Shedding tears, beating their flesh, and crying out with woeful clamour, these unhappy creatures of God, who had been great of soul when they sang their death-song with the precipice behind them and the soldiers in front, now quaked for the miserable lives which they preserved in hunger and cherished in bitterness.
By help of the seal of his master, which he always carried, Israel found his way into the courtyard of the prison.

The prisoners, who had been gathered there for his inspection, heard his footsteps, and by one impulse, as if an angel from heaven had summoned them, they fell to their knees about the door whereby he must enter, men behind and women in front, and mothers holding out their babes before their breasts so that he might see them first, and have mercy upon them if he had a heart made for pity.
Then the door of the place was thrown open, and Israel entered.

His head was bowed down, and his feet were bare.

The people drew their breath in wonder.
"Arise," he said; "I mean you no harm! See! Here is bread! Take it, and God bless you!" So saying, he motioned with his trembling hand to where Ali and the muleteer brought in the burden of food behind him.
And when the poor souls could believe it at last, that he whom they had looked for as their judge had come as their saviour, their hearts surged within them.

Their hunger left them, and only the children could eat.
For a moment they stood in silence about Israel, and their tears stained their wasted faces.