“There may be more,” Joshua replied.  “There is much in Egypt to hold the slavish.  But the captain of Israel hath called me, out of peaceful shepherd life, to the severe fortunes of a warrior, and I go, no mile too short, no moment too swift, that shall speed me into Pa-Ramesu.”

“And thou takest up arms for Israel?” Caleb cried.  “Ah! but Moses hath gloved his right hand in mail, in thee, O Son of Nun!  But,” he continued, uneasy with his story untold, “this was no slavish content under a master.  Rather did it come from one of the best of Israel.”

“Strange that the lofty of Israel should regret a departure from the land of the oppressors.”  Joshua settled himself on the camel and the tall beast rose to its feet with a lurch.

“Even so,” Caleb answered, patting the nose of the camel and arranging the tassels of its halter.  “It was a quarry-slave, a maiden and of gentle blood among the nobility of Israel.  She is in the bamboo litter, Miriam is in the other.

“We are come from farthest Egypt, fifty of us in three barges,” he began.  “To Syene have we been and all the Nilotic towns.  To Nehapehu, and even deep into the Great Oasis were messengers sent, for we would not leave a single son of Abraham behind.  And the masters surrendered them to a man!  Was it the face of Miriam or the fear of Moses or the might of the Lord that tamed them?  Hath Miriam a compelling glance, or Moses a power that came not from Jehovah?  Nay, not so.  Praised be His holy name!”

The mild Israelite clasped his hands and raised his eyes devoutly.  But fearful lest his pause might furnish an opportunity for Joshua’s escape, he continued at once: 

“We were descending the Nile, below Memphis; the river sang and the hills lifted up their voices.  There was rejoicing in the meadows and clapping of hands in the valleys.  We possessed the gates of our enemies and Mizraim sat upon the shores and wept after us.

“Below Masaarah, the darkness fell; the sun perished in the morning and the stars were not summoned in the night, for the Lord had withdrawn the lights of heaven.  But His hand was upon the waters and His glory stood about us and we feared not.

“And lo! there came a call upon Him from the shores to the east.  The barge of Miriam paused and from the land we succored an Israelitish maiden.  But when we would have moved on, she flung herself before Miriam and besought her: 

“‘Depart not yet, for there is another.’

“‘Of the chosen?’ the prophetess asked.

“‘Nay, an Egyptian, but better and above his kind.’

“‘Of the faith?’ Miriam asked further.  And the maiden faltered and said, ‘Nay, not yet—­but worthy and kindly.’

“But the prophetess bade the men at the poles to continue, saying:  ‘Shall we cheat Jehovah in his intent and rescue an oppressor?’

“But the maiden clung about the knees of Miriam and prayed to her, while the prophetess said, ‘Nay, nay’ and ‘Peace,’ and sought to soothe her, and when at that moment some one called out of the darkness, she put her hand over the maiden’s mouth and would not let her answer.  And the barge went swiftly away.  Then the maiden fell on her face, like one dead, and she will not be comforted.”