CHAPTER XIX.

AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN.

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"AND now," said Belial, a scene of thrilling interest followed immediately, on which much depended. "As soon as Hushai could quietly, and without attracting observation, escape from the council chamber, he hurried to the house of Abiathar the priest. There he found Zadok and Abiathar in earnest discourse about the troubles of the times. He hasted to tell them that the designs of Absalom were desperate; that there were no thoughts of compromise, or accommodation; that Ahithophel had made a powerful speech, advising the instant pursuit of David, that he might be overtaken while weary and weak-handed, and slain, before his old friends had time to rally around him. (2 Sam. xvii. 15, 16.)

"Slain!' exclaimed Zadok and Abiathar at the same moment, starting to their feet, in astonishment; 'Slain! is that their bloody and horrible plan?' 'I employed,' said Hushai, 'every argument I could invent, to procure some delay. I appealed to their fears, to Absalom's vanity; his love of power and personal distinction; the prospect of his army being greatly increased in a day or two; and every other motive within the range of my imagination; and they have just

decided to wait till the morning at least, before setting out to pursue David. But Ahithophel was out of the room when the decision was made. I fear he may return, and yet persuade Absalom to let him go tonight, and the good old king may be overtaken and slain before the break of day. Ahithophel's counsels are dark as the grave, and deadly as perdition. Now, therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, "Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over Jordan, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.”

"But,' said Zadok, if Absalom's designs are so bloody, our lives are in danger. If he sees the least symptoms of our being favorable to David, we shall find no mercy.'

"Jonathan and Ahimaaz,' said Hushai, 'are now at Enrogel, near the gate of the city: send word to them, and they will take it to David.' (2 Sam. xvii. 17.)

"But who dares to go?' said Zadok: 'the gates are guarded, and if you, or I, or Abiathar are seen passing out on such an errand, it is certain death.'

"Alas! alas!' exclaimed Abiathar, and our dear sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, if they should be discovered where they are now, waiting for tidings to carry to David, their lives will be sacrificed to the vengeance of Absalom.' .

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"God of mercy, help us!' exclaimed Zadok. Absalom must know that they both left him at Hebron, and have declared for David. He will be transported with rage, and doom them to instant death!'

"I see,' said Hushai, 'their imminent peril, and the peril of David, and the kingdom; and yet what can we

do? For one of us to attempt to go is absolute death; and if they and David do not receive warning, they will certainly be slain.'

"Zadok and Abiathar walked the room, wringing their hands, while convulsive sobs, mingled with prayers to Heaven, burst from their agonized bosoms. Hushai sat with eyes fixed on the floor, and seemed perfectly at fault. Counsellor as he was, renowned for astonishing resources, and long skilled in stemming the most formidable tides of adverse influence, he seemed to have met with an overmatch now. Dark shades of desperate intellectual effort rushed over his manly countenance, and his strong frame was agitated as he looked now at the danger of David, now at the ruin of the kingdom, and now at the peculiar hazard of the two interesting and adventurous youths, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, and saw no possible plan for acting in their behalf. Every moment was precious; and yet, turn which way he would, a gloom was before him like the midnight of despair.

"At this juncture, a low and tremulous female voice was heard at the door of a small room adjoining the apartment where they were in consultation, calling to Abiathar, 'Father! father!' It was the voice of Tamar, the daughter of Abiathar. She had been in her room when Zadok and Abiathar came together. Presently Hushai entered, the door of her little chamber was slightly ajar, and she had overheard all their conversation. Jonathan was her beloved brother, and Ahimaaz her intimate acquaintance, who had recently declared to her the deep devoted affection he had long cherished in his heart, which, suffice it to say, had met with no

repulse. Modest, bashful, and timid, even beyond her equals in age, for she was not above seventeen, - yet hearing of the danger of her brother and Ahimaaz, her soul was roused to all the energy that characterizes woman in the hour of danger, and she called her father to the door.

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"Abiathar hastily obeyed the summons. Tamar, my daughter, are you here?'

“Did you say brother Jonathan is exposed by being at Enrogel?'

"Exposed! My dear, his life and the life of Ahimaaz is in peril every moment, till they are warned to fly. Absalom and Ahithophel are resolved to kill King David and all his friends. Alas! what shall we do?' "Father, I can go and tell them to fly.'

"But the gates are guarded; we cannot pass.'

"But I can pass them, father; the guards know me well; they let me pass as often as I please, going to and from the house of Phinehas the Levite at Bahurim.' "That will do!' said Hushai, springing to his feet; 'that will do, bring her in, bring her in. the God of Abraham, there is hope yet.'

Thanks to

She

"Abiathar hastily led her into the apartment. was delicate and slender, and extremely youthful in appearance: on her cheek the rose had now mounted above the lily, that usually predominated there; but her manner was firm, and her step elastic and light as that of the nimble fawn on the lofty ridges of Carmel. Hushai took her eagerly by the arm: My child, hasten with all your might to Ahimaaz and Jonathan ; them to escape to David, and warn him to fly to Jordan, and cross the river, if possible, by the break of day; tell

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tell

him to speed his way to Mahanaim, in the tribe of Gad; few of them have joined in the rebellion. Tell him Absalom and Ahithophel are intent on his death, and I fear they will pursue and overtake him before the morning light.'

"The door opened, and Tamar left the room. Down the street she glided, like a meteor through the gathering gloom. The guards were in the act of closing the gates, but suffered her to pass after bandying a few playful words; and on she tripped, with a fluttering heart, toward the Fuller's Fountain. (2 Sam. xvii. 17.) "Our narrative now," said Belial, "returns to Absalom.

When the vote, at the close of Hushai's speech, had settled the question that David would not be pursued till more forces were assembled, the council was dissolved, and many of the nobles of Jerusalem left the hall. Their houses were crowded with acquaintances from all quarters, now collected in the city. Absalom, however, still remained. Newly arrived princes had sought the council-chamber: with these he must be familiar, and each put in drafts upon his time, and he still continued to follow up his electioneering arts, so that the number in the council-chamber was yet considerable.

"The revolution goes bravely on,' said a powerful chief from Mount Ephraim, who had but recently come. "Bravely, bravely,' answered Absalom.

"I understand that the old king,' said the chief, 'has fled without striking a blow; and that all Jerusalem is unanimous for your majesty.'

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Unanimous,' said Absalom; ' and from the country they are pouring in, thousands on thousands '