Suddenly a scream pierced the air. Mordechai ran around the corner and saw three men with clubs chasing a girl and boy. He dropped his sack of belongings onto the street and ran forward to help
M
ordechai’s screams for help were heard by the sailors sleeping in nearby rooms. They barged into his compartment just in time to see him wallop the angry mule across the head with two heavy pails. The animal tottered sideways and then fell unconscious to the floor.
Amazed as the sailors were by Mordechai’s incredible strength, there was no time to stand around in admiration. Side by side with the sailors, Mordechai helped pound wood over the gaping hole and carry away the sea water that had reached up to their shins.
“It’s hopeless,” one of the sailors declared. “Someone needs to go alert the captain. We need to dock the ship at the nearest port.”
Mordechai knew in his heart then that it would be a very long time until he would reach Eretz Yisrael.
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