to mine ears, last night, and the
sight of Masaarah urged me to tell it again. It is said the Hebrews of
these quarries rose against the new driver and drove him out of the
camp, crying, 'Return us our Atsu, return us our Atsu.'"

"What folly!" Masanath exclaimed. "If they had been the host which
crowds Goshen to her bounds, it might serve. But this handful in
rebellion against Egypt! The military of the Memphian nome will crush
them as if they had been so many ants."

"I know," the serving-woman admitted. "The soldier I had it from, said
that the city commandant would move against them by noon this day."

"The gods help them!" Pepi put in.

"Thy prayer is too late, Pepi," Masanath answered. "The gods should
have cautioned them ere they took the step. And yet," she continued,
musing, "straits may become so sore that aught but endurance is
welcome."

Her servants looked at her and at each other, understanding.

Nari went on:

"But the soldier told me further that the Israelites had spent the
night chanting and dancing before their God, and it seems from this
spot that the quarries are empty. They do not fear, boasting their
God's care."

Masanath shook her head. "He must look to them at once, ere the
soldiery fall upon them. His time for aid is short," she said.

A silence fell, and the raft passed below Masaarah. Again Nari spoke,
proving that she had heard and thought upon the last words of her
mistress.

"Are not the gods omnipotent and everywhere?"

"Aye, so hast thou been taught, Nari."

"Our gods, and the gods of every nation like them?" the serving-woman
persisted.

"The gods of Egypt are so, and each nation boasts its gods equally
potent."

"Mayhap the Hebrews' God will help them," Nari ventured.

Masanath was silent for a moment. "He hath deserted them for long,"
she said at last, "but they are hard-pressed. Mayhap their loud
supplications will reach Him in His retreat."

"They boast that He hath returned."

"Let Him prove Himself," Masanath insisted stoutly.

When next she spoke there was no hint of the past serious talk in her
voice.

"A pest on the ban," she exclaimed. "Look at the Marsh of the
Discontented Soul. It fairly swarms with teal and coot, and see the
snipe on the sand." She stood up and watched the sandy strip they were
nearing. They were a goodly distance out from the shore, but Pepi
poled nearer midstream. "The pity of it," she sighed; "but I doubt not