wild shout of greeting burst from the troops, and breaking their ranks
they rushed forward, and throwing themselves on their faces round him,
hailed him as their king and promised to follow him to the death.

It was a long time before the enthusiasm and excitement abated; then
Amuba addressed his followers, promising them deliverance from the
Egyptian yoke and from the taxation under which they so long groaned.

A week was spent in establishing order and discipline in the
gathering, sentries being placed at a distance round the camp to
prevent any stranger entering, or any one leaving to carry the news to
the city. In the meantime trusted men were sent to the town to
ascertain the exact position of affairs there, and to learn whether
the garrison had been placed on their guard by any rumors that might
have reached the town of disaffection in the country districts. They
returned with the intelligence that although reports had been received
that the late king's son had escaped captivity in Egypt and would
shortly appear to claim his rights, the news had been received with
absolute incredulity, the king and his Egyptian allies scoffing at the
idea of a captive making his escape from Egypt and traversing the long
intervening distance. So complete had been the quiet throughout the
country since the Egyptian occupation that the garrison had ceased to
take any precautions whatever. No watch was set, and the gates of the
city were seldom closed even at night.

The plans were now finally arranged. Jethro, with a band of two
hundred men, was to enter the town in the daytime; some going down to
the next port and arriving by sea, others entering singly through the
gates. At midnight they were to assemble in the square round the
palace, which was to be suddenly attacked. Amuba, with the main body,
was to approach the city late in the evening and to station themselves
near one of the gates.

Jethro was before the hour named for the attack to see whether this
gate was open and unguarded, and if he found that it was closed and
under charge of an Egyptian guard, he was to tell off fifty men of his
command to attack and overpower the Egyptians, and throw open the gate
the instant they heard the trumpet, which was to be the signal for the
attack of the palace. Jethro's party were, therefore, the first to
start, going off in little groups, some to the neighboring ports,
others direct to the city. Jethro himself was the last to set out,