Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-03-01
CHAPTER xxx.
TIE WAY TO THE SEA.

y CHAPTER xxx
3 e:s TIE WAY TO THE SEA.
liz IENkENES did not remain long
IN the apathy of amazement
N and helplessness Consterna-
~ ton possessed him the instant
he reused himself sufficiently to realize
and speculate. He had saved the king
and exposed Har-hat, but the accom-
rlish1ng of this temporary good had
forced the probable commission of a
great evil. If death in some form did
not overtake the fan bearer he could
enrich and strengthen himself from
Israel. Then, even If Meneptah's army
did not continue to follow him, he
would be enabled to buy mercenaries
and return equipped to do battle with
Meneptah, even as he had vowed.
The flower Of the military was with
him; the Pharaoh was incapable and
Egypt demoralized The success of
the traitor seemed assured. What
then Of Rachel, of his own father, OF
the faithful ministers, of all, whom
kenkenes had loved or befriended?
The thought filled him with resolution
and vigor.
If the Lord God of Israel overtakes
him not" he said, returning to the
king, then must 1! For in my good
intent it seems that l have undone
thee. Hotep." he continued, taking the
scribe's hands, "let my father know
that died not with the firstborn; also
thou seest the danger into which the
nation hath descended in this hour.
Help thou the king! return not.
Farewell"
He kissed the scribe on the lips and,
freeing himself from his clinging
hands, ran through the broken line of
the royal guards.
The army was already a compact
cluster in the center of a rolling cloud
of dust to the south.
When Nechutes had aroused him be-
fore daybreak the cupbearer had
brought Hotep with him, and while the
messenger broke his fast he had avail
ed himself of the scribe's presence to
learn many things. Not the smallest
part of his information was the fact
that the Pharaoh's scouts had located
Israel encamped ON sedgy plain at
the base of great hill on the north
ernmost arm of the Red sea. Menep-
tabs army had marched twenty-five
miles due south of Pithom and pitched
its tents for the night 1t was twenty
five miles from that point to Baal.
ZeRhon or the hill before which Israel
had camped. The fugitives had cho-
sem the smoothest path for travel,
keeping along the Bitter lakes, that
their cattle might feed. Their track
led in southeasterly direction.
But Har-hat, making off with the az
my, had struck due south. He had
chosen this line FOR more than one ad-
vantage it offered The Arabian desert
approached the sea in a series of pla.
teaus or steps, The most westerly was
surmounted by ridge Of high hills,
higher probably than any other chain
within the boundaries of Egypt The
most easterly overlooked the seabea Oh
and was originally, it may be, tire :old
sea margin. At points the tableland
advanced within sight of the water, at
other localities :an intervening space
of several miles lay between it and the
sea. The summit was fat, at least
smooth enough for the passage of
horsemen, and at all times it was a
good field for strategic maneuverings
by an army arrayed against anything
which might be or the beach below.
! The slaves were entrapped. The .pur-
sler had hut to follow the pursued in
the only open direction and oHertake
the starving, 'thirsting multitude at
last But from Har-hat's moyemsnt he
had meant to continue along this pla-
teau out CT sight of Israel until he had
posted part of his army in the way of
escape to the SOUTH Kenkenes reached
this conclusion without much ponder
ing. He had his own maneuverings in
mind OF the captain of Israel, Prince
Moses, he would discover, first, if the
Lord God had prepared him against
Har-hat. The grave question answered
to the repese of his mind concerning
the welfare of Israel, the path of his
next duty would be clearly laid before
him. He would join the army and take
the life, of the fan bearer for the sake
Of all he loved and Egypt. In the
course Of the days events his motive
had been exalted from the personal de-
sire for revenge to the high intent of q
patriot He felt most confident that he
wonld forfeit his own life in the act.
Not an instant did he hesitate.
Ahead Of him was the marrow bed of
a miniature torrent which rolled out of
the desert during the infrequent rains.
Now it was dry, packed hard, free of
all distractions except the great bowl
ders anda led in comparatively
straight line toward the sea. 1t was an
IDEAL stretch for running.
He summoned all his forces, gather
Ing, in a mighty mental effort, all that
depended on his speed, and took the
path with a leap. The dazed king and
his ministers saw him with whom they
had that moment talked stretch vast