Stephen

some one

t be, Anat?

can hear the tinkle of the harness b

h, looking with an indulgent smile at the flush

shaking her head decidedly; "there i

e is coming this way." And shaking his tinkling

ed aloud. And the stranger, scorched by the withering breath of t

on the boy. "How doth it chance that thou art here in the desert? Surely not many come this way. Wh

ply and hung his he

smile of singular sweetness, "for I could no longer abide the brackish water of the march, and was pushing ahead

Kera?" said the

I have tasted it." Stroking his long beard thoughtfully, the stranger continued, "I shall wait

riefly. "She is blind," he add

he broke off suddenly and commanded his dromedary to lie down; the beast obeyed, moaning and shaking his head. "He also sm

aid Seth proudly. "She heard the tinkle

ith me, but seeing is also good. Thanks be to the

They had now approached the great rock, in t

ger, sitting down in the sand near the child an

that is spe

id Seth, quietly possessing himsel

raid; the vo

thou?" continu

the boy bitterly, "wandering among the rocks by day,

the world," urged the stranger

oping head. "Many passed with them by reason of a great sickness. I also was stricken, and afterward mine eyes w

th strange dreams, and where fear standeth by the pillow of s

little one?" he continued, fi

the city below, but--" here he checked himself suddenly, and looked suspiciously at h

ely, laying his hand upon his br

n the rock dates and parched corn together with a gourd of wa

ing, "and I was healed of my blindness by the

dwell

ilderness," and he pointed towards t

u return

his way fetch me water, my son, and hear what I shall say to thee. Maiden, I salute thee! Farewell." And he sprang upon his beast a

inkling cups to meet them, as was his wont. He sa

see the man of blessing, he who dwells beyond the wilderness and hath power to res

tones, or thy beasts of burden, before I shall do this thing for thee?' Thou knowest not the ways of

oins about her neck. "Some of them are of gold and very heavy." Then she caught her breath with a ha

eth, starting to his feet. "I will say to the man, give thou sight to these eyes and I

l not leave thee, my brother; but

the lad, looking with troubled eyes into the dis

our bread, will he not ta

ped suddenly--Anat had grasped his arm c

ear them, they will sell us in

stone which was half buried in the drifting sand, he at length succeeded in pulling it aside. The opening disclosed a flight of step

he said faintly. "I am afraid; I cannot g

f voices and the tinkling of harness bells. "Listen,"

e voice; I will go

beasts of burden became momently louder, to

s gave thee in thy tumble of yesterday. By Sechet! I have not yet d

that the beggar

his own tongue. Ha, ha! 'Thou shouldst have perfumed garlands,' saidst thou with tongue as

grinding his teeth. "I will find her should I look a life

inging throat is gold and it is mine. C

his ass and holding up a brilliant bit of striped drapery

row cleft of the rocks. Presently he too dismounted. "Some one has been here," he said