Zarah's litter, went on with the conversation.

"The mind of Hadassah," he observed, "seemed especially to dwell upon
humiliation, suffering and sacrifice in connection with the mysterious
Being for whose advent she looked--we all look. If her view be
correct, it may be possible that not only the death, but the earthly
life of the Messiah may be one long sacrifice from the cradle to the
grave."

The conversation then turned to themes less lofty, till Joab had
succeeded in effecting the slight needful repairs. Lycidas then
remounted his horse, and the party resuming their journey, Bethlehem
was soon left behind them.

It is unnecessary to describe that night-journey, or tell how Lycidas
and his companions passed the site of King Solomon's pleasure-grounds,
his "gardens, and orchards and pools of water;" or how the road then
led over the succession of barren hills which extend southward as far
as Hebron. Travelling was slow and tedious, the road rough, and the
horses grew weary. Lycidas was too anxious to place his charge in
safety, to permit of a halt for refreshment and rest on the way. The
Greek's uneasiness on Zarah's account was increased as, towards dawn,
they met parties of peasants fleeing, as they said, from the Syrians,
who, like a vast cloud of locusts, were carrying devastation through
the land. Lycidas felt that danger was on all sides; he knew not
whether to advance or to retreat; responsibility weighed heavily upon
him, and he almost envied the stolid composure with which the hardy
Joab trudged on his weary way. The Athenian would not disturb the
serenity of Zarah's mind by imparting to her the anxious cares which
perplexed his own. Lycidas was touched by the implicit confidence
placed by the gentle girl in his power to protect and guide her; and he
was thankful that while with him eye, ear, brain, were strained to the
utmost to detect the most remote approach of danger, the weary Zarah in
her litter was able to enjoy the refreshment of sleep.

CHAPTER XXXII.

FRIENDS OR FOES?

"Hold! stand! who are ye, and whither go ye?" was the stern challenge,
the sound of which startled Zarah out of a pleasant dream. The motion
of the litter suddenly ceased, a strong hand was on the bridle of the
horse which Lycidas was riding, a weapon was pointed at the breast of
the Greek. There was not yet sufficient light to enable him to
distinguish whether those who thus arrested the further progress of th