Joshua | Page 9

of doves fluttering around the ruins; they
are seeking their cotes in vain. And the cat with her kittens yonder. Go
and take them, Beki; it is our duty to save the sacred animals from
starving to death."
And this man, who had just been planning the destruction of so many
of his fellow-mortals, was so warmly interested in kindly caring for the
senseless beasts, that he stopped his litter and watched his servants
catch the cats.
This was less quickly accomplished than he had hoped; for one had
taken refuge in the nearest cellar, whose opening was too narrow for
the men to follow. The youngest, a slender Nubian, undertook the task;
but he had scarcely approached the hole when he started back, calling:
"There is a human being there who seems to be alive. Yes, he is raising
his hand. It is a boy or a youth, and assuredly no slave; his head is
covered with long waving locks, and--a sunbeam is shining into the
cellar--I can see a broad gold circlet on his arm."
"Perhaps it is one of Nun's kindred, who has been forgotten," said
Hornecht, and Bai eagerly added:
"It is an interposition from the gods! Their sacred animals have pointed
out the way by which I can render a service to the man to whom I am
so much indebted. Try to get in, Beki, and bring the youth out."
Meanwhile the Nubian had removed the stone whose fall had choked
the opening, and soon after he lifted toward his companions a
motionless young form which they brought into the open air and bore
to a well whose cool water speedily restored consciousness.

As he regained his senses, he rubbed his eyes, gazed around him
bewildered, as if uncertain where he was, then his head drooped as
though overwhelmed with grief and horror, revealing that the locks at
the back were matted together with black clots of dried blood.
The prophet had the deep wound, inflicted on the lad by a falling stone,
washed at the well and, after it had been bandaged, summoned him to
his own litter, which was protected from the sun.
The young Hebrew, bringing a message, had arrived at the house of his
grandfather Nun, before sunrise, after a long night walk from Pithom,
called by the Hebrews Succoth, but finding it deserted had lain down in
one of the rooms to rest a while. Roused by the shouts of the infuriated
mob, he had heard the curses on his race which rang through the whole
quarter and fled to the cellar. The roof, which had injured him in its fall,
proved his deliverance; for the clouds of dust which had concealed
everything as it came down hid him from the sight of the rioters.
The prophet looked at him intently and, though the youth was
unwashed, wan, and disfigured by the bloody bandage round his head,
he saw that the lad he had recalled to life was a handsome, well-grown
boy just nearing manhood.
His sympathy was roused, and his stern glance softened as he asked
kindly whence he came and what had brought him to Tanis; for the
rescued youth's features gave no clue to his race. He might readily have
declared himself an Egyptian, but he frankly admitted that he was a
grandson of Nun. He had just attained his eighteenth year, his name
was Ephraim, like that of his forefather, the son of Joseph, and he had
come to visit his grandfather. The words expressed steadfast
self-respect and pride in his illustrious ancestry.
He delayed a short time ere answering the question whether he brought
a message; but soon collected his thoughts and, looking the prophet
fearlessly in the face, replied:
"Whoever you may be, I have been taught to speak the truth, so I will
tell you that I have another relative in Tanis, Hosea, the son of Nun, a

chief in Pharaoh's army, for whom I have a message."
"And I will tell you," the priest replied, "that it was for the sake of this
very Hosea I tarried here and ordered my servants to bring you out of
the ruined house. I owe him a debt of gratitude, and though most of
your nation have committed deeds worthy of the harshest punishment,
for the sake of his worth you shall remain among us free and
unharmed."
The boy raised his eyes to the priest with a proud, fiery glance, but ere
he could find words, Bai went on with encouraging kindness.
"I believe I can read in your face, my lad, that you have come to seek
admittance to Pharaoh's army under your uncle Hosea. Your figure is
well-suited to the trade of war, and you surely are not wanting in
courage."
A smile