Without, Israel of Pa-Ramesu made ready to surrender a tenth of her
number to the newest task laid on it by the Pharaoh. Quarrying was
unusual labor for an Israelite and the name carried terror with it.
Long had it meant heavy punishment for the malefactor and now was the
Hebrew to take up its bitter life. The hard form of oppression
following so closely upon the promise of liberty by Moses had
diversified effects upon the camp. There was rebellion among the
optimists, and the less hopeful spirits were crushed. There was the
scoffer, who exasperates; the enthusiast, the over-buoyant, who could
point out favorable omens even in this bitter affliction; and it could
not be divined which of these troubled the people more. But whatever
the individual temper, the entire camp was overhung with distress.

Israel had gathered in families before her tents--the mothers hovering
their broods, the fathers tramping uneasily about them. In the heart
of each, perhaps, was an indefinable conviction that he should fall
among the tens. Since Israel had died in droves by hard labor in the
brick-fields and along the roadways and canals, in what numbers and
with what dire speed would not Israel perish in the dreaded stone-pits!

Just outside the doorway of their shelter, Deborah and Rachel
overlooked the troubled camp.

"Moses comes in time," Rachel said, speaking in a low tone, "for Israel
is in sore straits. The hand of the oppressor assaileth with fury his
bones and his sinews now. How shall it be with him if he is bequeathed
from Pharaoh to Pharaoh of an intent like unto the last three? He
shall have perished from the face of the earth, for the Hebrew bends
not; he breaks."