uba
encouraged talk on all these points, and started the conversation
afresh whenever it dropped, for he saw that the excitement concerning
Mysa had done a great deal for Chebron. It had weaned his thoughts
from the death of his father, and the consequences that had arisen
from his unfortunate shot; it had given him fresh subject for thought,
and had revived his spirits and interest in life. Both lads were glad
when, late in the afternoon, they saw Jethro ascending the hill.

"I have no news," he said as he came up to them. "I have been all day
in the neighborhood of the house of Ptylus, and have followed all who
came out two together from it. I have overheard many scraps of
conversation, and one and all talked upon the same subject, the death
of Ameres and of the sacred cat, and the want of success in the
search for you. The fact of Mysa being carried off was spoken of once
or twice; but I was convinced by the manner in which the slaves spoke
to each other on the subject that they had not the slightest idea that
their master was concerned in the matter, and they had assuredly no
knowledge whatever of her being in the house.

"Of course it is possible that she might be there without its being
generally known to all the slaves. Still you know how things leak out
in a household, and how everything done by the master and mistress
soon becomes public property; and had any one among them heard
something unusual was going on, it would by this time have been known
to all the servants. I hardly thought that Ptylus would have ventured
to have her carried home, for he might suppose that her mother's
suspicions might be directed toward him just as ours have been, and
that if she made a complaint against him a search of his house might
be ordered; besides, there are too many servants there for a secret to
be kept. No, if a clew is to be obtained it will be in the temple or
by our following Plexo."

As soon as it was dark they descended the hill together. Chebron had
attired himself in the garments bearing the distinguishing marks of
the priesthood that Jethro had brought up with him, having obtained
them from old Lyptis. When near the house of the embalmer the lad
stopped, and Jethro went on and returned in half an hour with the
various disguises he had asked Chigron to obtain for him. All these,
with the exception of the scanty attire of two peasants, he hid for
the present in some bushes near the path, then he rubbed Amuba's s