an, however vile and criminal, would lift
his hand against a priest. You may as well come with me, Amuba; it
would be strange if one of us only took part in the search."

In ten minutes Jethro and Amuba had turned the place into confusion in
forcing open chests and cabinets and littering the floor with
garments; then taking a few of the most valuable vases and jewels they
threw them into the pond round the fountain, where they would be
concealed from view by the water-lilies which floated on its surface.

They examined afresh the fastenings of the captives, and felt assured
that by no possibility could they free themselves.

"They will be sure to be freed by to-morrow night," Amuba said,
"otherwise I should not like to leave them here to die of hunger and
thirst."

"I should be only too glad," Jethro said, "if I thought there was a
chance of their being here forty hours instead of twenty. Doubtless
this is not the first evil business they have carried out for their
villain master, and they may think themselves lucky indeed that we do
not take what would be in every way the safest and best course,
namely, to run a sword through their bodies and silence them forever.
If I thought they could tell anything I would do so now; but I really
do not think that anything they can tell will add to our danger. Of
course the priest's wife knows that Mysa is hidden here, and will
proclaim the fact that she has been here and is now missing, as she
would consider it might afford a clew for the apprehension of those
who attacked the house and slew her husband and son; therefore I do
not see that there would be much to be gained by silencing these
people; but if you think differently I will finish them at once."

Amuba shook his head, for although human life in those days was
thought little of, save by the Egyptians themselves, he shrank from
the thought of slaying captives in cold blood.

"No, they can tell nothing, Jethro. You had best be moving; there is
nothing more to talk over. I think all our plans were arranged long
ago; except, of course, that you must get rather a larger boat than
you had intended, together with garments for the girls. I think it
would be best that Chebron should still be disguised as a woman; but
we can settle that to-morrow night. There is a good store of dresses
for us to choose from at Chigron's."

Amuba led the horses to a stone water trough and allowed them to
quench their thirst. Then he mounted t