Dim the sweet look that Nature wears.”
The great “Mount of God,” firm and unchangeable, looked down with mystical and compassionate dignity, as if to bear witness to the touch of things eternal; to invest the soul of the observer with a divine awe, perchance again to unroll for the instruction of Saulus the great Drama of the Chosen People.
The narrow trail which had been followed the day before had gradually faded out or lost itself in various [pg 275]disused paths which branched in different directions, and now the twain found themselves close against the precipitous side of the mountain.
“Verily we must turn to the right or the left,” said Amoz, “for we can go no farther. But here is a cool and shady thicket. Let us go beneath its shelter and rest a while.”
Guiding the camel skilfully, they threaded their way into the clump of blossoming oleanders and mulberry-trees, soon coming to a mass of clinging vines which concealed the face of the great overhanging cliff in front. Amoz helped Saulus to alight, and the faithful beast uttered a cry of joy as he awkwardly kneeled for the removal of his load. The equipments were soon unladen, and there was a feeling that the long, wearisome journey was at an end. In the midst of such verdure and freshness the toilsome days in the desert seemed only like a troublesome dream which had almost faded out. The face of Saulus brightened, the dark rings around his eyes were less heavy, and he felt some increase of strength.
“The mysterious Voice which speaks within me still commands, ‘Go forward!’ ” said Saulus.
“But, O my brother, we are close against the Mount! How can we go farther?”
“I know not! But still its tone is clear, ‘Go forward!’ ”
Amoz left Saulus for a moment, and carefully made his way through the tangle, to spy out, if possible, the immediate foreground. He brushed aside the climbing vines, and found himself face to face with the solid [pg 276]rock. He was just about to turn back, when his eyes rested upon something which had the general form of ancient Hebrew text. The lapse of ages, with the moist atmosphere, had well nigh covered it with a luxurious growth of velvety mosses, but he could not be mistaken.
“The hand of man hath wrought this!” he exclaimed to himself; and without waiting to make any further examination he hurried to inform Saulus.