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"Did you say they will pursue after David to-night?' "That was Ahithophel's counsel,' said Tamar. 'But Hushai told father, that he made the strongest speech in his power to persuade Absalom to put it off for a day or two till more of his friends could be collected, for that Joab and Abishai would fight like lions for their uncle's life, and they had a great many mighty men with them, and if he rushed on them before he was ready with a strong army, he might be defeated.' “Ah,' said Phinehas, Hushai wanted to gain time for David. The old fox, how cunning!

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Gossips, you know, have a saying in store

'He that masters a lawyer has only one more.

"But Hushai did not know whether Absalom would follow his counsel or Ahithophel's,' said Tamar. "But, Tamar,' said Phinehas, 'what set Jonathan and Ahimaaz to racing through the country at such a rate? They ran through here as if they thought all Absalom's army was after them.'

"They were concealed at Enrogel,' said Tamar, 'to find out Absalom's plans, and carry the news to David. I went and told them to fly and tell David what Ahithophel had counselled against him. It was well I went when I did, for they were not out of sight, when Absalom's men galloped up and surrounded the house where they had been. But Ahimaaz said they were just going to start when I came, for that boy, Ira the Kenite had been there looking about, and had seen where they were hid, and they were every moment afraid he would tell it to Absalom, or to some of his friends.'

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"That gimlet-eyed little Kenite,' said Phinehas, I was he there? Never fear for him: he must see and know all that is going on: he is in his element now, no doubt.'

"O, he had told it, I know; for the Danites, when they came to Enrogel, had him along, and he showed them the place where he had seen Ahimaaz and Jonathan; but when they could not be found, the Danites galloped off, and left him there.'

"That was fortunate,' said Phinehas: had they brought him along, we should all have been detected. You would never have got him away from the house, without having a peep into that well. But, Tamar, how came you to be sent to Enrogel? Was there no stouter messenger in so rough a time as this?'

"Hushai, and Zadok, and father, all said they dare not go, for it would be instant death if Absalom found any one favoring David; but I'

"Wife! wife! do you hear that?' ejaculated Phinehas. 'What do you think of your share in this business?'

"Why, husband, do you think they take notice of

us?'

"Take notice! ah, indeed will they, and be as bitter as vipers. Did you not hear the threat of Ben Huppim on his return? Yes, all we have done will be publicly known before morning. We must fly. Our only hope is to try to reach David's party, and escape with them beyond Jordan.'

"We must now," said Belial, "leave this family in the midst of their apprehensions and projects for safety, in order to notice the condition of David."

CHAPTER XX.

THE RETREAT.

“AHITHOPHEL, as usual, had judged with unerring correctness the exact state of David's mind, and his exposed situation. The storm had burst upon him so suddenly, and wave after wave of calamities, heavy and horrible, had rolled over him, till his spirit was bent to the earth, and he had made no attempt to conceal himself, in case he should be pursued, or to resist in defence of his life. He looked upon himself as under the rebuke of God; and now he prayed for pardoning mercy, and now he thought of Absalom's ingratitude and guilt. Yet in the midst of these gloomy meditations, he cherished hopes, sometimes stronger and sometimes weaker, but still hopes, that Absalom would relent, and send after him a message of peace, and that all things could be adjusted without the dire necessity of a resort to arms. Joab, however, seeing his uncle in an agony of mental distress, quietly put the men in order at the place where they had halted, stationed a sufficient guard at a proper distance, and himself walked silently back and forth, at a little distance within the line of sentinels, ready in case the worst should come.

"All was now still; and as the dark mantle of night began to cover hill and valley, prince and peasant, the tranquillity of the scene imparted a soothing influence

to the harassed and agonized mind of David. It had long been his habit, at the closing hour of day, to lift up his heart and voice in praise to God. Standing now under a spreading and stately palm, his faithful adherents ranged around, in a low and subdued tone, he chanted the following

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"At the close of this hymn, David addressed Ittai the Gittite, who was standing close by his side.

"I think, my dear and long-tried friend, that surely Absalom, when he finds the palace, and throne, and kingdom all left to him, and no attempt at resistance, will relent, and send us a message of peace.'

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"You would consent,' said Ittai, to allow him a share of the throne and kingdom, during your declining days, if that would content him?'

"Willingly, most willingly,' answered David: 'he is the undisputed heir to the kingdom; and so far as is consistent with the public good, I would gladly roll a portion of its burdens on him; for, Ittai, I grow weary of the cares and distractions of public life.'

"He will certainly be satisfied with such an arrangement as that,' said Ittai,' and I fondly hope all will yet go well.'

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"O, had I but known his wishes sooner, all this disgrace and agony of soul might have been avoided; but Ittai, on that dark cloud we are contemplating, thère is one spot so frightfully black, that I shudder while I look upon

it.'

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