Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-17

4 THE yoke 4
E----.-SI EllZAsEIH NLLER l.-e--..-.s...,s--s.J
<1@1Z a ROMANCE OF THE DAYS WHEN 31YYR
NlIll(M THE LORD DELIVERED THE CHILDREN GIlitiAN
TAA4 OF ISRAEL FRor THE BONDAGE OF EGYPT
I BY EuZABETH MILLER
CHAPTER xxx.
The Way to the Sea.

AAC way W tAO oSU'
Kenkenes did not remain long in the
apathy of amazement and heiplessness.
Consternatio possessed him the instant he
reused himself sufficiently to realize and
speculate He had saved the king and ex-
posed Har-hat. but the accomplishing OF
this temporary good had forced the proba-
BILE commission of a great evil. II death
| in some form did not overtake the fan bear
er he could enrich and strengthen himself
from Israel. Then, If Meneptahs
army did not continue to follow him. he
would be enabled to buy mercenaries and
return equipped to do battle with Menep-
tab even as he had vowed. The flower of
the military was with him; the Pharaoh
was incapable and Egypt demoralized. The
success of the traitor seemed assured. What
then of Rachael, of his own father. of the
! faithful ministers, of all whom kenkenes
had loved befriended? The thought
filed him with resolution and vigor.
IF the Lord God of Israel overtake him
not he said, returning to the king then
must /! For, in my good intent. it seems
that l have undone thee. Hotep," he con-
tinued, taking the scribe's hands. "let my
father know that l died not with the first
born. Also, thou seest the danger into
which the nation hath descended in this
hour. Help thou the king! l return not
Farewell"
He kissed the scribe on the lips, and
freeing himself from his clnging hands,
ran through the broken line of the royal
guards.
The army was already compact cluster
in the center of rolling cloud of dust to
the south.
When Nechutes had aroused him before
daybreak, the cup-bearer had brought Ho-
tep with him. and while the messenger
broke his fast. he had awaited himself of
the scribe's presence to learn many things.
Not the smallest part of his informa ton
was the fact that the Pharaoh's scouts had
located Israel encamped on a sedgy plain
at the base of great hill on the northern
most arm of the Red sea. Meneptah's
army had marched twenty-five miles due
south of Pithom and pitched its tents for
that point to BaalZephon or the hill be-
fore which Israel had camped. The fugi-
tives had chosen the smoothest path for
travel, keeping along the Bitter Lakes that
their cattle might feed. Their track led in
a southeasterly direction.
But Har-hat, making off with the army,
had struck due south. He had chosen this
line for more than one advantage it offer
ed The Arabian desert approached the
sea in a series of pla teaux or steps The
most westerly was surmounted by a ridge
of high hills, higher probably than any
other chain within the boundaries of
Egypt. The most easterly overlooked the
sea beach and was originally, 1t may be,
the old margin. At points the table
land advanced within sight of the water;
at other localities an intervening space of
The summit was fiat, at least smooth
enough for the passage of horsemen,
and at all times 1t was a good field for
strategic maneuverings by army
rayed against anything which might be on
the beach below.
If Meneptahs scouts had reported truly,
Israel had behind it a hill, east of it the
sea. West of 1t the army would approach.
South only could it flee, into torrid arid,
uninha bited desert
The slaves were entrapped The pursuer
had but to follow the pursued in the only
open direction. and overtake the starving,
thirsting multitude at last. But from Har-
hats movement he had meant to continue
along this plateau, out of sight of Israel,
until he had posted part of his army in the
way of escape to the south. Kenkenes
reached this conclusion without much pom
dering. He had his own maneuverngs in
mind. OF the captain of Israel Prince
Mesu he would discover, first, If the Lord
God had prepared him against Har-hat.
The grave question answered to the repose
of his mind concerning the welfare of
Israel, the path of his next duty would be
clearly laid for him. He would join the
army and take the life of the fan-bearer,
for the sake of all he loved and Egypt. In
the course of the days events his motive
had been exalted from the personal desire
He felt most confident that he would for
felt his own life in the act.
Not an instant did he hesitate
Ahead of him was the narrow bed of
minia ture torrent which rolled out of the
desert during the infrequent rains. Now Il
was dry. packed hard, free Of all obstruc-
tons except the great boulders. and led in
a comparatively straight line toward the
sea. 1t was an ideal stretch for running
He summoned all his forces gathering. in
a mighty mental effort, all that depended
on his speed. and took the path with a
leap. The dazed king and his ministers
saw him with whom they had that moment
talked stretch a vast and ever widening
breach between them with bat-like swoop,
and while they watched he was swallowed
up in the distance.
The bed of the torrent served him for
the first few miles. Then 1t turned abrupt
ly toward the Bitter Lakes. He left it and
entered the rougher country. Thereafte
no great bursts of speed were possible be-
cause the runner had to pick his way. He
ram not with steady pace, each stride
equal to the preceding, but with bounds,
aside and forward, dfmly calculating the
safety of the football.
Suddenly a column of sand rose under
his feet, and he dashed through 1t. Blind
ed and choking he cleared his eyes. caught
his breath and ran on A gust of wind.
like breath of fame met him from the
east and passed. Then he realized that
the atmosphere had thickened, as II an
OPAQUE cloud of heat had enveloped the-
earth He glanced at the sky and saw that
it was strewn with fragmentary clouds.
but little south and east of him was the
pillar. unmoving and gilded royalty.
There was storm in the air.
Finally the region began to grow level,
proving the proximity to the sea. In an
other moment he came upon the old sea
bed 1t was sandy, sedge grown, with here
and there a palm, and tremendously tram
pied.
Israel had passed this way.
The clash and ring of meeting metal fell
on his ear. He looked and saw ahead of
him two men fighting with third. Three
horses with empty saddles nervously watch
ed the fray.
The single combatant was a soldier in
-, ,,,,tf of
One of the pair a tall Nublan In
striped tunic; the other. was an Egyptian,
short fat, purple of countenance-Unas!
With furious exclamation Kenkenes
slackened his pace only long enough to
undo the falchion at his side and rushed to
the fight. 1t did not matter to him who the
soldier was or what his cause. The fact
that he was fighting the emissaries OF Har-
hat was sufficient Endorsement of the lone
soldier. But even as he sprang forward
Unas sank on the sand, moved convulslvely
once or twice and lay still
The soldier staggered back from the sec
ond servitor and fell The Nubian, stand
ing over him, swung his heavy weapon
aloft but Kenkenes thrust his falchion over
the fallen man and caught the blow, as II
descended, upon the broad back of the
blade
"Set receive your cursed soule' the Nu-
bian snarled Kenkenes leaped across the
PROSTATE soldier and simultaneously the