The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-05-12

al the holiness of the man, sat speech
less but watching with intensity MS
every move.
Behold" Moses continued, at the
same time raising the rod In his hand
high above his head, and slowly sweep
ing It out towards the waters much as
| Pharaoh had just done. behold, ! Will
smite with the rod that is In mine hand
upon the waters which are in the river,
and they shall be turned to blood"
A howl of indignant protest arose
from the priests, and they would have
rushed upon Moses for speaking thus
against their sacred river had not the
king by gesture held them back and
bade them be silent.
"And the fish that is in the river shall
die. and the river shall stink; and thou
4ni tn rnople shall loathe to drink OF
Inc water"
The words rang out clear and sharp
and, as Moses ceased speaking, an OPP
pressive silence brooded over the great
assembly of people, like the ominous
calm which precedes the storm. Every
eye was riveted upon the king, but with
an imperious air and sternness which
made those about him tremble, he
roared:
Enough of this. Let the ceremonies
proceed. The god of the great river
awaits our homage" and motioning to
the priests they again struck up the
chant:
Hail, o Nile, thou contest forth over
this land; thou contest in peace, giving
life to Egypt o hidden god!"
AS the words. 20 hidden god" were
spoken Moses placed the rod in Aaron's
hand and the latter stepped to the wa
ter's edge and smote the river.
Instantly the sparkling waters of the
Nile were transformed before the vision
of the king and all the people. Instead
of the silvery sheen they beheld with
horror their sacred river take on the
hue of blood.
The priests stopped their chant. and
from the CHASTITY sight of the river the
eyes of all turned towards the king in
quiringly. What could he say to this?
What could he do to show that the god
Of the Nile was more powerful than the
God of the Hebrews in whose name this
wonder had been performed? The first
look of horror and CONSERVATION passed
from the face of Pharaoh and an express
sion of imperious disdain took Its place
and he commanded that his magicians
and sorcerers be brought.
Now there was in the garden where
the king and people had gathered "A
beautiful artificial lake in the center of
which a great fountain played, throw
ing up its crystal spray like showers OF
flashing diamonds. To this body OF
water now all turned as the magicians
of Pharaoh gathered upon its brink
that they might try by their enchant-
ments to perform a wonder like that
which Moses and Aaron had just
wrought. Intently the vast assembiage
waited while the incantation was be
ing said and then the magicians struck
the waters and called upon their gods.
But there was no change. The waters
still lay silver white and the fountains
spray flashed and sparkled in the bright
So intense was the suspense that peo-
pie SCARCELY breathed. Were Pharaoh's
magicians defeated? The people
turned to look in the direction OF their
king. and by way of answer he thun-
dered:
LET James and Jambres be brought.
The gods of Egypt will speak through
them"
Hastily messengers were sent TO the
temple 10 summon the chiefest OF
Pharaoh's sorcerers, and while the pee
pie waited they took up the cry OF
James, JambIes," and kept up the
tumult until there came an answering
call from the opposite shore Of the lake
and the royal barge was seen approach
ing swiftly.
As IL drew near the shore and an
chored, James and Jambrcs were seen
standing in the bow. Waving the peo-
pie u silence, they called TO the king,
saying:
Let not the king be troubled The
god Of the Nile is angry at the action
"a pNSSo anu udyt dHu tudt
the king may know that IL is not the
god Of the Hebrews who has done this
things let the waters here be turned to
blood"
AS they finished, they leaned out over
the lake and chanted their mysterious
phrases and even while they were
speaking, the waters were seen to slow
ly change from the blush tinge, which
reflected tAe-berfcct blue of the sky
above, to the deep, dark. blood-red hue
which but short time before had been
noted upon the waters of the Nile.
A shout Of triumph broke from the
throats Of the multitude, which was
quickly hushed as they looked out over
the lake before them and saw its sur.
face covered with the sacred gold and
silver fish placed there in token of the
favor of the gods upon Pharaoh's daily
visits thither.
Pharaoh noted the look and COR
scious of the silence turned and spoke
to James and Jambres who stood near
him, and these two, lifting their voices
strong and clear so that all the multi
tuda could hoar ehoutod.