urifying their religious beliefs have been used as weapons against
me. I know from what has come to my ears that it has been hinted among
them that in spite of my high office I have no respect for the gods.

"The accusation is false, but none the less dangerous for that.
Nothing is more difficult than to expose or annihilate a falsehood. It
spreads like wildfire, and the clearest demonstration of its falsity
fails to reach a tithe of those who believe it. However, it is
needless to speak of it now. You know what I wish you to do if danger
comes--get the boys away, and conduct them to the place I have
indicated. If they are from home seek them and take them there. Do not
waste time in vain attempts to succor me. If you are attacked, and
this may possibly be the case, make, I pray you, no resistance save
such as may be needed to get away. Above all, do not try to interfere
on my behalf. One man, though endowed with supernatural strength,
cannot overcome a mob, and your trying to aid me would not benefit me,
and might cost you your life, and so deprive Chebron and Amuba of
their protector."

Jethro promised strictly to follow the instructions he had received,
and to devote himself in case of need solely to insuring the safety of
the boys.

Two days later, Ameres sent Chebron and Amuba away to the farm, and
told them to remain there until he sent for them.

"You cannot go in and out here without unpleasantness," he said, "and
had best be away. Your presence here can be of no use, and you are
probably quite as much suspected as I am. As to your mother and
sister, the present state of things is inconvenient to them, but that
is all. There can be no danger for them; however violent a mob they
would not molest females."

"Why should not you also, father, go away until the trouble is
passed?"

"I cannot leave my duties, Chebron; nor would it benefit me if I did.
I am convinced that this cry against us is a mere pretext which has
been seized by enemies who dare not attack me openly. Were I to depart
from Thebes my absence would be denounced as a proof of my guilt, and
the people be inflamed more and more against me, and nowhere in Egypt
should I be safe. My only course is to face the storm, trusting to the
integrity of my life, to the absence of any deed which could offend
the great God I believe in, and to the knowledge that my life is in
his hands. When it is his will, and not before, it will return to him
who gave it m