the sandhill when I was struck down with
a tremendous blow, and a moment afterward the creature seized me. I
gave a scream; but I thought I was lost, for there are no neighbors
within sound of the voice, and my grandfather has not been able to
walk for months. Then I prayed as well as I could for the pain, and
God heard me and sent you to deliver me."

"It is not often that they go up so far from the river, is it?"

"Not often. But yesterday we had a portion of a kid from a neighbor
and were cooking it, and perhaps the smell attracted the crocodile;
for they say that they are quick at smell, and they have been known to
go into cottages and carry off meat from before the fire."

"I see you walk very lame still."

"Yes. Grandfather would have me keep still for a day or two; but I
think that as soon as the bruises die out and the pain ceases I shall
be as well as ever. Beside, what would the garden do without water? My
grandfather will be glad to see you, my lord; but he is rather more
feeble than usual this morning. The excitement of yesterday has shaken
him."

She led the way into the cottage.

"Your granddaughter has told me you are not very strong to-day,"
Chebron began.

"At my age," the old man said, "even a little thing upsets one, and
the affair of yesterday was no little thing. I wonder much that the
agitation did not kill me."

"I have satisfactory news to give you," Chebron said. "I yesterday
dispatched a message to my father, and have just received the answer."
And taking out the scroll he read aloud the portion in which Ameres
stated his readiness to receive Ruth in his household, and his promise
that no pressure whatever should be put upon her to abandon her
religion.

"The Lord be praised!" the old man exclaimed. "The very animals are
the instruments of his will, and the crocodile that threatened death
to the child was, in truth, the answer sent to my prayer. I thank you,
my young lord; and as you and yours deal with my child, so may the God
of my fathers deal with you. But she may stay on with me for the
little time that remains, may she not?"

"Surely. We should not think of taking her now. My father sends
instructions as to what she is to do, and money to pay for her journey
up the Nile to Thebes. This is what he says." And he read the portion
of the scroll relating to the journey. "And now," he said, "let me
read to you what my father says about your religion. He is ever a
searcher after tr