And he was forced to answer this question in the negative; for the guard who sometimes sat, sometimes paced to and fro on a higher part of the crest of the hill a few paces away, could but too easily perceive, by the moonlight, the youth's efforts to loose the firmly-knotted bonds.

The cloud approaching the moon might perhaps darken it, ere the work was completed.

Thus Ephraim might, on his account, incur the peril of losing the one fortunate moment which promised escape.

Would it not be the basest of crimes, merely for the sake of the uncertain chance of flight, to bar the path to liberty of the youth whose natural protector he was?
So he whispered to Ephraim: "I cannot go with you.

Creep through the chasm at your right to the salt-pool.