Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08


kent their ewes open and relieved each other
at regular intervals. Their vigilance would
be hard to evade; but close to the trough
which formed Ephraim's bed and which his
uncle, for their greater comfort, had dug py
the side of his own on the gentle slope OF
mound. a narrow rift widened to a ravine,
its edge cleaning in the moonlight with
veins of white gypsum and sparkling ores
Ifthe supple lad could but slip unseen into
this hollow and creep along it as far as the
shores of wonder salt lake, overgroWn with
tall mares-taiI and thicket of desert
shrubs, under cover of the gathering clouds,
he might succeed in his attempt.
Having come to this conclusion, Joshua
next considered, as calmly as though he was
deciding on route for his troops, whether,
if be had the use of his hands, be might be
able to follow Ephraim without imperiling
the boys escape. But to this he could only
fnd q negative; for one of the watch was
close at hano, sitting or standing on high
er point of the hillock, and in the bright
moonlight he could not fail to see every
movement if the lad united his bonds.
Moreover, the clouds might perhaps have
plished, and then Ephraim might let slip
the one favorable moment which promised
him release, and be led into danger on his
account. He was this boys natural pro-
tector, and would it not be base, indeed, to
bar his way to freedom for the sake OF q
doubtful prospect OF escape for himself?
So he whispered to Ephraim:
At cannot go with you. Glide along the
rift to the right, down to the salt lake.
will keep an eye on the guards. As soon as
the clouds hide the moon and I cough, creep
sway. If you succeed, fly to your people
Greet my old father from me, assure him of
my love and truth, and tell him whittier I
am being taken. Listen to his and Miriam s
counsel; it will be good. Now the clouds
are gathering about the moon-not another
wordP'
EphrAim persisted in imploring him, in
the softest whisper, TO put forth his hands,
but he only bid him be silent; and as soon
as the moon was shrouded, and the watch
who was pacing to and fro just above them
had begun a conversation with the man who
came to relieve him, Joshua coughed gently
and then listened in the darkness with a
throbbing heart and bated breath.
First be heard slight rustic, and by the
fare of the fire on the top of the slope,
which the drivers now mended to keep of
wild beasts, he saw that Ephraim's bed was
deserted.
At this he breathed more freely, for the
ravine must by this time hide the boy, and,
when he listened more sharply than before
to catch q sound OF creeping or slipping, he
could hear nothing but the guards talking
and their heavy footsteps.
Their voices reached his ear but not the
words they spoke, SO eagerly was be bent on
following the youth in his flight. How
agile and how cautious the fugitive must be
in his movements! He must still be in the
raFine. The moon seemed to be struggling
with the clouds, till for moment the silver
disk VIGOROUSLY rent the heavy black cur
tain which hid it from the eyes of men, and
the long, bright shaft of light was mirrored
in the motionless waters of the salt lake;
Joshua could see everything that lay below
him, but he detected nothing which bore
any resemblance to a human figure.
Had the lad met with some obstacle in the
dell? was he checked by cliff or a gulf in
its gloomy depths? or-and at this thought
his heart seemed to stand still-had the
abyss swallowed him up as he felt his way
in the darkness? Now he longed to hear q
sound-the very faintest-from the depths
Of the ravine. This stiffness was fearfull
Ahl sooner silence than this! A clatte,
up, too loud now, through the still night
The moon, too, again peeped out from its
veil Of clouds, and Joshua saw, down by the
pool, living form which seemed that of 8
beast rather than of a man, for it went alone
on all-fours. And now the water splasbec
up in glittering drops The creature, what
ever it was, had plunged into the lake. AnC
again the clouds hid the moon and all wal
dark. Joshua breathed more freely. SAVING
TO himself that it was Ephraim whom he hac
seen, and that the fugitive, come what
might, had gained good start on his pur
suers.
But the men were not sleeping nor de
ceived; for, although he cried out in ordeI
to mlslead them. s'A jackal!' a shril
whistle rang out, svaking all the sleepers
In moment the driver Of the gang wa
standing over him, burning torch in hi
hand, and he heaved sigh of relief wber
he saw the prisoner safe. 1t was not fol
nothing that he had tied him with doubl,
cords, for he would have been made to pa,
for il dearly if this man had escaped him.
But, while the driver was feeling the rom
that bound the Hebrews wrists. the fare q
the torch he held fell on the fugitive's empt,
resting place. The cords he had bittei
through lay there yet, as if in mockery. Tn
driver picked them up, cast them at Joshua'
feet, whistled loudly again and again ant
shouted:
''Gonel Flownl the Hebrew! the youu,
onel' And troubling himself no furtbe
about the elder prisoner, he at once begal
the search.
Hoarse with rage, he gave his order
rapidly; all were clear, and all were forth
with obeyed.
While some Of his men collected the gang
counted them over, and bound them to
gether with cords, the leader, with the res,
and helped by dogs, sOughtsome trace Of tn
fugitive.
Joshua saw him bring the beasts to snit
at the cords Ephraim had gnawed through
and the place where he had lain, and thel
they started direct for the ravine. III
bresthed hard as he preceived that they lin
gered there some little time, ana at last, ius
as the moon again came through the clouds
emerged on the shore, and rushed down .
the waters edge. He was glad tha
Ephraim had waded through it, for the dog
here lost the scent, and many minute
slipped by while the guards and tn
dogs, who poked their noses into every foot
print left by the runaway, made their wa,
round the shore to find the trace again
Then their loud tongue told him thar the
had recovered the scent. But even if the
should track and run down the fugitive. th
fettered warrior did not now fear the worst
for Ephraim had long start of his pur
suers; still his heart beat isst, and tim
seemed to stand still till the driver cam
back again, exhausted and unsuccessful
Though be, q man Of middle age, couli