nation would
gladly acknowledge Amuba, who would then have only the Egyptian
garrison to deal with.

No such accident, however, happened. The men entered the town
unnoticed. Those who had come by boat, and who were for the most part
natives of villages along the shore, remained in the lower town near
the landing-place. Such of them as had friends went to their houses.
Those who entered the gates sauntered about the town singly or in
pairs, and as their weapons were hidden they attracted no notice,
having the appearance of men who had come in from the country round to
dispose of their produce or the spoils of the chase, or to exchange
them for such articles as were required at home. Jethro went at once
to the house of an old friend with whom he had already communicated by
messenger.

The house was situated on the open space facing the palace. Here from
time to time he received messages from his sub-leaders, and learned
that all was going on well. He heard that the continual rumors from
the country of the approaching return of the son of the late king had
at last caused some anxiety to the usurper, who had that morning
seized and thrown into prison several leading men who were known to be
personally attached to the late king. Not, indeed, that he believed
that Amuba could have returned; but he thought it possible that some
impostor might be trading on his name.

Several bodies of men had been dispatched from the town to the places
whence these rumors had been received, to ascertain what truth there
was in them and to suppress at once any signs of revolt against the
king's authority. This was highly satisfactory news to Jethro, as in
the first place it showed that the king did not dream of danger in his
capital; and, in the second place, it reduced the number of fighting
men in the palace to a number but slightly exceeding the force at his
own disposal.

Jethro did not stir abroad until nightfall, his face being so well
known in the town that he might at any moment be recognized. But as
soon as it was dark he went out, and, accompanied by his friend, went
round the town. He found that some changes had taken place since he
had last been there. The Egyptians had entirely cleared away the huts
toward the end of the rock furthest from the sea, and had there
erected large buildings for the use of the governor, officers, and
troops; and had run a wall across from the walls on either side,
entirely separating their quarter