Now, however, it served no military purpose, but was used as a storehouse by a merchant of grain, for there in a corner lay a heap of many measures of barley, and strewn about the floor were sacks of skin and other articles.
Nehushta examined the room.

No hiding-place could be better--unless the merchant chanced to come to visit his store.

Well, that must be risked.
Down she sped, and with much toil and difficulty carried her still swooning mistress up the steps and into the chamber, where she laid her on a heap of sacks.
Again, by an afterthought, she ventured to descend, this time to fetch the broken jar of water.

Then she closed the door, setting it fast with a piece of wood, and began to chafe Rachel's hands and to sprinkle her face from the jar.

Presently the dark eyes opened and her mistress sat up.
"Is it over, and is this Paradise ?" she murmured.
"I should not call the place by that name, lady," answered Nehushta, drily, "though perhaps, in contrast with the hell that we have left, some might think it so.