be blessed! Good-night!" "Good-night!" Then with a wave of the hand he
was gone into the darkness.

It was a wonderful night. The moon, which was in its first quarter,
was still low in the east, but the stars were thick overhead, making a
silvery dome that almost obliterated the blue. Rivers were rumbling on
the hillside, an owl was hooting in the distance, kine that could not be
seen were chewing audibly near at hand, and sheep like patches of white
in the gloom were scuttling through the grass before Israel's footsteps.
Israel walked quickly, tracing his course between the two arms of the
Jebel Sheshawan, whose summits were visible against the sky. The air was
cool and moist, and a gentle breeze was blowing from the sea. Oh! the
joy of it to him who had lain long months in prison! Israel drank in the
night air as a young colt drinks in the wind.

And if it was night in the world without, it was day in Israel's heart.
"I am going to be happy," he told himself, "yes, very happy, very
happy." He raised his eyes to heaven, and a star, bigger and brighter
than the rest, hung over the path before him. "It is leading me to
Naomi," he thought. He knew that was folly, but he could not restrain
his mind from foolishness. And at least she had the same moon and stars
above her sleep, for she would be sleeping now. "I am coming," he cried.
He fixed his eye on the bright star in front and pushed forward, never
resting, never pausing.

The morning dawned. Long rippling waves of morning air came down the
mountains, cool, chill, and moist. The grey light became tinged with
red. Then the sun rose somewhere. It had not yet appeared, but the peak
of the western hill was flushed and a raven flew out and perched on the
point of light. Israel's breast expanded, and he strode on with a firmer