a country without a master; the people have no fixed
abodes, moving here and there according as they can find food for
their animals, sometimes among the valleys of Sinai, sometimes in
the desert to the east. These people plunder any whom they may come
across, and not content with plunder might slay or carry you away as
slaves. Once you have passed through as far as Moab you are safe; as
you would also be if you journeyed to the west of the Salt Lake, into
which runs the river Jordan. There are many tribes there, all living
in cities, warlike and valorous people, among whom also you would
be safe. We have had many wars with them, and not always to our
advantage. But between us is a sort of truce--they do not molest our
armies marching along by the seacoast, nor do we go up among their
hills to meddle with them. These are the people who at one time
conquered a portion of Lower Egypt, and reigned over it for many
generations until, happily, we rose and drove them out."

"Is the journey between this and the Salt Lake you speak of an arduous
one?"

"It is by no means difficult, except that it were best to carry water
upon the journey, for the wells are few and often dry; but the country
is flat for the whole distance; indeed, there is a tradition that this
gulf at one time extended as far north as the Salt Lake. The road,
therefore, though stony and rough, offers no difficulties whatever;
but I should advise you, if you determine upon the journey, to leave
your son behind."

"It is better for him to travel than to remain here without me,"
Jethro said; "and if we go up through the people you speak of to the
west of this lake and river, it would be but a short journey for us
after disposing of our goods to make our way down to a port on the
Great Sea, whence we may take ship and return quickly to Pelusium, and
thus arrive home before we should find a ship to take us hence."

"That is so," the Egyptian said. "The winds are so uncertain on these
seas that, as far as time goes, you might journey by the route you
propose and reach Egypt more speedily than you would do if you went on
board a ship at once. The danger lies almost entirely in the first
portion of your journey. The caravans that go hence once or twice a
year through Moab to Palmyra are numerous and well armed, and capable
of resisting an attack by these robber tribesmen. But one left a few
weeks ago, and it may be some months before another starts."

"What anim