_Elspeth--Elspeth Barrow!_
In a bitterness as of myrrh he came into touch with cleanness, purity,
wholeness. Henceforth there was invisible light. Its first action was
not to show him scorchingly the night of Egypt, but with the quietness
of the whitening east to bring a larger understanding of Elspeth.
CHAPTER XXX
The caravan, having spent three days in a town the edge of the desert,
set forth in the afternoon. The caravan was a considerable one. Three
hundred camels, more than a hundred asses, went heavily laden. Twenty
men rode excellent horses; ten, poorer steeds; the company of others
mounted with the merchandise or, staff in hand, strode beside. In safe
stretches occurred a long stringing out, with lagging at the rear; in
stretches where robber bands or other dangers might be apprehended
things became compact. Besides traders and their employ, there rode or
walked a handful of chance folk who had occasion for the desert or for
places beyond it. These paid some much, some little, but all something
for the advantage of this convoy. The traders did not look to lose,
whoever went with them. Altogether, several hundred men journeyed in
company.
The elected chief of the caravan was a tall Arab, Zeyn al-Din. Twelve
of the camels were his; he was a merchant of spices, of wrought stuff,
girdles, and gems--a man of forty, bold and with scope.
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