,"
John said, quietly. "But I am not thinking of surrendering. I am
thinking of passing out of the city, into the country around.

"But first, let us eat. I see you look surprised but, although the
store we brought hither is long since exhausted, there is still a
last reserve. I bought it, with all the money that I had with me,
from one of Simon's men, upon the day when we came hither from the
lower town. He had gained it, doubtless, in wanton robbery for, at
that time, the fighting men had plenty of food; but as it was his,
I bought it, thinking that the time might come when one meal might
mean life to many of us. I have never touched it, but it remains
where I hid it, in my chamber. I will fetch it, now."

John ascended to his chamber, and brought down a bag containing
about fifteen pounds of flour.

"Let us make bread of this," he said. "It will give us each a good
meal, now; and there will be enough left to provide food for each,
during the first day's journey."

The exhausted men seemed inspired with new life, at the sight of
the food. No thought of asking how they were to pass through the
Roman lines occurred to them. The idea of satisfying their hunger
overpowered all other feelings.

The door was closed to keep out intruders. Dough was made, and a
fire kindled with pieces of wood dry as tinder, so that no smoke
should attract the eye of those who were constantly on the lookout
for such a sign that some family were engaged in cooking. The flat
dough cakes were placed over the glowing embers, the whole having
been divided into twenty-four portions. Some of the men would
hardly wait until their portions were baked; but John urged upon
them that, were they to eat it in a half-cooked state, the
consequences might be very serious, after their prolonged fast.
Still, none of them could resist breaking off little pieces, to
stay their craving.

"Let us eat slowly," John said, when the food was ready. "The more
slowly we eat, the further it will go. When it is eaten, we will
take a sleep for four hours, to regain our strength. There is no
fear of our being called upon to aid in the defence. The Romans
must be as exhausted as we are; and they will need thought, and
preparation, before they attack our last stronghold, which is far
stronger than any they have yet taken. If we had food, we could
hold Mount Zion against them for months."

As soon as the meal was over, all lay down to sleep. None had asked
any questi