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 were laden with the records of
the tribes, much treasure in jewels and fine stuffs, incense, writing
materials, 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
humanity. He fought off the consternation that threatened to seize him
and tried to care for himself, but a reed on the breast of the Nile at
flood could not have been more helpless. Behind Israel were the
Egyptians, ahead of it miraculous escape; the one impulse of the
multitude was flight. That any remembered his mate or his children,
his goods, his treasure or his cattle, was a marvel.
The foremost ranks, moving in directly behind the leaders, had adopted
their pace. Furthermore, as the advance-guard, they had a 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.
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