<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></SPAN></span></p>
<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
<p class="center"><strong>DANGERS THICKEN.</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“It is wonderful,” Chebron replied as he paced restlessly
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></SPAN></span>
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?”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the
entrance of Ruth.</p>
<p>“Paucis is missing. When we came back from our
walk we went out to the animals, and the door of the
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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?”</p>
<p>“It could get over the wall easily enough,” Chebron
replied.</p>
<p>“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!
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></SPAN></span>
And it seemed so contented and happy, and it had everything
it could want! What can have induced her to
wander away?”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“But even all that will not satisfy cats when the instinct
to wander comes upon them,” Amuba said.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>But when upon the following morning it was found
that it had not returned and that all search for it had
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></SPAN></span>
conducted of cats will do at times, it had fallen a victim
to some savage beast or had been devoured by a crocodile.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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,
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>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:</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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?</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>Ameres shook his head.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Two days later, Ameres sent Chebron and Amuba away
to the farm, and told them to remain there until he sent
for them.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></SPAN></span>
that is all. There can be no danger for them; however
violent a mob they would not molest females.”</p>
<p>“Why should not you also, father, go away until the
trouble is passed?”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“Could you not apply to the king for guards?”</p>
<p>“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,
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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!”</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
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