“Have these men,” he called from the road so loudly that Kasana could not fail to hear, “seen the face of the good god, the lord of both worlds?” And when he received a reluctant answer, he went on arrogantly: 

“No matter!  At least they beheld mine and that of the fairest of women, and if they hope for favor on that account they are right.  You know who I am.  Let the chains that bind them together be removed.”  Then, beckoning to the man, he whispered: 

“But keep your eyes open all the wider; I have no liking for the fellow beside the bush, the ex-chief Hosea.  After returning home, report to me and bring news of this man.  The quieter he has become, the deeper my hand will sink in my purse.  Do you understand?”

The warder bowed, thinking:  “I’ll take care, my prince, and also see that no one attempts to take the life of any of my moles.  The greater the rank of these gentlemen, the more bloody and strange are their requests!  How many have come to me with similar ones.  He releases the poor wretches’ feet, and wants me to burden my soul with a shameful murder.  Siptah has tried the wrong man!  Here, Heter, bring the bag of tools and open the moles’ chains.”

While the files were grating on the sand-hill by the road and the prisoners were being released from the fetters on their ancles,—­though for the sake of security each man’s arms were bound together,—­Pharaoh’s host marched by.

Kasana had commanded Prince Siptah to release from their iron burden the unfortunates who were being dragged to a life of misery, openly confessing that she could not bear to see a chief who had so often been a guest of her house so cruelly humiliated.  Bai’s wife had supported her wish, and the prince was obliged to yield.

Joshua knew to whom he and Ephraim owed this favor, and received it with grateful joy.

Walking had been made easier for him, but his mind was more and more sorely oppressed with anxious cares.

The army passing yonder would have been enough to destroy down to the last man a force ten times greater than the number of his people.  His people, and with them his father and Miriam,—­who had caused him such keen suffering, yet to whom he was indebted for having found the way which, even in prison, he had recognized as the only right one—­seemed to him marked out for a bloody doom; for, however powerful might be the God whose greatness the prophetess had praised in such glowing words, and to whom he himself had learned to look up with devout admiration,—­untrained and unarmed bands of shepherds must surely and hopelessly succumb to the assault of this army.  This certainty, strengthened by each advancing division, pierced his very soul.  Never before had he felt such burning anguish, which was terribly sharpened when he beheld the familiar faces of his own troops, which he had so lately commanded, pass before him under the leadership of another.  This time they were taking the field to hew down men of his own blood.  This was pain indeed, and Ephraim’s conduct gave him cause for fresh anxiety; since Kasana’s appearance and interference in behalf of him and his companions in suffering, the youth had again lapsed into silence and gazed with wandering eyes at the army or into vacancy.