Egypt, as a unit, like a single individual,
had done her people to death. Between her and Egypt, then, should be
bitter enmity, rancor that might never be subdued, and eternal warfare.
Her enemy had conquered her, had put her in bondage, and made sport of
her as a pastime. The accumulation of injury and insult seemed more
than she could bear, and the vague hope of Israel in Moses seemed in
the face of Egypt's strength a folly most fatuous.
"O Egypt! Egypt!" she exclaimed with concentrated passion. "What a
debt of vengeance Israel owes to thee!"
The old woman laid her shriveled hands on the arm of her ward.
"Aye, and it shall be paid," she said fiercely. "Thou canst not get
thy people back, nor alleviate for them now the pangs that killed them;
but to the mortally wronged there is one restitution--revenge!"
At this moment some one over near the western limits of the camp cried
out a welcome; a commotion arose, noisy with cheers and rapid with
running. Presently it died down and the pair before the tent saw a
horseman ride through the gloom toward the empty frame house of the
overseer.
The two women lapsed immediately into their absorbed communion again.
"Lay it not to Egypt alone, but to all the offenders against Jehovah.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174