The other seceding ten tribes called themselves the kingdom of Israel." "Everybody knows that," said Grim.

"What of it ?" "Well, the Assyrians came down and conquered the kingdom of Israel--marched all the Israelites away into captivity--and they vanished out of history.

From that day to this their Book of Chronicles, so often referred to in the Old Testament, has never been seen nor heard of." "Of course not," said Grim.

"The King of Assyria used it to wipe his razor on when he was through shaving every morning." "Ach! You joke again; but I tell you I am not joking.

Such people as those Hebrews are naturally secretive and so proud that they wrote down for posterity all the doings of their puny kings, would never have let their records fall into the hands of the Assyrians.