Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-01
CHAPTER XVIII.


the road leading southwark to Succoth and
Baal Zephon parted from that which led in
a south-easterlY direction, across the fortified
frontier line, to the isthmus and the mines.
Not long after the departure of the
prisoners, the army gathered together to
pursue the Hebrews had set forth from the
city OF Rameses, and as the criminals had
rested some considerable time by the well,
the troops had nearly overtaken them. Thus
they had not gone much further when some
pioneers rode up to clear the highway for
the approaching host. They ordered the
gang of prisoners to stand aside, and pro-
ceed no farther till the swift baggage train
containing Pharaoh's tents and household
gear should have passed them; and, indeed,
the Kings chariot wheels could already be
heard.
The drivers were we'll content to be bid
den to wait; they were in no hurry; the day
was hot, and if they were late in reaching
their journeys end it was the fault of the
army. To Joshua, too, the incident was
agreeable, for his young companion in
chains had been staring before him as il in
delirium. and had answered his questions
vaguely or not at all, so that the older man
was growing uneasy. He knew full we'll
how many of those condemned to forced
labor fell into madness or melancholy. And
now q portion of the host would march past
them, and the sight was new to the lad, and
might rouse him from his dull moodiness.
There was by the roadside sandhill over
grown by tamarisk bushes, and to this the
driver led his file of men. He was stern.
but not cruel, so he allowed his "moles" to
stretch themselves on the sand, for the
march past would be long business. They
mad scracely settled themselves when the
roll of wheels, the neIghing of fiery steeds,
and shouts of command were heard, with
now and then the harsh bray of an ass.
AS the foremost chariots approached
Ephriam inquired whether Pharaoh was
not coming; but Joshua informed him with
a smile, that when the King led forth his
troops to battle, first of all, Immediately
after the advanced guard, the Kings camp
and furniture was sent on; for that Pharaoh
and his mobiles liked to find their tents
pitched and the tables spread when the days
march was over, and all, officers and men
alike, were to rest for the night.
Joshua had not yet ceased speaking when
q number of empty carts and asses free of
burthens came past; they were to carry the
tribute OF bread and meal, beasts and birds,
wine and beer, to be paid by each village
through which the sovereign should pass.
This d been levied by the collectors the
day before. Soon after came a company of
warriors in chariots. Each small, two
wheeled chariot, plated with bronze, was
drawn by pair of horses, and in each stood
q man and charioteer. Large quivers were
attached to the breastworks of the chariots,
and the soldiers rested on their spears, or
on their large bows. They were protected
against the missiles of the foe by shirts
covered with scale-armor, or thickly padded
coats of mail under gayly colored tunics;
and by a helmet, as we'll as by the breast
work of the chariot. These, whom Joshua
designated as the vanguard, went forward
at an easy pace, and were followed by vast
multitude of wagons and carts, drawn by
horses, mules or oxen; and with them were
whole herds OF asses with towering loads on
their backs. Next he pointed out to his
nephew the tall spars and poles, and heavy
rolls OF rich stuffs which were to be used in
erecting the kings tent, and which were q
burden for several beasts; the asses and the
carts with the kitchen utensils, and the
camp smithies. With these came the
leeches, wardrobe-keepers, salve makers,
cooks, garland winders, attendants and
slaves attached to the royal camp, all
mounted on asses driven by nimble runners.
All these, having so lately set out, were
still fresh and in high spirits, and those who
noticed the prisoners flung many sharp
jest at them, as is the Egyptian way,
though several applied a balm in the shape
of an aims; others, who said nothing, sent a
slave with a few fruits or some small gift,
for he who was free to-day, might, on the
morrow, be sent after these poor Wretches.
The driver let this pass, and when a slave
whom Joshua had sold sometime since for
oha fad oInnd ffEJoCao 4
pointed to him with q malignant gesture,
the good hearted rough fellow offered the
insulted Hebrew drink of wine out of his
own flask.
Ephraim, who had Jared from Succoth on
foot with staff in his hand, and a small
wallet containing dried lambs flesh, bread,
radishes and dates, expressed his amazement
at the numberless men and things which one
man required for his comfort, and then sank
into melancholy again until his uncle reused
him with some fresh explanation.
AS soon as the camp baggage had gone by
the driver wanted to start with the priso-
ners, but the Kings pioneer-the "opener
of the way'-riding in front of the archers
of the guard, who came next, forbade it, as
it i'll beseemed criminals to mingle with the
soldiers; so they remained on their hillock
and looked at the rest of the procession.
After the archers came the heavy infantry,
carrying shields of strong ox-hide so long as
to cover the brawny bearers from their feet
almost to the chin; and Joshua told the boy
that at night they were placed in circle
round the Kings camp, and SO inclosed it,
as 1t were, with fence. Besides their
shields they carried q javelin, and wore a
short dagger-like sword or a war sickle.
When, after some thousands of these heavily
armed men there followed o troop of sling
men, Ephraim spoke for the first time of his
own accord, exclaiming that such slings as
the shepherds had taught him to make were
far better than those of the soldiers; and
then, encouraged by his uncle, he told him,
so eagerly that the men lying about him
listened to his words, how he himself could
slay not mere jackals, wolves and panthers
with a stone from a sling, but even
vulture on the wing. And meanwhile he
asked the meaning of the standards and the
names of the different companies of war
riors.
Several divisions had already gone past
when at last another crowd of chariots came
in sight, and the driver cried aloud: 'The
kind God The Lord of both worlds! Long
life to him, health and happiness" AS he
spoke he fell on his knees in an attitude of
alteration, and the prisoners lay pIostrate on
their faces to kiss the ground, holding them
selves in readiness to Join at the right mo-
ment, at their gaOler's signal, in the cry,
"All hail and happinessi"
But they still had long to wait before the
expected monarch appeared. After the
chariotmen came the body guard, merce-
naries of foreign nations wearing peculiar
kind of helmet and long swords. They
marched on foot, and Immediately behind
them a vast multitude of priests and scribes
appeared, with number of images of the
gods. Then again a company of guards,
and at last Pharaoh and his court. Fore
most of them all was Bale, the high
priest, in a gilt war chariot drawn by
snlendid brown steeds He had in