THE SMITING OF AMON That evening I sat ill at ease in my work-chamber in Seti's palace, making pretence to write, I who felt that great evils threatened my lord the Prince, and knew not what to do to turn them from him.

The door opened, and old Pambasa the chamberlain appeared and addressed me by my new titles, saying that the Hebrew lady Merapi, who had been my nurse in sickness, wished to speak with me.

Presently she came and stood before me.
"Scribe Ana," she said, "I have but just seen my uncle Jabez, who has come, or been sent, with a message to me," and she hesitated.
"Why was he sent, Lady?
To bring you news of Laban ?" "Not so.

Laban has fled away and none know where he is, and Jabez has only escaped much trouble as the uncle of a traitress by undertaking this mission." "What is the mission ?" "To pray me, if I would save myself from death and the vengeance of God, to work upon the heart of his Highness, which I know not how to do----" "Yet I think you might find means, Merapi." "-- --save through you, his friend and counsellor," she went on, turning away her face.

"Jabez has learned that it is in the mind of Pharaoh utterly to destroy the people of Israel." "How does he know that, Merapi ?" "I cannot say, but I think all the Hebrews know.