my father, an elder of Israel. The captain Khuaka came when the corn was
young to the Land of Goshen to choose those who should work for Pharaoh.
He wished to take me into his house. My father refused because from my
childhood I had been affianced to a man of Israel; also because it is
not lawful under the law for our people to intermarry with your people.
Then the captain Khuaka seized my father, although he was of high rank
and beyond the age to work for Pharaoh, and he was taken away, as I
think, because he would not suffer me to wed Khuaka. A while later I
dreamed that my father was sick. Thrice I dreamed it and ran away to
Tanis to visit him. But this morning I found him and, O Prince, you know
the rest."

"Is there no more?" asked Seti.

The girl hesitated, then answered:

"Only this, O Prince. This man saw me with my father giving him food,
for he was weak and overcome with the toil of digging the mud in the
heat of the sun, he who being a noble of our people knew nothing of such
labour from his youth. In my presence Khuaka asked my father if now he
would give me to him. My father answered that sooner would he see me
kissed by snakes and devoured by crocodiles. 'I hear you,' answered
Khuaka. 'Learn, now, slave Nathan, before to-morrow's sun arises, you
shall be kissed by swords and devoured by crocodiles or jackals.' 'So be
it,' said my father, 'but learn, O Khuaka, that if so, it is revealed to
me who am a priest and a prophet of Jahveh, that before to-morrow's sun
you also shall be kissed by swords and of the rest we will talk at the
foot of Jahveh's throne.'

"Afterwards, as you know, Prince, the overseer flogged my father as I