Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

deneanor, and from few broken but omin
ous words which he had muttered to his fellow
Egyptians.
While some of Pharaoh's soldiers fetched
refreshment for the exhausted and travel
stained runner, listening with horror to tht
tidings he painted out in hoarse accents, thu
officer read the letter.
His brow darkened, and when he ended
he clutched the papyrus fercely in bis hand
for it announced nothing less than the de-
struction of the army, the death of Pharaoh
Menephtah, and, moreover, that his eldes
surviving son had been proclaimed and
crowned as Seti the second; an attempt or
the part of Prince Siptah to possess himseli
of the throne having completely failed, thi:
Prince had fed to the marshlands of the
Delta, and the Syrian, Aarsu, after desert
ing him and ranging himself on the side Of
the new king. had been raised to the com.
mand of the whole army of mercenaries
Bale, the high priest and supreme judge,
had been deprived of his Offices by Seti IL,
and banished from court Those who had
eonspired with Siptah were condemned, moi
to the copper mines, but to the gold mines
of Ethiopia. It was also reported that
several women attached to the family
of the fugitive usurper had been
strangled, certainly his mother. Every
fighting man who could be spared from the
mines was to return forthwith to Tanis, as
there was need of men for the newly-consti-
tuted legions.
These tidings produced great effect; for,
after Joshua had communicated to the
Egyptian captain the fact that he, too, knew
of the destruction of the Egyptian host, and
expected fresh reinforcements In few hours,
who had, meanwhile, been sent to reduce
Dophka, the Egyptian surrendered to his
imperious tone, and only sought favorable
terms and leave to depart He knew only
too we'll how weak was the forces in charge
of the turquoise mines, and he could look for
no Succor from headquarters Beside this,
the person OF the envoy captiYated his con-
fdence, so, after many excuses and threats,
he confessed himself satisfied with Joshua's
permission to withdraw the garrison IN
harmed, with their beasts of burthen and
provisions for the journey. This, to be sure,
was not to be granted till they had laid
down their arms and shown the Hebrews
every entrance to the mines where prisoners
were working.
The young Hebrews proceeded forthwith
to disarm the Egyptians. who we're more than
their number, and many veterans eye was
moist, while many q one broke his spear or
nicked his arrows, cursing and swearing the
while; and some Of the older men who had
formerly served under Joshua, and now
recognized him, raised their fists and rallied
at him tor traitor.
1t was always the reuse Of the troops
which was sent on service in this wilder
ness; most Of the men were stamped with
traces Of evil living, and their faces were
hard and cruel. On the banks Of the Nile,
those were carefully chosen who made ruth
less brutality to the helpless their duty.
At last the mines were opened. and Joshua
himself seized the miners lamp and made
his way into the sweltering galleries where
the state prisoners, naked and loaded with
letters, were hewing out the copper ore.
From distance he could hear the swallow
tailed picks hacking at the hard rock. Then
the miserable wailing of men and women in
torment fell on his ear, for barbarous drivers
pursued them into these depths and goaded
the idlers to bestir themselves.
This morning, as being Pharaoh birthday,
they had all been driven to the temple Of
Hathor, up on the cliff, to pray for the King
who had cast them into this uttermost
wretchedness; and they would have enjoyed
a respite from labor till next morning il it
had not been Tor the unexpected arrival oi
the chief overseer which had compelled
them to return underground. Indeed, even
the women were all employed In digging,
though, a. q rule, their tasks consisted only
In oEu1hing and sitting the ore which was