The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
TIE; plaques.

nath was making the most Of
~ each day Of her freedom.
Memphis was In state Of
s apathy, worn out by revel and emp
tied Of her lgminarles. Ta-mert, intox-
icated with the Importance Of her posi-
don as lady in waiting to the queen,
had departed with her husband, the
Z cupbearer. 10 had returned to her
home In On with en- ache in her brave
little heart that outweighed even Masa-
maths for heav1ness. The last OF Sc
Us loyerlike behavior toward her dat
ed back to time before the court had
gone to Thebes-loag. long ago.
Ta-user also had gone, but the fan
bearers daughter 5id not regret her.
The other ladies who remained in
Memphis, frightened at the loftiness
Of Masanath's future, were uneasy In
her presence and seemed more inclined
TO bend the knee before her than to
continue the girlish companionship
that had once been between them.
It was now the middle Of June, the
height Of Egyptian summer. In lit
tie space the marshes, which had been
for eight months favorite haunts Of
fowlers, would be submerged, FOR the
inundation was not far away.
MasaDath would hunt for wild duck
and marsh hen while there was yet
time,
It was an hour after sunrise: Her
raft, built OF papyrus, was boat shaped
and graceful as swan. Pepi was at
the long handled sweep in the stern.
Masanath sat In the middle, which
was heaped with nets, throw sticks
and bows and arrows. A pair Of de
coy birds, tame and unfettered, stood
near her, craning their small heads,
puzzled at the movement Of the boat
which was undeciphers bic, since they
were motionless. Mari sat in the Prov,
her hands folded, her face quite ex-
pressionless. The service Of the day
was out Of the routine, but as good
servant she was capable Of adapting
herself to the change.
"a pest on the banw Masanath ex-
claimed. Look at the Marsh Of the
Discontented Soul II fal -ly swarms
with teal aud ceot And see the snipe
on the sand She stood Up and watch
ed the sandy strip they were nearing.
They were goodly distance out from
the shore. bar Pepi poled nearer mid
stream.
She sat down again and looked at
the decoy birds. Their timidity had in
creased into actual fear. Nasanath
reached a soothing hand toward one
Of them, and 1t took wings and few.
The mate followed, unhesitating. The
shining distance swallo owed them up.
sLet us leave this vicinity" Pepi
said, suiting the action to the word.
s1It is unhoiy." He seized the sweep
and drove the raft about, polling with
wide strokes. At that moment a cry
which was more Of a hoarse whisper
broke from his lips:
Body OF Osiris! The river! The
rivery'
Masanath leaned on one hand and
looked over the side Of the raft. With
a bound and a shiyering cry, Mari was
covering beside her, the little craft
tossing on the waves at the force Of
the leap. Instantly Pepi was at her
other SIDE on his knees, praying and
shaking. And together the trio hud-
died, but only one, Masanath. was
brave enough to watch what was hap
pening,
From the bottom Of the Nile turbid
convection was taking place as if the
riyer silt had been stirred up. but the
turning current was assuming a dull
red tinge. The action had been rapid.
Already the stain had preGominated.
sreaks Of clear water only here and
there clarifying the opaque coloring
The boat rode half its depth in red; the
paddle dripped red: the splashes Of wa
ter within on the bottom were red; the
sun shone broadly into the mirroring
red, sliding, reeking red. a lavender
foam broke it's bubbles against the
drifting raft, and tepid, Invisible va
Dor. like moist breath, exha!ed from
the ensanguined surface.
Schools Of fish, struggling and leap
ing. filed the space Immediately above
the water and numbered the raft with
writhing mass. Numberless croco-
diles bounded into the air, braying,
suorting, rending one another and
churning the river into froth by their
hideous battle Dwellers Of the deep
water drifted into the upper t;de-mon-
sters Of the muck at the Nile bottom,
turtles. huge crawhsh, water nevis.
spotted snakes, curious bleached crea-
lures that had never seen the Gay,
great drifts of insects, with frogs, tad
poles-everything Of aquatic animate
life came up dead or dying terribly.
Along either bank water buffalo and
wallowing swine, which had been in
the pools near the river, clambered
ponderously, snorting at every step.
Vessels were putting about and fly
ing for the shore. From the prov Of
one tall boat with distended sails a