entitling him to command, his orders -were as promptly obeyed as if he had been in authority. The men -recognized at once, by the calmness of his tones, that he was -accustomed to warfare, and readily yielded to him obedience. In a -minute or two a crowd of figures could be seen approaching, and the -Egyptians, leaping to their feet, poured in a volley of arrows. The -yells and screams which broke forth testified to the execution wrought -in the ranks of the enemy, but without a check they still rushed -forward. The Egyptians discharged their arrows as fast as they could -during the few moments left them, and then, as the natives rushed at -the breastwork, they threw down their bows, and, grasping the spears, -maces, swords, axes, or staves with which they were armed, boldly met -the foe. - -For a few minutes the contest was doubtful, but encouraged by the -shouts of Jethro, whose voice could be heard above the yells of the -natives, the Egyptians defended their position with vigor and courage. -As fast as the natives climbed over the low breastwork of merchandise -they were either speared or cut down, and after ten minutes' fierce -fighting their attack ceased as suddenly as it had begun, and as if by -magic a dead silence succeeded the din of battle. - -"You have done well comrades," Jethro said, "and defeated our -assailants; but we had best stand to arms for awhile, for they may -return. I do not think they will, for they have found us stronger and -better prepared for them than they had expected. Still, as we do not -know their ways, it were best to remain on our guard." - -An hour later, as nothing had been heard of the enemy, the fires were -relighted and the wounded attended to. Sixteen men had been shot dead -by the arrows of the assailants and some fifty were more or less -severely wounded by the same missiles, while eighteen had fallen in -the hand-to-hand contest at the breastwork. Thirty-seven natives were -found dead inside the breastwork. How many had fallen before the -arrows of the defenders the latter never knew, for it was found in the -morning that the natives had carried off their killed and wounded who -fell outside the inclosure. As soon as the fighting was over Chebron -ran down to the boat to allay the fears of the girls and assure them -that none of their party had received a serious wound, Jethro alone -having been hurt by a spear thrust, which, however, glanced off his -ribs, inflicting only a flesh wound, which he treated as of no -consequence whatever. - -"Why did not Amuba come down with you?" Mysa asked. "Are you sure that -he escaped without injury?" - -"I can assure you that he has not been touched, Mysa; but we are still -on guard, for it is possible that the enemy may return again, although -we hope that the lesson has been sufficient for them." - -"Were you frightened, Chebron?" - -"I felt a little nervous as they were coming on, but when it came to -hand-to-hand fighting I was too excited to think anything about the -danger. Besides, I was standing between Jethro and Amuba, and they -have fought in great battles, and seemed so quiet and cool that I -could scarcely feel otherwise. Jethro took the command of everyone, -and the rest obeyed him without question. But now I must go back to my -post. Jethro told me to slip away to tell you that we were all safe, -but I should not like not to be in my place if they attack again." - -"I have often wondered, Ruth," Mysa said when Chebron had left them, -"what we should have done if it had not been for Jethro and Amuba. If -it had not been for them I should have been obliged to marry Plexo, -and Chebron would have been caught and killed at Thebes. They arrange -everything, and do not seem afraid in the slightest." - -"I think your brother is brave, too," Ruth said; "and they always -consult with him about their plans." - -"Yes; but it is all their doing," Mysa replied. "Chebron, before they -came, thought of nothing but reading, and was gentle and quiet. I -heard one of the slaves say to another that he was more like a girl -than a boy; but being with Amuba has quite altered him. Of course, he -is not as strong as Amuba, but he can walk and run and shoot an arrow -and shoot a javelin at a mark almost as well as Amuba can; still he -has not so much spirit. I think Amuba always speaks decidedly, while -Chebron hesitates to give an opinion." - -"But your brother has a great deal more learning than Amuba, and so -his opinion ought to be worth more, Mysa." - -"Oh, yes, if it were about history or science; for anything of that -sort of course it would, Ruth, but not about other things. Of course, -it is natural that they should be different, because Amuba is the son -of a king." - -"The son of a king?" Ruth repeated in surprise. - -"Yes, I heard it when he first came; only father said it was not to be -mentioned, because if it were known he would be taken away from us and -kept as a royal slave at the palace. But he is really the son of a -king, and as his father is dead he will be king himself when he gets -back to his own country." - -"And Jethro is one of the same people, is he not?" Ruth asked. - -"Oh, yes! they are both Rebu. I think Jethro was one of the king's -warriors." - -"That accounts," Ruth said, "for what has often puzzled me. Jethro is -much the oldest of our party, and altogether the leader, and yet I -have observed that he always speaks to Amuba as if the latter were the -chief." - -"I have not noticed that," Mysa said, shaking her head; "but I do -know, now you mention it, that he always asked Amuba's opinion before -giving his own." - -"I have constantly noticed it, Mysa, and I wondered that since he and -Amuba were your father's slaves he should always consult Amuba instead -of your brother; but I understand now. That accounts, too, for Amuba -giving his opinion so decidedly. Of course, in his own country, Amuba -was accustomed to have his own way. I am glad of that, for I like -Amuba very much, and it vexed me sometimes to see him settling things -when Jethro is so much older. And you think if he ever gets back to -his own country he will be king?" - -"I am not sure," Mysa said doubtfully. "Of course, he ought to be. I -suppose there is some other king now, and he might not like to give up -to Amuba." - -"I don't suppose we shall ever get there," Ruth said. "Amuba said the -other day that this country lay a great distance further than the land -my people came from a long time ago." - -"But that is not so very far, Ruth. You said that the caravans went in -six or seven days from that part of Egypt where you dwelt to the east -of the Great Sea where your fathers came from." - -"But we are a long way from there, Mysa." - -"But if it is only six or seven days' journey why did not your people -go back again, Ruth?" - -"They always hoped to go back some day, Mysa; but I don't think your -people would have let them go. You see, they made them useful for -building and cutting canals and other work. Besides, other people -dwell now in the land they came from, and these would not turn out -unless they were beaten in battle. My people are not accustomed to -fight; besides, they have stopped so long that they have become as the -Egyptians. For the most part they talk your language, although some -have also preserved the knowledge of their own tongue. They worship -your gods, and if they were not forced to labor against their will I -think now that most of them would prefer to live in ease and plenty in -Egypt rather than journey into a strange country, of which they know -nothing except that their forefathers hundreds of years ago came -thence. But here are the others," she broke off as the boat heeled -suddenly over as some one sprang on board. "Now we shall hear more -about the fighting." - -The next day the journey was continued, and without further adventure -the flotilla arrived at last at the town where the party would leave -the river and strike for the coast. Having unloaded their goods and -discharged the boat, Jethro hired a small house until arrangements -were made for their journey to the seacoast. El Makrif[D] was a place -of no great importance. A certain amount of trade was carried on with -the coast, but most of the merchants trading with Meroe preferred the -longer but safer route through Axoum. Still parties of travelers -passed up and down and took boat there for Meroe; but there was an -absence of the temples and great buildings which had distinguished -every town they had passed between Thebes and Semneh. - - [D] Now called Berber. - -Jethro upon inquiry found that there were wells at the camping-places -along the whole route. The people were wild and savage, the Egyptian -power extending only from the seashore to the foot of the hills, some -fifteen miles away. Occasionally expeditions were got up to punish the -tribesmen for their raids upon the cultivated land of the coast, but -it was seldom that the troops could come upon them, for, knowing every -foot of the mountains, these eluded all search by their heavy-armed -adversaries. Jethro found that the custom was for merchants traveling -across this country to pay a fixed sum in goods for the right of -passage. There were two chiefs claiming jurisdiction over the road, -and a messenger was at once dispatched to the nearest of these with -the offer of the usual payment and a request for an escort. - -A week later four wild-looking figures presented themselves at the -house and stated that they were ready to conduct the travelers through -their chief's territory. Jethro had already made arrangements with the -head man of the place to furnish him with twelve men to carry -provisions necessary for the journey, and upon the following morning -the party started, and Mysa and Ruth assumed the garb of boys, Jethro -finding that although traders might bring up the ladies of their -family to Semneh, or even take them higher up the river in boats, they -would never think of exposing them to the fatigue of a journey across -the mountains, and that the arrival of two girls at the Egyptian town -on the sea would therefore assuredly attract remark, and possibly -inquiry, on the part of the authorities. - -For the first few hours the girls enjoyed the change of traveling -after the long confinement on the boat, but long before nightfall they -longed for the snug cushions and easy life they had left behind. The -bearers, heavy laden as they were, proceeded at a steady pace that -taxed the strength of the girls to keep up with after the first few -miles were passed. The heat of the sun was intense. The country after -a short distance had been passed became barren and desolate. They did -not suffer from thirst, for an ample supply of fruit was carried by -one of the bearers, but their limbs ached, and their feet, unused to -walking, became tender and painful. - -"Can we not stop for awhile, Jethro?" Mysa asked beseechingly. - -Jethro shook his head. - -"We must keep on to the wells. They are two hours further yet. They -told us at starting that the first day's journey was six hours' steady -walking." - -Mysa was about to say that she could walk no further, when Ruth -whispered in her ear: - -"We must not give way, Mysa. You know we promised that if they would -take us with them, we would go through all difficulties and dangers -without complaining." - -The admonition had its effect. Mysa felt ashamed that she had been on -the point of giving way on the very first day of their starting on -their real journey, and struggled bravely on; but both girls were -utterly exhausted by the time they arrived at the wells. They felt -rewarded, however, for their sufferings by the hearty commendation -Jethro bestowed upon them. - -"You have held on most bravely," he said; "for I could see you were -terribly fatigued. I am afraid you will find it very hard work just at -first, but after that it will be more easy to you. To-morrow's journey -is a shorter one." - -It was well that it was so, for the girls were limping even at the -start, and needed the assistance of Jethro and the boys to reach the -next halting-place; and as soon as the tent, which was separated into -two parts by hangings, was erected, they dropped upon their cushions, -feeling that they could never get through another day's suffering like -that they had just passed. - -Jethro saw that this was so, and told their escort that he must halt -next day, for that his young sons had been so long in the boat that -the fatigue had quite overcome them; he accompanied the intimation -with a present to each of the four men. - -They offered no objections, while the porters, who were paid by the -day, were well contented with the halt. - -The day's rest greatly benefited the girls, but it was not long enough -to be of any utility to their feet; these, however, they wrapped in -bandages, and started in good spirits when the porters took up the -loads. They were now following the course of what in wet weather was a -stream in the mountains. Sometimes the hills on either side receded a -little; at others they rose almost perpendicularly on either side of -the stream, and they had to pick their way among great bowlders and -rocks. This sort of walking, however, tired the girls less than -progressing along a level. Their feet were painful, but the soft -bandages in which they were enveloped hurt them far less than the -sandals in which they had at first walked, and they arrived at the -halting-place in much better condition than on the previous occasions. - -"The worst is over now," Jethro said to them encouragingly. "You will -find each day's work come easier to you. You have stood it far better -than I expected; and I feel more hopeful now that we shall reach the -end of our journey in safety than I have done since the evening when I -first agreed to take you with us." - -While passing through some of the ravines the party had been greatly -amused by the antics of troops of apes. Sometimes these sat tranquilly -on the hillside, the elder gravely surveying the little caravan, the -younger frisking about perfectly unconcerned. Sometimes they would -accompany them for a considerable distance, making their way along the -rough stones of the hillside at a deliberate pace, but yet keeping up -with the footmen below. - -As the ape was a sacred animal in Egypt, Mysa was gladdened by their -sight, and considered it a good omen for the success of their journey. -The men who escorted them told them that if undisturbed the apes never -attack travelers, but if molested they would at once attack in a body -with such fury that even four or five travelers together would have -but little chance of escape with their lives. During the first week's -journey they saw no other animals; although at night they heard the -cries of hyenas, who often came close up to the encampment, and once -or twice a deep roar which their guide told them was that of a lion. - -On the seventh day, however, soon after they had started upon their -march, the sound of breaking branches was heard among some trees a -short distance up the hillside, and immediately afterward the heads of -four or five great beasts could be seen above the mimosa bushes which -extended from the wood to the bottom of the hill. The bearers gave a -cry of terror, and throwing down their loads took to their heels. The -four men of the escort stood irresolute. Although none of Jethro's -party had ever before seen an elephant, they knew from pictures and -carvings, and from the great statues in the Island of Elephanta, what -these great creatures were. - -"Will they attack us?" Jethro asked the men. - -"They do not often do so," one of them replied; "although at times -they come down and waste the fields round villages, and will sometimes -slay any they come across. But it is best to get out of their way." - -Jethro pointed out a few of the more valuable packages, and taking -these up they entered the bushes on the other slope of the hill and -made their way among them as far as they could. This was, however, but -a short distance, for they were full of sharp thorns and offered -terrible obstacles to passage. All of the party received severe -scratches, and their garments suffered much, in making their way but -twenty yards into the bush. - -"That will do," Jethro said. "We shall be torn to pieces if we go -further; and we are as much concealed from sight here as we should be -another hundred yards further. I will see what they are doing." - -Standing up and looking cautiously through the screen of feathery -leaves, Jethro saw that the elephants were standing immovable. Their -great ears were erected and their trunks outstretched as if scenting -the air. After two or three minutes hesitation they continued to -descend the hill. - -"Are they afraid of man?" Jethro asked one of the escort. - -"Sometimes they are seized with a panic and fly at the approach of a -human being; but if attacked they will charge any number without -hesitation." - -"Do you ever hunt them?" - -"Sometimes; but always with a great number of men. It is useless to -shoot arrows at them; the only way is to crawl out behind and cut the -back sinews of their legs. It needs a strong man and a sharp sword, -but it can be done. Then they are helpless, but even then it is a long -work to dispatch them. Generally we drive them from our villages by -lighting great fires and making noises. Solitary elephants are more -dangerous than a herd. I have known one of them kill a dozen men, -seizing some in his trunk and throwing them in the air as high as the -top of a lofty tree, dashing others to the ground and kneeling upon -them until every bone is crushed to pieces." - -The elephants had now reached the bottom of the valley, and the chief -of the escort held up his hand for perfect silence. All were prepared -to fight if the elephants pursued them into the bushes, for further -retreat was impossible. Amuba and Chebron had fitted their arrows into -the bowstrings and loosened their swords in the scabbards. The four -natives had drawn the short heavy swords they carried, while Jethro -grasped the ax that was his favorite weapon. "Remember," he had -whispered to the boys, "the back sinews of the legs are the only -useful point to aim at; if they advance, separate, and if they make -toward the girls try to get behind them and hamstring them." - -There was a long pause of expectation. The elephants could be heard -making a low snorting noise with their trunks; and Jethro at last -raised himself sufficiently to look through the bushes at what was -going on. The elephants were examining the bundles that had been -thrown down. - -"I believe that they are eating up our food," he whispered as he sat -down again. - -Half an hour elapsed, and then there was a sound of breaking the -bushes. Jethro again looked out. - -"Thank the gods!" he exclaimed, "they are going off again." - -Trampling down the mimosa thicket as if it had been grass, the -elephants ascended the opposite hill and at last re-entered the wood -from which they had first emerged. The fugitives waited for a quarter -of an hour and then made their way out again from the thicket, Jethro -cutting a path with his ax through the thorns. An exclamation of -surprise broke from them as they gained the open ground. The whole of -their stores were tossed about in the wildest confusion. Everyone of -the packages had been opened. Tents, garments, and carpets hung upon -the bushes as if the animals had tossed them contemptuously there as -being unfit to eat. Everything eatable had disappeared. The fruit, -grain, and vegetables had been completely cleared up. The skins of -wine were bursted; but the contents had been apparently appreciated, -for none remained in the hollows of the rocks. - -"What greedy creatures!" Mysa exclaimed indignantly; "they have not -left us a single thing." - -"They do not often get a chance of such dainty feeding," Amuba said. -"I don't think we ought to blame them, especially as they do not seem -to have done very much damage to our other goods." - -"Look how they have trampled down the bushes as they went through. I -wish their skins were as thin as mine," Mysa said as she wiped away -the blood from a deep scratch on her cheek; "they would keep up in -their own woods then and not come down to rob travelers." - -"At any rate, Mysa, we ought to feel indebted to them," Chebron said, -"for not having pushed their investigations further. We should have -had no chance either of escape or resistance in these bushes. Jethro -told us to move round and attack them from behind; but moving round in -these thorns is all very well to talk about, but quite impossible to -do. Two minutes of active exercise and there would not be a morsel of -flesh left on one's bones." - -It was two or three hours before the bearers came back one by one. -They were assailed with fierce reproaches by Jethro for the cowardice -which had been the means of losing all the provisions. Four of their -number were at once paid off and sent back, as there was no longer -anything for them to carry. The others would have left also had it -not been for the escort, who threatened death if they did not at once -take up their burdens and proceed. For Jethro had been liberal with -his stores, and they were as indignant as he was himself at the sudden -stoppage of their rations. - -Three days later they arrived at a small village, which marked the -commencement of the territory of the second chief through whose -country the road ran. Here the escort and carriers left them, their -place being supplied by natives of the village. There was no -difficulty in obtaining a supply of grain and goats'-milk cheese; but -these were a poor substitute for the stores that the elephants had -devoured. They were too glad, however, at having accomplished half -the toilsome journey to murmur at trifles, and after a day's halt -proceeded on their way. Another fortnight's travel and they stood on -the lower slopes of the hills, and saw across a wide belt of flat -country the expanse of the sea glistening in the sun. - -Two more days' journey and they reached the Egyptian trading station. -This was situated on a little peninsula connected with the mainland by -a narrow neck of land, across which a massive wall had been built to -repulse the attacks of the wild tribesmen, who frequently swept down -and devastated the cultivated fields up to the very wall. As soon as -they entered the town Jethro was ordered by an official to accompany -him to the house of the governor. Taking Chebron with him, he left it -to Amuba to arrange for the use of a small house during their stay. - -The governor's inquiries were limited to the state of the country, the -behavior of the tribesmen along the road, the state of the wells, and -the amount of provisions obtainable along the line of route. - -"There are a party of Arab traders from the other side who wish to -pass up to carry their goods either to Semneh or Meroe, but I have -detained them until news should reach me from above, for if any wrong -should happen to them their countrymen might probably enough hold us -responsible for their deaths, and this might lead to quarrels and loss -of trade; but since you have passed through with so small a party -there can be no fear, and they can arrange with the people who brought -you down as to the amount to be paid to the chiefs for free passage." - -He inquired Jethro's reason for making the journey over the mountains -instead of proceeding by the Nile. He replied that he had received an -advantageous offer for all his merchandise and had disposed of it to a -trader going up to Meroe, and that as the Nile had now fallen and the -danger in passing down the cataracts was considerable, he thought it -better to make the short land journey and to travel by sea to Lower -Egypt; especially as he was told that the natives were now friendly, -and that no difficulty would be met with on the way. Another reason -for his choosing that route was that he might determine whether on his -next venture it would not be more advantageous to bring down his -merchandise by ship and start from the seashore for Meroe. - -"Undoubtedly it would be better," the governor said; "but it were -wiser to sail another two days' journey down the coast and then to -journey by way of Axoum." - -A week's rest completely recruited the strength of the girls, and -Jethro then engaged a passage in a trading ship which was going to -touch at various small ports on its way north. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -THE DESERT JOURNEY. - - -The journey was a long one. The winds were often so light that the -vessels scarcely moved, and the heat was greater than anything they -had felt during their journey. They stopped at many small ports on the -Arabian side; the captain trading with the natives--selling to them -articles of Egyptian manufacture, and buying the products of the -country for sale in Egypt. The party had, before starting, arranged -that they would land at Ælana, a town lying at the head of the gulf of -the same name, forming the eastern arm of the Red Sea.[E] By so doing -they would avoid the passage through Lower Egypt. - - [E] Now the Gulf of Akabah. - -The question had not been decided without long debate. By crossing -from Arsinoe[F] to Pelusium they would at the latter port be able to -obtain a passage in a Phoenician trader to a port in the north of -Syria, and there strike across Asia Minor for the Caspian. Jethro was -in favor of this route, because it would save the girls the long and -arduous journey up through Syria. They, however, made light of this, -and declared their readiness to undergo any hardships rather than to -run the risk of the whole party being discovered either upon landing -at Arsinoe or on their journey north, when they would pass through -the very country that Amuba and Chebron had visited and that was -inhabited by Ruth's people. - - [F] Now Suez. - -All allowed that the time had long since passed when the authorities -would be keeping up a special watch for them; but as upon entering -port a scribe would come on board and make a list of the passengers -with their place of birth and vocation, for registration in the -official records, it would be difficult in the extreme to give such -answers as would avoid exciting suspicion. - -When the vessel reached the mouth of the long and narrow gulf the -party were struck by the grandeur of the mountains that rose from the -water's edge on their left. - -The captain told them that the chief of these was known as Mount -Sinai, and that barren and desolate as the land looked, it contained -valleys where sheep were pastured and where wandering tribes found a -subsistence. No hint had been given to the captain that they had any -intention of cutting short their voyage before arriving at Arsinoe, -for it would have seemed an extraordinary proceeding for a trader -journeying with his family to leave the ship at any of the Arabian -ports. While sailing up the gulf Mysa complained of illness, and -indeed so overpowered was she by the heat that there was but little -fiction in the complaint. Upon arriving at Ælana Jethro had her -carried on shore, and, hiring a house there, stayed on shore while -the ship was in port. - -There was a small Egyptian garrison in the town, which carried on -a considerable trade with Moab and the country to the east. No -attention, however, was paid to the landing of the traders, for, as -the country beyond the walls of the town lay beyond the limit of -Egyptian rule, the landing and departure of persons at the port was a -matter of no interest to the authorities. Two days later Jethro went -on board again and said that his young son was so ill that there was -no chance of him being able to proceed on the journey, and that -therefore he must forfeit the passage money paid to Arsinoe. - -He said that as it might be many weeks before another vessel would -come along, he should endeavor to pay his way by trading with the -natives, and he therefore wished to purchase from him a portion of his -remaining goods suitable for the purpose. As the captain saw that he -would save the provisions for five persons for the month or six weeks -that the voyage would yet last, and at the same time get rid of some -of his surplus cargo, he assented without question to Jethro's -proposal. Several bales of goods were made up, consisting principally -of cloths of various texture and color of Egyptian manufacture, -trinkets, and a selection of arms. - -These were landed, and two days later the vessel set sail. Jethro -called upon the Egyptian commandant, and by making him a handsome -present at once enlisted his aid in his enterprise. He said that as he -had been detained by the illness of his son, and it might be a long -time before any vessel came, he thought of getting rid of the rest of -the merchandise he had brought with him by trade with the people of -Moab. - -"That you can do if you reach Moab," the Egyptian said, "for traders -are everywhere well received; but the journey from here is not without -dangers. It is a country without a master; the people have no fixed -abodes, moving here and there according as they can find food for -their animals, sometimes among the valleys of Sinai, sometimes in -the desert to the east. These people plunder any whom they may come -across, and not content with plunder might slay or carry you away as -slaves. Once you have passed through as far as Moab you are safe; as -you would also be if you journeyed to the west of the Salt Lake, into -which runs the river Jordan. There are many tribes there, all living -in cities, warlike and valorous people, among whom also you would -be safe. We have had many wars with them, and not always to our -advantage. But between us is a sort of truce--they do not molest our -armies marching along by the seacoast, nor do we go up among their -hills to meddle with them. These are the people who at one time -conquered a portion of Lower Egypt, and reigned over it for many -generations until, happily, we rose and drove them out." - -"Is the journey between this and the Salt Lake you speak of an arduous -one?" - -"It is by no means difficult, except that it were best to carry water -upon the journey, for the wells are few and often dry; but the country -is flat for the whole distance; indeed, there is a tradition that this -gulf at one time extended as far north as the Salt Lake. The road, -therefore, though stony and rough, offers no difficulties whatever; -but I should advise you, if you determine upon the journey, to leave -your son behind." - -"It is better for him to travel than to remain here without me," -Jethro said; "and if we go up through the people you speak of to the -west of this lake and river, it would be but a short journey for us -after disposing of our goods to make our way down to a port on the -Great Sea, whence we may take ship and return quickly to Pelusium, and -thus arrive home before we should find a ship to take us hence." - -"That is so," the Egyptian said. "The winds are so uncertain on these -seas that, as far as time goes, you might journey by the route you -propose and reach Egypt more speedily than you would do if you went on -board a ship at once. The danger lies almost entirely in the first -portion of your journey. The caravans that go hence once or twice a -year through Moab to Palmyra are numerous and well armed, and capable -of resisting an attack by these robber tribesmen. But one left a few -weeks ago, and it may be some months before another starts." - -"What animals would you recommend me to take with me?" - -"Beyond all doubt camels are the best. They are used but little in -this country, but come down sometimes with the caravans from Palmyra; -and I believe that there is at present in the town an Arab who -possesses six or seven of them. He came down with the last caravan, -but was taken ill and unable to return with it. Doubtless you could -make a bargain with him. I will send a soldier with you to the house -he occupies." - -Jethro found that the man was anxious to return to his own country, -which lay on the borders of Media, and therefore directly in the -direction which Jethro wished to travel. He was, however, unwilling to -undertake the journey except with a caravan, having intended to wait -for the next however long the time might be; but the sum that Jethro -offered him for the hire of his animals as far as Palmyra at last -induced him to consent to make the journey at once, bargaining, -however, that a party of ten armed men should be hired as an escort as -far as the borders of Moab. Highly pleased with the result of his -inquiries, Jethro returned home and told his companions the -arrangements he had made. - -"I have only arranged for our journey as far as Palmyra," he said, "as -it would have raised suspicion had I engaged him for the whole journey -to Media; but of course he will gladly continue the arrangement for -the whole journey. He has bargained for an escort of ten men, but we -will take twenty. There is ample store of your father's gold still -unexhausted; and, indeed, we have spent but little yet, for the sale -of our goods when we left the boat paid all our expenses of the -journey up the Nile. Therefore, as this seems to be the most hazardous -part of our journey, we will not stint money in performing it in -safety. I have told him that we shall start in a week's time. It would -not do to leave earlier. You must not recover too rapidly from your -illness. In the meantime I will make it my business to pick out a -score of good fighting men as our escort." - -In this the Egyptian captain was of use, recommending men whose -families resided in Ælana, and would therefore be hostages for their -fidelity. This was necessary, for no small portion of the men to be -met with in the little town were native tribesmen who had encamped at -a short distance from its walls, and had come in to trade in horses or -the wool of their flocks for the cloths of Egypt. Such men as these -would have been a source of danger rather than of protection. - -By the end of the week he had collected a party of twenty men, all of -whom were to provide their own horses. The sum agreed upon for their -escort was to be paid into the hands of the Egyptian officer, who was -to hand it to them on their return, with a document signed by Jethro -to the effect that they had faithfully carried out the terms of their -agreement. - -Jethro found that the expense of the escort was less than he had -anticipated, for when the men found that the party would be a strong -one, therefore capable of protecting itself both on the journey out -and on its return, they demanded but a moderate sum for their -services. When the owner of the camels learned that they had decided -positively to pass to the east of the Salt Lake, he advised them -strongly, instead of following the valley of Ælana to the Salt Lake, -where it would be difficult to obtain water, to take the road to the -east of the range of hills skirting the valleys, and so to proceed -through Petra and Shobek and Karik to Hesbon in Moab. This was the -route followed by all the caravans. Villages would be found at very -short distances, and there was no difficulty whatever about water. - -"My camels," he said, "can go long distances without water, and could -take the valley route, but the horses would suffer greatly." - -Jethro was glad to hear that the journey was likely to be less -toilsome than he had anticipated; and all the arrangements having been -concluded, the party started soon after dawn on the day at first fixed -upon. - -The girls were still in male attire, and rode in large baskets, slung -one on each side of a camel. The camel-driver walked at the head of -the animal, leading it by a cord. Its fellows followed in a long line, -each fastened to the one before it. Jethro, Amuba, and Chebron, all -armed with bows and arrows, as well as swords, rode beside the girls' -camel. Half the escort went on ahead; the other half formed the rear -guard. - -"Which is the most dangerous part of the journey?" Jethro asked the -camel-driver. - -"That on which we are now entering," he replied. "Once we arrive at -Petra we are comparatively safe; but this portion of the journey -passes over a rough and uninhabited country, and it is across this -line that the wandering tribesmen pass in their journeys to or from -the pastures round Mount Sinai. The steep hills on our left form at -once a hiding-place and a lookout. There they can watch for travelers -passing along this road, and swoop down upon them." - -"How long shall we be reaching Petra?" - -"It is three days' fair traveling; but as the beasts are fresh, by -journeying well on to sundown we could accomplish it in two days. -After that we can travel at our ease; the villages lie but a few miles -apart." - -"Let us push on, then, by all means," said Jethro. "We can stay a day -at Petra to rest the beasts, but let us get through this desolate and -dangerous country as soon as we can." - -The girls had been greatly amused at first at the appearance of the -strange animal that was carrying them; but they soon found that the -swinging action was extremely fatiguing, and they would have gladly -got down and walked. - -Jethro, however, said that this could not be, for the pace of the -animal, deliberate though it seemed, was yet too great for them to -keep up with on foot, and it was needful for the first two days to -push on at full speed. - -The sun blazed with tremendous force, and was reflected from the black -rock of the hills and the white sand lying between the stones that -everywhere strewed the plain along which they were traveling, and the -heat was terrible. After traveling for three hours they halted for an -hour, and Jethro managed, with the poles that had been brought to form -the framework of tents, and some cloths, to fasten an awning over the -baskets in which the girls were riding. The camels had lain down as -soon as they halted, and the girls stepped into the baskets before -they arose. They gave a simultaneous cry as the animal rose. They had -prepared for him to rise on his fore legs, and when his hind quarter -suddenly rose in the air they were almost thrown from their baskets. - -"I don't like this creature a bit," Mysa said as they moved on. "Who -would suppose that he was going to get up the wrong way first? -Besides, why does he keep on grumbling? I am sure that Ruth and I -cannot be such a very heavy load for such a great beast. I believe he -would have bit us as we got in if the driver had not jerked the rope -at its head. It must be much nicer to sit on a horse. I am sure that -looks easy enough." - -"It is not so easy as it looks, Mysa," Chebron replied; "besides, you -know women never do ride horses." - -"They do in our country," Amuba said. "When we get there, Mysa, I will -teach you how to sit on them." - -"Ah! it is a long way off, Amuba," Mysa replied; "and I believe this -creature has made up his mind to shake us to pieces as soon as he -can." - -"You should not try to sit stiff," Jethro said. "Sit quite easily, and -sway backward and forward with the motion of the basket. You will soon -get accustomed to it, and will find that ere long you will be able to -sleep as if in a cradle." - -They traveled on until the sun was just sinking, and then prepared to -camp for the night. They had brought with them several skins of water, -and from these a scanty drink was given to each of the horses. A few -handfuls of grain were also served out to each. The drivers stuck -their spears firmly into the ground and to these fastened them. The -camels were made to kneel down so as to form a square. In the center -of this the tent was pitched for the girls, the horses being arranged -in a circle outside. - -The men had all brought with them flat cakes, and with these and a -handful of dates they made their meal; and there was no occasion for -lighting a fire, for Jethro's party had brought an ample store of -cooked provisions for their own use. In a short time quiet reigned in -the camp. The journey had been a hot and fatiguing one, and the men -wrapping themselves in their cloaks lay down, each by his spear, and -were soon asleep, with the exception of four who took their posts as -sentries. Jethro had agreed with Amuba and Chebron that they also -would divide the night between them, taking it by turns to keep watch. - -The men of the escort were, however, of opinion that there was very -little probability of any attack before morning, even had they been -watched by a party among the hills. - -"They could hardly hope to take us by surprise, for they would be sure -that we should set a watch in the darkness. They could not make their -way down the hills without some noise; besides, they believe the -powers of evil are potent at night, and seldom stir out of their camps -after dark. If we are attacked at all, it is likely to be just before -sunrise." - -Jethro had therefore arranged that Chebron should keep the first -watch, Amuba the second, and that he himself would take charge four -hours before daylight. - -The night passed without any cause for alarm. As soon as daylight -broke the camp was astir. Another ration of water and grain was served -out to the horses, a hasty meal was made by the men, and just as the -sun rose the cavalcade moved on. They had journeyed but half a mile, -when from behind a spur of the hills running out in the plain a large -party was seen to issue forth. There must have been fully a hundred of -them, of whom some twenty were mounted and the rest on foot. The -travelers halted and had a short consultation. Jethro with one of the -escort then rode out to meet the advancing party, waving a white cloth -in token of amity. Two of the Arabs rode forward to meet them. It was -some time before Jethro returned to the party, who were anxiously -awaiting the termination of the colloquy. - -"What do they say, Jethro?" Amuba asked as he rode up. - -"He says, to begin with, that we ought to have purchased from him the -right of traveling across the country. I said that I would gladly have -paid a moderate sum had I been aware that such was required, but that -as he was not in Ælana I could not tell that he claimed such a right. -At the same time I was ready to make an offer of four rolls of -Egyptian cloth. He rejected the offer with scorn, and after a long -conversation let me know pretty plainly that he intended to take all -our goods and animals, and that we might think ourselves fortunate in -being allowed to pursue our way on foot. I said that I would consult -my friends; that if they agreed to his terms we would keep the white -flag flying; if we refused them, we would lower it." - -"Then you may as well lower it at once, Jethro," Amuba said. "We might -as well be killed at once as be plundered of all we possess by these -Arab rascals. Besides, as there are twenty-three of us, and all well -armed, we ought to be able to cut our way through them. At the worst -the girls could mount behind us, and we could make a circuit so as to -avoid the footmen, and if the horsemen ventured to attack us we could -soon give a good account of them." - -"Yes. But we should lose our seven camel-loads of goods, and we shall -want them for trade as we go along," Jethro said. "I propose that we -should form the camels into a square, as we did last night; that you -two and six of the men armed with bows and arrows shall occupy it and -take care of the girls, while the rest of us charge the Arabs. If we -can defeat the horsemen it is probable that the men on foot will draw -off. But while we are doing so some of those on foot may rush forward -and attack you. We will take care not to pursue, and you can rely -upon our coming to your assistance as soon as you are attacked." - -"I think that is the best plan, Jethro. We can keep them off for some -time with our bows and arrows, for certainly Chebron and I can bring -down a man with each shot at a hundred yards." - -Jethro chose six of the men who professed themselves to be good -archers. Their horses' legs were tied and the animals thrown down just -outside the square formed by the kneeling camels. Strict instructions -were given to the girls to lie down, and the saddles and bales were -arranged outside the camels to shield them from missiles. Then when -all was prepared the white flag was lowered, and Jethro with his -fourteen men rode at full gallop against the Arabs. - -Trusting to their somewhat superior numbers the Arab horsemen advanced -to meet them; but Jethro's party, obeying his orders to keep in a -close line together with their spears leveled in front of them, rode -right over the Arabs, who came up singly and without order. Men and -horses rolled over together, several of the former transfixed by the -spears of the horsemen. Jethro called upon his men to halt and turned -upon the Arabs. - -Some of the latter fled toward the footmen, who were running up to -their assistance, but were pursued and cut down. Others fought to the -last silently and desperately; but these, too, were slain. As soon as -the footmen approached they opened fire with slings and stones. Jethro -rallied his men and formed them in line again, and at their head -charged the Arabs. The latter fought steadily. Giving way for a -moment, they closed in round the little party of horsemen, throwing -their javelins and hacking at them with their swords. Jethro spurred -his horse into their midst, dealing blows right and left with his -heavy ax. His followers pressed after him, and after hard fighting cut -their way through their opponents. - -Again and again the maneuver was repeated, the resistance of the Arabs -weakening, as most of their best men had fallen, while the large -shields carried by the horsemen repelled the greater part of the -missiles they hurled at them. Another minute or two and the Arabs -broke and fled from the hills, leaving over twenty of their number on -the ground, in addition to the whole of their mounted men. Jethro had -now time to look round, and saw for the first time that he had not, as -he supposed, been engaged with the whole of the enemy's party. While -some fifty of them had attacked him, the rest had made direct for the -camels, and were now gathered in a mass around them. - -With a shout to his men to follow him Jethro galloped at full speed -toward the Arabs, and with a shout flung himself upon them, clearing -his way through them with his ax. He was but just in time. A desperate -conflict was raging across the camels. At one point several of the -Arabs had broken into the square, and these were opposed by Amuba, -Chebron, and one of the men, while the others still held back the -Arabs on the other side. The arrival of Jethro, followed closely by -the rest of his men, instantly put a stop to the conflict. - -The Arabs no longer thought of attacking, but with cries of dismay -started for the hills, hotly pursued by the horsemen, who followed -them until they reached the foot of the rocks. As soon as the Arabs -gained their fastnesses they again betook themselves to their slings, -and the horsemen fell back to the camels. Jethro had not joined in the -pursuit, but as soon as the Arabs fled had leaped from his horse. - -"You were almost too late, Jethro," Amuba said. - -"I was, indeed," Jethro replied. "I thought that I was engaged with -the whole of the footmen, and in the heat of the fight did not notice -that a party had moved off to attack you. You are terribly hurt, I -fear, both you and Chebron. Are both the girls unharmed?" - -Mysa and Ruth had both risen to their feet as soon as the attack -ceased. - -"We are both safe," Mysa replied. "But oh, how terribly you are hurt, -both of you; and Jethro, too, is wounded!" - -"My wound is nothing," Jethro said; "let us look to those of Chebron -first," for Chebron had sat down against one of the camels. - -"Do not be alarmed," Chebron said faintly. "I think it is only loss of -blood; my shield covered my body." - -"Now, girls," Jethro said, "do you get beyond the camels, open one of -the bales of cloth, and set to work tearing it up in strips for -bandages. I will look after these two." - -After an examination of their wounds Jethro was able to say that he -did not think that any of them would have very serious consequences. -Both had been wounded in the leg with javelins, the side of Chebron's -face was laid open by a sword cut, and a spear had cut through the -flesh and grazed the ribs on the right side. - -Amuba's most serious wound had been inflicted by a javelin thrown at -him sideways. This had passed completely through his back under both -shoulder-blades and had broken off there. Jethro cut off the ragged -end, and taking hold of the point protruding behind the left arm, drew -the shaft through. Then taking some of the bandages from the girls, he -bound up all the wounds, and then proceeded to examine those of the -men who were already occupied in stanching the flow of blood from -their comrades' wounds. It was found that one of the defenders of the -square was dead and three others severely wounded. - -Of Jethro's party two had fallen and all had received wounds more or -less severe. Had it not been for the shields that covered their -bodies, few would have emerged alive from the conflict; but these gave -them an immense advantage over the Arabs, who carried no such means of -protection. The owner of the camels had escaped unhurt, having -remained during the fight hidden under some bales. As soon as the -wounds were all bandaged and a drink of wine and water had been served -out to each, the camels were unbound and permitted to rise. - -Three of the men most seriously wounded, being unable to sit on their -horses, were placed on the bales carried by camels, and the party -again set out. It was well that they were obliged to proceed at the -pace of the camels, for several men could scarcely sit their horses, -and could not have done so at a pace exceeding a walk. - -"Now, Amuba, let us hear about your fight," Jethro said. "I have not -had time to ask a question yet." - -"There is naught to tell," Amuba said. "We saw you charge down upon -their horsemen and destroy them, and then ride into the middle of -their foot. At once a party of about thirty strong detached themselves -and made straight for us. As soon as they came within range of our -arrows we began. I shot four before they reached us, and I think -Chebron did the same; but the men with us shot but poorly, and I do -not think that they can have killed more than seven or eight between -them. However, altogether, that accounted for about half their number, -and there were only about fifteen who got up to a hand-to-hand fight -with us. For a bit, aided by our breastwork, we kept them out. But at -last they managed to spring over, and although we were doing our best -and several of them had fallen, we had been wounded, and it would have -gone very hard with us in another minute or two if you had not come up -to the rescue. Now let us hear what you were doing." - -Jethro then described the encounter he and his party had had with the -footmen. - -"They fight well, these Arabs," he said, "and it was well for us that -we all carried shields; for had we not done so they would have riddled -us with their javelins. As you see, I had a narrow escape; for had -that dart that went through my ear been an inch or two to the right it -would have pierced my eye. I have two or three nasty gashes with their -swords on the legs, and I think that most of the other men came out -worse than I did. It was lucky that they did not strike at the horses; -but I suppose they wanted them, and so avoided inflicting injury on -them. However, it has been a tough fight, and we are well out of it. I -hope I shall not be called on to use my battle-ax again until I am -fighting in the ranks of the Rebu." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -HOME AT LAST. - - -When they neared Petra a horn was heard to blow, and people were seen -running about among the houses. - -"They take us for a party of Arabs," one of the horsemen said. "As I -have often been through the town and am known to several persons here, -I will, if you like, hurry on and tell them that we are peaceful -travelers." - -The party halted for a few minutes and then moved slowly forward -again. By the time they reached the town the news that the party were -traders had spread, and the people were issuing from their houses. -These were small and solidly built of stone. They were but one story -high. The roof was flat, with a low wall running round it, and the -houses had but one door, opening externally. This was very low and -narrow, so that those inside could offer a determined resistance -against entry. As the town stood on the slope of the hill, and the -roofs of the lower houses were commanded by those from above, the -place was capable of offering a determined resistance against -marauding tribes. The head man of the place met the travelers and -conducted them to an empty house, which he placed at their disposal, -and offered a present of fowls, dates, and wine. The news that a heavy -defeat had been inflicted upon one of the wandering bands excited -satisfaction, for the interference of these plunderers greatly -affected the prosperity of the place, as the inhabitants were unable -to trade with Ælana unless going down in very strong parties. Every -attention was paid to the party by the inhabitants. Their wounds were -bathed and oil poured into them, and in the more serious cases boiled -herbs of medicinal virtue were applied as poultices to the wounds. - -Petra at that time was but a large village, but it after ward rose -into a place of importance. The travelers remained here for a week, at -the end of which time all save two were in a fit state to continue -their journey. - -Without further adventure the journey was continued to Moab. On their -arrival here the escort was dismissed, each man receiving a present in -addition to the stipulated rate of pay that they were to draw upon -their return to Ælana. - -Moab was a settled country. It contained no large towns; but the -population, which was considerable, was gathered in small villages of -low stone-built houses, similar to those in Petra. The inhabitants -were ready to trade. Their language was strange to Jethro and Amuba; -but it was closely related to that spoken by Ruth, and she generally -acted as interpreter between Jethro and the natives. After traveling -through Moab, they took the caravan road across the desert to the -northeast, passed through the oasis of Palmyra, a large and -flourishing city, and then journeyed on the Euphrates. They were now -in the country of the Assyrians, and not wishing to attract attention -or questions, they avoided Nineveh and the other great cities, and -kept on their way north until they reached the mountainous country -lying between Assyria and the Caspian. - -They met with many delays upon the way, and it was six months after -leaving Ælana before, after passing through a portion of Persia, they -reached the country inhabited by the scattered tribes known by the -general name of Medes, and to whom the Rebu were related. Through -this country Thotmes had carried his arms, and most of the tribes -acknowledged the dominion of Egypt and paid a tribute to that country, -Egyptian garrisons being scattered here and there among them. - -Jethro and Amuba now felt at home, but as they determined that when -they reached their own country they would, until they found how -matters were going on there, disguise their identity, they now -traveled as Persian traders. Long before reaching Persia they had -disposed of the stock of goods with which they started, and had now -supplied themselves with articles of Persian manufacture. They thus -passed on unquestioned from village to village, as the trade in those -regions was entirely carried on by Persian merchants, that country -having already attained a comparatively high amount of civilization; -while the Median tribes, although settled down into fixed communities, -had as yet but little knowledge of the arts of peace. The party -journeyed in company with some Persian traders, and gradually worked -their way north until they arrived at the first Rebu village. - -They had many times debated the question of the part they should here -play, and had agreed that it would be better to continue to maintain -their character as Persian traders until they had learned the exact -position of affairs. In order to be able to keep up their disguise -they had laid in a fresh stock of Persian goods at the last large town -through which they passed. Had Jethro been alone he could at once have -declared himself, and would have been received with joy as one who had -made his way back from captivity in Egypt; but for Amuba there would -have been danger in his being recognized until the disposition of the -occupant of the throne was discovered. There would, indeed, have been -small chance of his being recognized had he been alone. Nearly four -years had elapsed since he had been carried away captive, and he had -grown from a boy into a powerful young man; but had Jethro been -recognized his companion's identity might have been suspected, as he -was known to have been the special mentor and companion of the young -prince. - -As to Amuba, he had no desire whatever to occupy the throne of the -Rebu, and desired only to reside quietly in his native country. The -large sum that Ameres had handed over to the care of Jethro had been -much diminished by the expenses of their long journey, but there was -still ample to insure for them all a good position in a country where -money was not abundant. - -In their journey through Persia they had picked up many of the words -of that language differing from those of the Rebu, and using these in -their conversation they were able to pass well as traders who in their -previous journeys in the land had acquired a fair knowledge of the -dialect of the people. They soon learned that an Egyptian garrison -still occupied the capital, that the people groaned under the -exactions necessary to pay the annual tribute, and that General -Amusis, who had, as Amuba's father expected he would do, seized the -throne of the Rebu after the departure of the main Egyptian army, was -in close intimacy with the Egyptian officials, and was in consequence -extremely unpopular among the people. He had, on his accession to -power, put to death all the relatives of the late king who could be -considered as rival claimants for the throne, and there could be -little doubt that did he suspect that Amuba had returned from Egypt he -would not hesitate to remove him from his path. - -Amuba had several long consultations with Jethro as to his course. He -repeated to him the conversation that he had had with his father on -the day previous to the battle in which the latter was slain, how he -had warned him, against the ambition of Amusis, and advised him, -rather than risk the chances of civil war in endeavoring to assert his -rights, to collect a body of adherents and to seek a new home in the -far west. Jethro, however, was strongly of opinion that the advice, -although excellent at the time, was no longer appropriate. - -"To begin with, Amuba, you were then but a boy of sixteen, and engaged -as we were in war with Egypt, the people would naturally have -preferred having a well-known and skillful general at their head to -a boy whom they could not hope would lead them successfully in war. -You are now a man. You have had a wide experience. You have an -acquaintance with the manners and ways of our conquerors, and were you -on the throne could do much for the people, and could promote their -welfare by encouraging new methods of agriculture and teaching them -something of the civilization in Egypt. - -"In the second place, in the four years that have elapsed Amusis has -had time to make himself unpopular. The necessity for heavy taxation -to raise the annual tribute has naturally told against him, to say -nothing of the fact that he is said to be on friendly terms with our -foreign oppressors. Therefore the chances would be all in your favor." - -"But I have no desire to be king," Amuba replied. "I want to live in -quiet contentment." - -"You are born to be king, Prince Amuba," Jethro said; "it is not a -matter of your choice. Besides, it is evident that for the good of the -people it is necessary that the present usurper should be overthrown -and the lawful dynasty restored. Besides this, it is clear that you -cannot live in peace and contentment as you say; you might at any -moment be recognized and your life forfeited. As to the original plan, -I am sure that your father would not have advocated it under the -changed circumstances; besides, I think you have had your fair share -of wandering and dangers. - -"Moreover, I suppose you would hardly wish to drag Mysa with you on -your journey to an unknown country, where all sorts of trials and -struggles must unquestionably be encountered before you succeed in -founding a new settlement. I suppose," he said with a smile, "you -would not propose leaving her here to whatever fate might befall her. -I fancy from what I have seen during the last six months that you have -altogether other intentions concerning her." - -Amuba was silent for some time. - -"But if Amusis is supported by the Egyptians," he said at last, "and -is viewed by them as their ally, I should not be able to overthrow him -without becoming involved in hostilities with them also. It is not," -he went on, seeing that Jethro was about to speak, "of the garrison -here that I am thinking, but of the power of Egypt behind it. Did I -overthrow Amusis and defeat the Egyptians, his friends, I should bring -upon my country a fresh war with Egypt." - -"Egypt is, as we have found, a very long way off, Amuba. Occasionally -a warlike monarch arises under whom her arms are carried vast -distances and many nations are brought under her sway, but such -efforts are made but rarely, and we lie at the extremest limit of her -power. Thotmes himself has gained sufficient glory. He was absent for -years from his country, and at the end of long journeyings returned -home to enjoy the fruits of his victories. It is not likely that he -would again start on so long an expedition merely to bring so distant -a corner of the land subject to Egypt again under her sway. The land -is stripped of its wealth; there is nothing to reward such vast toil -and the outlay that would be required to carry out such an expedition, -and it may be generations before another monarch may arise thirsting -like Thotmes for glory, and willing to leave the luxuries of Egypt for -a course of distant conquest. - -"Besides, Egypt has already learned to her cost that the Rebu are not -to be overcome bloodlessly, and that defeat is just as likely as -victory to attend her arms against us. Therefore I do not think that -the thought of the vengeance of Egypt need deter you. In other -respects the present occupation by them is in your favor rather than -otherwise, for you will appear before the people not only as their -rightful king but as their liberator from the hated Egyptian yoke." - -"You are right, Jethro," Amuba said after a long silence; "it is my -duty to assert my rights and to restore the land to freedom. My mind -is made up now. What is your advice in the matter?" - -"I should journey through the land until we reach a port by the sea -frequented by Persian traders, and should there leave the two girls in -charge of the family of some trader in that country; there they can -remain in tranquillity until matters are settled. Chebron will, I am -sure, insist upon sharing our fortunes. Our long wanderings have made -a man of him, too. They have not only strengthened his frame and -hardened his constitution, but they have given stability to his -character. He is thoughtful and prudent, and his advice will always be -valuable, while of his courage I have no more doubt than I have of -yours. When you have once gained your kingdom you will find in -Chebron a wise counselor, one on whom you can lean in all times of -difficulty. - -"When we have left the girls behind we will continue our journey -through the land, and gradually put ourselves into communication with -such governors of towns and other persons of influence as we may learn -to be discontented with the present state of things, so that when we -strike our blow the whole country will declare for you at once. As we -travel we will gradually collect a body of determined men for the -surprise of the capital. There must be numbers of my old friends and -comrades still surviving, and there should be no difficulty in -collecting a force capable of capturing the city by a surprise." - -Jethro's plans were carried out, and the girls placed under the care -of the wife of a Persian trader in a seaport close to the frontier of -Persia; the others then started upon their journey, still traveling as -Persians. Jethro had little difficulty in discovering the sentiments -of the principal men in the towns through which they passed. -Introducing himself first to them as a Persian trader desirous of -their protection in traveling through the country, he soon disclosed -to them his own individuality. - -To many of them he was known either personally or by repute. He -informed them that he had escaped from Egypt with Amuba, but he led -them to believe that his companion was waiting in Persian territory -until he learned from him that the country was ripe for his -appearance; for he thought it best in no case to disclose the fact -that Amuba was with him, lest some of those with whom he communicated -should endeavor to gain rewards from the king by betraying him. His -tidings were everywhere received with joy, and in many cases Jethro -was urged to send at once for Amuba and to show him to the people, -for that all the land would instantly rise on his behalf. - -Jethro, however, declared that Amuba would bide his time, for that a -premature disclosure would enable the king to call together a portion -of the army which had formerly fought under his orders, and that with -the assistance of the Egyptians he might be able to form a successful -resistance to a popular rising. - -"I intend," he said, "if possible, to collect a small force to seize -the person of the usurper by surprise, and so paralyze resistance; in -which case there would only be the Egyptians to deal with, and these -would be starved out of their fortress long before assistance could -reach them." - -After visiting most of the towns Jethro and his companions journeyed -through the villages remote from the capital. Here the king's -authority was lightly felt save when troops arrived once a year to -gather in the taxes. Less caution was therefore necessary, and Jethro -soon made himself known and began to enlist men to the service. This -he had no difficulty in doing. The news that an attempt was at once -to be made to overthrow the usurper and to free the land of the -Egyptians, and that at the proper time the rightful king would present -himself and take the command, was received with enthusiasm. - -In each valley through which they passed the whole of the young men -enrolled themselves, receiving orders to remain perfectly quiet and -to busy themselves in fabricating arms, of which the land had been -stripped by the Egyptians, until a messenger arrived summoning them to -meet at a rendezvous on an appointed day. - -In six weeks the numbers of the enrolled had reached the point that -was considered necessary for the enterprise, and a day was fixed on -which they were to assemble among the hills a few miles distant from -the town. Upon the appointed day the bands began to arrive. Jethro had -purchased cattle and provisions, and receiving each band as it arrived -formed them into companies and appointed their leaders. Great fires -were lighted and the cattle slaughtered. Chebron aided in the -arrangements; but Amuba, by Jethro's advice, passed the day in a small -tent that had been pitched in the center of the camp. - -By the evening the whole of the contingents had arrived, and Jethro -saw with satisfaction the spirit that animated them all and the useful -if somewhat rough weapons that they had fashioned. When all had -assembled he drew them up in a body; and after a speech that excited -their patriotic feelings to the utmost, he went to the tent, and -leading Amuba forth presented him to them as their king. - -He had in his journeys through the towns procured from some of the -principal men arms and armor fitted for persons of high rank, which -had been lying concealed since the conquest by the Egyptians. Amuba -was accoutered in these, and as he appeared at the door of his tent a -wild shout of greeting burst from the troops, and breaking their ranks -they rushed forward, and throwing themselves on their faces round him, -hailed him as their king and promised to follow him to the death. - -It was a long time before the enthusiasm and excitement abated; then -Amuba addressed his followers, promising them deliverance from the -Egyptian yoke and from the taxation under which they so long groaned. - -A week was spent in establishing order and discipline in the -gathering, sentries being placed at a distance round the camp to -prevent any stranger entering, or any one leaving to carry the news to -the city. In the meantime trusted men were sent to the town to -ascertain the exact position of affairs there, and to learn whether -the garrison had been placed on their guard by any rumors that might -have reached the town of disaffection in the country districts. They -returned with the intelligence that although reports had been received -that the late king's son had escaped captivity in Egypt and would -shortly appear to claim his rights, the news had been received with -absolute incredulity, the king and his Egyptian allies scoffing at the -idea of a captive making his escape from Egypt and traversing the long -intervening distance. So complete had been the quiet throughout the -country since the Egyptian occupation that the garrison had ceased to -take any precautions whatever. No watch was set, and the gates of the -city were seldom closed even at night. - -The plans were now finally arranged. Jethro, with a band of two -hundred men, was to enter the town in the daytime; some going down to -the next port and arriving by sea, others entering singly through the -gates. At midnight they were to assemble in the square round the -palace, which was to be suddenly attacked. Amuba, with the main body, -was to approach the city late in the evening and to station themselves -near one of the gates. - -Jethro was before the hour named for the attack to see whether this -gate was open and unguarded, and if he found that it was closed and -under charge of an Egyptian guard, he was to tell off fifty men of his -command to attack and overpower the Egyptians, and throw open the gate -the instant they heard the trumpet, which was to be the signal for the -attack of the palace. Jethro's party were, therefore, the first to -start, going off in little groups, some to the neighboring ports, -others direct to the city. Jethro himself was the last to set out, -having himself given instructions to each group as they started as to -their behavior and entry into the city, and the rendezvous at which -they were to assemble. He also arranged that if at any time they -should hear his call upon the horn, which was to be repeated by three -or four of his followers, who were provided with similar instruments, -they were to hurry to the spot at the top of their speed. - -"One can never tell," he said, when he told Amuba the orders he had -given, "what may happen. I believe that every man here is devoted to -you, but there may always be one traitor in a crowd; but even without -that, some careless speech on the part of one of them, a quarrel with -one of the king's men or with an Egyptian, and the number of armed men -in the city might be discovered, for others would run up to help their -comrade, and the broil would grow until all were involved. Other -reasons might render it advisable to strike at an earlier hour than I -arranged." - -"I cannot think so," Amuba replied. "I should say if anything were to -precipitate affairs it would be most prejudicial. You, with your small -force, would be certain to be overwhelmed by the large body of -followers whom, as we have learned, the king keeps in his palace, to -say nothing of the Egyptians. In that case not only would you lose -your lives, but you would put them so thoroughly upon their guard that -our enterprise at night would have little chance of success." - -"That is true," Jethro said; "and I certainly do not mean to make the -slightest variation from the plan we agreed upon unless I am driven to -it. Still it is as well to be prepared for everything." - -"Of course I know that you will do nothing that is rash, Jethro. After -being all these years my guide and counselor, I know that you would do -nothing to endanger our success now that it seems almost assured." - -Jethro had in fact a reason for wishing to be able to collect his men -suddenly which he had not mentioned to Amuba. He thought it possible -that, as he had said, at the last moment the plot might by some means -or other be discovered. And his idea was that if that were the case he -would instantly gather his followers and attack the palace, trusting -to surprise and to his knowledge of the building in the endeavor to -fight his way to the king's abode and slay him there, even if he -himself and his men were afterward surrounded and cut to pieces. The -usurper once removed, Jethro had no doubt that the whole nation would -gladly acknowledge Amuba, who would then have only the Egyptian -garrison to deal with. - -No such accident, however, happened. The men entered the town -unnoticed. Those who had come by boat, and who were for the most part -natives of villages along the shore, remained in the lower town near -the landing-place. Such of them as had friends went to their houses. -Those who entered the gates sauntered about the town singly or in -pairs, and as their weapons were hidden they attracted no notice, -having the appearance of men who had come in from the country round to -dispose of their produce or the spoils of the chase, or to exchange -them for such articles as were required at home. Jethro went at once -to the house of an old friend with whom he had already communicated by -messenger. - -The house was situated on the open space facing the palace. Here from -time to time he received messages from his sub-leaders, and learned -that all was going on well. He heard that the continual rumors from -the country of the approaching return of the son of the late king had -at last caused some anxiety to the usurper, who had that morning -seized and thrown into prison several leading men who were known to be -personally attached to the late king. Not, indeed, that he believed -that Amuba could have returned; but he thought it possible that some -impostor might be trading on his name. - -Several bodies of men had been dispatched from the town to the places -whence these rumors had been received, to ascertain what truth there -was in them and to suppress at once any signs of revolt against the -king's authority. This was highly satisfactory news to Jethro, as in -the first place it showed that the king did not dream of danger in his -capital; and, in the second place, it reduced the number of fighting -men in the palace to a number but slightly exceeding the force at his -own disposal. - -Jethro did not stir abroad until nightfall, his face being so well -known in the town that he might at any moment be recognized. But as -soon as it was dark he went out, and, accompanied by his friend, went -round the town. He found that some changes had taken place since he -had last been there. The Egyptians had entirely cleared away the huts -toward the end of the rock furthest from the sea, and had there -erected large buildings for the use of the governor, officers, and -troops; and had run a wall across from the walls on either side, -entirely separating their quarter from the rest of the town. Jethro's -friend informed him that the erection of these buildings had greatly -added to the hatred with which the Egyptians were regarded, as they -had been erected with forced labor, the people being driven in by -thousands and compelled to work for many months at the buildings. - -Jethro learned that as soon as the inner wall was completed the -Egyptians had ceased altogether to keep watch at the gates of the city -walls, but that they had for a long time kept a vigilant guard at the -gate leading to their quarters through the new wall. For the last -year, however, owing to the absence of any spirit of revolt among the -Rebu, and to their confidence in the friendship of the king, they had -greatly relaxed their vigilance. - -By nine o'clock all was quiet in the town. Jethro sent out a messenger -by the road by which Amuba's force would approach, to tell him that -the city walls were all unguarded, and that he had better enter by the -gate half an hour before midnight, instead of waiting until he heard -the signal for attack. He could then move his men up close to the -Egyptian wall so as to attack that gate when the signal was given, -otherwise the Egyptians would be put on their guard by the sound of -fighting at the palace before he could arrive at their gate. - -At the time he had named Jethro went to the gate by which Amuba was to -enter, and soon heard a faint confused noise, and a minute or two -later a dark mass of men were at the path at the gate. They were -headed by Amuba. Jethro at once explained to him the exact position; -and his companion placed himself by the side of Amuba to act as his -guide to the Egyptian wall. - -Jethro then returned to the rendezvous, where his men were already -drawn up in order. Midnight was now close at hand. Quietly the band -crossed the square to the gate of the palace; then Jethro gave a loud -blast of his horn, and in an instant a party of men armed with heavy -axes rushed forward and began to hew down the gate. As the thundering -noise rose on the night air cries of terror and the shouts of officers -were heard within the royal inclosure. Then men came hurrying along -the wall, and arrows began to fall among the assailants; but by this -time the work of the axmen was nearly done, and in five minutes after -the first blow was struck the massive gates fell splintered and Jethro -rushed in at the head of his band. - -The garrison, headed by the usurper himself, endeavored to stem their -inrush; but, taken by surprise, half-armed, and ignorant of the -numbers of their assailants, they could not long withstand the -determined onslaught of Jethro's men. Jethro himself made his way -through the crowd of fighting men and engaged in a hand-to-hand fight -with the usurper, who, furious with rage and despair at the sudden -capture of the palace, fought but wildly, and Jethro's heavy ax soon -terminated the conflict by hewing clean through helmet and head. - -The fall of the usurper was for the moment unnoticed in the darkness -and confusion, but Jethro shouted to his men to hold their hands and -fall back. Then he called upon the garrison to surrender, telling them -that Amusis had fallen, and that Amuba, the son of Phrases, had -arrived, and was now king of the Rebu. - -"We do not war against our own people. The Egyptians are our only -enemies. Some of you may know me. I am Jethro, and I call upon you to -join us and make common cause against the Egyptians, who are even now -being attacked by our young king." - -The garrison were but too glad to accept the terms. Fear rather than -love had attached them to Amusis; and they were delighted to escape -the prospect of death, which had the moment before stared them in the -face, and to swear allegiance to their rightful king. As Jethro -ceased, therefore, shouts of "Long live Amuba, king of the Rebu!" rose -from them. - -"Form up in order instantly under your captains," Jethro commanded, -"and follow us." - -The fray had been so short that it was but ten minutes from the moment -when Jethro's horn had given the signal for attack to that when he led -his force, now increased to twice its former dimensions, to the -assistance of Amuba. When he reached the wall that separated the -Egyptian barracks from the rest of the town he found that Amuba had -entered without resistance and had captured two or three buildings -nearest to the gate, surprising and slaying their occupants; but -beyond that he had made no progress. The Egyptians were veterans in -warfare, and after the first moment of surprise had recovered their -coolness, and with their flights of arrows so swept the open spaces -between the buildings that the Rebu could make no progress. - -Jethro ordered the troops who had just joined him, all of whom carried -bows and arrows, to ascend the walls and open fire upon the buildings -occupied by the Egyptians. Then he with his own band joined Amuba. - -"All has gone well," he said. "The palace is captured and Amusis -slain. I would do nothing further to-night. The Egyptians are four -thousand strong, while we have but half that number. It would be -madness to risk a repulse now. I will send off messengers at once to -the governors of all the towns and to our friends there, informing -them that the usurper is slain, that you are proclaimed king and are -now besieging the Egyptians in their quarters, and ordering them to -march hither at once with every man capable of bearing arms. - -"In three days we shall have twenty thousand men here, and the -Egyptians, finding their position hopeless, will surrender; whereas if -you attack now we may be repulsed and you may be slain, and in that -case the country, left without a leader, will fall again into -slavery." - -Amuba, whose armor had already been pierced by several arrows and who -was bleeding freely, was with some difficulty persuaded by Jethro to -adopt his counsel. He saw at last that it was clearly the wisest plan -to adopt, and orders were at once issued to the men to desist from -further assaults, but to content themselves with repelling any attacks -the Egyptians might make. - -These, however, were too ignorant as to the strength of their -assailants to think of taking the offensive, and until morning both -sides contented themselves with keeping up an incessant fire of arrows -against the openings in the buildings occupied by their foes. In the -morning Amuba ordered some green branches to be elevated on the flat -terrace of the house he occupied. The signal was observed and the fire -of the Egyptians ceased. As soon as it did so Jethro presented himself -on the terrace, and a minute or two later the Egyptian governor -appeared on the terrace of the opposite building. Not a little -surprised was he to hear himself addressed in his own language. - -"In the name of King Amuba, son of King Phrases and lawful ruler of -the Rebu, I, Jethro his general, summon you to surrender. The usurper -Amusis is dead and the whole land has risen against you. Our force is -overpowering--resistance can only result in the death of every -Egyptian under your orders. Did we choose we could starve you out, for -we know that you have no more than a week's provisions in your -magazines. - -"There is no possibility that assistance can reach you. No messenger -could pass the watchers in the plain; and could they do so your -nearest force is hundreds of miles away, and is of no strength to -fight its way hither. In the name of the king I offer to allow you to -depart, carrying with you your arms and standards. The king has been -in your country. He knows how great and powerful is your nation, and -fain would be on terms of friendship with it; therefore he would -inflict no indignity upon you. The tribute which your king laid upon -the land is far more than it can pay, but the king will be willing to -send every year, to the nearest garrison to his frontiers, a tribute -of gold and precious stones of one-fifth the value of that which has -been until now wrung from the land. This he will do as a proof of the -honor in which he holds your great nation and as a recognition of its -power. The king ordered me to say that he will give you until -to-morrow morning to reflect over his offer. If it is refused the -whole garrison will be put to the sword." - -So saying Jethro descended from the terrace, leaving the Egyptians to -consider the terms he proposed. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE KING OF THE REBU. - - -The offer that Amuba had made through Jethro was a politic one, and he -was influenced by two motives in granting a delay of twenty-four hours -before receiving the answer. In the first place, he felt sure that his -own force would, before the conclusion of that time, be trebled in -strength, and that should the Egyptians refuse he would be able to -repel any efforts they might make to cut their way out until he would -be at the head of such a force that he could at will either storm -their positions or, as he intended, beleaguer them until starvation -forced them to surrender. - -In the second place, he thought that the Egyptian answer, if given at -once, would probably be a refusal; but the time for reflection would -enable them to look their position in the face and to recognize its -hopelessness. On the one side would be certain defeat and death; on -the other their general would lead out his command intact and without -dishonor. Although he had threatened to put the garrison to the sword -in case they refused, Amuba had no intention to carry out his threat, -but on the contrary had determined that even were the Egyptians forced -to surrender by famine he would freely grant them the same terms he -now offered. - -He knew the proud and haughty nature of the Egyptians, and that the -news of the massacre of a great garrison and the successful rising of -a tributary province would excite such deep feeling that sooner or -later an army would be dispatched to avenge the disaster. If, however, -the garrison left the country with their arms and standards no -disgrace would be inflicted upon the national arms, and as a tribute, -however much reduced, would still be paid, they could still regard the -Rebu as under their domination. The reduction of the tribute, indeed, -would be an almost imperceptible item in the revenue of Egypt. - -Leaving Jethro in command of the beleaguering force, Amuba, -accompanied by Chebron, who had been by his side during the fighting, -and a small bodyguard, went back into the town. The news of his coming -had already spread, and the inhabitants, who had remained in their -houses in terror during the, to them, unaccountable tumult of the -night, had now poured out into the streets, the great space in front -of the palace being densely packed with people. As Amuba approached a -deafening shout of welcome was raised; the gates of the prisons had -been thrown open, and those arrested the previous day, and many others -of the principal captains of his father's army, thronged round him and -greeted him as their king. - -With difficulty a way was cleared to the gate of the royal inclosure. -Amuba, after entering, mounted the wall and addressed a few words to -the people. He told them that in defiance of all probability he had -escaped from his captivity in Egypt and had made his way back to his -native land, intent not so much on claiming his rightful position -there as of freeing them from the power of their oppressors. He -promised them that he would always respect their rights and usages, -and should endeavor to follow in the footsteps of his father. Then he -retired to the palace, where he held a council with the captains and -leading men in the city. Orders were at once issued for every man -capable of bearing arms to provide himself with some kind of weapon, -and to assemble at noon in the great square. - -Lists were drawn up of all the officers of the late army still living -in the town, and when the gathering took place at noon these were -appointed to form the men into companies, to appoint sub-officers, to -see to the state of the arms, and, as far as possible, to supply -deficiencies. A larger proportion than was expected of the three -thousand men that assembled were found to be provided with weapons. -Although nominally all arms had been surrendered to the Egyptians, -great numbers of spear and arrow heads, swords, and axes had been -buried. Shafts had been hastily made for the spears, and bows used for -the purposes of the chase were now brought out to do service as -fighting weapons. - -Many hundreds of spears and swords had been found in the stores at the -palace, and when these were served out most of the men had a weapon of -some sort. They were at once marched up to the Egyptian inclosure. -Those with bows and arrows were placed upon the walls; the rest were -massed near the gate in readiness to advance to the assistance of the -band within should the Egyptians make an attempt to cut their way out. -In point of numbers Amuba's forces were now superior to those of the -Egyptians, but he was well aware that the superior arms and discipline -of the latter would enable them to make a successful sortie should -they determine to do so. - -The women of the town were ordered to set to work to grind the grain -served out from the magazine in the palace, and to bake bread both for -the fighting men present and for those expected to arrive. By noon -the latter began to flock in, the contingents from the towns arriving -in regular order, while the shepherds and villagers straggled in -irregularly as the news reached them of the events of the previous -night. By evening fully ten thousand men had arrived, and as the -Egyptians had remained quiet all day Amuba had every hope that they -had decided to accept the terms he offered, and that there would be no -occasion for further fighting. The troops, however, remained under -arms all night, ready to repel an attack, and in the morning Amuba and -Jethro mounted together on to the terrace of the building from which -the parley had taken place on the previous day. - -A few minutes later the Egyptian governor and a group of his officers -appeared on the opposite house. - -"This is King Amuba," Jethro said in a loud voice. "He is here to -confirm the terms offered yesterday, and to receive your answer." - -"We are ready," the Egyptian governor said, "to retire beyond your -frontier, carrying with us our arms, standards, and valuables, it -being understood that we make no surrender whatever, but that we march -out on equal terms, holding, as we do, that we could, if we chose, cut -our way out in spite of any resistance." - -"You may hold that belief," Amuba said (and the Egyptian was -astonished at finding that the king, as well as his general, was -capable of conversing in the Egyptian tongue); "and, indeed, knowing -and honoring the valor of the Egyptian troops, I admit it is possible -that, although with great loss, you might make your way out, but more -than that you could not do. You could not hold the country, for you -have a nation against you. It is doubtful whether you could reach the -frontier. Surely it is better, then, that you should leave with honor -and without loss." - -"As to the tribute that you offer," the Egyptian commander said, "I -have no power to agree to any diminution of the terms imposed by the -king, and if it be his will that an army invades your country to -enforce the former terms, I, with the troops here, must march as -ordered, without imputation of having behaved treacherously." - -"That is quite understood," Amuba said; "but I trust, my lord, that -you, having seen for yourself how poor is our country, how utterly -unable to continue to pay the tribute formerly demanded from us, which -has already impoverished us to the last degree, will represent the -same in your dispatches to the king, and will use your good offices in -obtaining his favorable consideration of our case. I can promise you -that the tribute shall be paid regularly. I regard Egypt as the -greatest power in the world, and I am most desirous to continue in -friendly relations with it, and I swear to you that it will be no -fault of mine if any complaint reach you of trouble on our part." - -Amuba's speech was well calculated to soothe the pride of the -Egyptian. The latter was perfectly conscious, although he spoke -confidently, that it would be no easy matter for his troops to cut -their way through the narrow gateway held by the masses of the Rebu, -still less to make their way, harassed as he was, to their frontier. -If he returned with his troops intact and in good condition he could -so represent circumstances that no blame or discredit would fall upon -him; and personally he was exceedingly pleased at the prospect of the -termination of his soldiering at a post so far removed from Egypt and -civilization. He therefore agreed to the terms Amuba proposed, and -after a short parley the conditions of the evacuation of the town by -the Egyptians were arranged. - -Amuba agreed to withdraw his men from the buildings that they -occupied, and also from the gate, and to place them all upon the -walls, thus saving the Egyptians the humiliation of passing through -lines of armed men, and avoiding the risk of a broil arising between -the soldiers. He at once issued the necessary orders, and the Rebu -retired to the walls, where they could defend themselves in case of -any treachery on the part of the Egyptians, and the inhabitants of the -city were all ordered back from the road leading from the entrance to -the Egyptian inclosure to the gate in the city walls. An hour later -the Egyptians drew up in order in their inclosure. - -Each man carried with him food sufficient for a week's subsistence, -and Amuba had arranged that a certain number of bullocks should be -sent forward at once to each halting-place on the way to the frontier, -and that there a herd sufficient for their subsistence during their -march to the nearest Egyptian garrison should be awaiting them. In -firm and steady order the Egyptians marched out. The images and -symbols of the gods were carried aloft, and the bearing of the -soldiers was proud and defiant, for they, too, were doubtful whether -the Rebu might not intend to make an attack upon them, the terms -granted them seeming to be almost too good to be trusted. No sooner -had the rear of the column passed out through the city gate than the -Rebu with shouts of joy flocked down from the walls, and the city gave -itself up to rejoicing. - -Jethro had at once sent out messengers to see that the oxen were -collected at the points agreed upon, and to issue orders that the -population along the line of march should all retire before the -arrival of the Egyptians, who might otherwise have been tempted to -seize them and carry them off as slaves with them in their retreat. - -For the next few days Amuba's time was wholly occupied in receiving -deputations from the various towns and districts, in appointing fresh -officials, and in taking measures for the rearming of the people and -their enrolment in companies, so that the country should be in a -position to offer a desperate resistance should the Egyptians -determine to recapture it. It was certain that many months must elapse -before any force capable of undertaking their invasion could march -from Egypt; but Amuba was determined that no time should be lost in -making preparations, and he decided that something of the tactics and -discipline of the Egyptians should be introduced into the Rebu army. - -He had on the very night of the surprise of the town sent on a message -to inform the girls of his success, and that neither Chebron nor -himself was hurt. Having by unremitting work got through his most -pressing business, he left Jethro, who was now formally appointed -general-in-chief, to carry on the work, and started with Chebron to -fetch the girls to his capital. But he was now obliged to travel with -a certain amount of state, and he was accompanied by twenty of the -leading men of the Rebu in chariots and by an escort of light-armed -horsemen. At each town through which he passed he was received with -rapturous greetings and hailed as king and deliverer of the nation. - -Two days after starting he arrived at the little seaport, and after -receiving the usual greeting from the inhabitants and holding an -audience at which he received the principal inhabitants who came to -tender their allegiance, he made his way to the house of the Persian -merchant where he had placed the girls. As his chariot stopped at the -door the merchant appeared on the threshold and made a profound -prostration. He had until the arrival of Amuba at the town been in -entire ignorance that those who had placed the girls under his charge -were other than they seemed. He knew indeed from their ignorance of -his language that the girls were not Persians, but supposed that they -were female slaves who had been brought from a distance, with a view, -perhaps, of being presented as an offering to the king. - -After a word or two with him, Amuba and Chebron entered the house and -ascended to the apartment which had been set aside for the girls. They -were standing timidly at one end of the room, and both bent profoundly -as he entered. Amuba for a moment paused in astonishment, and then -burst into a fit of laughter. - -"Is this your sister, Chebron, who thus greets her old friend in such -respectful fashion? Am I myself or some one else?" - -"You are King Amuba," Mysa said, half-smiling, but with tears in her -eyes. - -"That is true enough, Mysa; but I was always prince, you know. So -there is nothing very surprising in that." - -"There is a great difference," Mysa said; "and it is only right where -there is such a difference of rank----" - -"The difference of rank need not exist long, Mysa," Amuba said, -stepping forward and taking her hand. "Chebron, who is your brother, -and like a brother to me, has given me his consent, and it rests only -with you whether you will be queen of the Rebu and Amuba's wife. You -know that if I had not succeeded in winning a throne I should have -asked you to share my lot as an exile, and I think you would have said -yes. Surely you are not going to spoil my triumph now by saying no. If -you do I shall use my royal power in earnest and take you whether you -will or not." - -But Mysa did not say no, and six weeks later there was a royal -wedding in the capital. Amuba had at once allotted one of the largest -houses in the royal inclosure to Chebron, and to this he took Mysa -while Amuba was making the tour of his country, receiving the homage -of the people, hearing complaints, and seeing that the work of -preparation for the defense of the country was being carried on, after -which he returned to the capital. The wedding was celebrated in great -state, though it was observed that the religious ceremonies were -somewhat cut short, and that Amuba abstained from himself offering -sacrifice on the altars of the gods. The ceremony was a double one, -for at the same time Chebron was united to Ruth. - -For the next year the preparations for war went on vigorously and the -Rebu army was got into a state of great efficiency. Amuba and Jethro -felt confident that it could successfully withstand any invading force -from Egypt, but, as they had hoped, Egypt made no effort to regain her -distant conquest, but was content to rank the land of the Rebu among -the list of her tributary nations and to accept the diminished -tribute. - -Once prepared for war, Amuba turned his attention to the internal -affairs of the country. Many of the methods of government of Egypt -were introduced. Irrigation was carried out on a large scale and the -people were taught no longer to depend solely upon their flocks and -herds. Stone took the place of mud in the buildings of the towns, -rigorous justice was enforced throughout the land, wagons and carts -similar to those of Egypt took the place of pack animals, which had -hitherto been used for transport, improved methods of agriculture were -taught, and contentment and plenty reigned in the land. - -Chebron remained Amuba's chief minister, adviser, and friend, and -under their joint efforts the Rebu rose from the condition of a mere -settled tribe to that of a small but flourishing nation. - -Another change was made, but more slowly. Soon after his ascension -Amuba assembled many of the leading men and chief priests in the -country, and explained to them the convictions held by himself and -Chebron and their wives, that there was but one God who ruled over -the world, and that this knowledge was the highest wisdom of the -Egyptians. He explained to the priests that he did not wish to -overthrow the temples or disturb the worship of the former gods, but -that he desired that the people should not remain in ignorance, but -should be taught that the gods as they worshiped them were but symbols -or images of the one great God. He said he had no thought of enforcing -his convictions upon others, but that all would be free to worship as -they pleased, and that at all times he and Chebron would be ready to -confer with those who wished to inquire into these matters. - -In this matter alone Amuba met with much opposition in carrying out -his plans, and had he been less popular than he was with the people -his efforts might have cost him his throne and his life: but the Rebu -were devoted to him, and as the priests came gradually to see that the -change would not diminish their power, their opposition died away, -especially as many of the younger men were soon convinced by the -arguments of the king and his minister, and preached the new religion -with enthusiasm among the people. But it was not until many years -after that Amuba had the satisfaction of knowing that the one God was -worshiped among his people. He was well aware that the success of the -work was to no small extent due to the earnestness with which Mysa and -Ruth had labored among the wives and daughters of the nobles. - -"How strangely things turn out," Chebron said one day ten years after -their arrival in the land, when the little party who had traveled so -long together were gathered in a room in the palace. "At one time it -seemed that that unlucky shot of mine would not only bring ruin on all -connected with me but be a source of unhappiness to me to the end of -my life. Now I see that, except for the death of my father, it was the -most fortunate event of my life. But for that, I should all my life -have gone on believing in the gods of Egypt; but for that, although -you, Amuba and Jethro, might some day have made your escape, Mysa and -I would assuredly never have left Egypt, never have known anything of -the life of happiness and usefulness that we now enjoy. All this I -consider I owe to the fortunate shot that killed the Cat of Bubastes." - -THE END. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cat of Bubastes, by G. A. Henty - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT OF BUBASTES *** - -***** This file should be named 29756-8.txt or 29756-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/5/29756/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Anne Storer and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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