"Bah!" said another, as Mordecai did not move; "you can't expect these people to wait upon us! We must help ourselves," and suiting the action to the word, he strode to the cupboard and pulled it open.
The harvest was more plentiful than they had anticipated. Cooking, like all other work, being forbidden on the Sabbath, provisions sufficient for the holy day were prepared on Friday, and stood temptingly upon the shelves. In a twinkling the succulent viands were placed upon the table and quickly devoured by the half-famished soldiers. The repast, however, failed to satisfy the hunger of these sturdy warriors.
"Come," cried one of them, "what else have you to eat?"
"Nothing," answered Mordecai, sullenly.
"You lie, Jew. Tell us where we may find something to eat."
"You have just eaten all there was in the house," said Mordecai, gulping down a rising lump in his throat, as he thought of the fast he would have to endure on the morrow.
"Then give us money that we may buy our own food!" shouted one of the soldiers.
"I have no money; it is all gone, all gone," said the poor man, sadly.
"Ha! ha! ha! that is a good joke!" retorted the soldier, while his companions laughed immoderately. "A Jew without money! I'll wager there is gold and silver in every closet. I know you Jews; you are sly dogs."
"Look for yourselves," cried Mordecai, driven to desperation. "You are welcome to all the gold and silver you can find."