But the lad indignantly retorted:  “I am the bearer of no love message.”

The prophet, pleased with the bold rejoinder, answered pleasantly:  “I had forgotten that I was accosting a young shepherd-prince.”  Then he added in graver tones:  “When you have found Hosea, greet him from me and tell him that Bai, the second prophet of Amon sought to discharge a part of the debt of gratitude he owed for his release from the hands of the Libyans by extending his protection to you, his nephew.  Perhaps, my brave boy, you do not know that you have escaped as if by a miracle a double peril; the savage populace would no more have spared your life than would the stifling dust of the falling houses.  Remember this, and tell Hosea also from me, Bai, that I am sure when he beholds the woe wrought by the magic arts of one of your race on the house of Pharaoh, to which he vowed fealty, and with it on this city and the whole country, he will tear himself with abhorrence from his kindred.  They have fled like cowards, after dealing the sorest blows, robbing of their dearest possessions those among whom they dwelt in peace, whose protection they enjoyed, and who for long years have given them work and ample food.  All this they have done and, if I know him aright, he will turn his back upon men who have committed such crimes.  Tell him also that this has been voluntarily done by the Hebrew officers and men under the command of the Syrian Aarsu.  This very morning—­Hosea will have heard the news from other sources—­they offered sacrifices not only to Baal and Seth, their own gods, whom so many of you were ready to serve ere the accursed sorcerer, Mesu, seduced you, but also to Father Amon and the sacred nine of our eternal deities.  If he will do the same, we will rise hand in hand to the highest place, of that he may be sure—­and well he merits it.  The obligation still due him I shall gratefully discharge in other ways, which must for the present remain secret.  But you may tell your uncle now from me that I shall find means to protect Nun, his noble father, when the vengeance of the gods and of Pharaoh falls upon the rest of your race.  Already—­tell him this also—­the sword is whetted, and a pitiless judgment is impending.  Bid him ask himself what fugitive shepherds can do against the power of the army among whose ablest leaders he is numbered.  Is your father still alive, my son?”

“No, he was borne to his last resting-place long ago,” replied the youth in a faltering voice.

Was the fever of his wound attacking him?  Or did the shame of belonging to a race capable of acts so base overwhelm the young heart?  Or did the lad cling to his kindred, and was it wrath and resentment at hearing them so bitterly reviled which made his color vary from red to pale and roused such a tumult in his soul that he was scarcely capable of speech?  No matter!  This lad was certainly no suitable bearer of the message the prophet desired to send to his uncle, and Bai beckoned to Hornecht to come with him under the shadow of a broad-limbed sycamore-tree.