Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Plaques.

The PlagueS.
The court was gone and Masanath was
making the most of each day of her free
DOM Memphis was in a state of apathy,
worn out by revel and empted OF her lu-
minarles. Ta-meri. intoxicated~with the
Importance of her position as iady-in- walt
ing TO the queen. had departed with her
husband. the cup-bearer 10 had returned to
her home in On. with an ache in her brave
little heart that outweighed even MaSa-
mathis for heaviness. The last of Seti
lover-like behavior toward her dated back
to Il time before the court mad gone 10
Thebes-long long ago.
Ta-user, also, had gone, but the fan-i1ear-
er's daughter did not regret her. Ihe other
ladies who remained in Memphis, frightei-
Ell at the loftiness of Masanaths future;
were uneasy in her presence and seemed
more inclined to bend the knee before her
than to continue the girlish companonship
that had once been between them.
1t was now the middle of June. the 'neiSht
of Egyptian summer. In a little space Inc
marshes, which had been, for eight m Inths.
faVorite hauntS of fowlerS, would be SUP
merged, for the inundation was not. Tar
away.
Masanath would hunt for wild duck and
marsh hen, while there was yet time
1t was an hour after sunrise. Her raft.
built of papyrus, was boat-shapcd and
graceful as swan. Pepi was at the
long handled sweep in the stern Masa-
nath sat in the middle, which was heaped
with nets. throw-sticks, and bows ana ar
rows A pair of decoy birds, tame and TN
fettered, stood near her. craning their small
heads, puzzled at the movement of the boat'
hich was undecipherable since they were
motionleSs. Mari sat in the PROV. ner handS
folded her face quite expressionlcss. The;
service of the day was out of the foutlne,
but a good servant, she was capable OIL
adapting herself to the change.
"A pest on the ban" MaSanath eXclaim-
ed Look at the marsh of the discontinued
soul 1t fairly swarms with teal and coot,
and see the snipe on the sand. She stood
up and watched the sandy strip they were
nearing. They were goodly distance out
from the shore, but Pepi poled nearer mid
stream.
She sat down again. and looked at the de-
coy birds. Their timidity had increased IN
to actual fear. Masanath reached sootn-
ing hand toward one of them and 1t took
wings and flew. The mate followed, un-
hesitating The shining distance swallowed
them up. .
suiting the action to the word; lit is I'M
holy" He seized the sweep and drove the
raft about polling with wide strokes. AT
that moment cry. which was more OF
hoarse Whisper broke from his lips.
Body of Osiris! The river! The river!
Masanath leaned on one hand and looked
over the side of the raft. with pouho
and a shiverng cry Mari was covering De
side her, the little craft tossing on the
waves at the force of the leap. Instantly
Pepi was at the other side, on his knees,
praying and shaking. And together the
trio huddled but only one. Masanath, was
brave enough to watch what was happen-
ing.
From the bottom of the Nile turbid
convection was taking place. as If the river
silt had stirred up, but the turning cur
rent was assuming a dull red tlnge. Inc
action had been rapid. Already the stain
had predominated, Streaks of clear water,
only here and there, clarifying the Opaque
coloring The boat rode half It's depth IN
red the paddle dripped red, the splaShes of
water within on the bottom were red, the sun
shcne broadly into the mirroring red, slid
ing reeking red! lavender foam broke its
bubbles against the drifting raft and
tepid, invisible vapor, like moist breath,
exhaled from the enSanguined surface.
Schools of fish, struggling and leaping,
filed the space Immediately above the
water, and numbered the raft with a writh-
ing mass NumberlesS crocodileS bounded
into the air, braying. snorting, rending one
another and churning the river into froth
by their hideous battle. Dweilers of the
deep water drifted into the upper tide
monsters of the muck at the Nile bot
TOM turtles huge crawfish, water-newts,
spotted snakes, curious bleached creatures
that had never seen the day. great drifts of
insects, with frogs, Notwithstanding of
aquatic animate life, came up dead or dying
terribly Along either bank water buffalo
and wallowing swine, which had been in
the pools near the river, clambered pom
defously. snorting at every step.
Vessels were putting about and flying for
the shore. From the PROV of one tall boat,
with diStended sails, a figure was seen to
spring high and disappear under the red
torrent. Rioting crews of river men fought
for first landing at the accessible places on
the banks. Memphis shrieked and the pas
lures became compounds of wild beasts
that deafened heaven with their savage bel
lowing.
Pepi and Mari had no thought of saving
hnr
save them. Selling the sweep she poled
with superhuman strength toward the near
est shore-the Marsh of the Disseminated
Soul.
The raft grounded, and as a viscous wash
of red Tapped across it, she leaped forth,
landing with both feet in the horror. She
houndered out and crying to her servants
to follow her. fled like mad thing up the
sandy stretch toward the distant wall of
rock.
The boat, lightened of her weight. re-
ceived a backward thrust as she leaped,
and drifted out of the reeds. The heavy
current caught it and swept 1t across the
smitten river to the Memphian shore 1t
bore two insensible figures
Masanath ran, thinking only to leave the
CHASTITY flood behind. Her wet over-dress
tapped about her ankles. 1t, too, was
stained, and she tore it off she ran.
Ahead of her was sagging limestone
wall. with no gap, but Masanath, hardly
sane. would have dashed herself against
1t If hands had not detained her.
Blood! Blood she shrieked. Holy
Ptah save u.s.
Peace some one made answer "God
is with us
The voice was calm and reassuring, the
hands firm. Here, then. was one who was
strong and unafraid and therefore, a safe
refuge. No longer called upon to care for
herself, Masanath fell into the arms of the
brave unknown and ceased to remember.
Consciousness returned to her slowly and
incompletely. Horror had dazed her and
her surroundings. but family discovered
in an all-enveloping gloom, were not condu-
Give to mental repose and clearness
She became aware, first, that she was
somewhere hidden from the sunshine and
beyond reach of the strange odor from the
Nile
Next she realized that she was sheltered
in cave; that slender lines of white day
light sifted through the interstices of a
door; that lamp was burning somewhere
behind screen; that q hairy thing sat in
a corner and looked at her with half human
eyes, and that. as she shrank at the sight
the warm support under her head moved
and fair face, framed with golden hair
bent over her.
Then ner eyes. becoming clearer as her
recollection returned, wandered away to-
ward the walls of her shelter They had
been hewn by .ls nds. There was an omen.
| inE In one side. leading into another and n
| darker crypt Was NOT this tomb? She
| was in the Tomb of the Disconnected SOuil
| Terrified. she struggled to gain her feet and
| ay, but the awful memory of the plague
| Without returned to 1er overwhelmingly