vy club down with all his strength upon the head of the priest.

At this moment Plexo, who had stolen unobserved from the room the
instant the others entered, returned, followed by three armed men.
Chebron and Amuba were so intent upon the combat between Jethro and
the priest that they did not notice the entrance of Plexo, who, with
uplifted knife, sprang upon Chebron.

There was a scream of warning, and quick as thought Ruth sprang
forward and pushed Plexo as he sprang through the air. The sudden
shock threw both to the ground. Ruth sprang to her feet again, but
Plexo lay there motionless. The three armed men stood for a moment
stupefied at the fall of their two employers, and then, seeing two men
and a woman, rushed forward to attack them. One sweeping blow with
Jethro's staff felled the first of his assailants to the ground; the
others paused irresolute.

"Drop your weapons, or you are dead men!" Jethro exclaimed. "You are
outnumbered; and if you move, you die!"

As Chebron had now thrown back his female robe and drawn his dagger,
and taken his place at the door, while Jethro and Amuba were advancing
against them, the two men dropped their weapons.

"Hold out your hands," Jethro said. "My son, stand over them with your
club, and break the skull of either who may move."

The men did as they were ordered. Jethro tore strips of cloth off
their garments, twisted them into ropes, and bound their wrists firmly
together. The meaning tone in which Jethro had called Amuba his son
had not escaped either Amuba or Chebron, who saw that Jethro was
desirous of concealing their names. Mysa, who had raised a cry of joy
when Jethro first spoke, had sunk terrified upon a couch, and had
hidden her face in her hands during the short encounter; while Ruth
had stood silent and vigilant beside her, moving only when Plexo
rushed at Chebron, and retiring to Mysa's side again as soon as she
had regained her feet. She, too, understood Jethro's motives in
calling Amuba his son, and stooping over Mysa she said:

"It is all over now, Mysa, but remain quiet at present. Do not speak
until you see what is going to be done."

As soon as the men were tied Jethro secured in the same manner the man
who was lying stunned from his blow. Then he turned to Plexo, who had
not moved since he had fallen. He half turned him round, and uttered a
low exclamation of surprise.

"Gastrion," he said to Chebron, "go with the young lady into the
garden, and