"Perhaps he was behind the people?"
"Indeed the people sometimes were in front of him. But at one time he was higher and at another time lower."
"Maybe he went up on the hill and came down from it?"
"He must have gone up and come down, but maybe he stretched and shortened himself, for he was a great wonderworker. Barely had he said, 'The Nile will rise,' and that minute the Nile began to rise."
"And didst Thou throw stones, Anup?"
"How should I dare to throw stones into the garden of the erpatr? I am a simple fellow, my hand would wither to the elbow for such sacrilege."
The prince gave command to stop the examination, and when they had led away the accused, he asked the official,
"Are these of the most guilty?"
"Thou hast said it, lord," answered the official.
"In that case all must be liberated today. We should not imprison people because they wished to convince themselves that the holy Nile was rising or for listening to music."