The Washington times., 1919-05-04

So | jOurneyed as though / were
the Prince himself, and as one who
was known to have his ear was
made much of by the governors Of
the MONIES, the chief men of the
towns and the high priests Of the
temples at every city where we
moored. For, as ! have said, al
though Amenmeses sat upon the
throne, Seti still ruled in the
hearts of the folk of Egypt. More
over, as l sailed further up the
Nile to districts where little was
known of the Israelites, and the
troubles they were bringing on the
land, found this to be so more
and more. Why Is II, the Great
Ones would whisper in my ear,
that his Highness the Prince Seti
does not hold his fathers place?
Then / would tell them Of the He
brews, and they would laugh and
say:
"Let the Prince unfurl his royal
banner here, and we will show him
what we think of the question Of
these Israelitish slaves. May not
the Heir of Egypt, form his own
Judgment on such a matter as to
whether they should abide there in
the north, or go away into that
wilderness which they desire?"
To all of which, and much like
1t, / would only answer that their
words should be reported. More ]
did not and indeed did not dare to
say, since everywhere found that
I was being followed and watched.
by the spies of Pharaoh.
At length / came to Thebes and
took up my abode in a fine house
that was the property Of the
Prince, which / found that a mes-
senger had commanded should be
made ready for me. II stood near
by the entrance to the Avenue OF
Sphinxes, which leads to the great
est Of all the Theban temples,
where is that mighty columned
haIl built by the first Seti and his
son, Rameses H., the Princes
grandfather.
Here, having entrance to the
place, I would often wander at
night, and in my spirit draw as near
to heaven as ever 1t has been my
lot to travel. Also, crossing the
Nile to the western bank, / visited
that desolate valley where the
rulers of Egypt lie at rest. The
tomb of Pharaoh Meneptah was
still unsealed, and, accompanied
by a single priest with torches, /
crept down its painted halls and
looked upon the sarcophagus Of
him whom so lately ! had seen
seated in glory upon the throne,
wondering, as l looked, how much
or how little he knew Of all that
passed in Egypt to-day.
Moreover, / copied the papyri
that / had come to seek, In which
there was nothing worth preserv-
ing, and some of real value that /
discovered In the ancient Libraries
OF the temples. and purchased
others. One Of these, indeed, told
q very strange tale that has given
me much cause for thought, espe-
cially Of late years now when all
my friends are dead.
Thus l spent two months, and
should have stayed longer had not
reached me from the
Prince saying that he desired my
return. OF these. one followed
within three days of the other, and
his words were:
Think you, Scribe Ana, that be-
cause l am no more Prince of
Egypt / am no longer to be obeyed?
If so, bear in mind that the gods
may decree that one day / shall
grow taller than ever l was before,
and then be sure that | will re-
your disObedience. and
make you shorter by a head. Come
swiftly, my friend. for | grow
lonely. and need a man to talk
with
To which replied that | re-
.urned as fast as the barge would
larry me, it being so heavily laden
With the manuscripts that | had
copied and purchased.
So l started, being. to tell truth.
ylad to get away, for this reason:
Two nights before, when / was
alone from the great tenn
Dle to the house, a woman dressed
n many colors appeared and ac-
,osted me as such lost ones do.
ried to shake her of, but she
lung to me, and / saw that she
lad drunk more than enough of
vine. Presently she asked, in a
roice that l thought familiar, II l
new who was the officer that had
ONE to Thebes on the business Of
ONE Royal One and abode in the
welling that was known as House
f the Prince. | answered that his
anne was Ana.
"Once / knew an Ana very we'll"
he said, "but left him"
"Why?' / asked, turning cold in
ny limbs, for although | could not
ee her face because Of a hood she
1Ore. now ! began to be afraid.
Because he was a poor fool"
he answered, mo man at all. but
ne who was always thinking about