leader again, and with a grateful smile helped
the generous lady into the chariot, marvelling at the happy, radiant
gaze with which her tearful eyes followed the convicts.

The horses started, fresh shouts arose, blows from the whips fell on
bare shoulders, now and then a cry of pain rang on the morning air, and
the train of prisoners again moved eastward. The chain on the ancles of
the companions in suffering stirred the dust, which shrouded the little
band like the grief, hate, and fear darkening the soul of each.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A long hour's walk beyond the little temple where the prisoners had
rested the road, leading to Succoth and the western arm of the Red Sea,
branched off from the one that ran in a southeasterly direction past the
fortifications on the isthmus to the mines.

Shortly after the departure of the prisoners, the army which had been
gathered to pursue the Hebrews left the city of Rameses, and as the
convicts had rested some time at the well, the troops almost overtook
them. They had not proceeded far when several runners came hurrying up
to clear the road for the advancing army. They ordered the prisoners
to move aside and defer their march until the swifter baggage train,
bearing Pharaoh's tents and travelling equipments, whose chariot wheels
could already be heard, had passed them.

The prisoners' guards were glad to stop, they were in no hurry. The day
was hot, and if they reached their destination later, it would be the
fault of the army.

The interruption was welcome to Joshua, too; for his young companion had
been gazing into vacancy as if bewildered, and either made no answer
to his questions or gave such incoherent ones that the older man grew
anxious; he knew how many of those sentenced to forced labor went mad or
fell into melancholy. Now a portion of the army would pass them, and
the spectacle was new to Ephraim and promised to put an end to his dull
brooding.

A sand-hill overgrown with tamarisk bushes rose beside the road, and
thither the leader guided the party of convicts. He was a stern man, but
not a cruel one, so he permitted his "moles" to lie down on the sand,
for the troops would doubtless be a long time in passing. As soon as the
convicts had thrown themselves on the ground the rattle of wheels,
the neighing of fiery steeds, shouts of command, and sometimes the
disagreeable braying of an ass were heard.

When the first chariots appeared Ephraim asked if Pharaoh