men and children.

The men were attached to each other by cords, John and Jonas being
placed at some distance apart; and one of the armed guards placed
himself near each, as there was far more risk of active and
determined young men trying to make their escape than of the others
doing so, especially after the manner in which they had been
kidnapped. All their clothes were taken from them, save their
loincloths; and John trembled lest he should be ordered also to
take off his sandals, for his present captors would have no idea of
the value of the ring, but would seize it for its setting.

Fortunately, however, this was not the case. The guards all wore
sandals and had, therefore, no motive in taking those of the
captives, especially as they were old and worn. The party soon
turned off from the main road, and struck across the hills to the
west; and John bitterly regretted that he had not halted, for the
night, a few miles further back than he did, in which case he would
have avoided the slave dealers' caravan.

The heat was intense, and John pitied the women and children,
compelled to keep up with the rest. He soon proposed, to a woman
who was burdened with a child about two years old, to place it on
his shoulders; and as the guard saw in this a proof that their new
captives had no idea of endeavouring to escape, they offered no
objection to the arrangement which, indeed, seemed so good to them
that, as the other mothers became fatigued, they placed the
children on the shoulders of the male prisoners; loosing the hands
of the latter, in order that they might prevent the little ones
from losing their balance.

The caravan halted for the night at Sichem, and the next day
crossed Mount Gerizim to Bethsalisa, and then went on to Jaffa.
Here the slave dealers hired a ship, and embarked the slaves. They
were crowded closely together, but otherwise were not unkindly
treated, being supplied with an abundance of food and water--for it
was desirable that they should arrive in the best possible
condition at Alexandria, whither they were bound.

Fortunately the weather was fine and, in six days, they reached
their destination. Alexandria was at that time the largest city,
next to Rome herself, upon the shores of the Mediterranean. It had
contained a very large Jewish population prior to the great
massacre, five years before and, even now, there were a
considerable number remaining. The merchant had counted upon this
and, ind