Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

ana all that we promise them shall be writ
ten down and witnessed on our part and on
yours, as a new covenant binding on our
children and our childrer's children. Now
when this shall have been done, with an
honest purpose to abide bv it forever on our
part, and when your people shall have
agreed to accept it, will you then consent 10
be one of us once more?"
take upon yourself the Office of media
tor. the Queen here broke In, in q low
voice, and her sad ewes were fixed beseech-
ingly on the Hebrews face. 81 quail be-
fore Mesu's wrath, and all that may be done
shall be done to win back his former friend
shin. Speak to him in my name, and re-
mind him of tie days when I, Isisnefert,
would learn of him the names of the plants
I carried to him, and he taught me and my
sister their uses or their poisonous powers
when he came to see the Queen, his second
mother, in the women's quarters. The
wounds he has inflicted on our hearts shall
be forgiven and forgotten. Be our embas-
sador, Joshua; do not refuse our prayer >"
"Such words from such gracious lips are
q command, F" piled the warrior, "and are
sweet to the heart. will be mediator"
At this the old high priest nodded ap-
proval and said: "Then I hope that the
fruit of this short hour may be long period
of peace. But mark me. Where medicine
may avail, we avoid the knife and cautery;
where there is bridge over the river a man
does not rsshly try to swim through the
whirlpool"
Eyes, verify, we will avoid the whirl-
pool" said the King, and the Queen re-
peated his words; then she again fixed her
eyes on the flowers in her lap.
Then formal council was held.
Three private scribes sat down on the
ground, close TO the high priest, to enable
Il L l.
prefers and councillors, in their places, took
out their writing things, ana, holding the
papyrus in their left hands, wrote with
reeds or brushes, for nothing might remain
unrecorded which was discussed and de-
cided in Phsrsoh's presence. Hardly a
whisper was to be heard in the hall while
this went on, the guards and courtiers re-
mained motionless in their places, and the
royal couple sat rigid and speechless, gazing
into vacancy, as if in a dream.
Neither Pharaoh nor his wife could posi-
bly, have caught a word of the murmured
colloouy of the speakers, but the Egyptians
never ended a sentence without glancing up
at the King, as if to make sure of his ap-
proval. Joshua, who was accustomed to the
scene, followed their example, speaking
like the others in a subdued voice, and when
presently the voice OF the second prophet, or
of the chief interpreter, sounded rather
louder Pharaoh raised his head and repeated
the high priests last saying. "Where
there is bridge over the river a man does
not try to swim the whirlpool" F" for this ex-
actly expressed his wishes and the Queens
No fghtingl Peace with the Hebrews, and
not force the wrath of their terrible leader
and of his god, without losing the thousand
diligent hands of the fugitive tribes.
Thus matters proceeded, and when the
muttering OF the speakers and the scratching
of the pens had gone on for fully an hour,
the Queen was still sitting in the same atti-
tude; but Pharaoh began to stir and raise
his voice, for he knew that the second
prophet hated the man whose blessing he
received and whose hostility filled him with
such dread, and be feared but he should be
requiring some impossible conditions of the
envoy.
Still all he said was again repetition of
the counsel as to the bridge; but his inquir-
ing glance at the chief interpreter moved
that official to assure him that all was pro-
ceeding favorably. Joshua had merely de-
manded that the Overseers, who kept guard
over the men at work, should not, for the
future, be watchmen of Libyan race, but
Hebrews themselves, to be chosen by the
elders of their people under the sanction of
the Egyptian government.
AT this Pharaoh cast his look of anxious
entresty at Bale and the other councillors.
The second prophet only shrugged his shoul-
ders regretfully, and, feigning to defer his
own opinion to the divine wisdom of Pha-
raoh, conceded this point to Joshua. The
god enthroned on earth acknowledged this
submission with grateful bow, for Bales
will had often crossed his; and then, when
the herald or rehearser had read aloud all
The clauses of the treaty, Joshua was re-
quired to take solemn oath that he would |
in any case come back to Tanis anG report |
how his people had received the Kings ad- |
vances.
But the cautious warrior, who was well |
aware of all the snares and traps with which |
the State was only too ready, took his oath |
most unwiliingly and only when he had OBJ
tained written pledge that whatever the |
issue his freedom should be in no way in /
terfered with as soon as he could give them |
his word that he had done his part to in
duee the leader of his people to accept these |
terms
At last Pharaoh held out his hand for the |
captain to kiss, and when he had also pressed
to his lips the hem Of the Queens robe Rule
signed to the monarch, who understood that
the moment was come when he should with
draw. And he did so with good will and
sense of encouragement, for he believed that
he had acted for the best for his own welfare
and that of his people.
A bright radiance lighted up his hand
some, Isnguid features, and when the Queen
rose and saw him smile, content, she did the
same. At the door the King drew breath
of relies, and turning to his wife said: eff
Joshua does his errand we'll we shall get
across the bridge"
"And not swim the whirlpool" replied
the Queen in the same tone.
"And if the Hebrew captain can pacify
Mesu," Pharaoh went on, land he per-
suades his people to remain in the land"
"Then you must adopt this Joshua into
the royal family. He is well favored and
Of lordly mien, his wife broke in.
But at this Pharaoh suddenly abandoned
his STOPPING and Indifferent attitude
"ImpossibleP' he eagerly exclaimed. "a
Hebrewl If we raise him to be one of the
friends, OF fanbearer, that is the highest
he can hope for. In such matters it is very
difficult to avoid doing too much or too lit
.lel'
As the royal couple went forward toward
he private apartments the wailing OF the
fell more loudly on the ear Tears
started afresh to the Queens eyes, while
Pharaoh continued to deliberate precisely
what position in the court Joshua might be
allowed to fill if he succeeded in his en-
oassy.
CHAPTER X
Joshua had now to hasten if he was to |
,Yertake the Hebrews in time, for the fur
her thew had got on their Way the more |