ng their leader, is as marvelous to me as Daniel coming
unharmed from the lions' den. We will say naught of your story, my
son. Tell us only what you told your own companions, so that we may
know what to say, when we are questioned."

"I told them the truth, father, although not all the truth. I said
that I met Titus, and fought with him; that I wounded him somewhat;
but that, by virtue of his armor, I did him no great harm, while he
wounded me so seriously that I fell down as one dead; that he,
feeling that I had fought like a brave foeman, had me carried to
his tent, and tended and cared for until I was able to go forth;
when he sent me away free, and unharmed."

"Truly men say of Titus that he is clement and merciful, and
therein differs much from Vespasian his father; and the clemency
which he showed to the people of Gischala, and other places which
he has taken, proves that is so; but this deed of his to you shows
that he must have a great heart, for few men of rank, and warlike
fame, who had been discomfited by one yet scarce a man, but would
have left him by the road to die, so that none might know what had
happened."

"Titus made no secret of it, father," John said. "He told Josephus,
in my hearing, that I had spared his life. He said naught of the
oath which he had taken; but I know that he will keep it as far, as
he said, lies in his power."

"What is he like?" Mary asked.

"He is not of very tall stature, but stoutly built, and strong. His
face--clean shaved, as is their custom--has a pleasant and kindly
expression, that tallies with his disposition, for he is greatly
beloved by his soldiers. In action they say he is brave to
rashness, quick to anger, but as quickly appeased. Had he been in
command of the Roman legions, they would have been not less
formidable in the fight and, perhaps, when the passions of Titus
were roused, not less savage; but they would not have wrought such
wholesale cruelty and destruction as they have done."

"It is rarely that pity enters into the heart of a Roman," Simon
said; "and yet, it is hardly for us to complain for, when we
crossed over the Jordan and conquered Canaan, we put all to the
sword, and spared none. It may be that in future times, if wars do
not altogether cease in the world, they will be waged in another
spirit; but so far, from the commencement of the world until now,
it has ever been the same--war has brought desolation and
destruction upon the vanquishe