churls and their riches have
escaped misfortune. Thinkest thou not, good Hotep, that, if they must
go, we may by right require their flocks of them to replenish the
pastures of Egypt?"

Surely the Hathors were exploiting themselves this day. Another
opportunity for good and what would come of it? Hotep knew the man
with whom he dealt. Still it were a sin to slight even an unprofitable
chance that seemed to offer alleviation for Egypt. He would proceed
cautiously and do his best.

"Be the little lamp trimmed never so brightly, O Son of Ptah, it may
not help the sun. Thou art monarch, I am thy slave. How can I mold
thee, my King?"

"Others have swayed me, thou modest man."

"In that hour when thou wast swayed, O Meneptah, another than thyself
ruled over Egypt."

Meneptah looked in amazement at his scribe. He had never considered
the influence of Har-hat in that light, but, by the gods, it seemed
strangely correct. He straightened himself.

"Be thou assured, Hotep, that I weigh right well whatever counsel mine
advisers offer me before I indorse it."

Hotep bowed. "That I know. And for that reason do I hesitate to give
thee my little thoughts. It would hurt the man in me to see them
thrust aside."

"Thou evadest," Meneptah contended smiling.

"Wherefore?"

"Because, O King, I should advise against thine inclinations."

"Wherefore?" Meneptah demanded again, this time with some asperity.

"We hold the Hebrews," was the undisturbed reply; "through destruction
and plague we have held them. They boast the calamities as sendings
from their God. Egypt's afflictions multiply; every resort hath failed
us. One is left--to free the slaves and test their boast."

Meneptah's face had grown deprecatory.

"Dost thou espouse the cause of thy nation's enemy?" he asked.

"I espouse the cause of the oppressed, and which, now, is more
oppressed--Egypt or the Hebrew?"

This was different sort of persuasion from that which the king had
heard since Har-hat took up the fan. The scribe was compelling him by
reason; the man's personality was not entering at all into the
argument. Meneptah's high brows knitted. He felt his feeble
resolution filter away; his inclination to hold the Hebrews stayed with
him, but the power to withstand Hotep's strong argument was not in him.

"What wouldst thou have me do?" he asked querulously.

"I am but a mouthpiece for thy realm; I counsel not for myself. The
strait of Egypt