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

henkeneS turned swiftly ABOUT.
Two half-clad Nubians were at the rivers
edge. hauling up an elegant passage boat.
1t was deep of draft and had many sets of
oars. Approaching over the sand, hesi-
tatingly, and with timid glances toward
the tomb beyond were four others The
foremost was the youth he had seen in
Thebes. The next wore striped tunic.
Fourth and last was Unas.
Now, by my SOUL Kenkenes exclaimed
aloud. there is no more mystery concern
ing the boy" He turned and took Rachel
in his arms.
Now. do thou test the helpfulness Of thy
God! l have been tricked and l see no
help for us. Enter the tomb and close the
door, and since thou lowest honor better
than liberty, let this be thine escape"
He put his only weapon, his dagger into
her hands.
For an instant he gazed at her tense
white face then bending over her. he kissed
her once and put her behind him.
What want ye?" he, demanded Of the
men.
"a slave" Unas answered evilly, stepping
to the fore.
your authority?' The fat courier -four
ished a document and held up blue jewel.
hanging about his neck. Meneptah had
forgotten his promise to return the lapis-
laZuli signet to Mentu.
Thou are undone, knave.' the courier
added with short laugh. He clapped his
idly upon Kenkenes. There was to be no
parley.
Kenkenes glanced at the youth. He was
not full grown-spare, light and small In
stature.
Il am sorry for thee, boy" Kenkenes
muttered. Thy gods judge between thee
and mel
The Nubians, two by two, each man
With n hound Kenkenes seized the youth
by the ankles and swung him like an
animate bludgeon over his head. Inc at.
lacking party was too precipitate to halt
in time and the yelling weapon SWUNG
round, horizontally moving down the fore
most pair of men like wooden pins. the
weight of the boy. more than the 1orce OF
the blow. jerked him from the sculptor
hands, KenkeneS recovered h1mself ana
retreated. AS he did SO he stumbled on
fragment of rock. He wrenched 1t from
it's bed and balanced it above his head.
The powerful figure with the primitive
weapon was too savage a picture Tor the
remaining pair to contemplate at close
quarters Unas had made no movement to
help in the assault. He had felt the weight
of the sculptor's hand, and had evidently
published the savagery of the young man
to his assistants. They had come prepared
to capture an athletic malefactor, but here
was a Jungle tiger brought to bay They
retired till their fallen fellows should arise
The Vanquished were struggling to gain
their feet, and Kenkenes noted 1t with con-
Germ. He was not gaining in this lull. There
were other stones about him. He hurled
the fragment with sure aim, and Mn
bian who had been overthrown, dropped
Imply and stretched himself on the sand.
With howl the remaining three charged.
They were too close for the second missile
of Kenkenes to do any slaughter, and he
went down under the combined attack,
fighting inSanely.
"Slit his throat" Unas shrieked, tumbling
on the captive, as Kenkenes' superhuman
struggles threatened to shake them off. One
of the men raised himself and made ready
to obey. Holding to Kenkenes with one
hand, he drew knife from his belt and
prepared to strike.
At that instant the captive caught sight
Of pale woman-face, the eyes blazing with
vengeance, There was the flash Of a white
sleeved arm and the thump and jolt of
dagger driven strongly through flesh The
murderous Nubian yelled and tumbled,
kicking, on the sand. He carried a knife at
the juncture of the neck and shoulder.
Instantly there was chorus of yells.
'She-devil! Hyena!'
Unas detached himself from the struggle
and plunged after Rachel, now In full sight
Of Kenkenes. He saw her retreat. warding
off the fat courier with her hands; he saw
her stumble and fall; he saw Anubis fly,
with chatter of rage. in the face of the
courier, and, struggling nightly, he threw
off his captors and leaped to his feet.
And then the light went out in Egypt!
From the sea to the first cataract, from
the deepest recess In the Arabian hills to
the remotest peak in the Libyan desert,
Egypt was blinded and muffled and smoth-
cred in dead, black night-even darkness
that could be felt
Kenkenes stood still. Harsh hands were
no longer on him, and for an instant no
sound was to be heard. Profound gloom
enveloped him. His every sense was frus-
trated.
Some one Of his assailants had found his
heart with a knife and this was death. he
thought.
Then strange, far-off murmurings filed
his ears. From the river and beside him
went up wild. hoarse cries of men in mortal
terror. Memphis began to drone like vast
and troubled hive. The distant pastures be-
came blatant and the poultry near the huts
of rustics cackled in wild dismay. In the
hills about beasts whimpered and the air
was full of the screaming of bewildered
birds.
With the awakening of sound Kenkenes
knew that another plague had befallen
Egypt.
The dread that might have transfixed him
was overcome by the instant recollection of
RachePs peril. No restraining hands were
upon him, but he stood yet space attempt
ing to catch some rift in the thick night.
There was not one ray of light.
While he waited 1t was more distinctly
borne in upon him that during that space
Rachel might suffer.
He called her name loudly ard listened.
There was no answer in her voice.
(To be continued tomorrow