if possible, to collect a small force to seize
the person of the usurper by surprise, and so paralyze resistance; in
which case there would only be the Egyptians to deal with, and these
would be starved out of their fortress long before assistance could
reach them."

After visiting most of the towns Jethro and his companions journeyed
through the villages remote from the capital. Here the king's
authority was lightly felt save when troops arrived once a year to
gather in the taxes. Less caution was therefore necessary, and Jethro
soon made himself known and began to enlist men to the service. This
he had no difficulty in doing. The news that an attempt was at once
to be made to overthrow the usurper and to free the land of the
Egyptians, and that at the proper time the rightful king would present
himself and take the command, was received with enthusiasm.

In each valley through which they passed the whole of the young men
enrolled themselves, receiving orders to remain perfectly quiet and
to busy themselves in fabricating arms, of which the land had been
stripped by the Egyptians, until a messenger arrived summoning them to
meet at a rendezvous on an appointed day.

In six weeks the numbers of the enrolled had reached the point that
was considered necessary for the enterprise, and a day was fixed on
which they were to assemble among the hills a few miles distant from
the town. Upon the appointed day the bands began to arrive. Jethro had
purchased cattle and provisions, and receiving each band as it arrived
formed them into companies and appointed their leaders. Great fires
were lighted and the cattle slaughtered. Chebron aided in the
arrangements; but Amuba, by Jethro's advice, passed the day in a small
tent that had been pitched in the center of the camp.

By the evening the whole of the contingents had arrived, and Jethro
saw with satisfaction the spirit that animated them all and the useful
if somewhat rough weapons that they had fashioned. When all had
assembled he drew them up in a body; and after a speech that excited
their patriotic feelings to the utmost, he went to the tent, and
leading Amuba forth presented him to them as their king.

He had in his journeys through the towns procured from some of the
principal men arms and armor fitted for persons of high rank, which
had been lying concealed since the conquest by the Egyptians. Amuba
was accoutered in these, and as he appeared at the door of his tent a