The governor glanced at the soldier,
glanced again, shrugged his shoulders and rode away. The man-at-arms
winced, and often thereafter stood in abstracted contemplation of the
distance.
Just after sunrise on the second day following the passing of the
darkness, four Egyptians, lank, big-footed and brown, came from the
northeast. By their dress they had been prosperous rustics of the
un-Israelite Delta. But the healthful leanness, characteristic of the
race, had become emaciation; there was the studious unkemptness of
mourning upon them, and they, who had ridden once, before the plagues
of murrain and hail, traveled afoot.
They were evidently journeying to On, where the benevolence of Ra would
feed them.
They said nothing, looking a little awed at the soldier and puzzled at
the stela. The warrior read the command and the unlettered men fell on
their knees, each to a different god. The Egyptian was not ashamed of
his piety nor did he closet himself to pray.
"Incline the will of the Pharaoh to accord with the needs of the hour,
O thou Melter of Hearts!"
"Rescue the kingdom, O thou Controller of Nations, for it descendeth
into death and none succoreth it!"
"Deal thou as thou deemest best with the destroyer of Egypt, O thou
Magistrate over Kings!"
Thus, in these fragments of prayers was it made manifest that the worm
was turning, apologetically, it is true, but surely.
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