"The spirit
hath passed away!"

As Jesus made his way to the prow of the ship which was pointing high
on the crest of a wave, he saw in the flashes of light, the blanched
faces of the terrified crew.

"The winds be contrary," James shouted as he passed him.

"Nay, not the winds, but the force that is back of the wind is
divided," he answered. "They need but a center in which to become as
one."

Though the ship was taking the waves and pitching so violently that all
hands lay flat where they had been thrown, Jesus made his way
steady-footed to the high point of the prow where he folded his arms
and looked out over the scene of turbulence and darkness. He breathed
deep and lifted his face to the flakes of foam torn from the long
spray-arms of the warring waves. He turned his ear to the moan of the
gale which seemed to breathe out in wrath from the heart of the earth.
Calm and secure as if he and the elements were one, he rode for a few
moments watching the play of the divided force. Then he held forth his
hands after the manner of a High Priest in benediction and said,
"Peace. Be still." And the wind and the waves obeyed his will, the
wind moaning itself into nothingness; the waves subsiding into their
wonted calm, and in the dawn of the setting sunlight, they saw the
shore.

When Jesus turned about, he found Jael kneeling beside him and holding
to the hem of his garment with both hands. On the face that looked up
to the Rabbi was written revelation and the joy of a great escape.
"Thou art the King!" he cried. "Forgive me the blindness of my heart I
pray thee and grant my soul one request!"

"What wilt thou, Jael?" Jesus said.

"This be my one desire--that Sara yet liveth and be made whole."

"According to thy faith shall thy desire come to pass," he answered.
Then he called Peter saying, "Cast now thy net and make ready for the
ingathering."

The net was cast and a great burden of fish towed to the shore, which
was washed clean of footmarks and strewn with fresh pebbles. With the
vigor of new-born joy, Jael worked with the other fishers. But when he
would have come in contact again with his hope, he found Jesus had
gone, no man knew whither.

PART TWO

A. D. 33

CHAPTER XIX

CATACOMBS COMRADES

With its hyena head pointed toward the Imperial Capitol, the brazen
She-Wolf of the Roman Empire stood, its bristled hair and exposed fangs
symbolic of the beast-nature that was its Babyloni