Rolling up the parchment, he looked searchingly about on the upturned faces.
“Friends,” said he, “we are not far from a den of evil-doers. In yonder castle, a small band of ruffians, without warrant from the authorities, have shut up in a dungeon the young man who stood up so nobly for our faith in the Diapleuston a few days ago. We are here with a warrant from the governor to rescue him. We expect this will be done about midnight without any help from you. But we have promised to meet the rescuing party at the north gate of the castle grounds with our men and conduct them to the pinnace. We hope that this will be all we need to do. But if we should be disappointed, I want you to be ready with stout hearts and arms to succeed where others have failed. The soldiers are few, at midnight they will be drunk, the castle will be open, and I who know every nook in it will be your guide. Now, who of you will rise up for us against the evil doers?”
“There is none of us willing to be left behind,” exclaimed the peddler as he looked around.
“And yet,” said Seti, “we must leave some with the vessel. Ten of your stoutest will be enough to go with us; and you may select these for yourselves.... Now let us kneel and pray to the God of Israel, who can do great things for us whereof we shall be glad,” and, to the astonishment of all, he kneeled, and spread forth his hands heavenward, and invoked the blessing of the Most High on their undertaking with the manner of one who saw God and stood in his very presence. Few words, but full of meaning and realization and devotion. And that westering sun looked through the screen of palms on as true and acceptable a prayer meeting as he sees to-day.
In the brief twilight that follows an Egyptian sun setting, they saw a man running down to them from the high road that skirted the bank. It proved to be the old Egyptian custode. He was spent with running, and, when brought up to Seti and Rachel, could hardly speak. But at last he managed to let them know that he was much afraid, from his wife’s growing agitation, that her courage would fail at the critical moment. All appearances promised an agony of fright and incapacity when presence of mind would be most needed. He begged that the lady, who only seemed to have power to soothe and hearten her, would not fail to come with the others. It might save everything.