name, but she died."

"And there is one thing, Nite," Chebron said, "that I wish you to
understand. Just now you spoke to me as my lord Chebron. That sort of
thing must not be any longer. We are all fugitives together, and Mysa
and I have no longer any rank. Jethro and Amuba are of high rank in
their own country, and if we ever get safely to their own people they
will be nobles in the land, while we shall be but strangers, as he was
when he and Jethro came into Egypt. Therefore any talk of rank among
us is but folly. We are fugitives, and my life is forfeited if I am
discovered in my own land. Jethro is our leader and guardian, alike by
the will of our father and because he is older and wiser than any of
us. Amuba is as my elder brother, being stronger and braver and more
accustomed to danger than I; while you and Mysa are sisters, inasmuch
as you are both exiled from your own land, and are friendless, save
for each other and us."

"I am glad to hear you say that, brother," Mysa said. "I spoke to her
last night about it, for she would insist on treating me as if she
were still my servant; which is absurd, and not nice of her, when she
is going out with us to share our dangers only because she loves me.
It is I rather who should look up to her, for I am very helpless, and
know nothing of work or real life, while she can do all sorts of
things; besides, when we were captives it was she who was always brave
and hopeful, and kept up my spirits when, I do think, if it had not
been for her I should have died of grief and terror."

"By the way," Jethro said, "we have not heard yet how it was that you
were together. We heard of your being carried off, but old Lyptis told
me that no one had seen aught of you."

"They were all scared out of their senses," Ruth said scornfully. "The
men suddenly ran into the room and seized Mysa, and twisted a shawl
round her head before she had time to call out. I screamed, and one of
them struck me a blow which knocked me down. Then they carried her
off. I think I was stunned for a moment. When I recovered I found they
were gone. I jumped up and ran along the passage and through the hall,
where the women were screaming and crying, and then out of the house
through the garden, and out of the gate. Then I saw four men at a
short distance off carrying Mysa to a cart standing a hundred yards
away. I ran up just as they laid her in it. One of them turned upon me
with a dagger. I said:

"'Let me