THE DEATH OF AMERES.
The days passed slowly at the farm. The lads went out listlessly to
watch the cattle treading in the seed and the other operations on the
lands, but they were too anxious as to what was going on in the city
to feel the slightest interest in the work of the farm. The second and
fourth days after their coming, Jethro had paid them a short visit to
say that there was no change in the situation. The officer in command
of some troops whom the king had sent down to within a short distance
of the house had come down to the mob as they were shouting outside
the gate, and threatened them with the severe displeasure of the king
unless they desisted from their demonstrations, but had been answered
with shouts, “The gods are above all kings, and not even kings can
protect those who insult them.” Amense, he said, on the occasion of
his second visit, had left the house and taken up her abode with some
relations in the city, declaring that the anxiety and disgrace were
killing her. She had wished to take Mysa with her, but the girl had
positively refused to leave her father; and as her mother seemed
indifferent whether she went or stayed she had had her way. In a
private talk with Amuba, Jethro said:
“It is a relief to us all that she has gone; she was bad enough before
you went, but for the last three days she has been doing nothing but
weep and bewail herself till the house has been well-nigh unbearable.
Ameres goes backward and forward between his house and the temple,
walking unmoved through those gathered near his door, who are for the
most part quiet when he passes, being abashed by the presence of one
who has so long been held in high esteem among them. As for Mysa, she
seems to think only of her father. The Hebrew girl is a great comfort
to her, for while the example of their mistress and the shouts of the
populace have terribly scared the other maids, and they go about the
house in fear and trembling, Ruth is quiet and self-contained as if
she were again in her quiet cottage with her grandfather. She greatly
comforts and sustains Mysa, and Ameres said to me only this morning
that Mysa was fortunate indeed in that Chebron had furnished her with
so brave and steadfast a companion at a time like this.”
On the evening of the fifth day Jethro came suddenly in at the house.
The boys started to their feet as he entered, for they saw at once
that something terrible had happened. His face was stained with blood,
his breath came short, for he had run for the six intervening miles
between the farm and the city at the top of his speed.
“Quick, my lord!” he said, “there is not a moment to lose. The whole
matter has been discovered, and ere long they will be here in pursuit
of you.”
“What of my father?” Chebron exclaimed.
“I will tell you all about it afterward, Chebron. There is no time for
talking now, his orders must be instantly carried out. Where are the
fellows who are spying over you?”
“One of them is probably seated outside at the entrance to the farm.
You must have passed him as you entered,” Amuba replied. “I have not
seen more than one at a time since they first came.”
“Take up your arms and follow me,” Jethro said, taking a heavy staff
from the corner of the room, and, followed by the lads, he went
outside the gate.
It was now getting dark, and as they passed out a man standing near
approached as if to see who they were. Without a word Jethro sprang
forward and brought down the staff with tremendous force upon his
head, and he fell without a cry upon the road.
“There is no fear of his giving the alarm,” Jethro said grimly, and
set off in a run in the direction of the city at a pace that taxed the
powers of Chebron to keep up with. Once or twice as he ran the boy
gasped out a question as to his father’s safety, but Jethro did not
appear to hear him, but kept on at a steady pace.
Presently he stopped suddenly and listened. A vague, confused sound
was heard in front of them, and Jethro quitted the road and took his
course over the fields. Amuba heard the sound increase, and was
presently conscious that a crowd of people were passing along the
road.
“It is well I managed to get through,” Jethro said. “They would have
made short work of you both had they arrived at the farm and found you
unprepared.”
Jethro did not return to the road, but kept on in an oblique line
toward the foot of the hills near the city.
“Where are you going, Jethro?” Amuba asked at last.
“I am going to Chigron, the embalmer. Ameres has arranged with him to
hide you there for the present.”
The boys knew the place, for they had more than once been there to
watch the process of embalming the bodies and preparing them for
burial. It was an extensive establishment, for Chigron was one of the
most celebrated embalmers of the day; and not only did he embalm, but
he kept with him men who performed the further processes required,
namely, the wrapping up in the mummy cloths, and the construction of
the great cases and the placing the bodies in them ready to be handed
over to their friends. These were usually distinct and separate
trades, the embalmers generally returning the bodies to the friends
after they had completed the process of embalming. Another set of
men then prepared the corpse for burial, while the mummy-cases or
sarcophagi were prepared by men of another trade. Of the three trades,
that of the embalmers was held in by far the highest respect, the work
being considered as sacred and the embalmers ranking and associating
with the priests.
In Chigron’s establishment the men of the three trades worked apart
and separate from each other; and although Chigron was in fact at the
head of all, he personally superintended only the embalming, the men
of the other trades being directed by their own masters, and it was as
if the three establishments had been placed near each other simply for
the purpose of convenience.
When they reached the house of Chigron Jethro went forward alone and
knocked at the door. An attendant presented himself. “Give this ring
to Chigron,” Jethro said, “and say that the bearer of it would fain
speak to him here.”
In two or three minutes Chigron himself came out.
“I have brought the lads hither in obedience to the order of Ameres,”
Jethro said. “He told me that he had arranged the matter with you.”
“And Ameres himself?” Chigron asked.
“He is no more,” Jethro said. “The villains who sought his ruin have
triumphed, and a furious mob this afternoon broke into his house and
murdered him. Chebron does not know it yet, though he cannot but
suspect that something terrible has happened, as I would not answer
his questions, fearing that he might break down when his strength was
most needed.”
The Egyptian uttered an exclamation of sorrow.
“Fools and madmen!” he exclaimed; “in all the land none were more
worthy of honor than Ameres. He was just and generous, ever ready to
befriend those who needed his aid, calm in judgment, and powerful in
council. Surely the gods must be angry with Egypt when they suffered
such a one to fall a victim to the passions of the mob. But where are
the lads? I myself will conduct them to the place I have already
prepared. The workers have all left, so there is no fear in passing
through the house.”
At Jethro’s call the lads came up.
“Follow me, my lord,” Chigron said to Chebron. “I have had everything
in readiness for your reception for some days. Would that your visit
had been made on some more cheerful occasion.”
The embalmer led the way through the portion of the house occupied by
himself, then he entered a large apartment whose floor was covered
with sawdust.
Here on slabs of stone lay a number of bodies of those in the first
state of preparation, while in a still larger apartment behind were a
number of stone baths each long enough to contain a body. These were
occupied by the corpses which had undergone their first state of
preparation, and which were now lying covered with a strong solution
of salt and water. Beyond again were other chambers for the reception
of bodies embalmed by other processes than that of salt.
Passing through a door at the rear the lads found themselves in the
open air again. Above them the hill rose in a precipitous rock.
Chigron led the way along the foot of this for some little distance,
and then stopped at a portal hewn in the rock itself. All this time
he had carried a lighted lamp, although the chambers in which the dead
were lying were illuminated with lamps hanging from the ceiling. Upon
entering the portal and closing the door behind him he produced from a
niche in the wall several other lamps, lighted them, and gave one to
each of his companions.
“This,” he said, “was cut by a wealthy inhabitant of Thebes centuries
ago as a tomb for himself and his family. What happened to him I know
not, but the place was never used beyond this chamber, which has been
utilized for mummies of sacred animals. Beyond in the main chamber
everything is as it was left by those who formed it. There I have
during the last ten days privately stored up such articles as would be
necessary for you, and I trust that you will not find yourself
uncomfortable.”
Upon entering the apartment, which was some twenty feet square, they
found that the embalmer had not exaggerated what he had done. A table
with several settles stood in the middle; three couches piled with
rushes were placed against the wall. Mats had been laid down to cover
the floor and give warmth to the feet, and lamps ready for burning
stood upon the table. In a corner stood two jars of wine, with
drinking vessels.
“All is here except food,” Chigron said. “That I could not prepare
until I knew you were coming; but be assured that you shall be served
regularly. There is no fear of intrusion from any employed in the
establishment. They have no occasion to come out to the back of the
house, and probably few know of the existence of this tomb. Should I
have any ground for believing that there is danger, I will take other
measures for your concealment. Should you need anything, do not
hesitate to say so. I owe my position to the patronage of my lord
Ameres, and there is nothing I would not do to insure the safety of
his son. And now, my lord, I will retire, and will presently send you
by a trusty servant the food of which I have no doubt that you stand
in need.”
Chebron said a few words in thanks, but he was too anxious and full of
grief to say more. Directly Chigron had left he turned to Jethro.
“Now, Jethro, tell me all; I am prepared for the worst. My dear father
is no more. Is it not so?”
“It is too true, Chebron,” Jethro replied. “Your noble father has been
killed by a base and cowardly mob urged on by some villains of the
priesthood.”
Chebron threw himself down on one of the couches and wept bitterly,
while Amuba was almost as deeply affected, for Ameres had behaved to
him with the kindness of a father. It was not until the following
morning that Chebron was sufficiently recovered to ask Jethro to
relate to him the details of his father’s death.
“I was in the garden,” Jethro began. “Mysa and Ruth were in a boat on
the pond, and I was towing them when I heard a tumult at the gate. I
pulled the boat ashore, and hurried them up to the house and told Mysa
to retire to her apartment, and that she was not to leave it whatever
noise she might hear, that being her father’s command. Then I went out
to the gate. Just as I got there it fell in, and a crowd of people
rushed through. As there were only myself and two or three of the
gardeners who had run up we could do nothing to stop them. Just as
they reached the house your father came out into the portico and said,
‘Good people, what will you have?’
“Those in front of him were silent a moment, abashed by his presence
and the calm manner in which he spoke, but others behind set up the
cry ‘Where is the sacred cat? We will find it!’ while others again
shouted out ‘Down with the impious priest!’ Ameres replied, ‘You can
search the place if you will; though, indeed, it seems that you need
not my permission, seeing that you have taken the matter into your own
hands. Only I pray you enter not the house. There are the ladies of my
family and other women there, and I swear to you that neither alive
nor dead is the cat to be found there.’
“The cry was raised, ‘Let us search the garden!’ In all this it struck
me that there were two parties among the mob, the one ignorant and
bigoted, believing really that an offense had been committed against
their gods; the other, men who kept in the background, but who were
the moving spirits. I was not pleased when I saw the crowd so readily
abandon the idea of searching the house and scatter themselves over
the garden, for it seemed to me that from one of the gardeners or
others they might have obtained some sort of clew that might put them
on the road to discovery. I saw that several among the crowd had with
them dogs trained for the chase, and this made me more uneasy. I told
one of the men to run at once and summon the troops, and then followed
the crowd.
“I was the more uneasy to see that without wasting time in searching
elsewhere they made straight to the inclosure where the animals were
kept. No sooner did they get there than they began to search, urging
on the dogs to assist them. Suddenly I started, for there was a touch
upon my shoulder, and looking round I saw Ameres. ‘Remember my
instructions, Jethro,’ he said in a quiet voice; ‘I commit Chebron to
your charge.’
“‘Oh, my lord!’ I exclaimed, ‘why are you here? The troops are but a
short distance away. Why do you not place yourself under their
protection?’
“‘Because I have done no wrong, Jethro,’ he replied calmly. ‘I have
not offended the gods, nor have I ever wronged one of my countrymen.
Why should I fly?’
“At this moment there was a yell of rage among the crowd, and I knew
that one of those accursed hounds must have smelled the dead cat and
scratched the earth from over it. Then I heard a voice cry above the
rest, ‘See! even now the wounds are manifest; it has been pierced by
an arrow, even as I told you. The sacred cat has been slain!’ Then the
crowd turned. ‘Fly, Jethro,’ Ameres said. ‘It is my last command.’
“But even then I could not obey him. There was death in the eyes of
those who were rushing toward him shouting ‘Down with the despiser of
the gods! Down with the slayer of the sacred cat!’ and seeing that, I
rushed at them. After that all was confusion. I had caught up a staff
from the portico as I passed, and with it I struck right and left.
Many fell, I know, before they closed with me. Blows were showered
upon me, and the staff then fell from my hands, but I fought with my
naked fists. Several times I was beaten down, but each time I rose
again. Then, as in a dream, I seemed to hear your father’s command, ‘I
commit Chebron to your care,’ and I burst my way through them and
threw myself upon a group standing further on, but I saw as I broke
through them that I could do nothing there.
“Your father lay on the ground looking as calm and peaceful as when he
had spoken to me but five minutes before; but his white garments were
stained with blood, and the half of a dagger stood up just over his
heart. There was no time to see more. His last command was to be
obeyed, and shaking off those who tried to hold me, and evading the
blows aimed at me with their knives, I fled. As I rushed out through
the gate I saw the troops I had sent for coming toward the house. But
they were too late now; besides, some of my pursuers were close
behind me, and so without a pause I took the road to the farm. I think
that is all I have to tell you.”
Chebron was weeping bitterly, and Amuba, who was himself deeply
affected, went over to him.
“Console yourself, Chebron. I know what you are feeling now, but do
not blame yourself too greatly for this calamity. You know what your
father said--that it was but an accident, and that it was doubtless
the will of the great God that your arrow should fly as it did; and he
himself declared that he believed that all this was but the result of
conspiracy, and that, as we heard in the temple, there were men
determined to take his life.”
A few minutes later the embalmer entered bringing them food. He saw at
once that Chebron had been informed of the fate that had befallen his
father.
“Have you heard aught of what is passing in the city?” Amuba asked
him.
“Yes,” Chigron answered; “naught else is talked about. Many of those
concerned in the deed escaped either by the entrance before the
soldiers arrived there, or over the walls; but many were seized, and
are now in prison for their sacrilegious deed in raising their hand
against the person of the high priest of Osiris. There were tumults in
the city during the night, many maintaining that the deed was well
done, others the contrary.
“Those who had been taken all declared that they had been informed by
one who said he knew it for certain that the cat was buried in the
inclosure, and that it had been slain by you and my young lord here,
as you had been seen going with your bows and arrows to the inclosure
and were there for some time, after which the cat was never seen
again. The general opinion is that though the prisoners taken will be
punished--some with flogging, some with death--your lives are also
assuredly forfeited, and that even the friendship of the king for your
father would not avail to protect you, for that he, like others, must
obey the law, and that the law of Egypt is that whomsoever shall take
the life of a cat shall be slain.”
“I am perfectly willing to die,” Chebron said; “and my greatest regret
now is that I did not follow my first impulse and denounce myself as
the accidental killer of the cat. No blame could have then been
attached to my father or to any but myself.”
“The disgrace would have fallen upon your whole family,” the embalmer
said; “for those nearly related to one who performed an impious action
must needs suffer with him. Not that I blame you, Chebron; for I know
that your father did not do so. He told me when he arranged that I
should, if needs be, furnish you with a hiding-place, that although
you might need a refuge it would be for no fault of your own. I do not
understand how he could have said so, seeing the terrible guilt of
even accidentally taking the life of a cat, and specially of this cat,
which was sacred above all others in the land. Still I know your
father’s wisdom equaled his goodness; and although I own that I cannot
understand his saying, I am content to accept it, and will do all in
my power to save you. Doubtless the search after you will be a hot
one, but we must hope for the best.”
“I will go out and see what is doing,” Jethro said. “It may be that it
will be more safe to move away at once than to remain here.”
“In that case,” the embalmer said, “you will need to be disguised
before you start. It is known that Ameres had two fair-skinned slaves,
and that one of them was concerned with my young lord here in the
matter; also that the other, after fighting furiously in the garden,
and, as I heard, slaying several of his master’s enemies, managed to
make his escape. Fortunately I have the materials at hand. We use
paints and stains in abundance for the sere clothes of the dead and
the decorations of their coffins, and I can easily make you as dark as
any of our people. That, with one of my wigs and Egyptian garments,
will alter you so that, so long as you do not look any one fairly in
the face, there will be no fear whatever of your discovery; but you
must not look up, for even when I have blackened your lashes the
lightness of your eyes would at once betray you.”
In half an hour Jethro was transformed into a middle-class citizen of
Thebes, and started on his mission of inquiry. During the day some
officials came to the establishment and made many inquiries after the
missing lads. Not contented with denials, they went through the whole
buildings, examining all the chambers closely.
“It is known,” they said to Chigron, “that they several times came
here, and that Ameres was a patron of yours. It is our duty to search
any house where shelter might have been given them, though we can
hardly believe that any one would hold communication, far less receive
into this house, persons guilty of such an act of sacrilege as they
have been. However, there is no chance of their escaping us. Messages
have been sent all over Egypt. Moreover, as they had no horses they
cannot have gone far. Yours is the first house we have searched, for
the servants all say the same--that the son of Ameres was frequently
here.”
“He was not here very frequently,” Chigron replied, “though he
certainly came sometimes, and was interested in watching the various
processes.”
Chebron had, in fact, been several times to the embalmer’s. Amuba had
accompanied him, although he himself would have preferred staying
away, for to him the whole scene was repulsive. Chebron’s temperament
differed, however, widely from that of his friend. The dead were
sacred in Egypt, and all the rites and ceremonies connected with them
bore a religious character. They had no fear of death, and deemed it
but a sleep that would last three thousand years. It was for this
reason that the bodies of human beings and the sacred animals were so
carefully embalmed and laid away either in massive tombs or rock-hewn
caverns.
They believed, and as has been proved rightly, that the remains so
carefully prepared would endure for that time, and thought that when
the spirit returned to it it would resume its former shape in all
particulars. Thus the dead of all ranks were embalmed; the process,
however, in the case of the wealthy differing widely from that to
which the bodies of the poorer classes were submitted. There were many
kinds of embalming, varying according to the means of the family of
the deceased. The process employed for the wealthy was a long and
expensive one. First, an official called a scribe marked on the side
of the corpse where an aperture should be made; this was cut by
another person, who after doing so fled, pursued with execrations and
pelted with stones, as although necessary the operation was considered
a dishonorable one and as an injury to a sacred body.
Through this aperture the embalmers removed the whole of the internal
organs, which, after being cleansed and embalmed in spices, were
deposited in four vases, which were subsequently placed in the tomb
with the coffins. Each of these vases contained the parts sacred to a
separate deity. The body was then filled with aromatic resin and
spices, and rubbed for thirty days with a mixture of the same
ingredients. In the case of the very wealthy the whole body was then
gilded; in other cases only the face and portions of the body. The
skin of the mummy so preserved is found to be of an olive color, dry
and flexible as if tanned; the features are preserved and appear as
during life, and the teeth, hair of the head, and eyebrows are well
preserved.
In some cases, instead of the aromatic resin, the bodies were filled
with bitumen; in others saltpeter was used, the bodies being soaked in
it for a long time and finally filled with resin and bitumen. In the
second quality of mummies, those of persons of the middle class, the
incision was not made, but resin or bitumen was used and the bodies
soaked in salt for a long time. In the case of the poorer classes the
bodies were simply dipped into liquid pitch. None of these, however,
were treated in the establishment of Chigron, who operated only upon
the bodies of the wealthy.
After the preparation was complete the body passed from the hands of
the embalmers into those of another class, who enveloped it in its
coverings. These were linen bandages, which in the case of the rich
were sometimes a thousand yards in length. It was then inclosed in a
sort of case fitting closely to the mummied body. This case was richly
painted, covered in front with a network of beads and bugles arranged
in a tasteful form, the face being overlaid with thick gold leaf and
the eyes made of enamel. This again was placed in other cases,
sometimes three or four in number, all similarly ornamented with
painting and gilding, and the whole inclosed in a sarcophagus or
coffin of wood or stone, profusely decorated with painting and
sculpture. It was then handed over to the family of the deceased, and
afterward taken in solemn procession across the sacred lake, followed
by the mourning relatives throwing dust upon their heads.
Every Egyptian city had a lake of this kind, either natural or
artificial. Notice was given beforehand to the judges and public of
the day on which the funeral would take place, and these assembled at
the side of the lake, where the decorated boat in readiness for the
passage was lying. Before the coffin could be placed upon the boat it
was lawful for any person present to bring forward his accusation
against the deceased. If it could be proved that he had led an evil
life the judge declared that the body was deprived of the accustomed
sepulture. If the accuser failed to establish his charge he was
subject to the heaviest penalties. If there was no accuser or if the
accusation was not proved the judge declared the dead man innocent.
The body was placed in the boat and carried across the lake, and then
either taken to the family catacombs or to the room specially prepared
for its reception in the house of the deceased.
The greatest grief and shame were felt by the family of those deprived
of the right of sepulture, for they believed that thereby he was
excluded from the mansions of the blessed, and that in the course of
the transmigrations through which his spirit would pass before it
again returned to a human form, it might be condemned to inhabit the
body of an unclean animal.
As none from the lowest to the very highest rank could escape the
ordeal of public accusation after death, there can be little doubt
that this ceremony exercised a most wholesome effect upon the life of
the Egyptians, and was most efficacious in repressing tyranny,
cruelty, and vice of all kinds among them. Even the most powerful
kings were restrained by the knowledge that should they give cause of
complaint to their subjects they were liable after death to be accused
and deprived of the right of lying in the mighty tombs they had so
carefully prepared for their reception.
Chebron’s brain, therefore, while he was watching the process of
embalming, was busy with thoughts and fancies as to the future of the
spirit that had inhabited the body he looked at. Had it already passed
into the body of some animal? Was it still disconnected and searching
for an abode? Through what changes would it pass and how long would be
the time before it returned to this human tenement? For the three
thousand years was believed to be the shortest period of transition
through the various changes in the case of the man of the purest and
most blameless life, while in other cases the period was vastly
extended.
As Amuba was not gifted with a strong imagination, and saw in the
whole matter merely the preservation of a body which in his opinion
had much better have been either buried or placed on a funeral pile
and destroyed by fire, these visits to the embalmers had constituted
the most unpleasant part of his duties as Chebron’s companion.
Jethro had anticipated when he left that his visit to the city would
be of short duration, and that he should return in an hour at the
latest; but as the day passed and night fell without his return the
lads became exceedingly anxious, and feared that something serious had
taken place to detain him. Either his disguise had been detected and
he had been seized by the populace, or some other great misfortune
must have befallen him.
It had been arranged indeed that they should that night have started
upon their journey, and Jethro after his return was to have made out a
list of such articles as he deemed necessary for their flight, and
these Chigron had promised to purchase for him. Their plans, however,
were completely upset by his nonappearance, and late in the afternoon
Chigron himself went down into the city to ascertain, if he could, if
Jethro had been discovered, for his name had been associated with that
of the boys. It was not believed indeed that he had taken any actual
part in the slaying of the cat, but it was deemed certain from his
close connection with them, and his disappearance shortly before the
time they had suddenly left the farm, that he was in league with them.
Chigron returned with the news that so far as he could learn nothing
had been heard of Jethro.
No other subject was talked of in the city but the event of the
previous day, and the indignation of the people was equally divided
between the murderers of Ameres and the slayers of the sacred cat. The
boys were full of grief and perplexity. To Amuba Jethro had taken the
place of an elder brother. He had cheered him in the darkest moment of
his life and had been his friend and companion ever since, and the
thought that ill might have befallen him filled him with sorrow. With
this was mingled an intense anxiety as to the future. Without Jethro’s
strong arm and advice how was this terrible journey to be
accomplished?
Chebron was in no state either to act or plan. A deep depression had
seized upon him; he cared not whether he escaped or not, and would
indeed have hailed detection and death as boons. Intense, therefore,
was Amuba’s relief when late in the evening a footstep was heard in
the outer chamber, and Jethro entered. He sprang to his feet with a
cry of gladness.
“Oh, Jethro! thank the gods you have returned. I have suffered
terribly on your account. What has happened to you, and so long
delayed your return here?”
“There is fresh trouble,” Jethro replied in a stern voice.
“Fresh trouble, Jethro? In what way?” And even Chebron, who had
scarcely sat up languidly on his couch on Jethro’s entrance, looked up
with some interest for Jethro’s answer.
“Mysa has been carried off,” he replied grimly.
Chebron sprang to his feet. He was devoted to his sister, and for a
moment this new calamity effaced the remembrance of those which had
preceded it.
“Mysa carried off!” he exclaimed at the same moment as Amuba. “Who has
done it?--when was it done?--how did you learn it?” were questions
which broke quickly from the lads.
“On leaving here I went as arranged down into the city,” Jethro
replied. “There was no difficulty in learning what there was to learn,
for all business seemed suspended and the streets were full of groups
of people talking over the events of yesterday. The whole city is
shaken by the fact that two such terrible acts of sacrilege as the
slaying of the sacred cat of Bubastes and the murder of a high priest
of Osiris should have taken place within so short a time of each
other. All prophesy that some terrible calamity will befall the land,
and that the offended gods will in some way wreak their vengeance upon
it. A royal order has been issued enjoining all men to search for and
arrest every person concerned in the murder of Ameres, and doubtless
the severest penalties will be dealt to them. The same decree orders
your arrest wherever found, and enjoins upon all officials throughout
the kingdom to keep a strict watch in the towns and villages, to
examine any strangers who may present themselves, and to send hither
bound in chains all young men who may fail to give a satisfactory
account of themselves. Sacrifices will be offered up at all the
temples throughout the land to appease the wrath of the gods.
Messengers have been dispatched in all directions in the provinces,
and all seemed to consider it certain that in a few hours our
hiding-place would be discovered. All made sure that we had made
either for the seacoast or the desert on one side or the other, and as
the messengers would reach the coast long before we could do so, it
was considered impossible for us to get through unnoticed.
“Then I went to the house, not intending to go in, but simply to see
if those in the neighborhood had heard any further news. The gates
were open, and quite a crowd of people were passing in and out to
gratify their curiosity by gazing on the scene. Relying upon my
disguise I went in with the rest. None entered the house, for a guard
of soldiers had been stationed there. I passed round at the back and
presently Lyptis, the old female slave, came out to fetch water. I
spoke to her in my assumed character, but she only shook her head and
made no reply. Then believing that she, like all the others in the
house, was attached to the family and could be trusted, I spoke to her
in my natural voice, and she at once knew me. I made a sign to her to
be silent and withdrew with her alone to some bushes. The tears were
streaming down her face.
“‘Oh, Jethro!’ she exclaimed, ‘did the gods ever before hurl such
calamities upon a household? My dear master is dead; my lord Chebron
is hunted for as men hunt for a wild beast; my dear young mistress,
Mysa, is missing!’
“‘Missing!’ I exclaimed. ‘What do you mean?’
“‘Have you not heard it?’ she said.
“‘I have heard nothing!’ I cried. ‘Tell me all!’
“‘Just after the gates were beaten down and the crowd rushed along
into the garden, four men burst into the house and ran from chamber to
chamber until they entered that of my young mistress. We heard a
scream, and a moment later they came out again bearing a figure
enveloped in a wrapping. We strove to stop them, but there were naught
but women in the house. They struck two of us to the ground, and
rushed out. Some of us ran out into the garden crying for aid, but
there we saw a terrible scene. A great struggle was going on, and
presently you broke forth, covered with blood and wounds, and ran
swiftly past. None heeded us or our cries.
“‘When the soldiers arrived we told the officer what had happened; but
it was too late then, and nothing could be done. Had there been a
guard over the house all these things would never have happened.’
“I asked her if she could describe to me the appearance of the men.
She said that they were attired as respectable citizens, but that from
their language and manner she believed that they were ruffians of the
lowest class.
“For a time I was so overwhelmed with this news that I could think of
nothing, but went out and roamed through the streets. At last I
bethought me of the girl Ruth. She was with Mysa at the time, and
might, if questioned, be able to tell me more than the old woman had
done. I therefore returned, but had to wait for three hours before old
Lyptis came out again.
“‘I want to speak to Ruth,’ I said. ‘Send her out to me.’
“‘Ruth has gone,’ she said.
“‘Gone!’ I repeated. ‘Where and whither?’
“‘That we know not. It was not until hours after Mysa was carried off
that any one thought of her. We were too overwhelmed with grief at the
death of our dear lord and the loss of Mysa to give a thought to the
young Israelite. Then one asked, where was she? No one had noticed
her. We went to Mysa’s chamber, thinking that the villains who carried
our young mistress off might have slain her; but there were no signs
of her there.’
“‘But she was with Mysa, was she not,’ I asked, ‘when the attack was
made? Did she not pass in with her when she came in from the garden?’
“‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘they came in together and passed through us; for
we gathered in the front chamber, being greatly frightened at the
clamor at the gate. As they passed us our young mistress said, “Keep
silent; what is the use of screaming and crying?”
“I asked if she was sure Ruth was not carried off as well as Mysa.
“‘Quite sure,’ she said. ‘One bore a figure and the other three
cleared the way.’”
“‘And that was the last time,’ I asked, ‘that any of you saw the
Israelite?’
“‘It was,’ she answered. ‘She must have passed out by the door at the
end of the passage, which she might well have done without being
observed by any of us.’
“This was a new mystery. Why Ruth should have fled I could not guess,
because as soon as the soldiers appeared there was no more danger in
remaining. Besides, I did not think Ruth was one to shrink from
danger. However, there was no more to be learned, and I again went
out into the streets.”