<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></SPAN></span></p>
<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
<p class="center"><strong>THE SEARCH FOR MYSA.</strong></p>
<p>“Perhaps Ruth had gone to tell my mother that Mysa
was lost,” Chebron suggested when Jethro had gone so
far in his story.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“Did you hear how my mother bore her misfortunes, Jethro?”</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></SPAN></span>
“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?”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“I was coming in to see if Jethro had returned.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“It would be sacrilege to move the dead,” Chebron
said with a shudder.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“That she certainly was,” Jethro said. “I often
thought when I was walking behind them that it was
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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;
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“Nothing could be better,” Jethro said. “Let us set
to work and prepare it at once.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/img004.jpg" width-obs="500" height-obs="317" alt="image" title="" /> <strong>C. of B. <span class="smcap">The Hiding-Place of Chebron and his Friends.</span>—Page <SPAN href="#Page_252">252</SPAN>.</strong></div>
<p> </p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></SPAN></span>
the protection of the gods. This evening I shall dismantle
the chamber you have used and remove all signs of its
having been inhabited.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“I wish we had our peasant dresses,” Chebron said,
“that we might go down with you and join in the search
for Mysa.”</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></SPAN></span>
“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.”</p>
<p>“There would be danger in the attempt,” Jethro said
doubtfully.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“I believe myself,” Amuba said, “that a better plan
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>“Yes, I think you could pass as a woman,” Jethro
agreed; “and certainly the more of us there are to watch
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></SPAN></span>
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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“Run for your life!” Amuba exclaimed to his friend.
“I will take another route.”</p>
<p>The slave, recovering from his blow, rushed at Amuba,
shouting at the top of his voice:</p>
<p>“Death to the insulters of the gods! Death to the
slayers of the sacred cat!”</p>
<p>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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></SPAN></span>
nearly two hundred yards away when he heard the cry
again raised, “Death to the slayer of the sacred cat!”</p>
<p>By this time he was alongside of Chebron, who had
paused to see the issue of the contest with the slave.</p>
<p>“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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></SPAN></span>
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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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
<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></SPAN></span>
could. But his guard was beaten down and blows were
showered upon him.</p>
<p>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.</p>
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