t, and the East
to one-third of their former value. There were, however,
comparatively few able-bodied men among them. In almost every case
the Romans had put these to the sword, and the slave dealers,
finding John and Jonas, had congratulated themselves on the
acquisition; knowing well that no complaint that the captives might
make would be listened to, and that their story would not be
believed, even if they could get to tell it to anyone of authority.

John and Jonas were ordered to lie down with the rest, and were
told that, if they made any attempt to escape, they would be
scourged to death.

"The villains!" Jonas muttered, as they lay down. "Is it not enough
to drive one mad to think that, after having escaped the Romans, we
should fall into the hands of these rogues!"

"We must not grumble at fate. Hitherto, Jonas, we have been
marvellously preserved. First of all, we two were alone saved from
Jotapata; then we, with ten others, alone out of six hundred
escaped alive from Jerusalem. We have reason for thankfulness,
rather than repining. We have been delivered out of the hands of
death; and remember that I have the ring of Titus with me, and
that--when the time comes--this will avail us."

From the day the siege had begun, John had carried the signet ring
of Titus; wearing it on his toe, concealed by the bands of his
sandals. He knew that, were he to fall into the hands of the
Romans, he would get no opportunity of speaking but, even if not
killed at once, would be robbed of any valuable he might possess;
and that his assertion that the ring was a signet, which Titus
himself had given him would, even if listened to, be received with
incredulity. He had therefore resolved to keep it concealed, and to
produce it only when a favourable opportunity seemed to offer.

"At any rate, Jonas, let us practise patience, and be thankful that
we are still alive."

In the morning, the cavalcade got into motion. John found that the
majority of his fellow captives were people who had been taken
captive when Titus, for the second time, obtained possession of the
lower city. They had been sent up to Tiberias, and there sold, and
their purchaser was now taking them down to Egypt. The men were
mostly past middle age, and would have been of little value as
slaves, had it not been that they were all craftsmen--workers in
stone or metal--and would therefore fetch a fair price, if sold to
masters of these crafts. The rest were wo