The Washington times., 1919-04-20
CHAPTER X.
The Smitinp of Amon.


THAT evening / sat, Ill at ease,
in my Workchsmber in Seti's
palace, making pretence to
write. I, who felt that great evils
threatened my lord the Prince, and
knew not what to do to turn them
from him The door opened, and
old Pambasa, the chamberlain, ap-
peared and addressed me by my
new titles, saying that the Hebrew
lady, Merapi, who had been my
nurse In sickness, wished to speak
to me.
Scribe Ana" she said, Il have
put Just seen my uncle Jabez, who
has come, or been sent, with a mes
sage to me" !" and she hesitated.
Why was he sent, lady? To
bring you news Of Laban?"
Not so. Laban has fed away
and none know where he is, and
Jabez has only escaped much trou-
bic as the uncle Of a traitress by
undertaking this mission"
What is the mission?"
~ HAoy AlCg IL 4 NOuAu save NY
self from death and the vengeance
Of God, to work upon the heart Of
his Highness, which / know not
how to do
yet I think you might find
means, Merapi."
Save through you, his friend
and counsellor" she went on, turn
ing away her face. @Jabez has
learned that It is IN the mind of
Pharaoh utterly to destroy the peo-
pie Of Israel"
How does he know that, Ne
rapi?"
81 cannot say, but think all the
Hebrews know. / knew ii myself
though none had told me. He has
learned also that this cannot be
done under the law Of Egypt unless
the Primes who -is heir 10 the throne
and Of fun age consents. Now
am come to pray you to pray the
Prince not to consent"
why not pray to the Prince
yourself, Merapi"- l began,
when from TIE shadows behind me
I heard the voice Of Set, saying:
"And what prayer has the lady
Merapi to make 70 me?"
20 Prince" she pleaded, my
prayer is that you will save the
Hebrews from death by the sword"
At that moment the doors opened
and in swept the royal Userti.
What does this woman here?"
she asked.
Il think that she came to see
Ana, wife, as l did, and as doubt
less you do. Also, being here, she
prays me to save her people from
the sword"
"And pray you, husband, to give
her people to the sword, which they
have earned, who would have MUIR
dered you"
"And been paid, every one Of
them, Userti, unless some still lin
ger beneath the rods" he added
with a shudder. THE rest are in
nocent-why should they die?"
Because your throne hangs upon
It, Seti. / say that if you continue
to thwart the will Of Pharaoh, as by
the law of Egypt you can do, he
will disinherit you and set your
cousin Amenmeses in your place"
Il thought it, Userti. Yet why
should | turn my back upon the
right over a matter of my private
fortunes? ?"
The gods Of Egypt" she replied,
"are the true gods whom we must
serve and obey, or perish here and
hereafter. The god Of the Israe-
Iites is a false god and those who
worship him are heretics and by
their heresy under sentence of
death. Therefore it is most right
that those whom the true gods have
condemned should die by the
swords of their servants
THAT is well argued, Userti, and
If it be so, mayhap my mind will
become as yours in this matter, so
that shall no longer stand be-
tween Pharaoh and his desire. But
IS II so? There's the problem.
will not ask you why you say that
the gods Of the Egyptians are the
true gods, because know what you
would answer, or, rather, that you
could give no answer. But ! will
ask this lady whether her god is a
false god, and il she replies that he
IS not, will ash her to prove this
to me II she can"
40 your Highness," began Me-
rapi Then she paused, clasped her
hands and looked upward. / think
that she was praying, for her lips
moved.
How can /, a poor Hebrew maid
on. prove to your Highness that my
God is the true God and that the
gods of Egypt are false gods? l
know not, and yet, is there any one
god among all the many whom you
Worship, whom you are prepared to
set up against him."
4Of a surety, Israelite," answered
TTserti. There is Amon-Ra, father
~ the gods, of whom all other gods