that of a child, was
to him an object of alarm. The brave young Greek was full of terrors
for one who in her grief had lost the sense of personal fear.

Partly owing to the skilful selection of paths by Joab, partly owing to
the circumstance of the day being still so young, the party did not
meet many persons on their way, and these few were of poorer class,
early commencing their morning toils. Inquiring glances were cast at
the singular cortege, but at that time of bondage and peril, a common
sense of misery and danger taught caution and repressed curiosity.

Only once was a question asked of the muleteer.

"What have you there, Joab, under yon mantle?" inquired a woman with a
large jar on her head, who stopped to survey the strange burden of the
mule.

"A ripe sheaf of the first-fruits, a wave-offering, Deborah," replied
Joab, with significance.

"There will be more, many more, cut down soon," replied the woman
gloomily; "may desolation overtake the Syrian reapers!"

Joab saw the Athenian's look of apprehension. "Fear not, stranger," he
said; "no Hebrew will betray us; Deborah is true as steel, and knows me
well."

There is little of twilight in Judaea; day leaps almost at a bound upon
his throne. The world was bathed in sunshine long before the
slowly-moving party reached the lonely dwelling amongst the hills. How
thankful was Lycidas for the seclusion of that wild spot, which seemed
as if it had been chosen for purpose of concealment! Hadassah had left
the door fastened when she had quitted the place on the preceding
morning, full of anxious terrors on account of the peril of Zarah; but
Anna had charge of the key. With what thankful joy would the Hebrew
widow have for the last time crossed that threshold in life, could she
have foreseen that her child would so soon return in safety, albeit as
a mourner, following Hadassah's own corpse!

The two bodies were reverentially laid on mats on the floor of the
dwelling. Lycidas then went outside the door with Joab, to make such
arrangements as circumstances permitted for the burial, which,
according to the custom of the land, rendered necessary by the climate,
must take place very soon. Joab undertook to find those who would aid
him in digging a grave close to that of the martyrs, and promised to
come for the bodies an hour after midnight. Lycidas drew forth gold,
but the Hebrew refused to take it.

"To bury the martyred dead is a pious office and acce