Thomas County cat., 1889-11-28

After this the years passed on, nor did !,
beng very little, know any thing Of the
great things that came to pass in Egypt;
nor 1s It my purpose here to set them out.
For ], Harmachis, will speak only Of those
things with which have been concerned.
And as the time went on INV father and
the teachers instructed me in the ancient
learning Of our people and in such matters
appertaining to the gods as It is meet that
children should know. So grew strong
and comeiy, for my hair was black Is tho
hair OF the divine Nout, and my eyes were
blue as the blue lotus, and nv skin was a.
the alabaster within the sanctuaries. For
now that these glories have passed from
me may speak Of them without shame.
Strong was Also There was no youth Of
my years in Abouthis who could stand
against me to wrestle with me, nor could
any throw so far with the sling or spear.
And much yearned to hunt the lion: but
he whom called my father forbade me to
hunt, telling me that my life was of too
great worth to be so lightly hazarded. But
when l bowed myself before him and
prayed he would make his meaning clear to
me, the old man frowned and answered
that the gods made all things clear in their
own season. For my part, however, went
away wroth, for there was youth In
Abouthis who with others had slain lion
that fell upon his fathers herds. and, be-
ing envious Of my strength and beauty, he
set it about that was cowardly at heart,
in that when / went out to hunt slew
naught but jacllals and gazelles. Now, this
was when had reached my seventeenth
year and was man grown.
1t CHANGED, therefore, that as l went sore
at heart from the presence of the High
Priest, my father, l met this youth, who
called to me and mocked me, bidding me
know the country people had told him that
great lion was down AMONG the rush.
es by the banks Of the canal which runs
past the Temple. lying at distance of thir-
ty stadia from Abouthis. And, still mock
ing me, he asked ME if I would come and
help him slay this lion, or would go and sit
among the old women and bid them comb
my side lock. This bitter word so angered
me that was near to falling on him; but
In place thereof, forgetting my fathers say
ing, answered that If he would come along
/ would go with him and seek this lion, and
he should learn if were indeed coward.
And at first he would not, for, as men know,
1t is our custom to hunt the lion in compa-
nies; so it was my hour to mock. Thereon
he went and fetched his bow and arrows
and sharp knife. And brought forth my
heavy spear, which had shaft of thorn
wood, and at the end thereof a pomegran-
ate in silver, to hold the han from slipping;
and together, in silence, we went side by
side to where the lion lay. When we came
to the place it was near sundown, and there,
upon the mud of the canal bank, we found
the lion s slot, which ran into a thick clump
Of reeds.
snow, thou boaster," I said, '.wilt thou
lead the way into yonder reeds, or shall Il"
And l made as though | would lead tho
way.
''Nay, nay,n he answered, ''be not so
madl The brute will spring upon thee and
rend thee. See! l VIII shoot among tho
reeds! Perchance, If he sleeps, it will
arouse him." And he drew his bow at
venture.
And how it CHANGED l know not, but the
arrow struck the sleeping lion, and, like
lash of light from the belly of q c.oud, he
bounded fl ON the shelter of the reeds, and
stood before US with bristling mane and yel-
ow eyes, the arrow quivcring in his flank
de roared aloud in fury, and the earth
shook.
''Shoot with the bow" / cried, 'shoot
'wift!y ere he springl'
But the courage had left the breast of the
'oaster. His jaw dropped down and his