t I thought of them to the end, and
that I sent you to them to be with them; and to be to my father and
mother a son, until they shall find for Mary a husband who may fill
my place, and be the stay of their old age. My father will treat
you as an adopted son, for my sake; and will bestow upon you a
portion of his lands.

"You have been as a brother to me, Jonas; and I pray you, promise
me to carry out my wishes."

Jonas had reluctantly given the pledge but, from that hour until
John had declared that he would fight no more, Jonas had been moody
and silent. Now, however, as he walked behind his friend, his face
was full of satisfaction. There was no chance, now, that he would
have to take home the news of his leader's death. Whatever befell
them, they would share together.

They soon reached the door of the house in which the pit was
situated. It was entered, and the door closed behind them. The
lamps were then lit. John led the way to the cellar, and bade the
men remove the boards.

"I will go first, with one of the lamps," he said. "Do you, Jonas,
take the other, and come last in the line.

"Keep close together, so that the light may be sufficient for all
to see."

Strengthened by the meal, and by their confidence in John's promise
to lead them through the Romans, the band felt like new men; and
followed John with their usual light, active gait, as he led the
way. Not a word was spoken, till they reached the hole leading into
the aqueduct.

"This is the Conduit of King Hezekiah," John said. "When we emerge
at the other end, we shall be beyond the Roman lines."

Exclamations of satisfaction burst from the men. Each had been
wondering, as he walked, where their leader was taking them. All
knew that the ground beneath Jerusalem was honeycombed by caves and
passages; but that their leader could not intend to hide there was
evident, for they had but one meal with them. But that any of these
passages should debouch beyond the Roman lines had not occurred to
them.

Each had thought that the passages they were following would
probably lead out, at the foot of the wall, into the Valley of
Hinnom or of Jehoshaphat; and that John intended to creep with them
up to the foot of the Roman wall, and to trust to activity and
speed to climb it, and make their way through the guard placed
there to cut off fugitives. But none had even hoped that they would
be able to pass the wall of circumvallation without a struggle.

An