"Herhor gave us thirty measures of barley. He is the only man in Egypt who reveres science, but the young pharaoh is frivolous."
"Do not be severe on him, father," interrupted Pentuer. "Ramses XIII wishes to improve the lot of laborers and artisans, and give them every seventh day to rest; he forbids to beat them without trial, and perhaps he will find land for them."
"But I tell thee that he is light-minded," said the irritated Menes. "Two months ago I sent him a great plan for lessening the toil of laborers, and he laughed at me. He is conceited and ignorant!"
"Thou art prejudiced, father. But tell me thy plan and perhaps I may assist in applying it."
"Plan?" repeated the old man. "It is not a plan, it is a great fact."
He rose from the bench and went then with Pentuer to a pond in the garden, at which was an arbor concealed altogether by plant growth. In this structure was a large wheel in perpendicular position with a number of buckets on the outer rim of it. Menes went into the centre and began to move his feet; the wheel turned and the buckets took water from the pond and poured it into a trough which stood somewhat higher.
"A curious instrument!" said Pentuer.
"But dost Thou divine what it may do for the people of Egypt?"
"No."
"Then imagine this wheel to be five or ten times greater than it is, and that instead of a man a pair of bullocks are moving it."