l's and its enemies shall crouch without its borders, confounded
at the splendor of the children of God. And there will our princes
arise and a throne be set up and a mighty nation established. Cities
will shine white and strong-walled on the heights, and caravans of
commerce will follow down the broad roadways to the sea. There will
the ships of Israel come bowing over the waters with the riches of the
world, and our wharves will be crowded with purple and gold and
frankincense. Babylon shall do homage on the right hand and Egypt upon
the left, and the straight smoke from Jehovah's altar will rise from
the center unfailing by day or by night."

They had reached the ledge and Kenkenes sat down on it, leaning on one
hand across Rachel's way. She paused near him. Even in the dark he
could see the light in her eyes, and the joy of anticipation was in her
voice. As yet he did not know whether she talked of the Israelitish
conception of supernal life, or of a belief in a temporal redemption.

"And there shall be no death nor any of the world-sorrows therein?" he
asked.

"Since we shall dwell in the world we may not escape the world's
uncertainties," she replied, looking at his lifted face. "But most men
live better lives when they live happily, and I doubt not there will be
less unhappiness, provident or fortuitous, in Israel, the nation, than
in Israel, enslaved."

So the slave talked of freedom as slaves talk of it--hopefully and
eloquently. A pity asserted itself in the young sculptor's heart and
grew to such power that it tinctured his speech.

"Is thy heart then so firmly set on this thing?" he asked gently.

"It is the hope that bears Israel's burdens and the balm that heals the
welt of the lash."

And in the young man's heart he said it was a vain hope, a happy
delusion that might serve to make the harsh bondage endurable till time
dispelled it. The simple words of the girl were eloquent portrayal of
Israel's plight, and Kenkenes subsided into a sorry state of helpless
sympathy. She was not long in interpreting his silence.

"Vain hope, is it?" she said. "And how shall it come to pass in the
face of the Pharaoh's denial and the might of Egypt's arms? Thou art
young and so am I, but both of us remember Rameses. There has been
none like him. He overthrew the world, did he not? And it was a hard
task and a precarious and a long one, when he but measured arms with
mortals. Is it not a problem wor