to work for Pharaoh, and he was taken away, as I
think, because he would not suffer me to wed Khuaka. A while later I
dreamed that my father was sick. Thrice I dreamed it and ran away to
Tanis to visit him. But this morning I found him and, O Prince, you know
the rest."

"Is there no more?" asked Seti.

The girl hesitated, then answered:

"Only this, O Prince. This man saw me with my father giving him food,
for he was weak and overcome with the toil of digging the mud in the
heat of the sun, he who being a noble of our people knew nothing of such
labour from his youth. In my presence Khuaka asked my father if now he
would give me to him. My father answered that sooner would he see me
kissed by snakes and devoured by crocodiles. 'I hear you,' answered
Khuaka. 'Learn, now, slave Nathan, before to-morrow's sun arises, you
shall be kissed by swords and devoured by crocodiles or jackals.' 'So be
it,' said my father, 'but learn, O Khuaka, that if so, it is revealed to
me who am a priest and a prophet of Jahveh, that before to-morrow's sun
you also shall be kissed by swords and of the rest we will talk at the
foot of Jahveh's throne.'

"Afterwards, as you know, Prince, the overseer flogged my father as I
heard Khuaka order him to do if he lagged through weariness, and then
Khuaka killed him because my father in his madness struck the overseer
with a mattock. I have no more to say, save that I pray that I may be
sent back to my own people there to mourn my father according to our
custom."

"To whom would you be sent? Your mother?"

"Nay, O Prince, my mother, a lady of Syria, is dead. I will go to my
uncle, Jabez the Levite."

"Stand aside," said Seti. "The matter shall be seen to later. Appear,
O Ana the Scribe. Swear the oath and tell us what you have seen of this
man's death, since two witnesses are needful."

So I swore and repeated all this story that I have written down.

"Now, Khuaka," said the Prince when I had finished, "have you aught to
say?"

"Only this, O Royal One," answered the captain throwing himself upon his
knees, "that I struck you by accident, not knowing that the person of
your Highness was hidden in that long cloak. For this deed it is true
that I am worthy of death, but I pray you to pardon me because I knew
not what I did. The rest is nothing, since I only slew a mutinous slave
of the Israelites, as such are slain every day."

"Tell me, O Khuaka, who are being tried for this man's death and