by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XIX.
HOME AT LAST.
When they neared Petra a horn was heard to blow, and people were seenrunning about among the houses.
"They take us for a party of Arabs," one of the horsemen said. "As Ihave often been through the town and am known to several persons here,I will, if you like, hurry on and tell them that we are peacefultravelers."
The party halted for a few minutes and then moved slowly forwardagain. By the time they reached the town the news that the party weretraders had spread, and the people were issuing from their houses.These were small and solidly built of stone. They were but one storyhigh. The roof was flat, with a low wall running round it, and thehouses had but one door, opening externally. This was very low andnarrow, so that those inside could offer a determined resistanceagainst entry. As the town stood on the slope of the hill, and theroofs of the lower houses were commanded by those from above, theplace was capable of offering a determined resistance againstmarauding tribes. The head man of the place met the travelers andconducted them to an empty house, which he placed at their disposal,and offered a present of fowls, dates, and wine. The news that a heavydefeat had been inflicted upon one of the wandering bands excitedsatisfaction, for the interference of these plunderers greatlyaffected the prosperity of the place, as the inhabitants were unableto trade with AElana unless going down in very strong parties. Everyattention was paid to the party by the inhabitants. Their wounds werebathed and oil poured into them, and in the more serious cases boiledherbs of medicinal virtue were applied as poultices to the wounds.
Petra at that time was but a large village, but it after ward roseinto a place of importance. The travelers remained here for a week, atthe end of which time all save two were in a fit state to continuetheir journey.
Without further adventure the journey was continued to Moab. On theirarrival here the escort was dismissed, each man receiving a present inaddition to the stipulated rate of pay that they were to draw upontheir return to AElana.
Moab was a settled country. It contained no large towns; but thepopulation, which was considerable, was gathered in small villages oflow stone-built houses, similar to those in Petra. The inhabitantswere ready to trade. Their language was strange to Jethro and Amuba;but it was closely related to that spoken by Ruth, and she generallyacted as interpreter between Jethro and the natives. After travelingthrough Moab, they took the caravan road across the desert to thenortheast, passed through the oasis of Palmyra, a large andflourishing city, and then journeyed on the Euphrates. They were nowin the country of the Assyrians, and not wishing to attract attentionor questions, they avoided Nineveh and the other great cities, andkept on their way north until they reached the mountainous countrylying between Assyria and the Caspian.
They met with many delays upon the way, and it was six months afterleaving AElana before, after passing through a portion of Persia, theyreached the country inhabited by the scattered tribes known by thegeneral name of Medes, and to whom the Rebu were related. Throughthis country Thotmes had carried his arms, and most of the tribesacknowledged the dominion of Egypt and paid a tribute to that country,Egyptian garrisons being scattered here and there among them.
Jethro and Amuba now felt at home, but as they determined that whenthey reached their own country they would, until they found howmatters were going on there, disguise their identity, they nowtraveled as Persian traders. Long before reaching Persia they haddisposed of the stock of goods with which they started, and had nowsupplied themselves with articles of Persian manufacture. They thuspassed on unquestioned from village to village, as the trade in thoseregions was entirely carried on by Persian merchants, that countryhaving already attained a comparatively high amount of civilization;while the Median tribes, although settled down into fixed communities,had as yet but little knowledge of the arts of peace. The partyjourneyed in company with some Persian traders, and gradually workedtheir way north until they arrived at the first Rebu village.
They had many times debated the question of the part they should hereplay, and had agreed that it would be better to continue to maintaintheir character as Persian traders until they had learned the exactposition of affairs. In order to be able to keep up their disguisethey had laid in a fresh stock of Persian goods at the last large townthrough which they passed. Had Jethro been alone he could at once havedeclared himself, and would have been received with joy as one who hadmade his way back from captivity in Egypt; but for Amuba there wouldhave been danger in his being recognized until the disposition of theoccupant of the throne was discovered. There would, indeed, have beensmall chance of his being recognized had he been alone. Nearly fouryears had elapsed since he had been carried away captive, and he hadgrown from a boy into a powerful young man; but had Jethro beenrecognized his companion's identity might have been suspected, as hewas known to have been the special mentor and companion of the youngprince.
As to Amuba, he had no desire whatever to occupy the throne of theRebu, and desired only to reside quietly in his native country. Thelarge sum that Ameres had handed over to the care of Jethro had beenmuch diminished by the expenses of their long journey, but there wasstill ample to insure for them all a good position in a country wheremoney was not abundant.
In their journey through Persia they had picked up many of the wordsof that language differing from those of the Rebu, and using these intheir conversation they were able to pass well as traders who in theirprevious journeys in the land had acquired a fair knowledge of thedialect of the people. They soon learned that an Egyptian garrisonstill occupied the capital, that the people groaned under theexactions necessary to pay the annual tribute, and that GeneralAmusis, who had, as Amuba's father expected he would do, seized thethrone of the Rebu after the departure of the main Egyptian army, wasin close intimacy with the Egyptian officials, and was in consequenceextremely unpopular among the people. He had, on his accession topower, put to death all the relatives of the late king who could beconsidered as rival claimants for the throne, and there could belittle doubt that did he suspect that Amuba had returned from Egypt hewould not hesitate to remove him from his path.
Amuba had several long consultations with Jethro as to his course. Herepeated to him the conversation that he had had with his father onthe day previous to the battle in which the latter was slain, how hehad warned him, against the ambition of Amusis, and advised him,rather than risk the chances of civil war in endeavoring to assert hisrights, to collect a body of adherents and to seek a new home in thefar west. Jethro, however, was strongly of opinion that the advice,although excellent at the time, was no longer appropriate.
"To begin with, Amuba, you were then but a boy of sixteen, and engagedas we were in war with Egypt, the people would naturally havepreferred having a well-known and skillful general at their head toa boy whom they could not hope would lead them successfully in war.You are now a man. You have had a wide experience. You have anacquaintance with the manners and ways of our conquerors, and were youon the throne could do much for the people, and could promote theirwelfare by encouraging new methods of agriculture and teaching themsomething of the civilization in Egypt.
"In the second place, in the four years that have elapsed Amusis hashad time to make himself unpopular. The necessity for heavy taxationto raise the annual tribute has naturally told against him, to saynothing of the fact that he is said to be on friendly terms with ourforeign oppressors. Therefore the chances would be all in your favor."
"But I have no desire to be king," Amuba replied. "I want to live inquiet contentment."
"You are born to be king, Prince Amuba," Jethro said; "it is not amatter of your choice. Besides, it is evident that for the good of thepeople it is necessary that the present usurper should be overthrownand the lawful dynasty restored. Besides this, it is clear that youcannot live in peace and contentment as you say; you might at anymoment be recognized and your life forfeited. As to the original plan,I am sure that your father would not have advocated it under thechanged circ
umstances; besides, I think you have had your fair shareof wandering and dangers.
"Moreover, I suppose you would hardly wish to drag Mysa with you onyour journey to an unknown country, where all sorts of trials andstruggles must unquestionably be encountered before you succeed infounding a new settlement. I suppose," he said with a smile, "youwould not propose leaving her here to whatever fate might befall her.I fancy from what I have seen during the last six months that you havealtogether other intentions concerning her."
Amuba was silent for some time.
"But if Amusis is supported by the Egyptians," he said at last, "andis viewed by them as their ally, I should not be able to overthrow himwithout becoming involved in hostilities with them also. It is not,"he went on, seeing that Jethro was about to speak, "of the garrisonhere that I am thinking, but of the power of Egypt behind it. Did Ioverthrow Amusis and defeat the Egyptians, his friends, I should bringupon my country a fresh war with Egypt."
"Egypt is, as we have found, a very long way off, Amuba. Occasionallya warlike monarch arises under whom her arms are carried vastdistances and many nations are brought under her sway, but suchefforts are made but rarely, and we lie at the extremest limit of herpower. Thotmes himself has gained sufficient glory. He was absent foryears from his country, and at the end of long journeyings returnedhome to enjoy the fruits of his victories. It is not likely that hewould again start on so long an expedition merely to bring so distanta corner of the land subject to Egypt again under her sway. The landis stripped of its wealth; there is nothing to reward such vast toiland the outlay that would be required to carry out such an expedition,and it may be generations before another monarch may arise thirstinglike Thotmes for glory, and willing to leave the luxuries of Egypt fora course of distant conquest.
"Besides, Egypt has already learned to her cost that the Rebu are notto be overcome bloodlessly, and that defeat is just as likely asvictory to attend her arms against us. Therefore I do not think thatthe thought of the vengeance of Egypt need deter you. In otherrespects the present occupation by them is in your favor rather thanotherwise, for you will appear before the people not only as theirrightful king but as their liberator from the hated Egyptian yoke."
"You are right, Jethro," Amuba said after a long silence; "it is myduty to assert my rights and to restore the land to freedom. My mindis made up now. What is your advice in the matter?"
"I should journey through the land until we reach a port by the seafrequented by Persian traders, and should there leave the two girls incharge of the family of some trader in that country; there they canremain in tranquillity until matters are settled. Chebron will, I amsure, insist upon sharing our fortunes. Our long wanderings have madea man of him, too. They have not only strengthened his frame andhardened his constitution, but they have given stability to hischaracter. He is thoughtful and prudent, and his advice will always bevaluable, while of his courage I have no more doubt than I have ofyours. When you have once gained your kingdom you will find inChebron a wise counselor, one on whom you can lean in all times ofdifficulty.
"When we have left the girls behind we will continue our journeythrough the land, and gradually put ourselves into communication withsuch governors of towns and other persons of influence as we may learnto be discontented with the present state of things, so that when westrike our blow the whole country will declare for you at once. As wetravel we will gradually collect a body of determined men for thesurprise of the capital. There must be numbers of my old friends andcomrades still surviving, and there should be no difficulty incollecting a force capable of capturing the city by a surprise."
Jethro's plans were carried out, and the girls placed under the careof the wife of a Persian trader in a seaport close to the frontier ofPersia; the others then started upon their journey, still traveling asPersians. Jethro had little difficulty in discovering the sentimentsof the principal men in the towns through which they passed.Introducing himself first to them as a Persian trader desirous oftheir protection in traveling through the country, he soon disclosedto them his own individuality.
To many of them he was known either personally or by repute. Heinformed them that he had escaped from Egypt with Amuba, but he ledthem to believe that his companion was waiting in Persian territoryuntil he learned from him that the country was ripe for hisappearance; for he thought it best in no case to disclose the factthat Amuba was with him, lest some of those with whom he communicatedshould endeavor to gain rewards from the king by betraying him. Histidings were everywhere received with joy, and in many cases Jethrowas urged to send at once for Amuba and to show him to the people,for that all the land would instantly rise on his behalf.
Jethro, however, declared that Amuba would bide his time, for that apremature disclosure would enable the king to call together a portionof the army which had formerly fought under his orders, and that withthe assistance of the Egyptians he might be able to form a successfulresistance to a popular rising.
"I intend," he said, "if possible, to collect a small force to seizethe person of the usurper by surprise, and so paralyze resistance; inwhich case there would only be the Egyptians to deal with, and thesewould be starved out of their fortress long before assistance couldreach them."
After visiting most of the towns Jethro and his companions journeyedthrough the villages remote from the capital. Here the king'sauthority was lightly felt save when troops arrived once a year togather in the taxes. Less caution was therefore necessary, and Jethrosoon made himself known and began to enlist men to the service. Thishe had no difficulty in doing. The news that an attempt was at onceto be made to overthrow the usurper and to free the land of theEgyptians, and that at the proper time the rightful king would presenthimself and take the command, was received with enthusiasm.
In each valley through which they passed the whole of the young menenrolled themselves, receiving orders to remain perfectly quiet andto busy themselves in fabricating arms, of which the land had beenstripped by the Egyptians, until a messenger arrived summoning them tomeet at a rendezvous on an appointed day.
In six weeks the numbers of the enrolled had reached the point thatwas considered necessary for the enterprise, and a day was fixed onwhich they were to assemble among the hills a few miles distant fromthe town. Upon the appointed day the bands began to arrive. Jethro hadpurchased cattle and provisions, and receiving each band as it arrivedformed them into companies and appointed their leaders. Great fireswere lighted and the cattle slaughtered. Chebron aided in thearrangements; but Amuba, by Jethro's advice, passed the day in a smalltent that had been pitched in the center of the camp.
By the evening the whole of the contingents had arrived, and Jethrosaw with satisfaction the spirit that animated them all and the usefulif somewhat rough weapons that they had fashioned. When all hadassembled he drew them up in a body; and after a speech that excitedtheir patriotic feelings to the utmost, he went to the tent, andleading Amuba forth presented him to them as their king.
He had in his journeys through the towns procured from some of theprincipal men arms and armor fitted for persons of high rank, whichhad been lying concealed since the conquest by the Egyptians. Amubawas accoutered in these, and as he appeared at the door of his tent awild shout of greeting burst from the troops, and breaking their ranksthey 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; thenAmuba addressed his followers, promising them deliverance from theEgyptian yoke and from the taxation under which they so long groaned.
A week was spent in establishing order and discipline in thegathering, sentries being placed at a distance round the camp toprevent any stranger entering, or any one leaving to carry the news tothe city. In the meantime trusted men were sent to the town toascertain the exact position of affairs there, and to learn whetherthe garrison had been placed on their guard by any rumors that mighthave reached the town of d
isaffection in the country districts. Theyreturned with the intelligence that although reports had been receivedthat the late king's son had escaped captivity in Egypt and wouldshortly appear to claim his rights, the news had been received withabsolute incredulity, the king and his Egyptian allies scoffing at theidea of a captive making his escape from Egypt and traversing the longintervening distance. So complete had been the quiet throughout thecountry since the Egyptian occupation that the garrison had ceased totake any precautions whatever. No watch was set, and the gates of thecity were seldom closed even at night.
The plans were now finally arranged. Jethro, with a band of twohundred men, was to enter the town in the daytime; some going down tothe next port and arriving by sea, others entering singly through thegates. At midnight they were to assemble in the square round thepalace, which was to be suddenly attacked. Amuba, with the main body,was to approach the city late in the evening and to station themselvesnear one of the gates.
Jethro was before the hour named for the attack to see whether thisgate was open and unguarded, and if he found that it was closed andunder charge of an Egyptian guard, he was to tell off fifty men of hiscommand to attack and overpower the Egyptians, and throw open the gatethe instant they heard the trumpet, which was to be the signal for theattack of the palace. Jethro's party were, therefore, the first tostart, going off in little groups, some to the neighboring ports,others direct to the city. Jethro himself was the last to set out,having himself given instructions to each group as they started as totheir behavior and entry into the city, and the rendezvous at whichthey were to assemble. He also arranged that if at any time theyshould hear his call upon the horn, which was to be repeated by threeor four of his followers, who were provided with similar instruments,they were to hurry to the spot at the top of their speed.
"One can never tell," he said, when he told Amuba the orders he hadgiven, "what may happen. I believe that every man here is devoted toyou, but there may always be one traitor in a crowd; but even withoutthat, some careless speech on the part of one of them, a quarrel withone of the king's men or with an Egyptian, and the number of armed menin the city might be discovered, for others would run up to help theircomrade, and the broil would grow until all were involved. Otherreasons might render it advisable to strike at an earlier hour than Iarranged."
"I cannot think so," Amuba replied. "I should say if anything were toprecipitate affairs it would be most prejudicial. You, with your smallforce, would be certain to be overwhelmed by the large body offollowers whom, as we have learned, the king keeps in his palace, tosay nothing of the Egyptians. In that case not only would you loseyour lives, but you would put them so thoroughly upon their guard thatour enterprise at night would have little chance of success."
"That is true," Jethro said; "and I certainly do not mean to make theslightest variation from the plan we agreed upon unless I am driven toit. Still it is as well to be prepared for everything."
"Of course I know that you will do nothing that is rash, Jethro. Afterbeing all these years my guide and counselor, I know that you would donothing to endanger our success now that it seems almost assured."
Jethro had in fact a reason for wishing to be able to collect his mensuddenly which he had not mentioned to Amuba. He thought it possiblethat, as he had said, at the last moment the plot might by some meansor other be discovered. And his idea was that if that were the case hewould instantly gather his followers and attack the palace, trustingto surprise and to his knowledge of the building in the endeavor tofight his way to the king's abode and slay him there, even if hehimself and his men were afterward surrounded and cut to pieces. Theusurper once removed, Jethro had no doubt that the whole nation wouldgladly acknowledge Amuba, who would then have only the Egyptiangarrison to deal with.
No such accident, however, happened. The men entered the townunnoticed. Those who had come by boat, and who were for the most partnatives of villages along the shore, remained in the lower town nearthe landing-place. Such of them as had friends went to their houses.Those who entered the gates sauntered about the town singly or inpairs, and as their weapons were hidden they attracted no notice,having the appearance of men who had come in from the country round todispose of their produce or the spoils of the chase, or to exchangethem for such articles as were required at home. Jethro went at onceto the house of an old friend with whom he had already communicated bymessenger.
The house was situated on the open space facing the palace. Here fromtime to time he received messages from his sub-leaders, and learnedthat all was going on well. He heard that the continual rumors fromthe country of the approaching return of the son of the late king hadat last caused some anxiety to the usurper, who had that morningseized and thrown into prison several leading men who were known to bepersonally attached to the late king. Not, indeed, that he believedthat Amuba could have returned; but he thought it possible that someimpostor might be trading on his name.
Several bodies of men had been dispatched from the town to the placeswhence these rumors had been received, to ascertain what truth therewas in them and to suppress at once any signs of revolt against theking's authority. This was highly satisfactory news to Jethro, as inthe first place it showed that the king did not dream of danger in hiscapital; and, in the second place, it reduced the number of fightingmen in the palace to a number but slightly exceeding the force at hisown disposal.
Jethro did not stir abroad until nightfall, his face being so wellknown in the town that he might at any moment be recognized. But assoon as it was dark he went out, and, accompanied by his friend, wentround the town. He found that some changes had taken place since hehad last been there. The Egyptians had entirely cleared away the hutstoward the end of the rock furthest from the sea, and had thereerected large buildings for the use of the governor, officers, andtroops; and had run a wall across from the walls on either side,entirely separating their quarter from the rest of the town. Jethro'sfriend informed him that the erection of these buildings had greatlyadded to the hatred with which the Egyptians were regarded, as theyhad been erected with forced labor, the people being driven in bythousands and compelled to work for many months at the buildings.
Jethro learned that as soon as the inner wall was completed theEgyptians had ceased altogether to keep watch at the gates of the citywalls, but that they had for a long time kept a vigilant guard at thegate leading to their quarters through the new wall. For the lastyear, however, owing to the absence of any spirit of revolt among theRebu, and to their confidence in the friendship of the king, they hadgreatly relaxed their vigilance.
By nine o'clock all was quiet in the town. Jethro sent out a messengerby the road by which Amuba's force would approach, to tell him thatthe city walls were all unguarded, and that he had better enter by thegate half an hour before midnight, instead of waiting until he heardthe signal for attack. He could then move his men up close to theEgyptian wall so as to attack that gate when the signal was given,otherwise the Egyptians would be put on their guard by the sound offighting at the palace before he could arrive at their gate.
At the time he had named Jethro went to the gate by which Amuba was toenter, and soon heard a faint confused noise, and a minute or twolater a dark mass of men were at the path at the gate. They wereheaded by Amuba. Jethro at once explained to him the exact position;and his companion placed himself by the side of Amuba to act as hisguide to the Egyptian wall.
Jethro then returned to the rendezvous, where his men were alreadydrawn up in order. Midnight was now close at hand. Quietly the bandcrossed the square to the gate of the palace; then Jethro gave a loudblast of his horn, and in an instant a party of men armed with heavyaxes rushed forward and began to hew down the gate. As the thunderingnoise rose on the night air cries of terror and the shouts of officerswere heard within the royal inclosure. Then men came hurrying alongthe wall, and arrows began to fall among the assailants; but by thistime the work of the axmen was nearly done, and in five minutes afterthe first blow was struck the m
assive gates fell splintered and Jethrorushed in at the head of his band.
The garrison, headed by the usurper himself, endeavored to stem theirinrush; but, taken by surprise, half-armed, and ignorant of thenumbers of their assailants, they could not long withstand thedetermined onslaught of Jethro's men. Jethro himself made his waythrough the crowd of fighting men and engaged in a hand-to-hand fightwith the usurper, who, furious with rage and despair at the suddencapture of the palace, fought but wildly, and Jethro's heavy ax soonterminated the conflict by hewing clean through helmet and head.
The fall of the usurper was for the moment unnoticed in the darknessand confusion, but Jethro shouted to his men to hold their hands andfall back. Then he called upon the garrison to surrender, telling themthat Amusis had fallen, and that Amuba, the son of Phrases, hadarrived, and was now king of the Rebu.
"We do not war against our own people. The Egyptians are our onlyenemies. Some of you may know me. I am Jethro, and I call upon you tojoin us and make common cause against the Egyptians, who are even nowbeing attacked by our young king."
The garrison were but too glad to accept the terms. Fear rather thanlove had attached them to Amusis; and they were delighted to escapethe prospect of death, which had the moment before stared them in theface, and to swear allegiance to their rightful king. As Jethroceased, therefore, shouts of "Long live Amuba, king of the Rebu!" rosefrom them.
"Form up in order instantly under your captains," Jethro commanded,"and follow us."
The fray had been so short that it was but ten minutes from the momentwhen Jethro's horn had given the signal for attack to that when he ledhis force, now increased to twice its former dimensions, to theassistance of Amuba. When he reached the wall that separated theEgyptian barracks from the rest of the town he found that Amuba hadentered without resistance and had captured two or three buildingsnearest to the gate, surprising and slaying their occupants; butbeyond that he had made no progress. The Egyptians were veterans inwarfare, and after the first moment of surprise had recovered theircoolness, and with their flights of arrows so swept the open spacesbetween the buildings that the Rebu could make no progress.
Jethro ordered the troops who had just joined him, all of whom carriedbows and arrows, to ascend the walls and open fire upon the buildingsoccupied by the Egyptians. Then he with his own band joined Amuba.
"All has gone well," he said. "The palace is captured and Amusisslain. I would do nothing further to-night. The Egyptians are fourthousand strong, while we have but half that number. It would bemadness to risk a repulse now. I will send off messengers at once tothe governors of all the towns and to our friends there, informingthem that the usurper is slain, that you are proclaimed king and arenow besieging the Egyptians in their quarters, and ordering them tomarch hither at once with every man capable of bearing arms.
"In three days we shall have twenty thousand men here, and theEgyptians, finding their position hopeless, will surrender; whereas ifyou attack now we may be repulsed and you may be slain, and in thatcase the country, left without a leader, will fall again intoslavery."
Amuba, whose armor had already been pierced by several arrows and whowas bleeding freely, was with some difficulty persuaded by Jethro toadopt his counsel. He saw at last that it was clearly the wisest planto adopt, and orders were at once issued to the men to desist fromfurther assaults, but to content themselves with repelling any attacksthe Egyptians might make.
These, however, were too ignorant as to the strength of theirassailants to think of taking the offensive, and until morning bothsides contented themselves with keeping up an incessant fire of arrowsagainst the openings in the buildings occupied by their foes. In themorning Amuba ordered some green branches to be elevated on the flatterrace of the house he occupied. The signal was observed and the fireof the Egyptians ceased. As soon as it did so Jethro presented himselfon the terrace, and a minute or two later the Egyptian governorappeared on the terrace of the opposite building. Not a littlesurprised was he to hear himself addressed in his own language.
"In the name of King Amuba, son of King Phrases and lawful ruler ofthe Rebu, I, Jethro his general, summon you to surrender. The usurperAmusis is dead and the whole land has risen against you. Our force isoverpowering--resistance can only result in the death of everyEgyptian under your orders. Did we choose we could starve you out, forwe know that you have no more than a week's provisions in yourmagazines.
"There is no possibility that assistance can reach you. No messengercould pass the watchers in the plain; and could they do so yournearest force is hundreds of miles away, and is of no strength tofight its way hither. In the name of the king I offer to allow you todepart, carrying with you your arms and standards. The king has beenin your country. He knows how great and powerful is your nation, andfain would be on terms of friendship with it; therefore he wouldinflict no indignity upon you. The tribute which your king laid uponthe land is far more than it can pay, but the king will be willing tosend every year, to the nearest garrison to his frontiers, a tributeof gold and precious stones of one-fifth the value of that which hasbeen until now wrung from the land. This he will do as a proof of thehonor in which he holds your great nation and as a recognition of itspower. The king ordered me to say that he will give you untilto-morrow morning to reflect over his offer. If it is refused thewhole garrison will be put to the sword."
So saying Jethro descended from the terrace, leaving the Egyptians toconsider the terms he proposed.
CHAPTER XX.
THE KING OF THE REBU.
The offer that Amuba had made through Jethro was a politic one, and hewas influenced by two motives in granting a delay of twenty-four hoursbefore receiving the answer. In the first place, he felt sure that hisown force would, before the conclusion of that time, be trebled instrength, and that should the Egyptians refuse he would be able torepel any efforts they might make to cut their way out until he wouldbe at the head of such a force that he could at will either stormtheir positions or, as he intended, beleaguer them until starvationforced them to surrender.
In the second place, he thought that the Egyptian answer, if given atonce, would probably be a refusal; but the time for reflection wouldenable them to look their position in the face and to recognize itshopelessness. On the one side would be certain defeat and death; onthe other their general would lead out his command intact and withoutdishonor. Although he had threatened to put the garrison to the swordin case they refused, Amuba had no intention to carry out his threat,but on the contrary had determined that even were the Egyptians forcedto surrender by famine he would freely grant them the same terms henow offered.
He knew the proud and haughty nature of the Egyptians, and that thenews of the massacre of a great garrison and the successful rising ofa tributary province would excite such deep feeling that sooner orlater an army would be dispatched to avenge the disaster. If, however,the garrison left the country with their arms and standards nodisgrace would be inflicted upon the national arms, and as a tribute,however much reduced, would still be paid, they could still regard theRebu as under their domination. The reduction of the tribute, indeed,would be an almost imperceptible item in the revenue of Egypt.
Leaving Jethro in command of the beleaguering force, Amuba,accompanied by Chebron, who had been by his side during the fighting,and a small bodyguard, went back into the town. The news of his cominghad already spread, and the inhabitants, who had remained in theirhouses in terror during the, to them, unaccountable tumult of thenight, had now poured out into the streets, the great space in frontof the palace being densely packed with people. As Amuba approached adeafening shout of welcome was raised; the gates of the prisons hadbeen thrown open, and those arrested the previous day, and many othersof the principal captains of his father's army, thronged round him andgreeted him as their king.
With difficulty a way was cleared to the gate of the royal inclosure.Amuba, after entering, mounted the wall and addressed a few words tothe people. He told them that in defia
nce of all probability he hadescaped from his captivity in Egypt and had made his way back to hisnative land, intent not so much on claiming his rightful positionthere as of freeing them from the power of their oppressors. Hepromised them that he would always respect their rights and usages,and should endeavor to follow in the footsteps of his father. Then heretired to the palace, where he held a council with the captains andleading men in the city. Orders were at once issued for every mancapable of bearing arms to provide himself with some kind of weapon,and to assemble at noon in the great square.
Lists were drawn up of all the officers of the late army still livingin the town, and when the gathering took place at noon these wereappointed to form the men into companies, to appoint sub-officers, tosee to the state of the arms, and, as far as possible, to supplydeficiencies. A larger proportion than was expected of the threethousand men that assembled were found to be provided with weapons.Although nominally all arms had been surrendered to the Egyptians,great numbers of spear and arrow heads, swords, and axes had beenburied. Shafts had been hastily made for the spears, and bows used forthe purposes of the chase were now brought out to do service asfighting weapons.
Many hundreds of spears and swords had been found in the stores at thepalace, and when these were served out most of the men had a weapon ofsome sort. They were at once marched up to the Egyptian inclosure.Those with bows and arrows were placed upon the walls; the rest weremassed near the gate in readiness to advance to the assistance of theband within should the Egyptians make an attempt to cut their way out.In point of numbers Amuba's forces were now superior to those of theEgyptians, but he was well aware that the superior arms and disciplineof the latter would enable them to make a successful sortie shouldthey determine to do so.
The women of the town were ordered to set to work to grind the grainserved out from the magazine in the palace, and to bake bread both forthe fighting men present and for those expected to arrive. By noonthe latter began to flock in, the contingents from the towns arrivingin regular order, while the shepherds and villagers straggled inirregularly as the news reached them of the events of the previousnight. By evening fully ten thousand men had arrived, and as theEgyptians had remained quiet all day Amuba had every hope that theyhad decided to accept the terms he offered, and that there would be nooccasion for further fighting. The troops, however, remained underarms all night, ready to repel an attack, and in the morning Amuba andJethro mounted together on to the terrace of the building from whichthe parley had taken place on the previous day.
A few minutes later the Egyptian governor and a group of his officersappeared on the opposite house.
"This is King Amuba," Jethro said in a loud voice. "He is here toconfirm the terms offered yesterday, and to receive your answer."
"We are ready," the Egyptian governor said, "to retire beyond yourfrontier, carrying with us our arms, standards, and valuables, itbeing understood that we make no surrender whatever, but that we marchout on equal terms, holding, as we do, that we could, if we chose, cutour way out in spite of any resistance."
"You may hold that belief," Amuba said (and the Egyptian wasastonished at finding that the king, as well as his general, wascapable of conversing in the Egyptian tongue); "and, indeed, knowingand honoring the valor of the Egyptian troops, I admit it is possiblethat, although with great loss, you might make your way out, but morethan that you could not do. You could not hold the country, for youhave a nation against you. It is doubtful whether you could reach thefrontier. Surely it is better, then, that you should leave with honorand without loss."
"As to the tribute that you offer," the Egyptian commander said, "Ihave no power to agree to any diminution of the terms imposed by theking, and if it be his will that an army invades your country toenforce the former terms, I, with the troops here, must march asordered, without imputation of having behaved treacherously."
"That is quite understood," Amuba said; "but I trust, my lord, thatyou, having seen for yourself how poor is our country, how utterlyunable to continue to pay the tribute formerly demanded from us, whichhas already impoverished us to the last degree, will represent thesame in your dispatches to the king, and will use your good offices inobtaining his favorable consideration of our case. I can promise youthat the tribute shall be paid regularly. I regard Egypt as thegreatest power in the world, and I am most desirous to continue infriendly relations with it, and I swear to you that it will be nofault of mine if any complaint reach you of trouble on our part."
Amuba's speech was well calculated to soothe the pride of theEgyptian. The latter was perfectly conscious, although he spokeconfidently, that it would be no easy matter for his troops to cuttheir way through the narrow gateway held by the masses of the Rebu,still less to make their way, harassed as he was, to their frontier.If he returned with his troops intact and in good condition he couldso represent circumstances that no blame or discredit would fall uponhim; and personally he was exceedingly pleased at the prospect of thetermination of his soldiering at a post so far removed from Egypt andcivilization. He therefore agreed to the terms Amuba proposed, andafter a short parley the conditions of the evacuation of the town bythe Egyptians were arranged.
Amuba agreed to withdraw his men from the buildings that theyoccupied, and also from the gate, and to place them all upon thewalls, thus saving the Egyptians the humiliation of passing throughlines of armed men, and avoiding the risk of a broil arising betweenthe soldiers. He at once issued the necessary orders, and the Reburetired to the walls, where they could defend themselves in case ofany treachery on the part of the Egyptians, and the inhabitants of thecity were all ordered back from the road leading from the entrance tothe Egyptian inclosure to the gate in the city walls. An hour laterthe Egyptians drew up in order in their inclosure.
Each man carried with him food sufficient for a week's subsistence,and Amuba had arranged that a certain number of bullocks should besent forward at once to each halting-place on the way to the frontier,and that there a herd sufficient for their subsistence during theirmarch to the nearest Egyptian garrison should be awaiting them. Infirm and steady order the Egyptians marched out. The images andsymbols of the gods were carried aloft, and the bearing of thesoldiers was proud and defiant, for they, too, were doubtful whetherthe Rebu might not intend to make an attack upon them, the termsgranted them seeming to be almost too good to be trusted. No soonerhad the rear of the column passed out through the city gate than theRebu with shouts of joy flocked down from the walls, and the city gaveitself up to rejoicing.
Jethro had at once sent out messengers to see that the oxen werecollected at the points agreed upon, and to issue orders that thepopulation along the line of march should all retire before thearrival of the Egyptians, who might otherwise have been tempted toseize them and carry them off as slaves with them in their retreat.
For the next few days Amuba's time was wholly occupied in receivingdeputations from the various towns and districts, in appointing freshofficials, and in taking measures for the rearming of the people andtheir enrolment in companies, so that the country should be in aposition to offer a desperate resistance should the Egyptiansdetermine to recapture it. It was certain that many months must elapsebefore any force capable of undertaking their invasion could marchfrom Egypt; but Amuba was determined that no time should be lost inmaking preparations, and he decided that something of the tactics anddiscipline of the Egyptians should be introduced into the Rebu army.
He had on the very night of the surprise of the town sent on a messageto inform the girls of his success, and that neither Chebron norhimself was hurt. Having by unremitting work got through his mostpressing business, he left Jethro, who was now formally appointedgeneral-in-chief, to carry on the work, and started with Chebron tofetch the girls to his capital. But he was now obliged to travel witha certain amount of state, and he was accompanied by twenty of theleading men of the Rebu in chariots and by an escort of light-armedhorsemen. At each town through which he passed he was received withrapturou
s greetings and hailed as king and deliverer of the nation.
Two days after starting he arrived at the little seaport, and afterreceiving the usual greeting from the inhabitants and holding anaudience at which he received the principal inhabitants who came totender their allegiance, he made his way to the house of the Persianmerchant where he had placed the girls. As his chariot stopped at thedoor the merchant appeared on the threshold and made a profoundprostration. He had until the arrival of Amuba at the town been inentire ignorance that those who had placed the girls under his chargewere other than they seemed. He knew indeed from their ignorance ofhis language that the girls were not Persians, but supposed that theywere female slaves who had been brought from a distance, with a view,perhaps, of being presented as an offering to the king.
After a word or two with him, Amuba and Chebron entered the house andascended to the apartment which had been set aside for the girls. Theywere standing timidly at one end of the room, and both bent profoundlyas he entered. Amuba for a moment paused in astonishment, and thenburst into a fit of laughter.
"Is this your sister, Chebron, who thus greets her old friend in suchrespectful fashion? Am I myself or some one else?"
"You are King Amuba," Mysa said, half-smiling, but with tears in hereyes.
"That is true enough, Mysa; but I was always prince, you know. Sothere is nothing very surprising in that."
"There is a great difference," Mysa said; "and it is only right wherethere is such a difference of rank----"
"The difference of rank need not exist long, Mysa," Amuba said,stepping forward and taking her hand. "Chebron, who is your brother,and like a brother to me, has given me his consent, and it rests onlywith you whether you will be queen of the Rebu and Amuba's wife. Youknow that if I had not succeeded in winning a throne I should haveasked you to share my lot as an exile, and I think you would have saidyes. Surely you are not going to spoil my triumph now by saying no. Ifyou do I shall use my royal power in earnest and take you whether youwill or not."
But Mysa did not say no, and six weeks later there was a royalwedding in the capital. Amuba had at once allotted one of the largesthouses in the royal inclosure to Chebron, and to this he took Mysawhile Amuba was making the tour of his country, receiving the homageof the people, hearing complaints, and seeing that the work ofpreparation for the defense of the country was being carried on, afterwhich he returned to the capital. The wedding was celebrated in greatstate, though it was observed that the religious ceremonies weresomewhat cut short, and that Amuba abstained from himself offeringsacrifice on the altars of the gods. The ceremony was a double one,for at the same time Chebron was united to Ruth.
For the next year the preparations for war went on vigorously and theRebu army was got into a state of great efficiency. Amuba and Jethrofelt confident that it could successfully withstand any invading forcefrom Egypt, but, as they had hoped, Egypt made no effort to regain herdistant conquest, but was content to rank the land of the Rebu amongthe list of her tributary nations and to accept the diminishedtribute.
Once prepared for war, Amuba turned his attention to the internalaffairs of the country. Many of the methods of government of Egyptwere introduced. Irrigation was carried out on a large scale and thepeople were taught no longer to depend solely upon their flocks andherds. Stone took the place of mud in the buildings of the towns,rigorous justice was enforced throughout the land, wagons and cartssimilar to those of Egypt took the place of pack animals, which hadhitherto been used for transport, improved methods of agriculture weretaught, and contentment and plenty reigned in the land.
Chebron remained Amuba's chief minister, adviser, and friend, andunder their joint efforts the Rebu rose from the condition of a meresettled tribe to that of a small but flourishing nation.
Another change was made, but more slowly. Soon after his ascensionAmuba assembled many of the leading men and chief priests in thecountry, and explained to them the convictions held by himself andChebron and their wives, that there was but one God who ruled overthe world, and that this knowledge was the highest wisdom of theEgyptians. He explained to the priests that he did not wish tooverthrow the temples or disturb the worship of the former gods, butthat he desired that the people should not remain in ignorance, butshould be taught that the gods as they worshiped them were but symbolsor images of the one great God. He said he had no thought of enforcinghis convictions upon others, but that all would be free to worship asthey pleased, and that at all times he and Chebron would be ready toconfer with those who wished to inquire into these matters.
In this matter alone Amuba met with much opposition in carrying outhis plans, and had he been less popular than he was with the peoplehis efforts might have cost him his throne and his life: but the Rebuwere devoted to him, and as the priests came gradually to see that thechange would not diminish their power, their opposition died away,especially as many of the younger men were soon convinced by thearguments of the king and his minister, and preached the new religionwith enthusiasm among the people. But it was not until many yearsafter that Amuba had the satisfaction of knowing that the one God wasworshiped among his people. He was well aware that the success of thework was to no small extent due to the earnestness with which Mysa andRuth had labored among the wives and daughters of the nobles.
"How strangely things turn out," Chebron said one day ten years aftertheir arrival in the land, when the little party who had traveled solong together were gathered in a room in the palace. "At one time itseemed that that unlucky shot of mine would not only bring ruin on allconnected with me but be a source of unhappiness to me to the end ofmy life. Now I see that, except for the death of my father, it was themost fortunate event of my life. But for that, I should all my lifehave gone on believing in the gods of Egypt; but for that, althoughyou, Amuba and Jethro, might some day have made your escape, Mysa andI would assuredly never have left Egypt, never have known anything ofthe life of happiness and usefulness that we now enjoy. All this Iconsider I owe to the fortunate shot that killed the Cat of Bubastes."
THE END.