It was surprising how quickly the women gathered their loads. Then away they would step with their baskets on their heads, walking as easily and gracefully as though they were free of all burdens whatever.
"Come on and help us," they cried to Rebecca and Esther. "The more at work the merrier we shall be. There are two empty baskets under that tree."
The visitors were soon busy trying to see if they could fill their baskets as quickly as the others did.
"I am not tempted to eat the olives," said Esther. "They are too bitter. But I am very fond of them after they are pickled."
"So are we all," answered one of the women. "I don't know how we should get along without olives and the oil we make from them."
"They say the Christians not only eat that unclean animal, the pig, but they also use its fat for cooking, just as we use olive oil," said Rebecca.
"Ugh! What a horrid idea. I should be afraid to eat anything in the house of a Christian, for fear of being poisoned," cried Esther. "Mamma has told me they sometimes die of diseases we Hebrews never have. It is probably because they eat pork and use lard."
"No doubt of it, Esther," answered Rebecca. "It is a wise law of our religion that forbids us to eat any food obtained from the hog."
"We must not stop to talk too much, though. See! our friends are getting ahead of us."
Nothing more was said for some time.