Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-18
CHAPTER Xxx.
Through the Red Sea.

The voices OF the storm found harmonious
tones of different pitch and swelled in
glorious accord from the faintest breath of
melody to an almighty blast that stunned
the senses with stupendous harmony. Then
the chord seemed to melt and lose itself in
the wild dissonances of the hurricane
The turmoil of Israel began to subside,
growing fainter, ceasing among the ranks
nearest the sea- failing toward the rear
dying away like a sigh up and down the
long encampment. The people that had
been on their knees rose slowly. The bleat-
ing of the focks quieted into stiffness. Com
motion ceased and Israel held it's breath
The Lawgiver had passed from among
them. and those that followed him with
their eyes saw that he was moving toward
the sea, seemingly at the very limit of the
outer radiance and still going on. First to
one and then to another. it became ap
parent that the extent of the illuminated
beach was widening. Hither and th.ther
over the multitude the intelligence ran in
whispers or by chances Having showed
his neighbor each looked again. Ripple
worn sand, shells. barnacle-covered rocks
slowly came within the pale OF the radi-
ance, and Moses moved with it, Eight
stalwart Hebrews. bearing a funeral ark
shrouded with purple PAIL fringed with
gold, emerged from among the people ana
taking a place in front of the Lawgiyer
walked confidently down the sand toward
the east.
The radiance progressed step by step.
Wet rocks entered the glow lines of sea-
weed, immense drifts of debris, the brink
of ledge, the shadow before it, and then
a sandy bottom.
A long line of old men, two abreast, the
wind making the picture awesome as il
tossed their boards and gray robes, follow
ed the Lawgiver. After these several lit
tiers. borne by young men. proceeded in
imposing order.
Except for the raving of the tempest
there was no sound in Israel.
double file of camels with sumptuous
housings moved with dignified and unhasty
tread after the filters BY this time the
foremost ranks of the procession were some
distance ahead, the limit of radiance lust
in advance, and lighting with special ten
derness the funeral ark. Here were the
bones of that noblest son of Jacob Hav-
Ing brought Israel into Egypt, Joseph was
leading it forth again.
Pools. lighted by the ray, glowed like
sheets of gold, darkling here and there with
shadow; long lodges of rock. bearded with
deep-Water growth, sparkled rarely in the
light: stretches of sodden sand. co.ored
with salts of the waters and Uttered with
curious fsh-life, lay between,
Where was the sea?
After the camels followed a score OF
mules. little and trim In contrast to the
tall shaggy beasts ahead of them They
were burden-bearing animals, precious
among Israel for they We're laden with the
records of the tribes, much treasure in
jewels and fine stuffs. incense, writing ma
terials and such things as the people would
need, and were not to be had from among
them. or like to be found IN the places to
which they might come. These passed and
their drivers with them.
The next moment Kenkenes was caught
in the center of a rushing wave OF human
ity. He fought Off the CONSERVATION that
threatened to seize him and tried to care
for himself. but reed on the breast Of the
Nile at flood could not have been more
helpless. Behind Israel were the Egyp-
tians. ahead Of it miraculous escape; the
one impulse of the multitude was flight.
That any remembered his mate or his chill
dren, his goods, his treasure or his cattle,
was marvel
The foremost ranks. moving in directly
behind the leaders. had adopted their pace.
Furthermore. as the advance guard, they
had greater sense of security, and before
them was all the east open for flight. Not
SO with the hindmOst: they were near the
dreaded place from which the army would
descend: ahead Of them was a deliberate
host: within them. sOul-consuming fear and
panic The rear rushed. the forward ranks
walked and the center caught between was
damned into a compact mass.
Neither halt nor escape was possible.
Press as the hindmost might upon those
forward. the pace was slackened, instead
of uuickened. The advance grew slower as
1t extended back through the ranks, for
each succeeding line lost modicum In the
length of the STEP till at the rear they were
pushing hard and barely moving. No won
swayed and pressed. How they reviled the
snail-like leaders. not knowing that the
sturdy pace Jagged In the body Of the null
titude. So they hasted and progressed only
inch by inch.
ITO be continued tomorrow.)