ild, ardent look
into her face and, ere she could stay him, rushed like a strong man
to the garden gate, flung it open, and followed the troops. He soon
overtook the rear ranks, passed on in advance of the others, and at last
reached their leader's side and, calling his uncle by name, gave his
own. Hosea, in his joy and astonishment, held out his arms, but ere
Ephraim could fall upon his breast, he again lost consciousness, and
stalwart soldiers bore the senseless lad into the tent the quartermaster
had already pitched on a dune by the sea.

CHAPTER V.

It was midnight. A fire was blazing in front of Hosea's tent, and he sat
alone before it, gazing mournfully now into the flames and anon over
the distant country. Inside the canvas walls Ephraim was lying on his
uncle's camp-bed.

The surgeon who attended the soldiers had bandaged the youth's wounds,
given him an invigorating cordial, and commanded him to keep still; for
the violence with which the fever had attacked the lad alarmed him.

But in spite of the leech's prescription Ephraim continued restless.
Sometimes Kasana's image rose before his eyes, increasing the fever of
his over-heated blood, sometimes he recalled the counsel to become a
warrior like his uncle. The advice seemed wise--at least he tried to
persuade himself that it was--because it promised honor and fame, but in
reality he wished to follow it because it would bring her for whom his
soul yearned nearer to him.

Then his pride rose as he remembered the insults which she and her
father had heaped on those to whom by every tie of blood and affection,
he belonged. His hand clenched as he thought of the ruined home of his
grandfather, whom he had ever regarded one of the noblest of men. Nor
was his message forgotten. Miriam had repeated it again and again,
and his clear memory retained every syllable, for he had unweariedly
iterated it to himself during his solitary walk to Tanis. He was
striving to do the same thing now but, ere he could finish, his mind
always reverted to thoughts of Kasana. The leech had told Hosea to
forbid the sufferer to talk and, when the youth attempted to deliver
his message, the uncle ordered him to keep silence. Then the soldier
arranged his pillow with a mother's tenderness, gave him his medicine,
and kissed him on the forehead. At last he took his seat by the fire
before the tent and only rose to give Ephraim a drink when he saw by the
stars that an hour had passed