ged, the pursuer drew near and made menacing demonstrations.
Kenkenes had no desire to be followed. He bade Rachel wait for him and
approached the Nubian.

"Now," he began coolly, "thou art unwelcome, likewise, insolent. Also
art thou a fool, but it is an arch-idiot indeed that lacketh caution.
This maiden is beloved of all the Israelites. Thou art one man, and
alone. It would not be safe for thee to attempt to take her without
help even across that little space between Masaarah and the Nile. I
should harass thee with others within call. Do thou save thyself and
send the chief adviser after her. I would treat with him also."

The Nubian backed away and Kenkenes followed him relentlessly until the
man, overcome with trepidation, took to his heels and fled.

Even then, Kenkenes did not lessen his vigilance. He caught up Anubis,
who had bounded beside him during the entire time, and running back to
Rachel, turned into the limestone wastes.

Kenkenes had risked his suggestions to the single Nubian, and their
effect upon him gave the young sculptor some hope that the pursuing
force had been limited to these three. Though the men along the Nile
were not within call, they would prevent flight into Memphis, and the
camp of the Israelites, if not similarly picketed, would offer security
only for the moment. Why had not the Hebrews protected her in the
beginning? He would get to a place of perfect safety first and learn
all concerning this matter.

After an hour's cautious dodging from shelter to shelter, through the
masses of rocks, they toiled up the great ridge of hills deep into the
desert. Rachel would have gone on and on, but Kenkenes drew her into
the shadow of a great rock and stopped to listen. The oppressive
silence was unbroken. Far and near only gray wastes of hills heaved in
heated solitude about them.

"Sit here in the shadow and rest," he said, turning to the weary girl
beside him. "I shall keep watch."

He cleared a space for her among the debris at the base of the great
fragment and pressed her down in the place he had made. Next he undid
his belt and fastened Anubis to a boulder, too heavy for the ape to
move. The animal resented the confinement, and Kenkenes, tying him by
force, found in the forepaws the collar of golden rings. With a murmur
of satisfaction, the young man reclaimed the necklace and thrust it
into the bosom of his dress.

When he arose the day grew dark before him, and