derim, the son of Ilderim the Generous, and sheik of the
tribe of Ilderim, to Judah, son of Hur.

"Know, O friend of my father's, how my father loved you. Read what is
herewith sent, and you will know. His will is my will; therefore what
he gave is thine.

"All the Parthians took from him in the great battle in which
they slew him I have retaken--this writing, with other things,
and vengeance, and all the brood of that Mira who in his time
was mother of so many stars.

"Peace be to you and all yours.

"This voice out of the desert is the voice of

"Ilderim, Shiek."

Ben-Hur next unrolled a scrap of papyrus yellow as a withered
mulberry leaf. It required the daintiest handling. Proceeding,
he read:

"Ilderim, surnamed the Generous, sheik of the tribe of Ilderim,
to the son who succeeds me.

"All I have, O son, shall be thine in the day of thy succession,
except that property by Antioch known as the Orchard of Palms;
and it shall be to the son of Hur who brought us such glory in
the Circus--to him and his forever.

"Dishonor not thy father. ILDERIM THE GENEROUS, Sheik."

"What say you?" asked Ben-Hur, of Simonides.

Esther took the papers pleased, and read them to herself. Simonides
remained silent. His eyes were upon the ship; but he was thinking.
At length he spoke.

"Son of Hur," he said, gravely, "the Lord has been good to you in
these later years. You have much to be thankful for. Is it not time
to decide finally the meaning of the gift of the great fortune now
all in your hand, and growing?"

"I decided that long ago. The fortune was meant for the service
of the Giver; not a part, Simonides, but all of it. The question
with me has been, How can I make it most useful in his cause? And
of that tell me, I pray you."

Simonides answered,

"The great sums you have given to the Church here in Antioch, I am
witness to. Now, instantly almost with this gift of the generous
sheik's, comes the news of the persecution of the brethren in
Rome. It is the opening of a new field. The light must not go
out in the capital."

"Tell me how I can keep it alive."

"I will tell you. The Romans, even this Nero, hold two things
sacred--I know of no others they so hold--they are the ashes of
the dead and all places of burial. If you cannot build temples
for the worship of the Lord above ground, then build them below
the ground; and to keep them from profanation, carry to them the
bodies of all who die in