CHAPTER XL. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

astobeverybold,'causetingshavegotsodatwecan'tbar'emnolonger!'Den,yersee,Idropped'sleepandIhadn'tnomore'ngottosleep,jistaftercock-crow,whendevoicecome!" "AndisthisthelandofEgypt,"saidTeddy,"thatwe'regoingto?" "Ispectso,"saidTiff."Don'tyouknowdestoryMissNinareadtoyou,once,howdeangelofdeLord'pearedtoHagarindewilderness,whenshewassittingdownunderdebush.Denderewasanoderonecometo'Lijah,whenhewasunderdejuniper-tree,whenhewaswanderingupanddown,andgothungry,andwokeupanddere,sure'nough,wasacorn-cakebakingforhimondecoals!Don'tyoumindMissNinawasreadingdatardeberylastSundayshecometoourplace?BressdeLordforsendinghertous!I'sgotheapso'goodthroughdemreadings." "Doyouthinkwereallyshallseeany?"saidFanny,withalittleshadeofapprehensioninhervoice."Idon'tknowasIshallknowhowtospeaktothem." "Oh,angelsispleasant-spoken,well-meaningfolks,allers,"saidTiff,"anddon'ttakeno'fenceatus.Ofcourse,deyknowswean'tfetchedupinderways,anddeydon'tspectitofus.It'smy'pinion,"saidTiff,"datwhenfolksishonest,anddoesdeberybestdeycan,deydon'tneedtobe'fraidtospeaktoangels,nornobodyelse'cause,yousee,wespeakstodeLordhisselfwhenweprays,and,bressdeLord,hedon'ttakeitillofus,noways.Andnowit'sborneinstrongonmymind,datdeLordisgoingtoleadusthroughthewilderness,andbringustogoodluck.Now,yousee,I'sgoingtofollowdestar,likedewisemendid." Whiletheyweretalking,theyweremakingtheirwaythroughdensewoodsinthedirectionoftheswamp,everymomenttakingthemdeeperanddeeperintothetangledbrushandunderwood.Thechildrenwereaccustomedtowanderforhoursthroughthewoodand,animatedbytheideaofhavingescapedtheirpersecutors,followedTiffwithalacrity,ashewentbeforethem,clearingawaythebramblesandvineswithhislongarms,everyonceinawhilewadingwiththemacrossabitofmorass,orclimbinghiswaythroughthebranchesofsomeuprootedtree.Itwasafterteno'clockatnightwhentheystarted.Itwasnowaftermidnight.Tiffhadheldonhiscourseinthedirectionoftheswamp,whereheknewmanyfugitiveswereconcealedandhewasnotwithouthopesofcominguponsomecamporsettlementofthem. Aboutoneo'clocktheyemergedfromthemoretangledbrushwood,andstoodonaslightlittleclearing,whereagrape-vine,dependinginnaturalfestoonsfromasweetgum-tree,madeakindofarbor.Themoonwasshiningveryfullandcalm,andthelittlebreezeflutteredthegrape-leaves,castingtheshadowofsomeonthetransparentgreennessofothers.Thedewhadfallensoheavilyinthatmoistregion,thateveryonceinawhile,asaslightwindagitatedtheleaves,itmightbeheardpatteringfromonetoanother,likerain-drops.Teddyhadlongbeencomplainingbitterlyoffatigue.Tiffnowsatdownunderthisarbor,andtookhimfondlyintohisarms. "Sitdown,MissFanny.AndisTiff'sbravelittlemangottired?Well,heshallgotosleep,datheshall!We'sgotoutagoodbitnow.Ireckondeywon'tfindus.We'southerewiddegoodLord'sworks,anddeywon'tnoneon'emtellonus.So,now,hush,myporlittlemanshutupyoureyes!"AndTiffquaveredtheimmortalcradle-hymn,— "Hush,mydear,liestillandslumber! Holyangelsguardthybed Heavenlyblessings,withoutnumber, Gentlyfallingonthyhead." InafewmomentsTeddywassoundasleep,andTiff,wrappinghiminhiswhitegreat-coat,laidhimdownattherootofatree. "BressdeLord,derean'tnowhiskeyhere!"hesaid,"nornodrunkencritturstowakehimup.Andnow,MissFanny,porchile,youreyesisafalling.Here'sdisyeroldshawlIputupindepocketofmycoat.Wrapitroundyou,whilstIscrapeupaheapofdempine-leaves,yonder.Demisreckonedmightygoodforsleepingon,'causedey'ssohealthy,kinder.Dar,yousee,I'sgotadesputbigheapof'em." "I'mtired,butI'mnotsleepy,"saidFanny."But,Tiff,whatareyougoingtodo?" "Do!"saidTiff,laughing,withsomewhatofhisold,joyouslaugh."Ho!ho!ho!I'sgoingtositupfortomeditate—a'sideringondefowlsofdeair,anddeliliesindefield,andalldemdarMissNinausedtoread'bout." Formanyweeks,Fanny'sbed-chamberhadbeenthehot,dustyloftofthecabin,withtheheatedroofjustaboveherhead,andthenoiseofbacchanalianrevelsbelow.Nowshelaysunkdownamongthesoftandfragrantpine-foliage,andlookedup,watchingthecheckeredroofofvine-leavesaboveherhead,listeningtothestillpatteroffallingdew-drops,andthetremulouswhirrandflutterofleaves.Sometimesthesoftnight-windsswayedthetopsofthepineswithalongswellofdashingmurmurs,likethebreakingofatideonadistantbeach.Themoonlight,asitcames