new condition had made
little change in her nature and conduct. The fate of her people and
the intercourse with God, whose prophetess she felt herself to be, were
still her highest aims. Now that all for which she had hoped and prayed
was fulfilled; now that at the first great triumph of her efforts she
had expressed the feelings of the faithful in her song, she felt as
if she were the leader of the grateful multitude at whose head she had
marched singing and as if she had attained the goal of her life.

Ephraim had reminded her of Hosea and, while talking with him about the
prisoner, she moved on as proudly as a queen, answering the greetings
of the throng with majestic dignity. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and her
features wore an expression of compassion only at brief intervals, when
the youth spoke of the greatest sufferings which he had borne with his
uncle. She doubtless still remembered the man she had loved, but he was
no longer necessary to the lofty goal of her aspirations.

Ephraim had just spoken of the beautiful Egyptian, who had loved Hosea
and at whose intercession the prisoner's chains had been removed, when
loud outcries were heard at a part of the strand where many of the
people had gathered. Shouts of joy mingled with yells of fury; and
awakened the conjecture that the sea had washed some specially valuable
prize ashore.

Curiosity drew both to the spot, and as Miriam's stately bearing made
the throng move respectfully aside, they soon saw the mournful contents
of a large travelling-chariot, which had lost its wheels. The linen
canopy which had protected it was torn away, and on the floor lay two
elderly Egyptian women; a third, who was much younger, leaned against
the back of the vehicle thus strangely transformed into a boat. Her
companions lay dead in the water which had covered its floor, and
several Hebrew women were in the act of tearing the costly gold
ornaments from the neck and arms of one of the corpses. Some chance
had preserved this young woman's life, and she was now giving her rich
jewels to the Israelites. Her pale lips and slender, half-frozen hands
trembled as she did so, and in low, musical tones she promised the
robbers to yield them all she possessed and pay a large ransom, if
they would spare her. She was so young, and she had shown kindness to a
Hebrew surely they might listen to her.

It was a touching entreaty, but so often interrupted by threats and
curses that only a few c