Then
he began to walk between fishermen's huts, following the black
broken bank of the river, where herons and doves were resting after
their morning meal.
His neighbour, the fisherman, Nepht, was overhauling his nets, and
placing carp, grayling, and sheat-fish in the different partitions
of his boat.
Amram greeted him, and wished to say some words in token of
friendliness.
"Has the Nile ceased to rise?" he asked.
"It remains standing at ten yards' height. That means starvation!"
"Do you know why it cannot rise higher than fifteen yards, Nepht?"
"Because otherwise we should drown," answered the fisherman simply.
"Yes, certainly, and that we cannot. The Nile, then, has a Lord who
controls the water-level; and He who has measured out the starry
vault, and laid the foundations of the earth, has set up a wall for
the waters, and this wall, which we cannot see, is fifteen yards
high. For during the great flood in the land of our fathers, Ur of
the Chaldees, the water rose fifteen yards--no more, no less. Yes,
Nepht, I say 'we,' for you are of our people, though you speak
another tongue, and honour strange gods. I wish you a good morning,
Nepht, a very good morning."
He left the abashed fisherman, went on, and entered the outskirts of
the city, where began the rows of citizens' houses built of
Nile-bricks and wood.
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