"Yes, yes, and left many crushed flat behind it."

"The reason why I am interested," went on Caleb, taking no heed, "is
that I may have lost a fine market for my goods."

"Well, and so you have, friend. Some days ago the Pearl-Maiden departed
to Tyre in charge of the captain, Gallus, on her way to Rome. Perhaps
you would wish to follow and sell her your onions there."

"Perhaps I should," answered Caleb. "When you Romans have gone this
seems likely to become a bad country for gardeners, since owls and
jackals do not buy fruit, and you will leave no other living thing
behind you."

"True," answered the cook. "Caesar knows how to handle a broom and he has
made a very clean sweep," and he pointed complacently to the heaped-up
ruins of the Temple before them. "But how much for the whole basket
full?"

"Take them, friend," said Caleb, "and sell them to your mess for
the best price that you can get. You need not mention that you paid
nothing."

"Oh! no, I won't mention it. Good morning, Mr. Cabbage-grower, good
morning."

Then he stood still watching as Caleb vanished quickly among the great
boles of the olive trees. "What can stir a Jew so much," he reflected to
himself, "as to make him give something for nothing, and especially to a
Roman? Perhaps he is Pearl-Maiden's brother. No, that can't be from his
eyes--her lover more likely. Well, it is no affair of mine, and although
he never grew them, the vegetables are good and fresh."

That evening when Caleb, still disguised as a peasant, was travelling
through the growing twilight across the hills that bordered the road to
Tyre, he heard a mighty wailing rise from Jerusalem and knew that it was
the death-cry of his people. Now, everywhere above such portions of the
beleaguered city as remained standing, shot up tall spires and wreaths
of flame. Titus had forced the walls, and thousands upon thousands of
Jews were perishing beneath the swords of his soldiers, or in the fires
of their burning homes. Still, some ninety thousand were left alive,
to be driven like cattle into the Court of Women. Here more than ten
thousand died of starvation, while some were set aside to grace the
Triumph, some to be slaughtered in the amphitheatres at Caesarea and
Berytus, but the most were transported to Egypt, there, until they died,
to labour in the desert mines. Thus was the last desolation accomplished
and the prophecy fulfilled: "And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt
aga