unlucky, for
one of the others might not have been missed. There is no hoping that
now."

Chebron seemed paralyzed at the news.

"Come, Chebron," Amuba said, "it will not do to give way to fear; we
must brave it out. I will leave the door of the cat house open, and
when it is missed it will be thought that it has escaped and wandered
away. At any rate, there is no reason why suspicion should fall upon
us if we do but put a bold face upon the matter; but we must not let
our looks betray us. If the worst comes to the worst and we find that
suspicions are entertained, we must get out of the way. But there will
be plenty of time to think of that; all that you have got to do now is
to try and look as if nothing had happened."

"But how can I?" Chebron said in broken tones. "To you, as you say, it
is only a cat; to me it is a creature sacred above all others that I
have slain. It is ten thousand times worse than if I had killed a
man."

"A cat is a cat," Amuba repeated. "I can understand what you feel
about it, though to my mind it is ridiculous. There are thousands of
cats in Thebes; let them choose another one for the temple. But I
grant the danger of what has happened, and I know that if it is found
out there is no hope for us."

"You had nothing to do with it," Chebron said; "there is no reason why
you should take all this risk with me."

"We were both in the matter, Chebron, and that twig might just as well
have turned my arrow from its course as yours. We went to kill a hawk
together and we have shot a cat, and it is a terrible business, there
is no doubt; and it makes no difference whatever whether I think the
cat was only a cat if the people of Thebes considered it is a god. If
it is found out it is certain death, and we shall need all our wits to
save our lives; but unless you pluck up courage and look a little more
like yourself, we may as well go at once and say what has happened
and take the consequences. Only if you don't value your life I do
mine; so if you mean to let your looks betray us, say so, and stop
here for a few hours till I get a good start."

"I will tell my father," Chebron said suddenly, "and abide by what he
says. If he thinks it his duty to denounce me, so be it; in that case
you will run no risk."

"But I don't mind running the risk, Chebron; I am quite ready to share
the peril with you."

"No; I will tell my father," Chebron repeated, "and abide by what he
says. I am sure I can nev