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.