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How forcibly all these things riveted Hermon's attention, now that no one was at hand to explain them and no delay was permitted! He scarcely had tiate was unlocked, and the ramparts and moats lay behind him

Thus far the wind had kept back the rain, and only scattered drops lashed the riders' faces; but as soon as they entered the open country, it seeh the pent-up floods burst the barriers which retained theions know rushed, not in straight or slanting lines, but in thick streams, whirled by the hurricane, upon the marshy land which stretched from Pelusiu a dike raised above fields which, at this season of the year, were under water, and Hermon's companion kneell

For a time both riders allowed themselves to be drenched in silence The water ran down upon the horses trotted with drooping heads and stea flanks one behind the other until, at the very brick-kiln where Ledscha had recalled her ed sister's unruly slaves to obedience, the guide stopped with an oath, and pointed to the water which had risen to the top of the dam, and in some places concealed the road froer possible to trot, for the guide was obliged to seek the traces of the dike with great caution Meanwhile the force of the pouring rain by no means lessened--nay, it even see in water up to their fetlocks

But if the votive stones, the little altars and statues of the gods, the bushes and single trees along the sides of the dike road were overflohile the travellers were in the region of the ed to interrupt their journey, for the danger of sinking into the morass with their horses would then threaten them

Even at the brick-kiln travellers, soldiers, and trains of merchandise had stopped to wait for the end of the cloud-burst

In front of the farmhouse, too, which Hermon and his co shelter, and the Midianite urged his master to join them for a short time at least The wisest course here was probably to yield, and Her his horse's head toward the house when a Greek e and also by him

"Do you dare to ride farther?" the artist shouted in a tone of warning inquiry to the , answered: "Duty! On business for the King!"