Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/410

Rh Tirzah tossed her arms, and moaned again.

&quot;Water, mother, water, though but a drop.&quot;

The mother stares around in blank helplessness. She has named God so often, and so often promised in his name, the repetition is beginning to have a mocking effect upon herself. A shadow passes before her dimming the dim light, and she is brought down to think of death as very near, waiting to come in as her faith goes out. Hardly knowing what she does, speaking aimlessly, because speak she must, she says again,

&quot;Patience, Tirzah; they are coming—they are almost here.&quot;

She thought she heard a sound over by the little trap in the partition-wall through which they held all their actual communication with the world. And she was not mistaken. A moment, and the cry of the convict rang through the cell. Tirzah heard it also; and they both arose, still keeping hold of each other.

&quot;Praised be the Lord forever!&quot; exclaimed the mother, with the fervor of restored faith and hope.

&quot;Ho, there!&quot; they heard next; and then, &quot;Who are you?&quot;

The voice was strange. What matter? Except from Tirzah, they were the first and only words the mother had heard in eight years. The revulsion was mighty—from death to life—and so instantly!

&quot;A woman of Israel, entombed here with her daughter. Help us quickly, or we die.&quot;

&quot;Be of cheer. I will return.&quot;

The women sobbed aloud. They were found; help was coming. From wish to wish hope flew as the twittering swallows fly. They were found; they would be released. And restoration would follow—restoration to all they had lost—home, society, property, son and brother! The scanty light glozed them with the glory of day, and, forgetful of pain and thirst and hunger, and of the menace of death, they sank upon the floor and cried, keeping fast hold of each other the while.

And this time they had not long to wait. Gesius, the keeper, told his tale methodically, but finished it at last. The tribune was prompt.