hour's walking brought them to the chamber over the springs.

"Now," John said, "we will rest for half an hour, before we sally
out. Let each man eat half the food he has brought with him. The
rest he must keep till tomorrow, for we shall have to travel many
miles before we can reach a spot that the Romans have not laid
desolate, and where we may procure food.

"I trust," he went on, "that we shall be altogether unnoticed. The
sentries may be on the alert, on their wall, for they will think it
likely that many may be trying to escape from the city; but all
save those on duty will be either asleep after their toils, or
feasting in honour of their success. The fact, too, of the grcat
glare of light over Jerusalem will render the darkness more
intense, when they look in the other direction.

"But if we should be noticed, it is best that we should separate,
and scatter in the darkness; each flying for his life, and making
his way home as best he may. If we are not seen, we will keep
together. There is no fear of meeting with any Roman bands, when we
are once fairly away. The parties getting wood will have been
warned, by the smoke, of what has taken place; and will have
hurried back, to gain their share of the spoil."

At the end of the half hour, John rose to his feet and led the way
along the passage to the entrance. When he came to the spot where
it was nearly blocked up, he blew out his light, and crawled
forward over the rubbish, until he reached the open air. The others
followed, until all were beside him. Then he rose to his feet. The
Temple was not visible, but the whole sky seemed on fire above
Jerusalem; and the outline of the three great towers of the Palace
of Herod, and of the buildings of the upper city, stood black
against the glare.

There was no sign of life or movement near as, with a quick,
noiseless step, the little party stole away. None of them knew more
than the general direction which they had to follow, but the glare
of the great fire served as a guide as to their direction and, even
at this distance, made objects on the ground plainly visible; so
that they were enabled to pick their way among the stumps of the
fallen plantations and orchards, through gardens, and by ruined
villas and houses, until they reached the edge of the plateau, and
plunged down into the valleys descending to the Dead Sea. After
walking for two hours, John called a halt.

"We can walk slowly now," he said, "and avoid