him the power of carrying out the oath which he swore. Now,
my friends, we can go up with light hearts with John to Jerusalem
for, though we may die, yet do we feel assured that the Lord
purposes to save the Temple; and that, one day, he will restore the
glories of Judah."

In the morning, as John had expected, the number of those who
gathered at the sound of the trumpet was comparatively small. The
night's reflection, the feeling that the sacrifice of their lives
would be of no avail, and the dull despair that had seized the
whole nation had had their effect and, of the eight thousand men
who had gathered there the night before, but six hundred now obeyed
the summons.

These gathered, stern and silent, but with an expression of
desperate resolution on their faces. At the earnest request of his
captains, John allowed them to go among the men and to tell them
that, although the manner in which it was done was a secret, John
had given to them undoubted proofs that he had a mission from God;
and that they believed that, whatever might happen to Jerusalem, it
was the Lord's will that the Temple should be saved. The joyous
expression of their leaders' faces, even more than their words,
assured their followers of their sincerity. Their spirit rose, and
a renewed feeling of enthusiasm seized them; and when, an hour
later, John took his place on a rock to address them, the shouts of
greeting which broke forth showed him how great was the change in
their spirit.

"My friends," he said, "I greet you who have decided to die with
me, if need be, in defense of Jerusalem. I blame not those who have
gone. They would not have gone, had the Lord required them to stay;
but to you he has spoken, and has told you that he has need of your
services. Henceforward, we will act as one band--a band of men
inspired with one thought, and one aim. And now, though our numbers
may not be great, yet a force so composed of men who hold their
lives as naught may do wonders. You remember how Gideon sent the
greater part of his army away and, with a mere handful, defeated
the hosts of the enemy!

"We look not for victory; but we will show the Romans what men can
do to avenge their bleeding country--what deeds Jews can perform,
when fighting for the Temple. We shall go into Jerusalem. There we
will hold aloof from all parties. If we are attacked, we will
defend ourselves. But our aim will be to act as a body apart from
others, ready to undertake the