Part 20 (2/2)

”The mind of Hada.s.sah,” he observed, ”seemed especially to dwell upon humiliation, suffering and sacrifice in connection with the mysterious Being for whose advent she looked--we all look. If her view be correct, it may be possible that not only the death, but the earthly life of the Messiah may be one long sacrifice from the cradle to the grave.”

The conversation then turned to themes less lofty, till Joab had succeeded in effecting the slight needful repairs. Lycidas then remounted his horse, and the party resuming their journey, Bethlehem was soon left behind them.

It is unnecessary to describe that night-journey, or tell how Lycidas and his companions pa.s.sed the site of King Solomon's pleasure-grounds, his ”gardens, and orchards and pools of water;” or how the road then led over the succession of barren hills which extend southward as far as Hebron. Travelling was slow and tedious, the road rough, and the horses grew weary. Lycidas was too anxious to place his charge in safety, to permit of a halt for refreshment and rest on the way. The Greek's uneasiness on Zarah's account was increased as, towards dawn, they met parties of peasants fleeing, as they said, from the Syrians, who, like a vast cloud of locusts, were carrying devastation through the land. Lycidas felt that danger was on all sides; he knew not whether to advance or to retreat; responsibility weighed heavily upon him, and he almost envied the stolid composure with which the hardy Joab trudged on his weary way. The Athenian would not disturb the serenity of Zarah's mind by imparting to her the anxious cares which perplexed his own. Lycidas was touched by the implicit confidence placed by the gentle girl in his power to protect and guide her; and he was thankful that while with him eye, ear, brain, were strained to the utmost to detect the most remote approach of danger, the weary Zarah in her litter was able to enjoy the refreshment of sleep.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

FRIENDS OR FOES?

”Hold! stand! who are ye, and whither go ye?” was the stern challenge, the sound of which startled Zarah out of a pleasant dream. The motion of the litter suddenly ceased, a strong hand was on the bridle of the horse which Lycidas was riding, a weapon was pointed at the breast of the Greek. There was not yet sufficient light to enable him to distinguish whether those who thus arrested the further progress of the party were Syrians or Hebrews.

”We are quiet travellers,” said the Athenian; ”let us pursue our journey in peace. If gold be your object, I will give it.”

”If we want your gold we can take it,” cried the leader of the band that now surrounded the litter. ”Are you a follower of Antiochus Epiphanes?”

”No,” replied Lycidas boldly. To speak the simple truth is ever the manliest, and in this instance it also proved the safest course to pursue. The grasp on the Greek's bridle was relaxed, the point of the weapon was lowered, and in a more courteous tone the leader inquired, ”Are you then a friend of Judas Maccabeus?”

”May he be given the necks of his enemies!” exclaimed Joab, before Lycidas had time to reply. ”It is his kinswoman whom we are taking in this litter to Bethsura, that we may put her in safety out of reach of the tyrant who has sworn to slay her because she will not burn incense to his idol!”

”What, the lady Hada.s.sah?” asked one of the men.

”No, it is more than six months since that Mother in Israel departed to Abraham's bosom,” replied Joab, lowering his tone.

An exclamation of regret burst from more than one of those who surrounded the litter, and he who had first spoken observed, ”These will be sorry tidings for Maccabeus and his brethren.”

Lycidas now addressed a Hebrew who appeared to be of superior condition to the others. ”In this litter,” he said, ”is the grand-daughter of the lady Hada.s.sah. She is fleeing from persecution, and seeks an asylum in the home of an aged relative who dwells near Bethsura.”

”Ah! Rachel the widow; we know her well,” was the reply.

”Then you can guide this lady to her abode.”

”Guide her into the wolf's den!” exclaimed the Hebrew; and one of his companions added with a laugh, ”The only way to reach Rachel's dwelling from hence is over the corpses of defeated Syrians, as mayhap we shall do ere to-morrow.”

Alarmed at finding that he had conducted Zarah to the scene of an expected deadly conflict, Lycidas inquired with anxiety, ”Where then can the lady and her attendant find shelter and protection?”

”For protection, she has all that our swords can give--our fate must be her fate,” replied the Hebrew whom the Greek had addressed. ”As for shelter, there is a goatherd's hut hard by. Some of our men have pa.s.sed the night there, though our leader slept on the ground.”

There was some whispering amongst the Hebrews, and Lycidas caught the words, uttered in a half-jesting tone, ”An awkward matter for Maccabeus to have this his fair kinswoman coming on the eve of a battle on which the fate of Judah depends.”

”I pray you show us this hut at once,” said the Greek, annoyed at Zarah's being exposed to such observations, and impatient to remove her as soon as possible to a place of as much retirement as could be found in the camping-ground of an army. ”The lady has travelled all night, and is weary.”

”I will lead her to the hut,” said one of the Hebrews; ”and do you, Saul,” he continued, addressing a companion, ”go at once and announce to our prince the lady's arrival.”

Again the litter of Zarah moved onwards, and the weary horses were guided to a hut at no great distance. One of the Jewish soldiers ran on before to give notice, that the dwelling might be vacated of its warlike occupants, and put into such order for the reception of a lady as circ.u.mstances and haste would permit. The Hebrews who had pa.s.sed the frosty night under the roof of the goatherd's dwelling, quitted it at once to make room for the lady and her handmaid, leaving a portion of their simple breakfast for the newly-arrived guests.

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