his people, he was not even aware--for what purpose the sacrifice in the
desert was offered. He also frankly acknowledged to Pharaoh's
councillors that he knew neither the grievances nor the requirements of
the tribes, a course he pursued to secure to the Hebrews the right of
changing or revising in any respect the offers he was to convey.

What better proposals could they or their leader desire?

The future was full of fresh hopes of happiness for his people and
himself. If the compact was made, the time had arrived for him to
establish a home of his own, and Miriam's image again appeared in all
its loftiness and beauty. The thought of gaining this splendid maiden
was fairly intoxicating, and he wondered whether he was worthy of her,
and if it would not be presumptuous to aspire to the hand of the
divinely-inspired, majestic virgin and prophetess.

He was experienced in the affairs of life and knew full well how little
reliance could be placed upon the promises of the vacillating man, who
found the sceptre too heavy for his feeble hand. But he had exercised
caution and, if the elders of the people could but be won over, the
agreement would be inscribed on metal tables, sentence by sentence, and
hung in the temple at Thebes, with the signatures of Pharaoh and the
envoys of the Hebrews, like every other binding agreement between Egypt
and a foreign nation. Such documents--he had learned this from the
treaty of peace concluded with the Cheta--assured and lengthened the
brief "eternity" of national covenants. He had certainly neglected no
precaution to secure his people from treachery and perjury. Never had he
felt more vigorous, more confident, more joyous than when he again
entered Pharaoh's chariot to take leave of his subordinates. Bai's
mysterious hints and suggestions troubled him very little; he was