Warren sheaf., 1905-09-21
The bond people are already in ferment


There was mutiny at Pa-Ramesu recent
ly when 300 were chosen to work the
quarries. Moreover, the taskmasters are
corrupt. The commander. one Atsu by
name, appointed when the chief Merenra
became monarch over Bubastis, hath dis
armed the under drivers, removed the wo-
men from toll and restored many priv
ileges which are ruinous to law and order.
The whole delta Is in coznmotion. The
nomad tribes near the Goshen country
are aRitated; communities of Egyptian
shepherds have been won over to the He
brews cause, and now the 1sraelitish
renegade needs but to betray the secrets
to bring such calamity upon Egypt as
never befef q nation.
But, brother, he is within reach of an
avenstng hand! Commission us. pray
thee. to protect the mystsries after any
manner that to uS Deemeth good.
D4spetch 10 u1goat. He may fly again
Give us tatino anSwsr as We have sent this
to thee bv a nobfemaa a swift and
trusty ono. and the blessings Of the RAJ
diant Three be upon thy head. Thy serv-
ant. tho servant of Ra. eNOFRU.
When the pstsst finished, the king
ives sitting urk4sht, hts face flushed
with feeling.
''Well" he cried, Stamping his foot
when tho three bsfers him kept silence,
nave 70 no word to sayr"
His oVes rested On Har-hat, with an
innper4ous expectation In them. The
fan bearer bent low before he answer
Cd. ~-1s
''With thy gracious permission, o son
Of Ptah," he said, IT would suggest
that It were wise to cool an lnsurree-
don in the simmeeing. The disa6ecdon
seems to be Of great extent. But the
Rameside army assembled on the
ground might check an open insurrec-
ton. Furthermore, thou hast seen the
salutary effect Of thy visit to Tape
when she forgot her duty to her SOW
erelgn. Thy presence in the delta
would undoubtedly expedite the sup
preston of the rebellion likewise"
"Oh, ave." Meneptah declared. II
must 60 to Tanis. 1t seems that I
must hasten hither and thither over
Egypt pursuing sedition like scent
hunting jackal. Hast thou any simpler
plan to offer, holy father?'
The old priest shifted a little before
he answered.
'"The mysteries Of the faith are in
possession Of Noses" he began at last.
"The writing saith he hath exerted
great influence over the bond people
in truth he hath entered a peaceful
land and stirred it up-and time is but
needed to bring the unrest to open war
fare. Ye know that we hold the faith
by scant tenure In the respect of the
people. Ye know the perversity of
So If it were to come over
the spirit of this Hebrew to betray the
to scout the faith and over
turn the gods, he would have rabble
Egypt following at his heels. The rab-
Bile without leader is harmless. Cut
off the head Of Noses and the insur-
rection will subside utterly"
'Moses, though a Hebrew, an infidel
and a malefactor," replied Meneptah,
'is a prince Of the realm, my foster
brother, Neferari's favorite son. Nay,
be shall not die by hand Of mine." The
prelate raised his head and pet the
eyes Of the king. After he read what
lay therein the dissatisfaction that had
begun to show on his ancient face fad
ed.
The Pharaoh settled back into his
seat, and his brow cleared as if the
problem had been settled, but suddenly
ne sat up.
"What have profted by this coun-
cil?" He stopped abruptly and turned
to the crown prince. "Help us, my
he said in softer tone.
1--WE had we'll nigh forgotten thee.''
Rameses raised himself from the
back Of his cathedra, against which. he
tounged, and moved step forward.
"A word, my father he said calm
". 'Thy perplexity hath not been un-
tangled for thee, nor even thread
pulled which shall start it raveling.
The priesthood can kill Noses" he
said to Loi, "and it will do them no
hurt. And thou, my father, canst coun-
tenance it and seem no worse than
any other monarch that loved his
throne. Thus ye will decapitate the
monster. But there be creatures in
the desert which, losing one head, grow
another. Moses is not Of such exalted
or supernatural villainy that they can
not fill his place. Wilt thou execute
Israel one by one as 1t raises up
leader against thee?
''Thou hast not fathomed the He
brew's capabilities, my father. In him
is wealth, power, a magnificence
that thy fathers and mine built up for
thee, and the time is ripe for the gar
nering Of thy profit. What monarch
Of the sister nations hath two and a
half millions Of hereditary slaves not
tributary folk nor prisoners Of war,
but slaves that are his as his cattle
and his fiocks are hist What mon
arch before thee had them? None any
where, at any time. Thou art rich
In bond people beyond any monarch
since the GODS reigned.
by use they have fitted themselves
to the limits laid upon them by the
great Rameses. The feeble have died,
al %ho A,o ,,.en' - tho o&.1rs3w ho xo ~.