Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-10
CHAPTER XXI.
Back to Memphis.

CHAPTER XXI.
Back to Memphis.
The valley III which Thebes Diospolis was
situated was wide and the overflow of the
Nile did not reach the arabic upiands near
the Arabian hills Three thousand years
before Menes had established system of
irrigation which had added hundreds OF
square miles to 1.-THE agricultural area OF
Egypt, and every monarch after him had
unfailingly preserved the institution. From
Syene to Potassium the country was rami-
fled with canals, and vast sums and great
labor were expended yearly upon their
keeping
Since the work was heavy and the de-
mand for 1t constant, it became a punitive
part of each nome's administration. There
fore, the cOnvicts whose miSdeedS were too
serious to be punished adequately by the
bast1nado or the fine, and yet not grave
enough to merit a sentence to the Quarr1eS
or the Mines were sent to the canals.
So here in the canals of the eastern The
bad was kenkenes, prisoner known only
by a number
Great and sincere and beyond expression
was his amazement and his joy wheE
taskmaster called him from the canal bed
one day and informed him that he was
free.
His raiment and his money conscientious
~ preserved for him by the authorities,
had been sent to him. and little way out
side the camp he stepped from the lowest
to his rightful rank, swifter than he had
descended from it. Covering his sun-burnt
shoulders with his robes, assuming the cir
clet once again, he went toward the distant
city of Thebes, once more in spirit and
dress the son of the royal murket.
AT the heavy-walled prison across the
Nile he asked after the signet. 1t had not
been returned with the writing. Neither
was there any word to him concerning his
prayer to Pharaoh for the liberty of Ra-
chel.
Just as he emerged from the imposing
doorway of the house of the governor of
police he was jostled by half-grown boy.
To kenkenes 1t seemed that the youth had
been on the point of entering, but instead
he apologized inaudibly and walked away.
A great rush Of Impotence, suspense
eagerness and heart-hunger fell on the
young artist the instant he knew his foot
steps were turned toward Memphis and
Rachel The six days that must intervene
between the present time and the moment
he entered the old capital seemed insuifer-
able. Once, some distance away from MIN
he saw again the youth whom he had met
in the doorway of the prison.
AT caterers he purchased supplies for
q days journey and looked about him for
carrier. Catching the boys eye, he beck
oned him. but the youth turned on his heel
and disappeared The son of the merchant
offering himself, Kenkenes continued rapid
vessel to take him to Memphis.
The passenger and cargo shipped, the
men fell to their oars. AS they cleared, the
private passage boat belonging to a noble
man swept up near to them and, crossing
their track, took the same direction several
hundred yards nearer the Libyan shore.
kenkenes noted that 1t was a bari of ele-
CANT pattern deep draft and more numer-
ously manned than his. He noted further
that one of the boats crew was the youth
he had met thrice in a short space at
Thebes.
Small wonder that he was not willing
to serve me-" he commented to himself.
If he observed the companion boat dur
ing the next five days 1t was to remark
that since his own vessel kept sturdiiy
alongside one of superior rowing force his
men were of a surety earning the promised
reward. When they entered the long.
straight stretches of the middle country the
elegant stranger dropped behind and at
tended Kenkenes and his crew more dis
family thereafter.
Except for these few occasions, kenkenes
had no thought of his surroundings. He
stood in the prov and looked down the
shimmering width of river, In the direction
his heart had taken long before him. And
when the white cliffs that proved him close
to Memphis came shouldering up from the
northern horizon. he had forgotten the
stranger in the eager, trembling antlcipa-
tionS that possessed him.
On the morning of the eighteenth day
Immediately after sunrise, Rachel dressed
as for a long journey, came to the curtains
over Masanath's door,. lifted them and en-
tered and it was long before she came
forth again. Then her eyes were hidden
and her head bowed for she had hidden
farewell to Masanath. She was returning
to Goshen.
In the street before the house she en-
tered her litter. and with Pepi walking be-
side her went to the Nile. And there they
were Joined by Anubis. He had been alb
sent for days, so his greeting was extrava-
CANT, his loyalty inalienable. He entered
the bari Pep had loaded with Rachel's be-
longings and would not be coaxed or men,
aced into discriminating.
At the Marsh of the Disconnected Soul
the bari nosed among the reeds and ground
ed gently Rachel stood for moment
gazing sadly across the stretch of sand
toward the abrupt wall against which it
terminated inland. Pepi. already on shore.
reached a patient hand toward her and
awaited her awakening. Anubis landed
circles for the cliff His escape reused
Rachel, and she stepped out of the boat.
After a moments thought she babe Pepi
pull away from the shore and await her at
a safe distance.
IT shall stay no longer than to write my
whereabouts on the tomb
With a sigh that wassalmoSt sob. Rachel
walked back over the sand toward the cave
that had been her only shelter once.
She climbed the rough steps, but had not
reached the top before she paused, trans
fixed.
An Egyptian, not Pepi was hauling a
boat into the reeds. The craft secure, he
turned up the slant. walking rapidly.
| There was no mstaking that commanding
stature
Anubis descended on him like an arrow.
The man saw the ape, halted a fraction of
an instant, caught sight of Rachel, and
with cry, his arms flung wide, broke into
a run toward her.