errible truth forced itself on the
general's mind, and, with mingled astonishment and dismay, he
exclaimed, "Where are the hosts of Nicanor?"

"Yonder are those who can give an account of them," said Pollux,
turning to the south, where in a valley the Hebrews might be seen
marshalled around their loader. "There, I ween, is the insolent outlaw
who has been making a shambles of our camp. See you the glitter of the
spears? Maccabeus is setting his men in battle array. There is but a
handful of them. Shall we charge down upon them, and sweep them from
the face of the earth?"

Giorgias glanced again northward at Emmaus and the smoking ruins of the
Syrian camp; then southward, where the little compact force in the
valley was clustering round the standard of Maccabeus. Though the
troops under the command of Giorgias doubled the Hebrews in number, he
dared not try the issue of battle with those who had so lately
discomfited Nicanor's formidable hosts. Had the Syrian leader been
animated by such a fearless spirit as characterized his opponent, in
all human probability the victory of the night might have been, to
Judas and his gallant little band, succeeded by the defeat of the
morning. But Giorgias showed an unusual amount of caution on the
present occasion; and Pollux, though he assumed a tone of defiance, was
secretly by no means desirous to measure swords with Maccabeus.

The Hebrews were weary with conquering and pursuing. Their spirit was
unbroken, but their strength was exhausted. It was with some anxiety
that the eagle eye of Judas watched the movements of the enemy on the
heights, momentarily expecting an attack which he knew that his band of
heroes was so little able to sustain.

"They will be down upon us soon," said Simon, as he leaned wearily on
his spear.

"Nay; behold, they are vanishing over the crest of the mountain!"
triumphantly exclaimed Eleazar. "The cowards! only brave over the
wine-bowl! Not a stain on their swords! not a dint on their shields!
They are fleeing when no man pursues! Oh, that we had but strength to
follow, and chase the dastards even up to the walls of Jerusalem!"

"God hath put fear into their hearts. To Him be the glory!" said
Maccabeus, as he sheathed his heavy sword.

And after this--to transcribe the words of the ancient Hebrew
historian, describing the triumphs of his countrymen--"they went home,
and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven,
bec