The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 102

"Warriors of the pharaoh," said the old Libyan on a sudden, "do ye hear that noise in the desert?"

"Will there be another tempest?"

"No; that is rain."

In fact some cold drops fell from the sky, then more of them, till at last there was a downpour accompanied by thunder.

Among the soldiers of Rameses and their prisoners mad delight sprang up suddenly. Without caring for the thunder and lightning the men, who a moment before had been scorched with heat, and tormented by thirst, ran under the rain like small children. In the dark they washed themselves and their horses, they caught water in their caps and leather bags, and above all they drank and drank eagerly.

"Is not this a miracle?" cried Rameses. "Were it not for this blessed rain we should all perish here in the burning grasp of Typhon."

"It happens," said the old Libyan, "that the southern sandy wind rouses a wind from the sea and brings heavy rain to us."

Rameses was touched disagreeably by these words, for he had attributed the downpour to Pentuer's prayers. He turned to the Libyan, and asked,--

"And does it happen that sparks flash from people's bodies?"

"It is always so when the wind blows from the desert," answered the Libyan. "Just now we saw sparks jumping not only from men, but from horses."

In his voice there was such conviction that the prince approaching an officer of his cavalry whispered,--

"But look at the Libyans."

When he had said this some one made a noise in the darkness, and after a while tramping was heard. When a flash lighted up the desert they saw a man escaping on horseback.

"Bind these wretches!" cried the prince, "and kill any one who resists you. Woe to thee, Tehenna, if that scoundrel brings thy brethren against us. Ye will perish in dreadful tortures, thou and thy men here."

In spite of rain, darkness, and thunder the prince's soldiers hurried to bind the Libyans, who made no resistance.

Perhaps they were waiting for Tehenna's command, but he was so crushed that he had not even thought of fleeing.

The storm subsided gradually, and instead of that heat of the daytime a piercing cold seized the desert. The men and horses had drunk all they wanted; the bags were full of water; there were dates and cakes in abundance, so a good disposition prevailed. The thunder grew weak; at last even noiseless lightning flashed less and less frequently; on the northern sky the clouds parted; here and there stars twinkled.

Pentuer approached Rameses,--

"Let us return to the camp," said he. "In a couple of hours we shall be there, before the man who has escaped can lead forth an enemy."

"How shall we find the camp in such darkness?" asked Rameses.

"Have ye torches?" asked the priest of the Asiatics.

Torches, or long cords soaked in an inflammable substance they had; but there was no fire, for their wooden fire-drills were rain soaked.

"We must wait till morning," said Rameses, impatiently.

Pentuer made no answer. He took a small instrument from his bag, took a torch from one of the soldiers, and went to one side. After a while there was a low hissing, and the torch was lighted.

"He is a great magician, that priest," muttered the old Libyan.

"Before my eyes thou hast performed a second miracle," said the prince. "Canst thou explain to me how that was done?"

The priest shook his head.

"Ask of me anything, lord, and I will answer. But ask not to explain temple secrets."

"Not even if I were to name thee my counsellor?"

"Not even then. Never shall I be a traitor, and even if I desired to be one I should be terrified by punishment."

"Punishment?" repeated Rameses. "Aha! I remember in the temple of Hator, that man hidden under the pavement, on whom the priests were pouring burning pitch. Did they do that, indeed, and did that man die really in tortures?"

Pentuer was silent, as if not hearing the question, and drew out slowly from his wonderful bag a small statue of a divinity with crossed arms. The statue depended from a string; the priest let it hang, and whispered a prayer, while he watched it. The statue, after some turnings and quiverings, hung without motion.

Rameses, by the light of the torch, looked at these acts with astonishment.

"What art thou doing?" asked he.

"I can only say this much to thee, worthiness," replied Pentuer, "that this divinity points with one hand at the star Eshmun.[19] This hand leads Phnician ships through the sea during night hours."

[19] Polar star.

"Then the Phnicians, too, have this G.o.d?"

"They do not even know of him. The G.o.d which points one hand always to the star Eshmun, is known only to us and the priests of Chaldea. By the aid of this G.o.d every prophet night and day, in bad and good weather, can find his way on the sea or in the desert."

At command of the prince, who went with a lighted torch at the side of Pentuer, the retinue and the prisoners followed the priest, northeastward. The G.o.d depending from a string trembled, but indicated with outstretched hand, the sacred star, Eshmun, the guardian of travellers.

They went on foot at a good pace, leading the horses. The cold was so sharp, that even Asiatics blew on their hands, and the Libyans trembled.

With that, something began to crackle and break underfoot. Pentuer stopped, and bent down.

"In this place," said he, "rain has made a pool on the rock. And see, worthy lord, what has become of the water."

Thus speaking, he raised and showed the prince what seemed a plate of gla.s.s, but which melted in his hand.

"When there is great cold," said he, "water becomes a transparent stone."

The Asiatics confirmed the words of the priest, and added that far away in the north, water turned into stone very often, and fog turned into a white salt which is tasteless, but breaks in the hands and causes pain in the teeth.

The prince admired Pentuer's wisdom still more.

Meanwhile, the northern side of the heavens grew clear, showing the Great Bear and the star, Eshmun. The priest repeated a prayer again, put the guiding G.o.d into his bag, and commanded to quench the torches, and to leave only a burning cord which kept the fire, and indicated time by its gradual burning.

The prince enjoined watchfulness on his men, and taking Pentuer, pushed ahead some tens of paces.

"Pentuer," said he, "from this hour I make thee my counsellor, both now and when it shall please the G.o.ds to give me the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt."

"How have I deserved this favor?"