o living creature. Grey and brown granite cliffs and
ridges rose on both sides of the path, and in the sand which covered
it lay heaps of small bits of red porphyry and coal-black stones that
seemed as if they had been broken by the blows of a hammer and resembled
the dross from which metal had been melted. Greenish masses of rock,
most peculiar in form, surrounded the narrow, cliff circled mountain
valleys, which opened into one another. The ascending path pierced them;
and often the Hebrews, as they entered, feared that the lofty cliffs in
the distance would compel them to return. Then murmurs and lamentations
arose, but the mode of egress soon appeared and led to another
rock-valley.

On departing from the harbor at the Red Sea they had often found thorny
gum acacias and an aromatic desert plant, which the animals relished;
but the farther they entered the rocky wilderness, the more scorching
and arid the sand became, and at last the eye sought in vain for herbs
and trees.

At Elim fresh springs and shade-giving palms were found, and at the
Red Sea there were well-filled cisterns; but here at the camp in the
wilderness of Sin nothing had been discovered to quench the thirst,
and at noon it seemed as though an army of spiteful demons had banished
every inch of shade cast by the cliffs; for every part of the valleys
and ravines blazed and glowed, and nowhere was there the slightest
protection from the scorching sun.

The last water brought with them had been distributed among the human
beings and animals, and when the procession started in the morning not a
drop could be found to quench their increasing thirst.

Then the old doubting rancor and rebelliousness took possession of the
multitude. Curses directed against Moses and the elders, who had led
them from the comfort of well-watered Egypt to this misery, never
ceased; but when they climbed the pass of the "Swordpoint" their parched
throats had become too dry for oaths and invectives.

Messengers from old Nun, Ephraim, and Hur had already informed the
approaching throngs that the young men had gained a victory and
liberated Joshua and the other captives; but their discouragement had
become so great that even this good news made little change, and only a
flitting smile on the bearded lips of the men, or a sudden flash of the
old light in the dark eyes of the women appeared.

Miriam, accompanied by melancholy Milcah, had remained with her
companions instead of,