In the second place, he thought that the Egyptian answer, if given at once, would probably be a refusal; but the time for reflection would enable them to look their position in the face and to recognize its hopelessness. On the one side would be certain defeat and death; on the other their general would lead out his command intact and without dishonor. Although he had threatened to put the garrison5 to the sword in case they refused, Amuba had no intention to carry out his threat, but on the contrary had determined6 that even were the Egyptians forced to surrender by famine he would freely grant them the same terms he now offered.
He knew the proud and haughty7 nature of the Egyptians, and that the news of the massacre8 of a great garrison and the successful rising of a tributary9 province would excite such deep feeling that sooner or later an army would be dispatched to avenge10 the disaster. If, however, the garrison left the country with their arms and standards no disgrace would be inflicted11 upon the national arms, and as a tribute, however much reduced, would still be paid, they could still regard the Rebu as under their domination. The reduction of the tribute, indeed, would be an almost imperceptible item in the revenue of Egypt.
Leaving Jethro in command of the beleaguering12 force, Amuba, accompanied by Chebron, who had been by his side during the fighting, and a small bodyguard13, went back into the town. The news of his coming had already spread, and the inhabitants, who had remained in their houses in terror during the, to them, unaccountable tumult14 of the night, had now poured out into the streets, the great space in front of the palace being densely15 packed with people. As Amuba approached a deafening16 shout of welcome was raised; the gates of the prisons had been thrown open, and those arrested the previous day, and many others of the principal captains of his father’s army, thronged17 round him and greeted him as their king.
With difficulty a way was cleared to the gate of the royal inclosure. Amuba, after entering, mounted the wall and addressed a few words to the people. He told them that in defiance18 of all probability he had escaped from his captivity19 in Egypt and had made his way back to his native land, intent not so much on claiming his rightful position there as of freeing them from the power of their oppressors. He promised them that he would always respect their rights and usages, and should endeavor to follow in the footsteps of his father. Then he retired20 to the palace, where he held a council with the captains and leading men in the city. Orders were at once issued for every man capable of bearing arms to provide himself with some kind of weapon, and to assemble at noon in the great square.
Lists were drawn21 up of all the officers of the late army still living in the town, and when the gathering22 took place at noon these were appointed to form the men into companies, to appoint sub-officers, to see to the state of the arms, and, as far as possible, to supply deficiencies. A larger proportion than was expected of the three thousand men that assembled were found to be provided with weapons. Although nominally23 all arms had been surrendered to the Egyptians, great numbers of spear and arrow heads, swords, and axes had been buried. Shafts24 had been hastily made for the spears, and bows used for the purposes of the chase were now brought out to do service as fighting weapons.
Many hundreds of spears and swords had been found in the stores at the palace, and when these were served out most of the men had a weapon of some sort. They were at once marched up to the Egyptian inclosure. Those with bows and arrows were placed upon the walls; the rest were massed near the gate in readiness to advance to the assistance of the band within should the Egyptians make an attempt to cut their way out. In point of numbers Amuba’s forces were now superior to those of the Egyptians, but he was well aware that the superior arms and discipline of the latter would enable them to make a successful sortie should they determine to do so.
The women of the town were ordered to set to work to grind the grain served out from the magazine in the palace, and to bake bread both for the fighting men present and for those expected to arrive. By noon the latter began to flock in, the contingents25 from the towns arriving in regular order, while the shepherds and villagers straggled in irregularly as the news reached them of the events of the previous night. By evening fully28 ten thousand men had arrived, and as the Egyptians had remained quiet all day Amuba had every hope that they had decided29 to accept the terms he offered, and that there would be no occasion for further fighting. The troops, however, remained under arms all night, ready to repel an attack, and in the morning Amuba and Jethro mounted together on to the terrace of the building from which the parley30 had taken place on the previous day.
A few minutes later the Egyptian governor and a group of his officers appeared on the opposite house.
“This is King Amuba,” Jethro said in a loud voice. “He is here to confirm the terms offered yesterday, and to receive your answer.”
“We are ready,” the Egyptian governor said, “to retire beyond your frontier, carrying with us our arms, standards, and valuables, it being understood that we make no surrender whatever, but that we march out on equal terms, holding, as we do, that we could, if we chose, cut our way out in spite of any resistance.”
“You may hold that belief,” Amuba said (and the Egyptian was astonished at finding that the king, as well as his general, was capable of conversing31 in the Egyptian tongue); “and, indeed, knowing and honoring the valor32 of the Egyptian troops, I admit it is possible that, although with great loss, you might make your way out, but more than that you could not do. You could not hold the country, for you have a nation against you. It is doubtful whether you could reach the frontier. Surely it is better, then, that you should leave with honor and without loss.”
“As to the tribute that you offer,” the Egyptian commander said, “I have no power to agree to any diminution33 of the terms imposed by the king, and if it be his will that an army invades your country to enforce the former terms, I, with the troops here, must march as ordered, without imputation34 of having behaved treacherously35.”
“That is quite understood,” Amuba said; “but I trust, my lord, that you, having seen for yourself how poor is our country, how utterly36 unable to continue to pay the tribute formerly37 demanded from us, which has already impoverished38 us to the last degree, will represent the same in your dispatches to the king, and will use your good offices in obtaining his favorable consideration of our case. I can promise you that the tribute shall be paid regularly. I regard Egypt as the greatest power in the world, and I am most desirous to continue in friendly relations with it, and I swear to you that it will be no fault of mine if any complaint reach you of trouble on our part.”
Amuba’s speech was well calculated to soothe39 the pride of the Egyptian. The latter was perfectly40 conscious, although he spoke41 confidently, that it would be no easy matter for his troops to cut their way through the narrow gateway42 held by the masses of the Rebu, still less to make their way, harassed43 as he was, to their frontier. If he returned with his troops intact and in good condition he could so represent circumstances that no blame or discredit44 would fall upon him; and personally he was exceedingly pleased at the prospect45 of the termination of his soldiering at a post so far removed from Egypt and civilization. He therefore agreed to the terms Amuba proposed, and after a short parley the conditions of the evacuation of the town by the Egyptians were arranged.
Amuba agreed to withdraw his men from the buildings that they occupied, and also from the gate, and to place them all upon the walls, thus saving the Egyptians the humiliation46 of passing through lines of armed men, and avoiding the risk of a broil47 arising between the soldiers. He at once issued the necessary orders, and the Rebu retired to the walls, where they could defend themselves in case of any treachery on the part of the Egyptians, and the inhabitants of the city were all ordered back from the road leading from the entrance to the Egyptian inclosure to the gate in the city walls. An hour later the Egyptians drew up in order in their inclosure.
Each man carried with him food sufficient for a week’s subsistence, and Amuba had arranged that a certain number of bullocks should be sent forward at once to each halting-place on the way to the frontier, and that there a herd27 sufficient for their subsistence during their march to the nearest Egyptian garrison should be awaiting them. In firm and steady order the Egyptians marched out. The images and symbols of the gods were carried aloft, and the bearing of the soldiers was proud and defiant48, for they, too, were doubtful whether the Rebu might not intend to make an attack upon them, the terms granted them seeming to be almost too good to be trusted. No sooner had the rear of the column passed out through the city gate than the Rebu with shouts of joy flocked down from the walls, and the city gave itself up to rejoicing.
Jethro had at once sent out messengers to see that the oxen were collected at the points agreed upon, and to issue orders that the population along the line of march should all retire before the arrival of the Egyptians, who might otherwise have been tempted49 to seize them and carry them off as slaves with them in their retreat.
For the next few days Amuba’s time was wholly occupied in receiving deputations from the various towns and districts, in appointing fresh officials, and in taking measures for the rearming of the people and their enrolment in companies, so that the country should be in a position to offer a desperate resistance should the Egyptians determine to recapture it. It was certain that many months must elapse before any force capable of undertaking50 their invasion could march from Egypt; but Amuba was determined that no time should be lost in making preparations, and he decided that something of the tactics and discipline of the Egyptians should be introduced into the Rebu army.
He had on the very night of the surprise of the town sent on a message to inform the girls of his success, and that neither Chebron nor himself was hurt. Having by unremitting work got through his most pressing business, he left Jethro, who was now formally appointed general-in-chief, to carry on the work, and started with Chebron to fetch the girls to his capital. But he was now obliged to travel with a certain amount of state, and he was accompanied by twenty of the leading men of the Rebu in chariots and by an escort of light-armed horsemen. At each town through which he passed he was received with rapturous greetings and hailed as king and deliverer of the nation.
Two days after starting he arrived at the little seaport51, and after receiving the usual greeting from the inhabitants and holding an audience at which he received the principal inhabitants who came to tender their allegiance, he made his way to the house of the Persian merchant where he had placed the girls. As his chariot stopped at the door the merchant appeared on the threshold and made a profound prostration52. He had until the arrival of Amuba at the town been in entire ignorance that those who had placed the girls under his charge were other than they seemed. He knew indeed from their ignorance of his language that the girls were not Persians, but supposed that they were female slaves who had been brought from a distance, with a view, perhaps, of being presented as an offering to the king.
After a word or two with him, Amuba and Chebron entered the house and ascended53 to the apartment which had been set aside for the girls. They were standing54 timidly at one end of the room, and both bent55 profoundly as he entered. Amuba for a moment paused in astonishment56, and then burst into a fit of laughter.
“Is this your sister, Chebron, who thus greets her old friend in such respectful fashion? Am I myself or some one else?”
“You are King Amuba,” Mysa said, half-smiling, but with tears in her eyes.
“That is true enough, Mysa; but I was always prince, you know. So there is nothing very surprising in that.”
“There is a great difference,” Mysa said; “and it is only right where there is such a difference of rank——”
“The difference of rank need not exist long, Mysa,” Amuba said, stepping forward and taking her hand. “Chebron, who is your brother, and like a brother to me, has given me his consent, and it rests only with you whether you will be queen of the Rebu and Amuba’s wife. You know that if I had not succeeded in winning a throne I should have asked you to share my lot as an exile, and I think you would have said yes. Surely you are not going to spoil my triumph now by saying no. If you do I shall use my royal power in earnest and take you whether you will or not.”
But Mysa did not say no, and six weeks later there was a royal wedding in the capital. Amuba had at once allotted57 one of the largest houses in the royal inclosure to Chebron, and to this he took Mysa while Amuba was making the tour of his country, receiving the homage58 of the people, hearing complaints, and seeing that the work of preparation for the defense59 of the country was being carried on, after which he returned to the capital. The wedding was celebrated60 in great state, though it was observed that the religious ceremonies were somewhat cut short, and that Amuba abstained61 from himself offering sacrifice on the altars of the gods. The ceremony was a double one, for at the same time Chebron was united to Ruth.
For the next year the preparations for war went on vigorously and the Rebu army was got into a state of great efficiency. Amuba and Jethro felt confident that it could successfully withstand any invading force from Egypt, but, as they had hoped, Egypt made no effort to regain62 her distant conquest, but was content to rank the land of the Rebu among the list of her tributary nations and to accept the diminished tribute.
Once prepared for war, Amuba turned his attention to the internal affairs of the country. Many of the methods of government of Egypt were introduced. Irrigation was carried out on a large scale and the people were taught no longer to depend solely63 upon their flocks and herds26. Stone took the place of mud in the buildings of the towns, rigorous justice was enforced throughout the land, wagons64 and carts similar to those of Egypt took the place of pack animals, which had hitherto been used for transport, improved methods of agriculture were taught, and contentment and plenty reigned65 in the land.
Chebron remained Amuba’s chief minister, adviser66, and friend, and under their joint67 efforts the Rebu rose from the condition of a mere68 settled tribe to that of a small but flourishing nation.
Another change was made, but more slowly. Soon after his ascension Amuba assembled many of the leading men and chief priests in the country, and explained to them the convictions held by himself and Chebron and their wives, that there was but one God who ruled over the world, and that this knowledge was the highest wisdom of the Egyptians. He explained to the priests that he did not wish to overthrow69 the temples or disturb the worship of the former gods, but that he desired that the people should not remain in ignorance, but should be taught that the gods as they worshiped them were but symbols or images of the one great God. He said he had no thought of enforcing his convictions upon others, but that all would be free to worship as they pleased, and that at all times he and Chebron would be ready to confer with those who wished to inquire into these matters.
In this matter alone Amuba met with much opposition70 in carrying out his plans, and had he been less popular than he was with the people his efforts might have cost him his throne and his life: but the Rebu were devoted71 to him, and as the priests came gradually to see that the change would not diminish their power, their opposition died away, especially as many of the younger men were soon convinced by the arguments of the king and his minister, and preached the new religion with enthusiasm among the people. But it was not until many years after that Amuba had the satisfaction of knowing that the one God was worshiped among his people. He was well aware that the success of the work was to no small extent due to the earnestness with which Mysa and Ruth had labored72 among the wives and daughters of the nobles.
“How strangely things turn out,” Chebron said one day ten years after their arrival in the land, when the little party who had traveled so long together were gathered in a room in the palace. “At one time it seemed that that unlucky shot of mine would not only bring ruin on all connected with me but be a source of unhappiness to me to the end of my life. Now I see that, except for the death of my father, it was the most fortunate event of my life. But for that, I should all my life have gone on believing in the gods of Egypt; but for that, although you, Amuba and Jethro, might some day have made your escape, Mysa and I would assuredly never have left Egypt, never have known anything of the life of happiness and usefulness that we now enjoy. All this I consider I owe to the fortunate shot that killed the Cat of Bubastes.”
THE END.
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1
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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beleaguer
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| v.使困扰，使烦恼，围攻 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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beleaguering
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| v.围攻( beleaguer的现在分词 )；困扰；骚扰 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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contingents
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| （志趣相投、尤指来自同一地方的）一组与会者( contingent的名词复数 )； 代表团； （军队的）分遣队； 小分队 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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45
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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broil
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| v.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂；n.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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49
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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51
seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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52
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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53
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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57
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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61
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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62
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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63
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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64
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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65
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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66
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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69
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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70
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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71
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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72
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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