It is my part to announce to you further that your life is forfeit, and that any Hebrew may kill you when and how he can, and take no blame." Merapi paled a little, then turning to Jabez, asked: "You have heard, my uncle.

What say you ?" Jabez looked round shiftily, and said in his unctuous voice: "My niece, surely you must obey the commands of the Elders of Israel who speak the will of Heaven, as you obeyed them when you matched yourself against the might of Amon." "You gave me a different counsel yesterday, my uncle.

Then you said I had better bide where I was." The messenger turned and glared at him.
"There is a great difference between yesterday and to-day," went on Jabez hurriedly.

"Yesterday you were protected by one who would soon be Pharaoh, and might have been able to move his mind in favour of your folk.

To-day his greatness is stripped from him, and his will has no more weight in Egypt.