The stars are with you,
and, come what may, I obey them."
Accordingly they ascended to the roof, Amram going first, Nehushta
following him, and Rachel bringing up the rear. On it, projecting inward
from the parapet, was a sloping shelter once made use of by the look-out
sentry in bad or hot weather. The change from the stifling store below
with its stench of ill-cured hides, to this lofty, shaded spot, where
the air moved freely, was so pleasant to Rachel, outworn as she was with
all she had gone through, that presently she fell asleep, not to wake
again till evening. Nehushta, however, who did not go to sleep, and
Amram, employed themselves in watching the events that passed in the
city below. From this height they could see the great square surrounding
the palace, and the strange scenes being enacted therein. It was crowded
by thousands of people, for the most part seated on the ground, clad in
garments of sack-cloth and throwing dust upon the heads of themselves,
their wives and children. From all this multitude a voice of
supplication rose to heaven, which, even at that distance, reached the
ears of Nehushta and her companion in a murmur of sound, constant and
confused.
"They pray that the king may live," said Amram.
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