The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-18

49, ~ tAok Adh 21OSES
work." snarled James, shaking him.
self, impatiently. But 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, dignifed en-
trance to the kings presence, they en-
tered his apartments with nervous,
hating 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
Gals, he moved uneasily on his throne,
and then neryously 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 entertainments 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 II 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-possesston at
last, however, they ~cleyerly parted for
time, saying:
know, 0 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, inpatient
ly. And return at once, for shall be
awaiting thee here"
Soon, in answer to the hasty sum
mons, the magicians and sorcerers of
Egypt were hurrying to the palace from
every direction, and held hasty con-
s~ultation with James and Jambres,
who delayed the return to the royal
presence Sc long that the king, unwill'
ing to wait longer, sent imperative
word that they appear.
Then was begun a 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 one side, and called:
Let James and Jambres appear.
They shall not fail us wen as they did
not when the rivers were turned to
blood and the frogs appeared"
Again the chanting began, the at
tendant priests keeping time to the
movements of James and Jambres,
who now came and stood before the
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,
L look almost of scorn 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
lis side and whispered in a voice that
quivered with the tensity Of its
suppressed awe and terror:
This is the finger of God!"
Another, emboldened by the action
the first, also stepped forward and re-
,eated the words:
Yea, 1t Is the finger of God!"
Another and another and still an 1
'ther did likewise, until at last James s
nd Jambres were alone and still pros f
rate upon the ground at the feet of /
pharaoh, Had they not heard? Would t
hey, too, admit the superiority of c
doses God? 7
The eyes of the king burned like Goals s
# fire as he looked upon them. Higher
nd higher he lifted his imperious
tead. More and more rigid became his
orm. But he spake not.
Again the intense, tragic whisper n
everberated through the ROOM: This
the finger of God!"
The Kissing, piercing echo had scarce
died away among the lofty pillars of
he vaulted hall when James and ="
andres leaped to their feet with a :
cree, angry cry which made ever u
haraoh start upon his throne. i
Traitors to the gods of Egypt" they 81
pointing their accusing fingers +"
t them and swaying their bodies in the U
Itensity of their emotions. Traitors! -
hink you that Moses shall prevail? e
lot while James and Jambres can "
ithstand Moses to his face. Let !"
haraoh not falter. This plague like y
lie others will pass. The gods Of Egypt :,
i'll finally triumph" IT,
Slowly, Pharaoh rose until his tower .
Ig height seemed to overshadow all. -
here was a glitter in his eye and a ~,
'uel, hard smile played over'h his fea- =
Tres as he again waved the magicians ~
his side away, and exclaimed: ~
James and Jambres have spoken. =
ear We them"
A Dead Loss.
See here, Aunt Dinah, I sent two of