And Mo-ses prayed for them. And God told him to make a snake like to those which bit his flock, and set it up on a pole. And all those who would look at this brass snake should be made well. [Illustration: MOS-ES ON MOUNT SINAI.] And Mo-ses did so. And this sign was meant to show forth Christ, who was to heal men of their sins, and to be raised up on a cross. [Illustration: BA-LAAM AND THE ASS.] And Mo-ses led his flock till they came to the plains of Mo-ab. And Ba-lak, the king of that land, thought they had come to fight with him, and he sent a man named Ba-laam out to curse them and drive them back. He told Ba-laam he would make him a rich man if he would do this thing, and as Ba-laam was fond of wealth he said he would do the king's will. So he set forth on his ass, and had not gone far when he met an an-gel with a drawn sword in his hand. Ba-laam did not see him, but the ass did and turned out of the road. But the an-gel went on and stood in a place where there was a wall on each side. When the ass came to the place she went close to the wall and tried to get by. But she hurt Ba-laam's foot and he struck her and made her go on. And the an-gel went on and stood in a place where there was no room to turn to the right hand or the left. Then the ass shook with fright and fell down on the ground. And Ba-laam struck her with the staff that he had in his hand. And the Lord made the ass speak like a man, and say, What have I done to thee that thou hast struck me these three times? Ba-laam said, To make thee move on: I would there were a sword in my hand, for I would kill thee. Then the ass said, Am I not thine? and have I been wont to do so to thee? And Ba-laam said, No. Then the Lord made Ba-laam see the an-gel that stood in the way with a drawn sword in his hand, and Ba-laam bowed his face to the ground. Then the an-gel said, Why hast thou struck thine ass these three times? Lo, I came out to stop thee, and to turn thee from the way of sin. And the ass saw me, and turned from the path, and if she had not done so I would have slain thee. Then he said to Ba-laam, Go with the men the king has sent, but say on-ly what I shall tell thee. So Ba-laam went with the men, and when Ba-lak heard that he was come he went out to meet him. The next day Ba-lak took Ba-laam to a high place, from whence he could look down on the camp of Is-ra-el, and curse them. But the Lord would not let him curse them, but made him speak good things of them. This was done on three high mounts, and at last the king was wroth, and said to Ba-laam, I sent for thee to curse my foes, and lo, these three times hast thou blest them. [Illustration: MO-SES ON MOUNT NE-BO.] And Ba-lak bade him make haste and go back to his own home. And Ba-laam went off as poor as he came, for Ba-lak gave him none of his gold.