discovered the beauty of Sara
said to his companion, "of all the spoil that hath been taken between
us, you have the larger portion. I first saw the maiden. She shall be
mine!"

"Nay, mine--first mine. Then shall she be yours."

"Lord God Almighty!" Jael cried. "Is it the name of my Sara your
polluted lips pass back and forth? Is it the virgin innocence of my
betrothed you would trade between you? Nay!"

And with a tremendous effort he freed himself and attacked the soldiers
with his naked hands. In the thick of the conflict, Sara, who had
seized the lamp, went out with it to search for the knife. In the dark
the struggle continued, but when Sara returned with the knife she found
Jael on the floor with blood running from a wound in the head. She
screamed, but no attention was paid her until her lover had been
securely enmeshed in the pile of fish nets and thrown upon the wooden
bench. Then the first soldier, wiping his brow and regaining his
helmet, said, "Now shall I take my own?" and he moved toward Sara.

Turning the point of the fishing knife against her breast she
whispered, "If thou takest me, thou takest me dead."

"'Twas I who first saw her," the second soldier protested, stepping up.

"Hold thy tongue," his companion exclaimed angrily, "else will I tie
thee in the fish net with the Jew. Art thou ready to go with me?"
turning toward Sara.

"Touch me not!" she commanded, drawing back.

The soldier laughed. "Touch thee not, when thou hast set my blood
running like fire? Touch thee not?" and he snatched the knife from her
hand and flung it into the pile of nets, as he said, "Flame doth become
thy cheek and fire thine eye! Come, nay--thou comest not? Then will
Jael hang on a cross. Then will Jael's flayed back draw many stinging
flies. Then will Jael's moans for water to cool his veins drained dry
of blood, make sweet music. Then will the smell of Jael's flesh draw
dogs with whetted fangs. Then--"

"Stop! Stay!" cried Sara. "Wilt thou spare Jael?"

"When thou art mine, then Jael shall be spared."

Sara turned to the bench. "Jael--Jael--Jael," she called, drawing her
long hair across her face.

"Tangle not thy fair tresses. Soft must they lie across my cheek when
thou art mine. Come," and the soldier lay hands upon her, but she
shrank away and throwing herself down beside the bench cried:

"Oh, Jael--Jael--save me!"

"Come here," the first soldier called to the second, "thy s