n vain dark, evil powers combine,--
He, victor, rules the better Land."
--_Ingleman.--Trans. Hymns of Denmark._

"It is probable that St. John attended Christ through all the weary
stages of His double trial--before the ecclesiastical and the civil
authorities--and that, after a night thus spent, he accompanied the
procession in the forenoon to the place of execution, and witnessed
everything that followed."--_Stalker._

We know not what became of nine of the disciples fleeing from
Gethsemane; whether they first hid among the bushes and olive-trees,
and escaped into the country; or took refuge in the neighboring tombs;
or stole their way to some secret room where the goodman of the house
furnished them protection; or scattered in terror each in his lonely
way.

The captive Lord was dragged along the highway where Peter and John had
been for a single hour the Heralds of the King. Over the Kidron, up the
slope of Moriah, through the gate near the sacred Temple, along the
streets of the Holy City, He was led as a robber to the high-priestly
palace.

Three Evangelists tell us, "Peter followed afar off." But love soon
overcame his fears. He was not long alone. John says, "Simon Peter
followed Jesus and so did another disciple." We cannot doubt who was
Peter's companion as he turned from his flight. They "went both
together," as two days later they ran on another errand. In the shadows
of the olive-trees along the roadside, or of the houses of the city,
they followed the hurrying band which they overtook by the time it
reached the palace gate. John did not "outrun Peter," who was probably
the leader. But at the gate they were separated.

We must not think that this palace was like an American house. The
entrance to it was through a great arched gateway. This was closed with
a large door or gate, in which there was a small entrance called a
wicket gate, through which people passed. These gates opened into a
broad passage or square court. Around it on three sides the house was
built. All rooms upstairs and down looked into it. One large room,
forming one side, was separated from it, not by a wall, but by a row of
pillars. Being thus opened it was easy to see what was passing in the
room or the court.

"That disciple," who accompanied Peter to the gate, "was known unto the
high priest and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest.
But Peter