btaining a supply of grain and goats'-milk cheese; but
these were a poor substitute for the stores that the elephants had
devoured. They were too glad, however, at having accomplished half
the toilsome journey to murmur at trifles, and after a day's halt
proceeded on their way. Another fortnight's travel and they stood on
the lower slopes of the hills, and saw across a wide belt of flat
country the expanse of the sea glistening in the sun.

Two more days' journey and they reached the Egyptian trading station.
This was situated on a little peninsula connected with the mainland by
a narrow neck of land, across which a massive wall had been built to
repulse the attacks of the wild tribesmen, who frequently swept down
and devastated the cultivated fields up to the very wall. As soon as
they entered the town Jethro was ordered by an official to accompany
him to the house of the governor. Taking Chebron with him, he left it
to Amuba to arrange for the use of a small house during their stay.

The governor's inquiries were limited to the state of the country, the
behavior of the tribesmen along the road, the state of the wells, and
the amount of provisions obtainable along the line of route.

"There are a party of Arab traders from the other side who wish to
pass up to carry their goods either to Semneh or Meroe, but I have
detained them until news should reach me from above, for if any wrong
should happen to them their countrymen might probably enough hold us
responsible for their deaths, and this might lead to quarrels and loss
of trade; but since you have passed through with so small a party
there can be no fear, and they can arrange with the people who brought
you down as to the amount to be paid to the chiefs for free passage."

He inquired Jethro's reason for making the journey over the mountains
instead of proceeding by the Nile. He replied that he had received an
advantageous offer for all his merchandise and had disposed of it to a
trader going up to Meroe, and that as the Nile had now fallen and the
danger in passing down the cataracts was considerable, he thought it
better to make the short land journey and to travel by sea to Lower
Egypt; especially as he was told that the natives were now friendly,
and that no difficulty would be met with on the way. Another reason
for his choosing that route was that he might determine whether on his
next venture it would not be more advantageous to bring down his
merchandise b