"Make haste!" he heard in the authoritative4 tones of Ben Hesed's voice. "Thou shouldst have prepared the water-skins last night. Feasting is good, but fasting is better, since it giveth diligence rather than sloth5. I would not that ye press on through the fiercest of the midday heat," he added; "the maid hath imperfectly recovered as yet."
"They will walk with the drivers, my lord?"
"Nay6, not so. Thou shalt put the saddle upon Mirah, it will suffice for both."
Marvelling8 greatly at this mark of favor, the men brought the great white dromedary, the favorite of her master, and threw upon her the broad saddle, gay with scarlet9 leather and tinkling10 bells.
Seth stared with amazement11 and delight at the docile12 beast that stood with outstretched neck snuffing at the fresh wind.
"What dost thou make of such favor to these beggar brats13?" said one of the men in low tones to his companion, as he bent14 to fasten the saddle girth.
"Nay, I know not; 'tis a marvel7," answered the other, looking cautiously about him. "Adah told me last night that he had promised to take the lad after his return in the place of his son Eri."
"Ah, sayest thou so? Let me tell thee then that the lad will not return. Why should such a thing be, when the son of his sister is among his tried followers15?"
"What wilt16 thou do to prevent it, son of my lord's sister," said the other, with a low chuckle--"and a kid slain17 also, in the very midst of the mourning, that the heathen beggars might be feasted!" he added with malicious18 enjoyment19.
Seth prudently20 drew back in the darkness quite unnoticed, but not before a fragment of the reply reached him; it was this, and it filled him with vague alarms. "What befell the lad Joseph in the days when he dreamed dreams, may also again happen."
Who was the lad Joseph, he wondered, and what befell him? But he presently forgot this in the bustle21 and excitement of starting forth22 upon their journey. Anat had been aroused, and the two, perched securely on the back of the gentle Mirah, were the centre of a group of women, some of whom held up their little ones to see, while others pushed parcels of fruit into the hand of the blind girl, wishing them prosperity in their journeyings.
At length all was ready, the last strap23 adjusted, the last farewell spoken, and the little cavalcade25, consisting of some three or four camels and as many men, moved slowly away, followed by the stately Mirah, the two children, unaccustomed to the peculiar26 swinging motion of her gait, clinging fast to the saddle and scarcely remembering to look back into the kind faces of their rescuers.
All that day they traveled, stopping only for a brief space at the noontide hour. Seth, remembering the command of Ben Hesed, wondered a little at this, but he said nothing. In the man who seemed to be in command of the expedition, the lad had recognized with a feeling of uneasiness the one who had spoken the mysterious words, "What befell the lad Joseph may also again happen."
"Hast thou ever heard of the lad Joseph?" he said to Anat, when they were once more under way. They had grown somewhat accustomed to the long, swinging strides of the dromedary now, and were consequently more at their ease.
"The lad Joseph?" repeated Anat, in her clear, penetrating27 voice.
"Hist! do not let them hear thee. Yes, the lad Joseph, something strange befell him; it is a legend perhaps. I heard it spoken of in yonder encampment; thou knowest many such tales, for myself I have no mind to remember them."
"There is the great canal of Joseph in the land of Egypt, as thou knowest," said Anat, after a few moments of thought; "there is a tale concerning him who caused it to be made, I know not how long ago. I have heard it many times from our mother. He was a great prince----"
"Nay, then he was not the one; it is of the lad Joseph, and what befell him, that I wish to know," broke in Seth impatiently.
"If thou wilt hold thy peace, water-carrier," replied Anat with dignity, "I will tell thee the tale as it was told me."
"Thou mayest say on; it will help pass away the time."
"He was a great prince," resumed Anat, still with dignity, "but he was also a lad first. I had the tale from our mother. As I have said, it was told to her when she was a maid and dwelt in the borders of the wilderness28; it is a true tale. As a lad this Joseph dwelt in the wilderness, the youngest of twelve brethren, the others were grown men; they hated Joseph and were envious29 of him because their father, who was very rich, gave him many things which they received not, an embroidered30 tunic31, a chain of silver, and such like. The lad also dreamed dreams----"
"Ah!" exclaimed Seth eagerly, "he dreamed, sayest thou?"
"Of a surety," replied the blind girl; "he dreamed that when he bound his sheaf at harvest time, the sheaves of his father and mother and of his brethren came and bowed themselves before it, and other dreams of the like which signified that he would become a great prince, and that all they of his household should do reverence32 before him. He should not have told such dreams," she added sagely33, "for of course his brothers only hated him the more. One day he was sent into the wilderness to fetch dates and honey to the eleven men, his brothers, who were herding34 the flocks; they saw him coming, wearing his fine, many-colored tunic, and they made up their minds to put him out of the way."
"What did they do?" said Seth breathlessly.
"I was just coming to that, impatient one. Canst thou not hold thy peace? Thou art as greedy over this tale as a flock of sparrows over a measure of corn that hath been spilled on the ground."
"I will hold my peace, queen of my soul," said Seth meekly35; "only, I pray thee, tell me what befell the lad."
Somewhat appeased36 by his humble37 demeanor38, the imperious little maid proceeded with her story. "First," she continued impressively, "they thought that they would kill him, and take his fine tunic home and tell their father that a beast had slain him, but just as they were turning the matter over in their minds they spied a caravan39 coming towards them, so they changed their wicked purpose to a wickeder yet, and sold him for a slave. Yes, their own brother for a slave," she repeated, much gratified by the involuntary cry which her listener gave at this. "They took him to Egypt----" she went on.
But Seth did not hear the remainder of the story; he was clenching40 his brown hands in silent anguish41 of soul. It was all clear to him now. They were to be sold as slaves after all of their sufferings and dangers; they would never see the Holy City, nor the man Jesus who could heal blindness. He groaned42 aloud.
Anat, in the full tide of her narrative43, mistook this for a note of admiration44 or wonder. She had just arrived at the point in her story where the unfortunate hero is cast into prison. "What wouldst thou have done then?" she asked abruptly45.
"I--I--am sure I cannot tell thee, little one," answered Seth, rousing himself with difficulty.
"Thou wouldst have remained there till the day of thy death, no doubt," with superb scorn, "but not so Joseph; he----"
"I am drowsy46, little one; Sechet rages fiercely in the heavens; let us leave the tale till to-morrow," said Seth in a smothered47 voice.
Anat touched his cheek with a cautious forefinger48. "It is true, thy flesh hath over-much heat. See! I have here a pomegranate; thou shalt eat of it and be refreshed."
After this the travelers spoke24 but little. Tirelessly the white dromedary strode onward49 under the blinding glare of the sun, her broad feet making no sound on the yielding sand; the landscape quivered in the intense heat, melting into golden, pink and violet fires in the far distances, while near at hand the scarlet blooms of the cactus50 glowed like live coals. Once they came upon a flock of vultures gorging51 themselves upon the carcass of a camel; they rose with hoarse52 croakings and withdrew themselves to a little distance, till the living should pass by. "As yet, we have no concern with thee," they seemed to say to the white dromedary, "but so shall it be with thee also, for man is ungrateful." Then they again descended53, a dismal54 crew, upon the stranded55 wreck56 of the desert ship. And the stately Mirah strode onward tirelessly.
That night they pitched a tent and built a fire of the dried shrubs57. The man Pagiel spoke roughly to the children; he bade the lad gather the fuel; as for the maid, he pushed her aside with his foot, as though she were a dog. Seth's eyes burned when he saw the thing, but he said nothing; he thought instead. The white dromedary crouched58 upon the sand, chewing her cud, her large eyes fixed59 thoughtfully upon the distance. The boy approached her cautiously and caressed60 her snowy neck; the beast permitted it with a low sound in her throat.
"That wouldst thou not venture with every beast in the flock," said one of the men good-naturedly. "They be ugly save with those who know them. Yonder camel can be touched by no other save Jered, his driver; but Mirah there is of another sort; I have seen my lord's little ones climb upon her back when they were babes. For speed she is a marvel; thou hast not seen it, for the camels travel but slowly."
"She can outrun them then?" said Seth, his heart beating violently.
"Assuredly, boy, there is nothing swifter save the wind."
"Fetch fuel, beggar!" cried Pagiel, accompanying his words with a fierce look, "and do thou afterward61 get into the tent and sleep, thou and the girl."
"Why dost thou speak thus harshly to the lad?" questioned the other after Seth had withdrawn62 in obedience63 to the command.
"He is a heathen beggar; why should he receive kindness at my hand? Listen! to-morrow we come to the fountain of Hodesh, 'tis but a day's march from the river; we will tarry there till a caravan shall pass by, then will we sell the lad and the maiden64 for gold. The gold shalt thou divide between the three of you, and thou shalt say naught65 to Ben Hesed concerning the matter; it will pass from his mind, even as the mist dissolves before the rising sun. But thou shalt have that wherewith to comfort thyself."
The man listened with bent brows. "What is comfort to me," he said sullenly66, "if I have not thy daughter to wife; she is comely67, and I love her better than gold."
Pagiel stared at the speaker with amazement. "Thou hast forgotten thyself," he said haughtily68.
"Nay, I have not forgotten; thou art the son of my lord's sister, I am the son of Kish the herdsman. Yet in the desert what matters it, am I not a man like unto thee?"
Pagiel was silent a moment. "It shall be so," he said at length. "It is true thou art a man, and my daughter is, after all, only a woman; I have sons also, thanks be to Jehovah!"
"And the gold?"
"Shall be for the maid's dowry, in addition to what she hath already."
"Thou hast dealt graciously with me, my lord, I am henceforth as thy son, and as thy son will I obey thee."
On the morrow they came to the fountain of Hodesh, and they encamped there, waiting for a caravan. On the third day during the heat of the noontide the men slept within the tent, but Seth rose up softly, and went out. He filled his goat skin at the fountain and bound it upon his back; he took also of the parched69 corn a small measure, and of the dates a double handful; "for," he said to himself, "it was for us that these things were given by the lord of the desert."
"Why dost thou fill thy goat-skin, brother?" said Anat, hearing the familiar tinkle70 of the brasses71.
"Wake not the men yonder," answered Seth in a cautious whisper. "They would deal with us after the manner of the brethren of Joseph. We will get us away upon the white dromedary, nor shall they be able to overtake us."
So the two went softly to where Mirah crouched beneath the shadow of the palms, and they climbed upon her back.
"It is a good thing for us that Pagiel commanded her to be saddled," quoth Seth. "He had the intent to ride after his sleep."
Then he spoke softly in the ear of the beast after the fashion of her driver; and she rose up with them, and went silently away into the desert towards the range of hills, beyond which lay the land of Jud?a.
But Pagiel awaked out of his sleep and stood in the door of his tent. And when he saw the dromedary fleeing away, he made a great outcry and awakened72 the others also; and they pursued after them for many hours, but they were not able to overtake them because the gentle Mirah was very swift. Anon she disappeared from before their eyes like a white sail on the distant verge73 of the sea. When Pagiel saw that she was gone, bearing the two whom he would have sold into slavery, he tore his beard and wept with rage because he had promised his daughter to the son of Kish, the herdsman. For he feared his women, notwithstanding he was a man, and of great stature74.
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1
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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2
grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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sloth
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| n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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7
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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9
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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10
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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13
brats
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| n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 ) | |
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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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16
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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17
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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18
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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19
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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20
prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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21
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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22
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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23
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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28
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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32
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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herding
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| 中畜群 | |
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35
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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36
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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37
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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38
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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39
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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40
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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41
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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42
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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43
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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44
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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45
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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46
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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47
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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48
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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49
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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50
cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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51
gorging
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| v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的现在分词 )；作呕 | |
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52
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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53
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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54
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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55
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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56
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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57
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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58
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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60
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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62
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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63
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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64
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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65
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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66
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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67
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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68
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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69
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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70
tinkle
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| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
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71
brasses
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| n.黄铜( brass的名词复数 )；铜管乐器；钱；黄铜饰品（尤指马挽具上的黄铜圆片） | |
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72
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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73
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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74
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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