The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-08-28
CHAPTER Xxx.
rHaoUGH TIE BED SEA.

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 ant lose itself IN the wild disso-
Z nances Of the hurricane
The turmoil Of Israel began to sub
siSe, growing fainter, ceasing among
the ranks nearest the sea, failing to-
ward the rear, dying away ike a sigh
70 and down the long encampment-
The people that had been on their
knees rose slowly. The bleat1ng Of
the foelzs quieted into stiffness Com
notion ceased, and Israel held its
breath.
The lawgiTer had passed from among
them, and those that followed him with
their eyes saw that he was moving to-
ward the sea. seemingly at the very
limit OF the outer radiance and still
going on. First to one and then to
another it became apparent that the
extent OF the Illuminated beach was
widening. Hither and thither over the
multitude the intelligence ran in whis-
pers or by glances Having showed
his neighbor, each looked again Rip
ple worn sand, shells, -barnacle covered
rocks, slowly came within the pale OF
the radiance, and Moses moved with 1t.
Eight stalwart Hebrews, bearing q
funeral ark, shroaded with purple
pail, fringed with gold, emerged from
among the people and, taking place
in front cf the lawgtver, walked con-
adently ~own the sand toward the
east.
The radiance progressed step By step.
Wet rocks entered the glow, lines OF
seaweed, immense drifts Of debris, the
brink of the ledge, the shadow before
1t, ard then q sandy bottom.
A long line of Old men, two abreast
the wind making the picture awesone
as it tossed their boards and gray.
robes. followed the lawgiver. After
these several litters borne by young
men proceeded In imposing order.
Except for the raFing Of the tempest
there was nogsound In Israel
A double file OF cameis with sumptu-
CTS housings meved with dignifed and
unhasfy tread AFTER the htters. By this
Grne tie goremost ranks Of the pro
cessSon were some distance ahead, the
Limit OF radiance just In advance and
lighting with special tenderness the
funeral ark. Here were the bones Of
that noblest son Of Jacob. Having
brought Israel into Egypt Joseph was
leading it forth again.
Pools lighted by the ray glowed Ike
sheets Of gold, darkhng here and there
with shadow; long hedges Of rock,
bearded with deep water growth, spar
kled rarely in the light; stretches OF
sodden sand, colored with salts OF the
waters and Uttered with curious fish
life lay between.
Where was the sea?
After the cameis followed score OF
mules, little and trim in contrast to the
tall shaggy beasts ahead of them
They were burden bearing anlmals,
precious among Israel, for they were
laden with the records Of the tribes,
rnuch treasure In jewels and fine stu1s,
incense. writing materials and sucn
things as the people would need and
were not to be had from among them
or ike 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 rushing wave
ef humanity He fought off the con-
( sternaton that threatened to seize fdn
and tried to care for himself, but i
reed on the breast Of the Nile at food
could not have been more helpless Be
hind Israel were the Egyptians, ahead
OF it miraculous escape; the one I'M
pulse Of the multitude was fight That
any remembered his mate or his chill
dren, mis- goods, his treasure or his cat
tie vas q marvel
The foremost ranks, moving IN d.
rectly behind the leaders, had adopted
their pee. Furthermore, as the ad-
vance guard they had a greater sense
of security, and before them was all
the east open for dight. Not 80 with
the hindmost. They were near the
dreaded place from which the army
would descend. Ahead Of them was
deliberate host, within them soul con-
guming fear and panic. The rear rush
ed. the forward ranks walked, and the
center, caught between. was jammed
into compact mass.
Neither halt nor escape was possible.
Press as the hindmost might upon those
forward, the pace was slackened in
stead of quickened. The advance grew
slower as it extended back through the
ranks, for each succeeding line lost u
Inodicum in the length Of tie step till
Mt the rear they were pushing hard and
barely moving. No wonder they sob
bed, prayed, painted, surged, swayed
and pressed. How they reviled the
eoo;,lit-o leaders rot knowing that the