r. Now, indeed, he was like a lion at bay.

"Ha-a!" he roared, and his head bent slowly and his voice fell to a low
rumble as he continued. "'Tis an evil time in Jerusalem. I weary of
this long fight with traitors. They grind their points; they stir
poison; they swarm in the streets. They rob me of my friends, and
now--now they seek alliance with Jehovah to rob me of my throne. 'Tis
well you should know and beware. I have a plan which will make them
desire my good health. Report to Quirinus, and remember"--he took a
hand of the youth in both of his with a fawning movement--"I have need
of friends."

That very day an order went forth that certain of the learned men of
every city be assembled in the amphitheatre at Jericho, and be there
confined to wait the further pleasure of the king. It was a bold plan
through which Herod hoped to confound his enemies and insure his
safety. He decreed that on the day of his death all these men should
be executed.

CHAPTER 14

Among the orderlies at the castle was one David, a young Jew, whose
face and bearing had attracted the eye of Vergilius. There was in both
something admirable and familiar. Straightway the tribune chose the
young Jew for his own service, and soon held him in high esteem.
Together they set out one morning, with a troop of horse, bound for the
southern limit of Samaria. Thus quickly orders had arrived from the
emperor. They sent Vergilius on a journey to inspect roads and report
"as to hopes, plans, and theories of import to the king."

That morning as they left the old city, Vergilius and the young Jew
rode abreast.

"Tell me," said the former, presently, "what know you of the new king?"

"Of him I have thought much and know little," said David. "My mother
taught me to look for him. That was before the evil days."

"And you learned what of her?"

"Little save the long hope. She taught me an old chant of the coming.
If you wish, I will sing it."

Being bidden, he sang, as she had sung who hushed the revels of
Antipater, of signs and fears and of arrows to fly as the lightning.
Words, melody, emotion, the note of inveterate wrong, were those of the
slave-girl.

"The same nose and blue eyes, and fair, curly locks--the same feeling
and chant of faith," said Vergilius, thoughtfully. "Did you not live
in Galilee and suffer ill fortune?"

"We lived in Galilee, and, by-and-by, were as those hurled into
Gehenna."

"And have you a s