As for his presence with Israel, no one heeded him. Sometimes it came
his way to be helpful; an old man lost his feet and becoming
panic-stricken was soothed only when the young Egyptian put a strong
arm about him and held him till his feet touched earth again. Children
became heavy in the arms of parents and the little Hebrews had no fear
of the young man who carried them, a while, instead. But no one
stopped to take notice that this was an Egyptian, totally unlike those
among the "mixed multitude" that had come to join Israel; nor did any
wonder what a nobleman of the blood of the oppressors did among the
fleeing slaves. Indeed, if the host had any thought beyond the impulse
of self-preservation, it was only a dim realization that they were
walking over a most rocky, oozy and untender road and that the smell of
the sea was very strong about them.
In the early hours of the morning, having become so accustomed to the
roar of the wind and the sound of the moving multitude, Kenkenes ceased
to be conscious of it. Other sounds, which hours before would have
failed to reach his ears, became distinct. The crying of tired
children reached him, and he detected even snatches of talk among the
ranks some distance away from him.
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