laid
aside their garments as peasants and put on the attire prepared for
them as the sons of a small trader. Amuba had submitted, although with
much disgust, to have his head shaved on the night following the death
of Ameres, and it was a satisfaction to him to put on a wig; for,
accustomed as he was to see the bare heads of the peasants, it was
strange and uncomfortable to him to be going about in the same
fashion.

As soon as they were dressed they started, made their way down to the
bank of the river above the town, and walked along the broad causeway
by the stream until within a mile or two of their destination. Then
they turned off toward a clump of trees which were visible by the
first gleam of dawn a quarter of a mile away. Here they slept for some
hours, and late in the afternoon returned to the side of the river and
strolled quietly along, watching the boats. Those in the middle of the
stream were making their way down with the current lightly and easily,
the crews often singing merrily, rejoicing over the approaching
meeting with their friends after an absence of many weeks. The boats
going up the stream were all close to the bank, the crews walking
along the causeway and laboring at the towropes, for there was not
enough wind to render the sails of any utility in breasting the
stream. The craft were of various kinds, some shapeless and rudely
fashioned, used in conveying corn from the country higher up down to
Thebes, and now returning empty. Others were the fancifully painted
boats of the wealthy, with comfortable cabins and sails of many colors
richly decorated and embroidered. These were carrying their owners up
or down the river, between their country mansions and the city.

It was half an hour after sunset when the two friends arrived at
Mita. Darkness falls quickly in Egypt after the sun has gone down, and
their features could scarcely have been recognized had they been met
by any one acquainted with them in the streets. The scene in the
streets of the little village was a busy one. Its distance from Thebes
rendered it a general halting-place for the night of the boats which
had left the capital early, and a great number of these were already
moored off the bank, while others were arriving in quick succession.
The boatmen and passengers were busy making their purchases at the
shops; fishermen, with well-filled baskets, were shouting the praises
of their fish; fowlers, with strings of ducks and geese h