And such is the temper of
all Israel--nay," he broke off, conscientiously; "there is an
exception, an unusual exception."
"There may be more," Joshua replied. "There is much in Egypt to hold
the slavish. But the captain of Israel hath called me, out of peaceful
shepherd life, to the severe fortunes of a warrior, and I go, no mile
too short, no moment too swift, that shall speed me into Pa-Ramesu."
"And thou takest up arms for Israel?" Caleb cried. "Ah! but Moses hath
gloved his right hand in mail, in thee, O Son of Nun! But," he
continued, uneasy with his story untold, "this was no slavish content
under a master. Rather did it come from one of the best of Israel."
"Strange that the lofty of Israel should regret a departure from the
land of the oppressors." Joshua settled himself on the camel and the
tall beast rose to its feet with a lurch.
"Even so," Caleb answered, patting the nose of the camel and arranging
the tassels of its halter. "It was a quarry-slave, a maiden and of
gentle blood among the nobility of Israel. She is in the bamboo
litter, Miriam is in the other.
"We are come from farthest Egypt, fifty of us in three barges," he
began. "To Syene have we been and all the Nilotic towns.
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