he
northeast. By their dress they had been prosperous rustics of the
un-Israelite Delta. But the healthful leanness, characteristic of the
race, had become emaciation; there was the studious unkemptness of
mourning upon them, and they, who had ridden once, before the plagues
of murrain and hail, traveled afoot.

They were evidently journeying to On, where the benevolence of Ra would
feed them.

They said nothing, looking a little awed at the soldier and puzzled at
the stela. The warrior read the command and the unlettered men fell on
their knees, each to a different god. The Egyptian was not ashamed of
his piety nor did he closet himself to pray.

"Incline the will of the Pharaoh to accord with the needs of the hour,
O thou Melter of Hearts!"

"Rescue the kingdom, O thou Controller of Nations, for it descendeth
into death and none succoreth it!"

"Deal thou as thou deemest best with the destroyer of Egypt, O thou
Magistrate over Kings!"

Thus, in these fragments of prayers was it made manifest that the worm
was turning, apologetically, it is true, but surely. For once the
prescribed defense of the Pharaoh was ignored. "It is not the fault of
the Child of the Sun, but his advisers, who are evil men and full of
guile." And in the odd perversity of fate for once its observance
would have been just.

Having fulfilled the command and relieved their souls, the four arose
and went their way, soft of foot and stately of carriage, after the
manner of all their countrymen.

Next, descending with a volley of yells, a rout of the nomad tribes,
mounted on horses, came from the southwest.

They were chiefly Bedouins, their women perched behind them with the
tiniest members of their broods. But every child that could bestride a
horse was mounted independently. Whatever worldly possessions the
nomads owned were bound in numerous flat rolls on other horses which
they led.

"Hail!" they shouted to the warrior, for the desert races are prankish
and unabashed. A younger among them, without wife or goods, drew his
gaunt horse back upon its scarred haunches and saluted the soldier.

"Greeting, bearer of many arms!" he said, and then addressed a near-by
companion as if he were rods away. "Behold leaden-toed Egypt, cumbered
with defense! Bull-hide for shield instead of the safe remoteness of
distance, blade and pike for vulgar intimacy in combat instead of the
nice aloofness of the launched spear--"

"Go to, thou p