wheat-fields of Mizraim. The herds and the flocks of the Pharaoh
gathered under its branches and were sheltered from the sun by day and
from the wolves by night. The early Pharaohs loved it, the later
Pharaohs used it and the last Pharaohs feared it. For it grew
exceedingly and overshadowed the wheat-fields and they said: 'It will
come between us and Ra who is our god and he will bless it instead of
the wheat. Let us cut it down and build us temples of its timber.'
But the Lord had planted the tree in seed and in its youth it grew
under the tendance of the Lord's hand. And in later years, though it
lent its shadow as a grove for the idols and temples of gods, the most
of it faced Heaven, and for that the Lord loves it still. The Pharaohs
have lopped its branches, unmolested, but lo! now that the ax strikes
at its girth, the Lord will uproot it and plant it elsewhere than in
Mizraim. But the soil will not relinquish it readily, for it hath
struck deep. There shall be a gaping wound in Mizraim where it stood
and all the land shall be rent with the violence of the parting."

The prophetess paused, or rather her voice died away as if she actually
beheld the scene she foretold, and no more words were needed to make it
plain. Rachel's hands were clasped before her breast. "Sayest thou
these things in prophecy?" she asked finally in an eager half-whisper.
Deborah's eyes seemed to awaken. She looked at Rachel a moment and
answered with a nod. The girl's vision wandered slowly again toward
the camp, and the sorrowful unrest of Israel subdued the inspired
elation that had begun to possess her. Her face clouded once more.
Deborah touched her.

"Trouble not thyself concerning these people. They go forth to labor,
but their burdens shall be lightened ere long. As for thee and me--"
she paused and looked up toward the eminence on which the military