out of
their house and threw themselves down on a spot where his rays could
fall upon them, while the cats sat and cleaned themselves on a ledge
behind a lattice, for they were only allowed to run about in the
inclosure when some one was there to prevent their interference with
birds.

For an hour there was no sign of an enemy. Then one of the birds gave
a sudden cry of alarm, and there was a sudden flutter as all rushed to
shelter among the reeds; but before the last could get within cover a
dark object shot down from above. There was a frightened cry and a
violent flapping as a large hawk suddenly seized one of the waterfowl
and struck it to the ground. In an instant the watchers rose to their
feet, and as the hawk rose with its prey in its talons they shot their
arrows almost simultaneously. Amuba's arrow struck the hawk between
the wings, and the creature fell dead still clutching its prey.
Chebron's arrow was equally well aimed, but it struck a twig which
deflected its course and it flew wide of the mark.

Amuba gave a shout of triumph and leaped out from among the bushes.
But he paused and turned as an exclamation of alarm broke from
Chebron. To his astonishment, he saw a look of horror on his
companion's face. His bow was still outstretched, and he stood as if
petrified.

"What's the matter, Chebron?" Amuba exclaimed. "What has happened? Has
a deadly snake bit you? What is it, Chebron?"

"Do you not see?" Chebron said in a low voice.

"I see nothing," Amuba replied, looking round, and at the same time
putting another arrow into his bowstring ready to repel the attack of
some dangerous creature. "Where is it? I can see nothing."

"My arrow; it glanced off a twig and entered there; I saw one of the
cats fall. I must have killed it."

Two years before Amuba would have laughed at the horror which
Chebron's face expressed at the accident of shooting a cat, but he had
been long enough in Egypt to know how serious were the consequences of
such an act. Better by far that Chebron's arrow had lodged in the
heart of a man. In that case an explanation of the manner in which the
accident had occurred, a compensation to the relatives of the slain,
and an expiatory offering at one of the temples would have been deemed
sufficient to purge him from the offense; but to kill a cat, even by
accident, was the most unpardonable offense an Egyptian could commit,
and the offender would assuredly be torn to pieces by the mob. K