travellers passing along the road
close by. There was a long train of camels laden with spices,
evidently on their way down to Egypt.

[Illustration: "They sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites."

Gen. xxxvii. 28.]

Here was a splendid opportunity of making some money out of their evil
plan. Instead of leaving Joseph to starve in the pit, they would fetch
him out and sell him to these merchants. Most likely they would get
a good price for such a strong young slave.

[Illustration: They hurried him towards the pit.]

Perhaps when Joseph heard their voices at the pit's mouth, and when
they drew him up and lifted him out into the sunshine again, he
thought for a moment that they meant to be kind to him after all. But
that thought soon vanished.

The Midianite merchants were waiting, the bargain was struck, and very
soon a rope was bound round his hands, and he was tied to the saddle
of the man who had bought him. He knew now they had only taken him
out of the pit to sell him as a slave.

Meanwhile Reuben had been keeping out of sight, waiting to return and
rescue his young brother as soon as it was safe to do so. Very
cautiously at last he stole back. But, alas! when he reached the pit
he found that it was empty. In his distress he forgot his caution, and
cared no longer if his brothers guessed what he had meant to do.

"The child is not, and I, whither shall I go?" he cried to them in
bitter sorrow when he met them.

With angry, sullen looks they told him that Joseph was now far away on
his road to Egypt. Reuben must keep their secret. There was but one
thing to be done. Joseph's coat lay there, just as they had torn it
off his back. They would dip the coat in goat's blood and carry it to
their father.

The poor, gay-coloured little coat, all blood-stained and torn, was
brought and held up before Jacob's eyes.

"This have we found," said the brothers; "know now whether it be thy
son's coat or no?"

Did he not, indeed, know that coat of many colours? Had he not matched
and joined together each of the pieces? Had not his heart been filled
with pride and love as he watched the boy wearing it with such a
gallant air?

"It is my son's coat!" he cried with a bitter cry of grief; "an evil
beast hath devoured him! Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces!"

[Illustration: He was tied to the saddle of the man who had bought
him.]

It might perhaps have seemed better just then for Joseph if he had
been dead instead of