Warren sheaf., 1905-09-07
CHAPTER l.

CS'sOsING THE TENS.
n n FAB the eastern boundary of
lN|l that level region of northern
vi Egypt known as the delta once
~ thridded by seven branches
of the sea hunting Nile, Rameses H.,
in the fourteenth century B. c., erect
ed the city Of Pithom and stored his
treasure therein. His riches oyertaxed
it's Golfers, and he builded Pa-Ramesu,
in part, to hold the overflow But he
died before the work was completed by
half, and his fourteenth son and sue
cessor, Meneptah, took it up and push
ed it with the nomad bond people that
dwelt in the delta
The city was laid out near the CEN
ter Of Goshen, a long strip Of fertile
country given over to the Israelites
since the days Of the Hyksos king
Apepa, near the year 1900 B. G.
Morning in the land Of the Hebrew
dawned over level fields green with
unripe wheat and meadow grass.
Wherever the soil was better for graz
ing great .fiocks of sheep moved in
compact clouds, with lank dog and
an ancient shepherd following them.
The low, shapeless tents and matched
novels Of the Israelites stood in the
center of gardens Of lentils, garlic and
lettuce, securely hedged against the in
roads of hares and rowing cattle. Close
to these were compounds for the aocks
and brush Enclosures for geese and
cotes for the pigeons used in sacrifice.
Here dwelt the aged in trusteeship over
the land, while the young and sturdy
!. builded Pa-Ramesu.
Sunrise on the uncompleted city tip
ped the raw lines Of her half built
walls with broken fire and gilded the
folding clinging to bald facades seem
ed frail and cobwebby at great height,
and slabs Of stone drawn and held by
cables near the summit of chutes look
ed like dice on the giddy slide.
On slight eminence overlooking the
camp were numerous small structures
of sun dried brick grouped about one
Of larger dimensions. Above this was
raised military standard, a hawk up
on crossbar, from which hung party
colored tassels Of linen floss. By this
sign the order of government was de-
noted. The Hebrews were under mar
tial law.
Before one Of the tents an old wo-
man knelt beside bed of live Goals,
turning a browning water fowl upon
pointed stick.
There was little inside the tent ex-
cept the meagerest essential furnish
ing. A long amphora stood in a tama-
risk rack in one corner; linen napkin
hung pinned to the tent cloth over it;
a glazed laver and small box sat be-
side it. A mat Of braided reeds, the
handiwork Of the old Israelite, covered
the naked earth. This served as seat
or table for the occupants. Several
wisps Of straw were scattered about,
and heap Of it, over which a cotton
cloak had been thrown, lay in one cGr-
,ner. Il
"Rachel," the old woman said brisk
~.
Evidently some one slept under the
straw, for the heap stirred.
"Rachel!' the old woman reiterated,
drawing off the cloak.
Without any preliminary pushing
away Of the straw a young girl sat up.
A little bewildered, she divested her
head and shoulders Of frowsy straw
thatch and stood erect, shaking it off
from her single short garment.
old. Above medium height and of no.
bier proportions than the typical wo-
man Of the race, her figure was re-
markable for its symmetry and utter
grace. The stamp of the cOuntenance
was purely Semitic, except that she
was distinguished most wondrously in
color from her kind. Her sleep had
left it's exquisite heaviness on eyes Of
the tenderest blue, and the luXuriant
hair she pushed back from her face
was a fleece Of gold. Hers was that
rare complexion that does not tan. The
sun but frightened her hair and
wrought the hue Of health in her
cheeks. Her forehead was low, broad
and white as marble, her neck and
arms white, and the hands, busted with
the hair, were strong, soft, dimpled
and white The grace Of her woman
hood had not been overcome by the
slave labor which she had known from
infancy.
She went to the amphora and poured
water into the laver, drew forth from
the box horn comb and vial Of pow
dered soda from the Natron lakes and
with her toilet.
''Came some one?' she asked present
ly.
Deborah pointed to the smoking
bowl. Rachel inspected the fowl.
Marsh hen!' she cried in surprise.
"Atsu brought it,
Rachel smiled. 81.
Thou art beset from new direc-
don" the old woman continued dryly,
''but thou hast naught to fear from
him."
may, 1 know" Rachel murmured.