Joshua repeated his question.
"I was sent forth with Miriam," Caleb made answer. "She hath been abroad, gathering up the scattered chosen."
His eyes brightened and he clasped his hands with the gesture of a happy woman.
"Deliverance is at hand! Doubt it not, O Son of Nun! We go forth!" he exclaimed.
On the camel were hung a shield, a javelin and a quiver of arrows.
Joshua jostled the arrows in their case before answering.
"Not as the moon changes," he said grimly. "The time for mild departure is past and the word of the Lord God unto Moses must be fulfilled."
"So we but go," Caleb assented, "I care not. And such is the temper of all Israel—nay," he broke off, conscientiously; "there is an exception, an unusual exception."
"There may be more," Joshua replied. "There is much in Egypt to hold the slavish. But the captain of Israel hath called me, out of peaceful shepherd life, to the severe fortunes of a warrior, and I go, no mile too short, no moment too swift, that shall speed me into Pa-Ramesu."
"And thou takest up arms for Israel?" Caleb cried. "Ah! but Moses hath gloved his right hand in mail, in thee, O Son of Nun! But," he continued, uneasy with his story untold, "this was no slavish content under a master. Rather did it come from one of the best of Israel."
"Strange that the lofty of Israel should regret a departure from the land of the oppressors." Joshua settled himself on the camel and the tall beast rose to its feet with a lurch.