om! Modin had arisen like
Samson, when he snapped the green withes and went forth to the fight
with the strength of a giant.

But this was an ebullition of zeal likely to be more fiery than
lasting. Mattathias little trusted that courage which only follows in
the train of success. The old man knew that the struggle with the
power of Syria was only commencing; that it would probably be long
protracted, and that it would be impracticable to defend Modin against
the hosts which would soon be sent to assail it. The patriarch stood
in the centre of the market-place, with his foot on the fragments of
the broken altar, and once more his loud clear voice rang far and wide.
"Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the Covenant, let him
follow me! Let us away to the mountains, ye men of Judah!"

How many of the inhabitants of Modin obeyed the call? how many resolved
to leave city and home, to dwell with the beasts in the caves of the
mountains? History relates that but a little band of ten, inclusive of
the Asmoneans, by retiring to the fastnesses of the mountains, formed
the nucleus of that brotherhood of heroes who were to wrest victory
after victory from the hosts of Syria, and win that unsullied fame
which belongs only to those who display firm endurance and devoted
courage in a righteous and holy cause.

CHAPTER VIII.

HADASSAH'S GUEST.

In no place were the tidings of the rising at Modin received with
greater exultation than in the lonely dwelling of Hadassah. The Hebrew
widow could hardly refrain from taking down the timbrel from the wall,
and bursting, like Miriam, into song. "_Sing unto the Lord, for He
hath triumphed gloriously! He hath dashed to pieces the enemy!_"

Constant information of what was occurring, every rumour, true or
false, whether of victory or of failure, was brought to Hadassah by her
son-in-law, Abishai, who little dreamed that every word which he
uttered was overheard by the wounded Athenian, from whom he was divided
but by the partitioning curtain!

In one of his visits to Hadassah, Abishai told how Judas had in the
mountains raised a standard, which bore the inscription, "Who is like
unto Thee among the gods, O Jehovah!"

"It is said," observed Abishai, "that from the initial letters of this
inscription the word MACCABEUS is formed, and that by this new title
Judas is commonly called; it is a name which the Syrians will soon have
cause to dread."

"It is a well-c