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"Nay," he cried, "we are long past the place where we should have landed. Yonder is the Marsh of the Discontented Soul. Let me row back." He turned and pulled rapidly toward the eastern shore. Away to the south, behind them, were the quarries of Masaarah. But they were still a considerable distance above Toora, a second village of quarry-workers, now entirely deserted.
Her golden head drooped till her face was bowed upon her hands. After a little silence she answered him, her voice low with shame. "This man sought to take me before, at Pa-Ramesu, but Atsu learned of it in time and sent me to Masaarah. This morning I met him again " She paused, and Kenkenes aided her. "Aye, I can guess poor affronted child!"
He was remote from any possible interruption from Memphis, and the slaves in the gorge and in the stone-pits had no opportunity to come upon his sacrilege in idle hours. They would be held like prisoners within the limits of the quarries. His sense of security had been strengthened by the renewed activities in Masaarah. With a shovel of tamarisk he cleared the slab of its drift of sand.
The great artist had prepared to be absent a month, and had left no work for his son to do. But the coming of Ranas with the news of his mission's failure had filled Kenkenes with angry discomfiture. He dismissed his slave and rowed down-stream toward Masaarah. As he approached the abandoned wharf, a glance showed him that some effort toward restoring it had been made.
"Thou speakest of Masaarah, my Kenkenes," the crown prince commented after the salutation, "and it suggests an inquiry I would make of thee. Dost thou go on as sculptor, or wilt thou follow thy father into the art of building?" "Since the Pharaoh chose for my father, he shall choose for me also." "Nay, the Pharaoh did not choose," Rameses objected dryly. "It was I." "Of a truth?
"Nay? No more then. I have spoken the last with thee concerning my love. And thus I seal the pact." He drew her, unresisting, to him, and kissed her forehead. "For my gentleness to the Hebrews of Pa-Ramesu," he continued in a calmer tone as he released her, "they have stripped me of my rank and sent me to govern Masaarah.
"For these and kindred inefficiencies art thou removed from the government over Pa-Ramesu. "I hereby bestow upon thee another office within the limits of thy capacity. Thou wilt take up the flagellum over Masaarah when thou hast surrendered Pa-Ramesu to thy successor. "By this thou shalt learn that the Pharaohs will be ably served. "Horemheb of Bubastis, thy successor, accompanieth these.
This maiden is beloved of all the Israelites. Thou art one man, and alone. It would not be safe for thee to attempt to take her without help even across that little space between Masaarah and the Nile. I should harass thee with others within call. Do thou save thyself and send the chief adviser after her. I would treat with him also."
"I came this morning to ask thy permission to give thee thy freedom. I doubt not Israel of Masaarah, hidden in a niche in the hills, does not dream that it is the plan of the Pharaoh nay, the heir to the crown of Egypt by the mouth of the Pharaoh to exterminate the Hebrews." Rachel recoiled from him. "What sayest thou?" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with terror.
"I thank thee, my good master." "For thy sake, not mine own, I would urge thee," he continued with an unnatural steadiness. "Thou canst accept of me the safety of marriage. Nothing more shall I offer or demand." The color rushed over the girl's face, but he went on evenly. "A part go to Silsilis, another to Syene, a third to Masaarah.
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