eed, had it not been for the number of Jews scattered among
the various cities of the East, the price of slaves would have
fallen even lower than it did. But the Jewish residents, so far as
they could afford it, came forward to buy their country men and
women, in order to free them from slavery.

When, therefore, the new arrivals were exposed in the market, many
assuring messages reached them from their compatriots; telling them
to keep up their courage, for friends would look after them. The
feeling against the Jews was still too strong for those who
remained in Alexandria to appear openly in the matter, and they
therefore employed intermediaries, principally Greeks and Cretans,
to buy up the captives. The women with children were the first
purchased, as the value of these was not great. Then some of the
older men, who were unfit for much work, were taken. Then there was
a pause, for already many cargoes of captives had reached
Alexandria, and the resources of their benevolent countrymen were
becoming exhausted.

No one had yet bid for John or Jonas, as the slave dealers had
placed a high price upon them as being strong and active, and
fitted for hard work. Their great fear was that they should be
separated; and John had, over and over again, assured his companion
that should he, as he hoped, succeed in getting himself sent to
Titus, and so be freed, he would, before proceeding home, come to
Egypt and purchase his friend's freedom.

The event they feared, however, did not happen. One day a Roman,
evidently of high rank, came into the market and, after looking
carelessly round, fixed his eyes upon John and his companion, and
at once approached their master. A few minutes were spent in
bargaining; then the dealer unfastened the fetters which bound
them, and the Roman briefly bade them follow him.

He proceeded through the crowded streets, until they were in the
country outside the town. Here, villas with beautiful gardens lined
the roads. The Roman turned in at the entrance to one of the
largest of these mansions. Under a colonnade, which surrounded the
house, a lady was reclining upon a couch. Her two slave girls were
fanning her.

Illustration: 'Lesbia,' the Roman said, 'I have brought you two
more slaves.'

"Lesbia," the Roman said, "you complained, yesterday, that you had
not enough slaves to keep the garden in proper order, so I have
bought you two more from the slave market. They are Jews, that
obstinate