rsuaded from its blood-sucking by milder means. Ye mind me of
the Pharaoh!"

He turned toward the well, and his glance fell on the man-at-arms for
the first time. He started a little to find himself not alone, and a
second time he started with sudden recognition. The well was between
him and the soldier. He leaned upon his hands on the top of the curb
and gazed at his opposite. Once he seemed about to speak, but the
studious disregard of the soldier deterred him. Slowly his eyes fell
until they were directed thoughtfully through his own reflection into
the green depths of the well.

Although there were ten years in favor of the Egyptian, there was a
certain similarity between the two men. Both were soldiers, both black
and stern. But one was a Hebrew, no less than forty-five years of age.
He wore a helmet of polished metal, equipped with a visor, which, when
raised, finished the front with a flat plate. The top of the
head-piece was ornamented with a spike. His armor was complete--shirt
of mail, shenti extending half-way to the knees, greaves of brass and
mailed shoes.

He was as tall as the Egyptian and as lean, but his structure was
heavy, stalwart and powerful. His forehead was broad and bold, his
eyes deep-set, steel-blue and keen. He had the fighting nose,
over-long and hooked like an eagle's beak. The inexorable character of
his features was borne out by the mouth, thin-lipped and firm in its
closing. Even his beard, scant and touched with gray, was intractable.
Here was an Israelite who was a warrior, a rare thing--but splendid
when found.

After a pause he turned, and the camel knelt at his command. The
litters had halted a little distance away under two palms that leaned
their leafless crowns together. The attendant was hastening toward the
well.

"Joshua!" he cried joyously.

"Even I," the Hebrew soldier said, walking around the kneeling beast.
"Peace to thee, Caleb."

The two men embraced; the warrior imperturbably, the attendant
tearfully.

"What dost thou away from Goshen?" Joshua asked, disengaging himself.
"The faithful of Israel have been summoned thither from the
remotenesses of Mizraim."

But Caleb did not hear, having caught sight of the Egyptian. The
recognition startled him as it had all the others, but he did not hold
his peace.

"Atsu!" he exclaimed. Joshua checked him.

"Vex him not with attention," he said in a lowered tone. "His fall
hath been great, but it h