und in the well-filled granaries, and even before sunset had begun
to empty the store-rooms and put their contents into sacks, pails, and
skins, trays, jugs, and aprons, which were let down by ropes or carried
to the ground on ladders.

The better classes took no share in this work, but among the busy throng,
spite of the lateness of the hour, were children of all ages, carrying
away in pots, jugs, and dishes-borrowed from their mothers' cooking
utensils--as much as they could.

Above, beside the unroofed openings of the storerooms, into which the
stars were shining, and also at the foot of the ladders, women held
torches or lanterns to light the others at their toil.

Pans of blazing pitch were set in front of the strong locked doors of the
real fortress, and in their light armed shepherds were pacing to and fro.
When heavy stones or kicks belabored the brazen-bound door from within,
and threats were uttered in the Egyptian tongue, the Hebrews outside did
not fail to retort in words of mockery and scorn.

On the day of the harvest festival, during the first evening watch,
runners arrived at Succoth and announced to the Israelites, whose numbers
were twenty-fold greater than those of the Egyptians, that they had
quitted Tanis in the morning and the tribes intended to leave at night;
their kindred in Succoth must be ready to go forth with them. There was
great rejoicing among the Hebrews, who like those of their blood in the
city of Rameses, had assembled in every house at a festive repast on the
night of the new moon after the vernal equinox when the harvest festival
usually began. The heads of the tribes had informed them that the day of
liberation had arrived, and the Lord would lead them into the Promised
Land.

Here, too, as in Tanis, many had been faint-hearted and rebellious, and
others had endeavored to separate their lot from the rest and remain
behind; but here, too, they were carried away by the majority. Eleasar,
the son of Aaron, and the distinguished heads of the tribe of Judah, Hur
and Naashon, had addressed the multitude, as Aaron and Nun had done in
the city of Rameses. But Miriam, the virgin, the sister of Moses, had
gone from house to house, everywhere awakening the fire of enthusiasm in
men's hearts, and telling the women that the morrow's sun would usher in
for them and their children a new day of happiness, prosperity, and
freedom.

Few had been deaf to the appeals of the prophetess; there was