enkenes
bore witness, by his stature, that he was the protecting Egyptian, and
by his testimony concerning the God of Israel, that he was worthy, this
friendly son of Judah began to suspect that Rachel would be glad to see
the young noble, and he joined Kenkenes in his search. Furthermore, he
softened the hearts of the tribe toward the Egyptian and they tolerated
him with some assumption of grace.

The other tribes gave him no heed except to glower at him in the
camp-ways or to mutter after him when he had passed. Seeing that Judah
suffered him, they did not fall on him. Thus the young man was safe.
As for the notice Kenkenes took of Israel, it began and ended with his
inquiry after Rachel, the daughter of Maai the Compassionate, a son of
Judah. His earnestness absorbed him. Otherwise he was but partly
conscious of great preparations making in camp, of tremendous
excitement, heightening of zeal and vast meetings after nightfall, when
he had withdrawn to a far-off meadow to sleep in the grass.

When he had searched throughout the length and breadth of Israel and
found Rachel not, he led his horse from the distant meadow, where he
had been pastured, and turned his head toward Tanis.

While he was binding the saddle of sheep's wool about the Arab's narrow
girth he was surprised to find that the friendly son of Judah had
followed him to the pasture. The man approached, as though one spirit
urged him and another held him back, and offered Kenkenes the shelter
of his tent for the night.

Somewhat gratified and astonished, Kenkenes, thanked him and declined.
Still the Hebrew lingered and urged him with strange persistence.
Kenkenes expressed his gratitude, but would not stay.

Having taken the road toward Tanis where Rachel might be in the hands
of Har-hat, his heart seemed to turn to iron in his breast. All the
energies and aims of his youth seemed to resolve into one grim and
inexorable purpose.

It was far into the second watch when he left Pa-Ramesu. But the great
city of tents was not yet sleeping.

The horse was anxious for a journey after a fortnight of idleness and
he bade fair to keep pace with his rider's impatience. The Arabian
hills had sunk below the sky-line and the Libyan desert was not marked
by any eminence. With Pa-Ramesu behind him, a wide unbroken horizon
belted the dusky landscape. The lights winked out over Goshen and the
hamlets were not visible except as Kenkenes came upon them. The