y disturbed by visions, and he tossed as doth an one that sees
full evil things, and in that sleep he muttered somewhat of a voice he
seemed to hear, though round about there was no sound whatsoever, save
only the soft music of the pine-trees on the mountain-side. Meanwhile
in the shrine, hewn out of those rocks, did the Father Miguel bow
before the sacred symbol of his faith and plead for mercy for that same
Jew that slumbered anear. And when, as the deepening blue mantle of
night fell upon the hilltops and obscured the valleys round about, Don
Esclevador and his sturdy men came clamoring along the mountain-side,
the holy Father met them a way off and bade them have regard to the
aged man that slept in yonder cave. But when he told them of that Jew
and of his misery and of the secret causes thereof, out spake the noble
Don Esclevador, full hotly,--

"By our sweet Christ," he cried, "shall we not offend our blessed faith
and do most impiously in the Virgin's sight if we give this harbor and
this succor unto so vile a sinner as this Jew that hath denied our dear
Lord!"

Which words had like to wrought great evil with the Jew, for instantly
the other men sprang forward as if to awaken the Jew and drive him
forth into the night. But the Father Miguel stretched forth his hands
and commanded them to do no evil unto the Jew, and so persuasively did
he set forth the godliness and the sweetness of compassion that
presently the whole company was moved with a gentle pity toward that
Jew. Therefore it befell anon, when night came down from the skies and
after they had feasted upon their homely food as was their wont, that
they talked of the Jew, and thinking of their own hardships and
misfortunes (whereof it is not now to speak), they had all the more
compassion to that Jew, which spake them passing fair, I ween.

Now all this while lay the Jew upon the bed of skins and furs within
the cave, and though he slept (for he was exceeding weary), he tossed
continually from side to side, and spoke things in his sleep, as if his
heart were sorely troubled, and as if in his dreams he beheld grievous
things. And seeing the old man, and hearing his broken speech, the
others moved softly hither and thither and made no noise soever lest
they should awaken him. And many an one--yes, all that valiant company
bowed down that night before the symbol in the shrine, and with sweet
reverence called upon our blessed Virgin to plead in the cau