cks on Siptah's
temples, which marked him as a prince of the royal household and his
loud "Hail! Hall!" in which the other guards and the captives joined,
was heard by Kasana and her companions. They looked toward the
tamarisk-bushes, whence the cry proceeded, and Joshua saw the young
widow turn pale and then point with a hasty gesture to the convicts. She
must undoubtedly have given Siptah some command, for the latter at first
shrugged his shoulders disapprovingly then, after a somewhat lengthy
discussion, half grave, half jesting, he sprang from the chariot and
beckoned to the chief gaoler.

"Have these men," he called from the road so loudly that Kasana could
not fail to hear, "seen the face of the good god, the lord of both
worlds?" And when he received a reluctant answer, he went on arrogantly:

"No matter! At least they beheld mine and that of the fairest of women,
and if they hope for favor on that account they are right. You know
who I am. Let the chains that bind them together be removed." Then,
beckoning to the man, he whispered:

"But keep your eyes open all the wider; I have no liking for the fellow
beside the bush, the ex-chief Hosea. After returning home, report to
me and bring news of this man. The quieter he has become, the deeper my
hand will sink in my purse. Do you understand?"

The warder bowed, thinking: "I'll take care, my prince, and also see
that no one attempts to take the life of any of my moles. The greater
the rank of these gentlemen, the more bloody and strange are their
requests! How many have come to me with similar ones. He releases the
poor wretches' feet, and wants me to burden my soul with a shameful
murder. Siptah has tried the wrong man! Here, Heter, bring the bag of
tools and open the moles' chains."

While the files were grating on the sand-hill by the road and the
prisoners were being released from the fetters on their ancles,--though
for the sake of security each man's arms were bound together,--Pharaoh's
host marched by.

Kasana had commanded Prince Siptah to release from their iron burden
the unfortunates who were being dragged to a life of misery, openly
confessing that she could not bear to see a chief who had so often been
a guest of her house so cruelly humiliated. Bai's wife had supported her
wish, and the prince was obliged to yield.

Joshua knew to whom he and Ephraim owed this favor, and received it with
grateful joy.

Walking had been made easier for him, but