Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16

who cozened mer'
The voice rang through the royal in
closure and the ministers came running.
Foremost was Har-hat
Al sight of his enemy the king put Ken
kenes between him and the fan-bearer. At
SIGHT OF kenkenes, Har-hat stopped In his
tracks.
Behind followed Kephren and Seneferu,
the TWO generals. who, with the exception
or Har-hat, the commander-in-chiefw were
the only transferring men away from their
places among the soldiers; after these,
Hotep and Nechutes, Menes of the royal
bodyguard, the lesser fan-bearers the many
minor attaches to the kings person. ia ali
a score of mobiles.
The fan-bearer did not look at the king
II was Kenkenes who interested him
The young mans frame did not show q
tremor. nor his face any excitement He
crossed the little space between him and
the fan-bearer.
What hast thou done with the Israeli
ite?' he asked in a tone so low that none
but Har-hat heard him. But the fan-bearer
did not doubt the earnestness in the quiet
demand.
ed
Hast thou spoken truIy?''
Il have said, as Osiris hears me. Have
done; have no more time for theer'
Stand thou there, l have not done with
thee"
The thin nostril of the fan-bearer ex-
banded and quivered wrathfuly.
Have care, thou insolent!" he ex-
claimed.
Kenkenes did not seem to hear him. He
had turned toward Meneptah.
Il have dared over-far, my king" he
said. because of my love for Egypt and
my concern for thee. Bear with me further,
pray thee"
Meneptah bent his head In assent.
Suffer mine inquiry, o Son of Ptah. Wilt
thou tell me upon whose persuasion thou
hast gathered thine army and set forth to
pursue Israeli"
Upon the persuasion of Har-hat my
minister"
yet this question further, my king.
Wherefore would he have thee overtake
these people?'
"Since it was foolish to let them 20, be-
ing my slaves, my builders and very need
full to Egypt. But most particularly to exc
cute vengeance upon them for the death of
Egypt .oo,. ;, ,,, =, 49,, ,,
Then he faced Har-hat. The fan-bearer's
countenance showed remarkable increase
of temper, but there was no sign of appre-
hension or discontinue upon 1t.
Thou hast beheld the grace of thy king
under question:" Kenkenes said calmly.
Therefore thou art denied the plea that
submission to the same thing will belittle
thee. Thy best defense is patience and
prompt answer"
''Perchance the king will recall his grace
full testimony" Har-hat replied with heat,
when he learns he hath been entangled
in the guilty pursuit of a miscreant after"
KeEkenes stopped him with a menacing
gesture.
Say il not; nor tempt me further! Thou
speakest of quarrel between thee and me,
and of that there may be more hereafter.
Now, thou art to answer to mine fmpeach-
ment of thee an offender against the
Pharaoh.
Har-hat received the declaration with a
wratbful exclamation.
Thy dearest enemy, o Har-hat," Ken
kenes continued would not impugn thy
wits. Thou seest Egypt; not in all the
world is there another empire so piteously
humbed. Her fields are white with bones
instead of harvests; her cities are loud
with mourning instead of commerce: the
desert hath overrun the valley. And this
from the hands of the Hebrews God. Who
this quarrel with Israel? Look upon Egypt
and learn. Hath the army of the Pharaoh
awaited him aught against these Affections?
Remember the polluted waters, the pests.
the thunders. the darkness, the angel of
death and tell me. 'VengeanceT Ven
geance upon God who hath blasted a ma
ton with His breath? Chastisement of
people whose murmurs brought down con-
Stunning fire upon the land? And yet, for
vengeance and chastisement hast thou
urged the king to follow after Israel.
know thee better, Har-hat! That service
able wit of thine hath not failed thee in an
hour. Thou hast not wearied OF life that
thou courtest destruction by the Hebrews
God Never hast thou meant to overtake
Israel! Never hast thou thought further to
provoke their God! Rather was IL thine in
tent here. somewhere in the desert. myself
to be plague upon Meneptah and wear
his crown after him.
Har-hat folded his arms and forced the
issue.
Your proof" he demanded
Both the hour and need of my proof are
past. Already art thou convicted" Ken
kenes indicated the king and the ministers
behind him.
Har-hat was alone. Before him were all
the powers of the land arrayed against
him. Behind him in Tanis was Set. the
heir who hated him, and the queen who
had turned her back upon him. He had
not seen the need of friends during the
days of his supremacy over Meneptah.
Now, not all his denials, eloquence, subtle
ties could establish him again in the faith
Of the frightened king. His ministership
had crumbled beyond reconstruction. What
/ would avail him, then. to defend himself?
What proof had he to offer against this
impeachment? The young mans argument
met him at every avenue toward which he
might turn for escape. AT best his future
in Egypt would be mere federation; the
worst, condign punishment
A flame of feeling surged into his face.
With a wide sweep of his arm, as though
to thrust away pretense, he faced the min
isters all the defiance and audacity of his
nature faithfully manifested in his man.
ner.
why wait ye? Would We see me cringe?
Would We hear deny. protest. deprecate?
Go to! ye glowering churls. l disappolnt
you! Flock to the king; dandle the royal
babe a while! Endure the stress a little.
whirling upon Kenkenes. "dreamest thou L
fear this bloody God of Israel, or all the
gibbering, incense-snffiug, pedestal-cum-
bering gods of earth? l will show thee
thou ranting rabble spawn! See which of
hath the yellow-haired wanton when L
return. For / go to wrest spoil and fight
ing men from Israel Then, by all the de-
mons of Amenti! then. l say look to thy
crown. thou puny, pulling king!"
With bound he broke through the cor
don of royal guards, leaped into his char
lot and putting his horses to gallop
drove at full speed to his place at the head
of the army. There, In an instant, clear
and long-drawn. his command to mount
rang over the desert. Front and rear, wing
and wing the trumpets took up the CALL
'"To horse! second command In the
strong voice, second winding of the many
trumpets, and with rush Of air and jar
of earth the great army of the Pharaoh
swept like the wind toward the sea.
Kenkenes, Menes, Nechutes and those of
the royal guard that had started in pur-
suit of the traitor did well to save them
selves from humiliation under the hoofs OF
twenty thousand horse. Bewildered and
amazed they were instant realizing
what was taking place.
"He is running away with the army
they said to themselves in daze. He 10
running away with the army And they