hat I
should judge? Let the Court be summoned and at once. This matter must be
laid before them. If you should purchase her and she desires it, do you
promise that you will set her free?"

"I promise it."

Ithiel looked at him strangely and said: "Good, but in the hour of
temptation, if it should come, see that you do not forget your word."

So the Court was called together, not the full hundred that used to sit
in the great hall, but a bare score of the survivors of the Essenes, and
to them the brother, Samuel, repeated his tale. To them also Marcus made
his petition for freedom, that he might journey to Rome with Nehushta,
and if it were possible, deliver Miriam from her bonds. Now, some of
the more timid of the Essenes spoke against the release of so valuable
a hostage upon the chance of his being able to aid Miriam, but Ithiel
cried from his litter:

"What! Would you allow our own advantage to prevail against the hope
that this maiden, who is loved by everyone of us, may be saved? Shame
upon the thought. Let the Roman go upon his errand, since we cannot."

So in the end they agreed to let him go, and, as he had none, even
provided money for his faring out of their scanty, secret store,
trusting that he might find opportunity to repay it in time to come.

That night Marcus and Nehushta bade farewell to Ithiel.

"I am dying," said the old Essene. "Before ever you can set foot in Rome
the breath will be out of my body, and beneath the desert sand I shall
lie at peace--who desire peace. Yet, say to Miriam, my niece, that my
spirit will watch over her spirit, awaiting its coming in a land where
there are no more wars and tribulations, and that, meanwhile, I who love
her bid her to be of good cheer and to fear nothing."

So they parted from Ithiel and travelled upon horses to Joppa, Marcus
disguising his name and rank lest some officer among the Romans
should detain him. Here by good fortune they found a ship sailing for
Alexandria, and in the port of Alexandria a merchant vessel bound for
Rhegium, in which they took passage, none asking them who they might be.

Upon the night of the burning of the Temple, Caleb, escaping the
slaughter, was driven with Simon the Zealot across the bridge into the
Upper City, which bridge they broke down behind them. Once he tried to
return, in the mad hope that during the confusion he might reach the
gate Nicanor and, if she still lived, rescue Miriam. But already the
Romans