“Nay,” she replied to his question, “my mother and I are quite alone. Very early this morning did Benjamin take Rachel and their little son to the house of her parents, whom she saw but briefly yesterday. Eli and Nathan soon afterward took the path down the hill to the camp of the soldiers, and Judith departed likewise. Nay, I know not where.”
He was hastening away when she ran and prostrated herself in his path. “My lord hath been good to his servant. I thank thee for the pearl which thou didst send to Syria by the hand of Eli for my ransom.”
Abner listened dully. “A pearl, thou sayest?” And then the significance of her speech dawned upon him. “Rise thou,” he commanded, suavely, “it was but a small gift. Happy am I that it hath helped to purchase thy freedom.”
A tenderly reminiscent smile played around Miriam’s mouth. “Nay,” she said, “I have returned to Israel because of a jewel more precious than any found in earth or sea: the love of my master and mistress. Naught would they accept but gave me freedom and sent me to my mother with a gift in mine hand.”
“But the pearl,” inquired Abner, eagerly. “What hath become of the jewel?”
“Eli hath already given it back to Judith, from whom he received it,” she answered, and with cool adieux turned and left him.
He passed a hand over his brow, made as if to turn back, hesitated and then went on, groping his way down the hill and through the fields, wet with the night dews. The camp of the soldiers, so busy a scene at sunset, was now deserted, and huddled over the still warm ashes of what had recently been a fire was the figure he sought.
“I—arrived—too—late. They—were—already—gone,” she said, slowly, in response to his excited inquiry.
Abner laid a shaking hand upon her shoulder. A crimson flush crept into the pale cheek. Rising suddenly she wrenched herself from his grasp and thrust something into his hand. “Take it,” she cried. “I should have known thou wouldst have followed me even to Damascus to get it back. Lo, thou hast that which thou seekest,” and turning, she fled.
He glanced hastily at the object she had given him. It was the pearl. With sudden passion he threw it into the unsearchable depths of the canyon and swiftly followed Judith, but a loose stone ended the pursuit. With a cry of pain she stumbled and fell, and when he bent over the prostrate figure a moment later her eyes were closed. It was Eli who answered Abner’s hail and helped him carry his burden up the hill. Stopping for a moment’s rest they met Miriam on her way to the spring.