JOSHUA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 288, 6 December 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

JOSHUA.

A STORY OF Egyptian - Israelitish Life. Br GEORGE EBERS, Author of " U;>rda." "An Egyptian Princess," <rtc. Now Fihst Published. (Copyright 1889 by S. S. McClure). CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued.) The driver flourished hie whip over the heads of his gang as if he were driving a team of horses, without touching them, however. Then ho pointed fco a cloud of emoke rising from behind a wall of rock on the right hand and said :

' There are the smolting furnaces ! We shall be in by midday. There is no lack of fires here to cook our lentils, and a bit of sheep's flesh into tho bargain ; for we are keeping the kind god's birthday, the Son of Ra. Long may he live ! Hail and good health to him!'

For half-an-hour longer they toiled along the dry bed of a torront, with high banks on each side; after tho storm a roaring mountain stream had rushed down this gully to tho lower ground, and oven now a few pools were exhaling thoir moisture. When tho melancholy train had made thoir way round a steep shoulder of rook, on the top of which stood a small Egyptian temple to Hathor and a considerable number of gravestones, they found theniselvea close to a bend in tho ravine which led to the gorge where the mines lay. Flags wore waving from tall mfists in front of the temple, in honour of Pharaoh's birthday : and when presently a noise came up from the valley, usually so eilenb, of shouts, and tumult, and clatter, tho driver expressed his opinion that the high festival was being kept by the prisoners with unwonted jollity, saying so to the other guards who had paused to listen. So they moved forward without delay ; but no man hold up his drooping head, for the noonday sun was so relentlessly cruel, and the sides ot the ravine, dazzling with the glare, poured down such fiorce heat, that it seemed as though they were striving to oufcdo the melting furnaces.

Though so near their journey's end, the wanderers tottered forward as if in sleep, and one aione held his breath with excitement. As a war horse harnessed to a plough arches his neck and dilates his nostrils, while the fire sparkles in his eye, so had Joshua drawn up his stooping form in spito of the heavy sack across hie shoulders, and hia flashing gaze turned to the epofc whence the uproar came which tho driver eupposed to loud revelry. Bub he, Joshua, knew hotter. Ho could never mistake the sounds which he heard. It was the battle-cry of Egyptian troops, tho trumpet call to summon them to arms, the clatter of weapons and shouting of hostile parties. Ready at) once for swift action, he addressed his comrade in chains and whispered his commands: ' The hour of release is ab hand. , Keep your eyes open, but follow me blindly.' At this the other, t.'oo, was greatly ° x " cited, and no eooner had Joshua looked down the ravine than ho said : ' Now be ready !' The firsb glance into the little gorge had revealed to him a figure- standing on the top of a cliff, and a noblo head framed in white hair. It was hia father. Ha would have known him among ten thousand, and from a much greater distance. Bub he looked away from that beloved face for a momenb to glance at tho driver of tho gang who stood still, startled and epeechless ; and then, thinking that a mutiny had broken out among the state prisoners, %vith quick preeonco of mind he criod in, harsh accents to his subordinates :

• Geb behind our prisoners and kill any one who attempts to escape.' Bufc hardly had the men dono his bidding and gone to the rear, when Joshua whispered to his companion : ' Now, down with him !' ' With these words the Hebrew, who, with his fellow captive, was at the head of the file, rushed on the driver, and Joshua had seined his right arm and the other man his left, before he was aware of it. Hβ was a stalwart fellow, and rage doubled his strength ; he struggled wildly to free himself, but Joshua and his comrade held him in a grip of iron. One glance had been enough to show the captive warrior which way he must go to reach his own people. It would have to pass a small force of Egyptian bowmen who were shooting their arrows at the Hebrews on the opposite side of the ravine ; but the enemy would not dare to turn on them, for the eturdy form of the slave driver served to screen them both, and he was easily recognisable byhisdreaeand weapons. 'Hold tne chin with one hand,' said Joshua to his accomplice. ' I can hold our living shield. Wo must get up the shoulder of the hill crab-faahion.' His companion obeyed, and when they came within arrow-shot length of the foe they held their prisoner first on one side, and then, walking backwards, between themselves and the Egyptians. Thus Joshua, shouting in ringing tones : • The son of Nun is raturning to his father and his people !' made his way, step by step, toward the Hebrew fighting men. None of the Egyptians who recognised the captain of the priaon-gang had dared to let fly a shaft at the escaped prisoners ; and now, from the top of the slope which the fettered couple were climbing backwards, Joshua heard his name called in joyful accents, and at the same moment Ephraim and his company of youthful combatants came flying down the hill to meet him. To his astonishment the warrior saw in - the hands of every son of his people a large shield as of an Egyptian foot-soldier, a sword, or a battle-axe. But many still wore at their girdles the herdsman's sling and bag of pebbles. Ephraim was their leader, and before he greeted his uncle, he ranged his men in two ranks like a double wall between Joshua and the enemy's archers. Nob till then did he give utterance to the joy of meeting; and another glad greeting followed his, for old Nun was safely led to the.wall of rook under cover of those large Egyptian shields which the sea had cast on shore ; and then, under shelter of the cliff, strong hands filed off the fetters which bound Joshua and hie comrade, while Ephraim, aided by a few others, bound the driver captive. The unfortunate officer bad given'up all resistance and let them do what they would, passively resigned. Before they tied his hands behind his back, he only begged to be allowed fco wipe his eyes, for the tears were coursing each other down the stern man's cheeks and on fco his grey beard ; tears of vexation at finding himself outwitted and overpowered, and unable to fulfil his duty. The old Hebrew clasped his redeemed and only son to his heart with passionate affection. Then, releasing him from his embrace, be stepped back a few paces, and would never have tired of feasting his eyes on Joshua, and of hearing that, faithful to his God, he would henceforth devote mmself to the service of Ms people. But it was not for long thai they might allow themselves to revel in the joy of this

happy greeting ; tho battle was still to be won, and Nun, as a matter of course transferred his command to Joshua.

With bhaukful gladness, and yeb nob without a pang of regret, Joshua heard of tho end which had overtaken the fine army among whose captains he had long been proud to reckon himself; and he rejoiced to learn that anothor company of armed shepherds had gone under the leadership of Huv, Miriam's husbaad, to surprise the turquoise mines at Dophka, ab about an hour's march further to the south. If they were victorious they were to rejoin the young men under Ephraim before sundown. These ardent spirits were burning to fall upon the Egyptians onca more; Joshua, who was prudent, and who had reconnoitred tho foe, had indeed, no doubb that they would fluceumb to the tierce herdsmen who far out-numbered them. Bub he was anxious to avoid bloodshed in thia fight which was to be waged for his sake, so he desired Ephraim to cut him a plumy leaf from the nearest palm tree, borrowed a shield, and wenb forward alone to epeak with the enemy, waving his symbol of peace. The chief body of the Egypfcains were guarding the entrance to the mines, and recognising a token which invited a parley, they desired their captain to meet Joshua. This officer was nothing loth to granb the Hebrew an interview, bubhe would firsbmake himself acquainted with the contents of a letter which had just been delivered to him, and which must contain evil tidings, for fchafc much could be gathered from the messenger's demeanour, and from a few broken but ominous words which he bad murmured to his fellow Egyptians. Whilo some of Pharaoh's soldiers fetched refreshment for the exhausted and travelstained runner, listening with horror to the tiding* he panted out in hoarse accents, the officer read the letter.

Hia brow darkened, and when he had ended he clutched tho papyrus fiercely in his hand, for it announced nothing leas than the destruction of tho army, the death of Pharaoh Menephtah, and, moreover, that his eldest surviving son had bean proclaimed and crowned as Seti the second ; an attempt on tho part of Prince Siptah to possess himself of the throne having completely failed, this prince had (led to the marsh-lands of the Delta, and the Syrian, Aarsu, after deserting him and ranging himself on the side of the new king, had been raised to the command of the whole army of mercenaries. Baie, the high priest and supreme judge, had been deprived of hiß offices by Seti 11., and banished from court. Those who had conspired with Siptah were condemned, not to the copper mines, but to the gold mines of Ethiopia. It was also reported that several women attached to the family of the fugitive usurper had been strangled, certainly his mother. Every fighting-man who could be spared from the minesTwas to return forthwith to 'i'anis, aa there was no need of men for the nowlyconafcituted legions. These tidinga produced a great effect; for, after Joshua had communicated to the Egyptian captain the fact that he, tpo, knew of the destruction of tho Egyptian hosb, and expected fresh reinforcements in a few hours, who had, meanwhile been sent to reduce Dophka, the Egyptiansurrendered to his imperious tone, and only sought favorable terms and leave to depart. He know only too well how weak was the force in charge of tho turquoise mines, and he couldlook for no succour from headquarters. Besides this, the person ot the envoy captivated hie confidences, so, after many excuses and threats, he confessed himself eatisfied with Joshua's permission to withdraw tho garrison unharmed, with thoir beasts of burthen aud provisions for the journey. This, to be sure, was not to be granted till they had laid down their arms and shown the Hebrews every entrance to the mines wliero prisoners were working.

The young Hebrews proceeded forthwith to disarm tht? Egyptians, who werb more than twice thoir number, and many a veteran's eye waa moist, while many an one broke his spear or nicked hia arrows, cureing and swearing the while ; and some of tho older men who had formerly served under Joshua, and now recognised him, raised their tista and railed at him for a traitor.

It was always the refuse of the troops which was sent on service in this wilderness most of tho men wore stamped with traces of evil living, and their faces were hard and cruel. On the banks of the Niie, those were carefully chOEen who made ruthless brutality to the helpless their duty. At last the mines were open, and Joshua himself seized the miner's lamp and made his way into the sweltering galleries where the state prisoners, naked and loaded with fetters, wero hewing' out tho copper ore. From a distance he could hear the swallowtailed picks hacking at the hard rock. Then the miserable wailing of men and women in torment fell on his ear, for barbarous drivers pursued them into these depths and goaded the idlers to bestir themselves.

This morning, as being Pharaoh's birthday, they had all been driven to the temple of Hathor, up on the cliff, to pray for the king who had cast them into this uttermost wretchedness; and they would have enjoyed a respite from labour till next morning if it had not been for the unexpected arrival of the chief overseer which had compelled them to return underground. Indeed, even the women were all employed in digging, though as a rule their tasks consisted only in crushing and sifting the ore which was used in the manufacture of glass and of dye stuffs. When the victims heard Joshua's footstep echoing from the bare rock-wall, they feared Jest some new torment should be coming ur>on them, and their cries and lamentations were heard on all sides. But the deliverer had soon reached the first of the toilers, and the glad tidings, that ho had come to put an end to their wretched lot, were soon repeated to the furthest depths of the caverns. Wild shouts of joy filled the galleries long used to wailing. and tears_; but loud cries for help, gasping, groaning and a deathrattle also fell on Joshua' 6 ear, for one hotheaded victim had turned on the driver of his gang and killed him with a blow of his pick. His example fired the vengeance of the others, and before they could be etopped the rest of the overseers had met the same fate. Nob without defending themselves, however, and many a prisoner lay dead by the corpse of his tormentors. In obedience to Joshua's call the liberated throng made their way out to the light of day. Wild and harsh indeed were their ehouts, mingling with rhe clatter of the chains they dragged behind them. And the most hard-hearted among the Hebrews, when they saw this troop of despairing wretches in the broad sunshine, shrank from the sight. Many of these hapless creatures had, in former times, enjoyed every earthly blessing in their own homes, or in the king's palace ; had been loving fathers and mothers ; had rejoiced in their power for good, and bad had their part in all the fruits which culture could bestow on a gifted people ; and now their weak and bloodshot eyes, though they glittered at first with the tears brought into them by the sudden change from the night of the caverns to the glare of the midday sun, presently flashed with a wild and greedy gleam like those of starving owls. In their first bewilderment and consternation at the amazing change in their fortunes they tremulously struggled for composure, and suffered the Hebrews, afc Joshua's bidding, to file off the fetters from their ankles ; but they soon caught sight of the disarmed soldiers and overseers, who were ranged under a wall of rock under the eye of Eohraim and his followers, and a strange impulse came over them. With a yell and a shriek for which there is no name, and which no words could describe, they tore themselves away from the men who were trying to remove their

chains, and without a word or a sign 0/ mutual agreement, rushed with a common instinct, heedless of their metal bonds, on the helpless wretches. Before the Hebrews could stay them each fell on the one who had treated him most cruelly; and here a famished creature gripped the foe who had been his master by the throat, while there a herd of women, stripped of all clothing andhorribly disfigured by wanband neglect, flew at the man who had most brutally insulted, beaten and injured them, and wreaked their long-repressed fury with tooth and nail. It was as though a sudden flood of hatred had broken down the dam and was ravening unchecked for its prey.

There was a frantic attack and defence, a fearful and bloody struggle on the shifting red sandy soil, an ear-splitting chorus of shrioks, wailing and yells ; indeed, ib was hard to distinguish anything in the revolting medley of men and women, which became more and more inextricably tangled as it was aggravated on one side by the wildest passions and a desire for revenge which was sheer blood-thirstines, and on the other by the dread of death and strenuous insbincb of self-dofence.

Only a few of the prisoners had held back, and even they shrioked encouragotnanb to tbo rest, reviled the enemy with excited vehemence, and shook their fista. The rage with which the released victims now fell on their tormentora was as unmeasured as the cruelty under which they had suffered. But it was Joshua who had disarmed the tyrants ; they were therefore under his protection. Hβ ordered his men to separate the combatants, and if possible without bloodshed ; this was no easy matter, and many a fresh deed of horror was inevitable. At last it was done, and now it could be seen how strongly passion had lent strength to the mosb exhausted and wretched, for, though no weapons had been used in the struggle, not a few corpses lay on the arena, and most of the guards and overseers were bleeding from ugly wounds. When peace once more reigned, Joshua demanded of the captain of the little garrison a liefc of tho prisoners in the minea ; bnt he himself was wounded, and pointed to tho clerk of the works who had not been laid hands on. Hβ who had been their leech in case of need and had always treated them kindly, was a man of some age who had known sorrow himself, and knowing what suffering means had always been ready to alleviate it in others. He vory willingly read out the names of the captives, among whom were several Hebrews, and after each had answered to tho call, most of them expressed themselves ready to go with the departing tribes. When at length the disarmed soldiers and guards set forth on their homeward way, the driver who had brought Joshua and hie fellow-prisoners to the mine 3 went up to old Nun and his son with a crestfallen air, and begged to be allowed to remain with them ; for no good could be in store for him at home, and in all Egypt there was no god so mighty as their God. He had nob failed to observe fchab Joahua, who had himself once been tho captain of thousands, had ever in the greatest straits uplifted his bands to that God, and such fortitude as the Hebrew had shown ho had never before seen. Now, indeed, he saw and knew that that mighty God had overwhelmed Pharaoh and his host in the sea in order to save His people. Such a God was after his own heart, and he desired nothing batter henceforth than to abide with those who served Him.

Joshua gladly consented to his joining himself to them, end it was found that thore were fifteen Hebrew prisoners, among them, to Ephraim's great 'joy, Reuben, the husband of Miriam's devoted and heart-broken ally, Milcah. His reserved and manner had stood him in good stead, //nd the hardships he had endured seemed! to have had little effect on his strong frameA triumphant seuso of victory and the joy of success had come over Ephraim and his youthful army ; but when the sun had sot, and no sign yet appeared of Hur and his followers, Nun began to feel some alarm. Ephraini had junt declared hie intention of sallying forth with some of his comrades in search of tidings, when a messenger arrived announcing thab Hiir's fighting men had lost courage on beholding the 'efficient defence of the Egyptian stronghold. Their leader had vainly urged them to storm it; they had shrunk from the venture, and if Nun could not go to their support they musb retire ingloriously. It was at once determined to succour the timorous troop. The Hebrews set forth in high spirits, and on the-r march through the refreshing night Ephraim and Is unrelated to Joshua how Kasana had been found and had died. All she had desired them to tell tho man she loved they now made known to him, and it was with deep emotion that the soldier heard it all, marching on in silent thought till they reached Dophka, the valley of the turquoise mines, in the midst of which towered the fortress, surrounded by the captive miners. Hur and his men remained in ambush in an adjoining valley, and when Joshua had told off all the Hebrew force into several divisions, assigning a task to each, at daybreak he gave the signal for the onslaught. The little garrison was overpowered after a short struggle, and the fortress seized. The Egyptians were disarmed, as those at the copper mines had been, and sent homewards. The prisoners were released, and the lepers, whose encampment was in another valley beyond the mines—and among them those who had been sent hither by Joshua's desire—were permitted to follow the conquerors afc a fixed distance.

Joshua had succeeded where Hur had failed, and before the younger men departed with Ephraim, their leader, old Nun called them together, and with them returned thanks to the Lord. Those likewise who were under "Hur's command joined in the thanksgiving, and when Joshua presently appeared Ephraim and his comrade hailed him with loud acclamations.

4 Hail fco our captain !' was shouted again and again as they went on their further way. ' Hail to him whom the Lord hath chosen to be His sword! Him will we follow and obey: through him our God shall give us the victory!'

Hur's followers also joined in the cry, nor did he forbid them: nay, he had thanked Joshua for storming the stronghold, and expressed his gladness at seeing him free once more.

When they set forth, Joshua, as the younger, drew back to let the elder man take the lead ; but Hur had begged Nun, who was much older titan himself, to inarch at the head of the little host, although, after the escape of the people on the shore of the .Red Sea, he had been named the chief captain of the Hebrew figfhting-men by Moses and the elders of the tribes. Their way led'them firsb through a level vallej'. Then they mounted and crossed a pass over the ridge, this being the only road by which there was any communication between the mines and the Red Sea. The rocky scene was wild and desolate, the path steep and hard to climb. Joshua's aged father, who had spent his life in the plains of Goshen, and was unaccustomed to mountain-walking, was carried by his son and grandson amid much glad shouting from the others; and Miriam's husband, who led his men in the rear of Ephraim's troop of comrades, as he heard their joyful cry climbed after them with a bowed head and eyes fixed gloomily on the ground. At the top they were to rest, waiting for the main body of the Israelites who were to be led through the desert of Sin towards Dophka.

From the top of the pass the victorious troop looked out from the wandering tribes, but as yet nothing could be seen of them. But as they {razed back on the mountain path by which they had come, the scene was co grand and beautiful thafa it at-

tracted every eye. Ab their feeb lay a cauldron-shaped valley enclosed by high precipices, ravines, peaks and pinnacles, here white chalk, there raven-black, grey and brown, red and green, growing as ib were from the sandy base and pointing to the deep-blue heaven, the vault of dazzling light that bent over the deserb unflecked by a cloud. All was barren, desolate, silent, dead. Not a blade, not the humblest growth clung to the sides of the many-coloured cliffs which shut in the sandy abyss. No bird, no worm nor beetle even stirred in this still region hostile to life. The eye could nowhere see anything to suggest human existence, or the tilth and handiwork of man. God, ib seemed, had created this grand scene, unfit for any earthly being, for Himself alone. The man who made his way inte these wilds trod a spot which the Most High might have chosen for retreab and rest, like the silent and unapproachable inner sanctuary of the temple. The younger men had gazed speeobless on the wondrous picture at their feet. Then they lay down on the ground, or did their best to be serviceable to old Nun, who loved the companionship of the young. Hβ was soon reclining in their midst under a hastily-contrived awning, and relating with sparkling eye 3 his son's achievements as captain of the Egyptians, Joshua and Hur, meanwhile, were standing together on the highest point of the pass and gazing down into the desolate valley of rocks, which, surrounded by columns and pillare of God's own hewing, and vaulted over by the blue dome of heaven, appeared to each as the mosb afcupendous of temples. The elder kept his eyes fixed gloomily on the ground, but suddenly he broke the silence, saying : 'It was at Succoth thab I builb an heap and cried upon the Lord to be witness between us two. But in this stillness, ib seems to me bhab we are certain of Hie Presence without sign or token. . He raised his face to heaven and went on: ' And I lift up mine eyes to Thee,Adonai; I send up my humble words to Thee, O Jehovah, Thou God of Abraham and our fathers, that Thou maysfc again be witness between me and this man whom Thou calledsfc to be Thy servant and the sword in Thy right hand !'

Ho spoke the words loudly, , with eyes and hands upraised to heaven. Then he turned to his companion and said with solemn gravity: ' And I ask thee, Joshua, son of Nun, dosb thou remember the witness borne by thee and me by the stone at Succoth V

•I do remember it, , was the answer. 'And in bitter ill-fortune and great dangers I have learnt what the Mosb High requires of me. I am ready to devote such strength of soul and body as Hβ hath vouchsafed to me to Him alone, and to His people, which is my people. Joshua henceforth be my name. I ask no further help, neither from the Egyptians nor from any other strange folk, for it was the Lord our God who gave me this name by the mouth of thy wife.' Hereupon Hur broke in with earneeb words :

' Thia is what I looked to hear ; and Inasmuch as in this place also the Most) High is a witness between me and thee, and heareth our present speech together here, 10, I fulfil" that which I have ▼owed. The elders of the tribes, and Moses, the eervanb of the Lord, called me to be chief captain over the fighting men of Israel. But now thoii art Joshua, and hasb eworn to serve none other bufc the Lord our God. Likewise I know that, as the captain of our host), thbu canst do greater things than I, who have grown grey tending herds, or than any other Hebrew, be he who he may ; therefore do I perform my vow made afc Sucsoth. I will require of ,Moses, the servant of the Lord, and of the elders of the people, that they give thee the office of captain of the host. I lcSve' the governance in thy hands; and inasmuch as I know that the Lord readetb. the heart, I hereby confess that I had evil thoughts of thee in mine. Bub, for the good of the people, I will forgeb all strife between ua, and I give thee my right hand in token thereof.' He held out his hand as he spoke, and Joshua grasped ib, replying with generous frankness:

'These are the words of a man, and so likewise shall mine be. For the people's sake, and the cause we both serve, I accept the offered sacrifice. And inasmuch as you solemnly called the Lord to witness, who likewise heareth me, I will speak the truth in everything. The office of captain of the host of Israel, which you will lay upon me, I was called to by the Lord Himself. The call came to me by the mouth of Miriam, your wife, and mine it is by right. Yeb, that you should be willing to yield your own dignity to me, I taUe as a noble deed ; for I know full well how hard it is for a man to resign power, more especially in favour of a younger man, who is not dear to his heart. This you have done, and I thank you. And I, too, iave had evil thoughts of you, for through you I losb another blessing which a man finds ifa harder to give up than his office—the love of a woman.'

Hereupon the blood mounted to Hur'a face, and he exclaimed : • Miriam ! I never forced her to marry me. Nay, withoub my paying for her, even, after the manner of our fathers, she became my wife of her own free will.'

' I know it,' replied Joshua, calmly. ' Still, another than. you had loved and wooed her longer and more fervently, and the firee of jealousy burn fiercely. Bat have no fears. If you were now to get a bill of divorce and bring her to me, that I should open my arms and tent to her, I should cay : " Wherefore have you done this thing to yourself and to me ?" For I have just now learnt what the love of a woman is and can do, and I was mistaken when I believed that she loved me as hotly as I loved her. Yes, and in the course of my wanderings, with fetters oh my feet, In grief and misery, I vowed to myself-that I would devote all that is in me oT the fire and force of love to no single creature, bub all to my people. Nob even the love of woman shall ever turn me away from the great duty I have taken upon me. And as for your wife, I am as a stranger to her, unless it be that she sends for me, aa a prophetess, to declare to me some new purpose of the Lord.'

And he, on his part, held out his hand, >■ and as Hur took ib a noise came up from the troop below, calling on the head of the house of Judah and their newly-chosen'cap-tain, for meseengers were climbing the mountain slope, waving and pointing to the mighty clouds of dust which swept in front of the coming multitude. ( To be Continued.)