The Rice belt journal., 1906-05-18
bowling was heard, and as they opened

past them like flight or arrows scores
of the beasts, maddened by the irri-
tating lice. The sacred bull could be
heard snorting and rearing about in
its quarters, and the rattle and snap
of its silver and gold trappings told
the story of its frantic moves. Along
the way they saw the people eXcitedy
running about and trying frantically
TO rid themselves Of the little pests
that covered them. And they, too,
were fighting the lice, desperately
brushing and shaking to drive them
away, but as fast as they got rid OF
those already upon them Others Sprang
up from the dust beneath their feet.
This is more of that man Moses
work" snarled James, shaking him
self, impatiently. Bat Jambres was
too busy rubbing and scratching HIM
self and trying to obtain relief from
the lice to make reply. And thus, IN
stead of their stately, dignitie1 en-
trance to the kings presence, they en-
tered his apartments with nervous,
halting steps, and found him in like
distress of body, for in place OF the
cold serenity and naughty dignity with
which he invariably received his Off
cials. he moved uneasily on his throne,
and then nervously rose and shook
himself and took his seat again. AS
his eyes fell upon James and Jam
bres, his face somewhat lightened, and
he cried, eXcitedly:
What means this dreadful visitation?
Let us see by thy enchantments If thou,
too, can bring forth these lice. Then
shall know that Moses God is no god
at all"
Then were James and Jambres filled
with confusion by the words of the
king, for they had taken no thought as
to the manner of calling forth the lice
as Moses had done. They knew not
what reply to make to their lord, and
stood in embarrassed silence before
him.
Recovering their self-possession at
last, however, they cleverly parried for
time, saying:
Know, o king, that in so important
a matter all thy magicians and sorcer-
ers of the temple must be summoned,
that we may have the help of all those
who serve before the gods of Egypt.
But let not thy heart be troubled in this
thy distress. Have we not shown
Pharaoh the turning of the water to
blood, and the calling forth of frogs.
even as Moses did, and shall we not
again triumph"
GO then" cried Pharaoh, impatient
ly. And return at once, for | shall be
awaiting thee here"
Soon, in answer to the hasty sum-
mons, the magicians and sOrcerers or
Egypt were hurrying to the palace from
every direction, and held hasty con-
sultation with James and Jambres,
who delayed the return to the royal
presence so long that the king, unwill'
ing to wait longer, sent imperative
word that they appear.
Then was begun most desperate
struggle upon the part of the kings
magicians to turn the dust to lice. Their
wierd chanting filled the great hall
where they were gathered. They tried
all their entertainments and in the fren-
zy of desperation beat their breasts and
called upon their gods to hear and an
swer, but there came no answering
sign. With eager intensity Pharaoh
watched every move of his magicians,
and when they threw themselves
upon the ground before him in
token of their failure, he waved them
to cne side, and called:
LET James and Jambres appear.
They shall not fail us even as they did
not when the rivers were turned to
blood and the frogs appeared"
Again the chanting began & III,
tendant priests keeping tilr bunch.
movements of James and doz.
who now came and stood before
king. But at last after exhausting
themselves in their efforts they sank
to the ground as the others had done,
and a solemn stiffness as of death fell
upon the place.
Pharaoh sat as one turned to stone,
a look almost of sc0rn upon his face,
which hardened into an expression of
bitted hatred as the moments Of tense
agony dragged themselves out.
At last one of the magicians crept to
his side and whispered in voice that
fairly quivered with the tensity Of its
suppressed awe and terror:
This is the finger of Cod"
Another, emboldened by the action
of the first, also stepped forward and re-
peated the words:
"Yea, 1t is the finger of God"
Another and another and still an
other did likewise, until at last James
and Jambres were alone and still pros
trate upon the ground at the feet Of
Pharaoh. Had they not heard? Would
they, too, admit the superiority OF
Moses God?
oF !, ID, h,,rx 4 fn