d trinket." And with a broad showing of sharp teeth, Herod
Antipas removed the anklet from his arm and handed it back to Zador Ben
Amon.

CHAPTER III

UNDER THE FOX'S NOSE

Behind the well guarded doors of a mud plastered house not far from the
shores of Genassaret, a small company of Galilean peasants and
fishermen had gathered to meet a _kurios_[1] from a Phoenician
_thiasos_,[2] who was making a pilgrimage to gather information and
organize societies. When introduced to the little group, the _kurios_
said, "I see the table spread for the supper. Around such a table have
I sat in Greece and Asia Minor as well as in Italy. Great is its power
of breaking down the hatred between races and of making strong the
spirit of the Brotherhood. In every land, though customs are not the
same and the tongues are strange, yet do those who enter in know the
bath of acceptance; the common table; the common treasury; love of the
living; care for the dead; hope for the future; worship of a divinity
and belief that a Savior cometh. Long hath it come to the ears of the
_thiasos_ how Galilee doth suffer. By the sword hath not a whole
village of thy race been taken? Were not thy men shackled and thy
maidens ravished? And ye who remain, art thou not taxed to the death?"

The words were spoken in low tones, yet there was a strange force in
them. The speaker bent forward and the index finger he pointed at his
hearers seemed to have been thrust suddenly from between his eyes.
When the sleeve of his mantle fell back it disclosed upon his arm a
fish, having a lion's head with a circle in its mouth.

"To gather news of thy distress, that is not hear-say, and to learn of
thy hope, if hope thou hast, have I come. Speak on."

There was a moment of silence. Then a peasant stepped forward.

"Look thou!" and he threw back his skirt. "See thou these grievous
wounds? I was set upon at the thrashing floor by a band of ruffians
who demanded my wheat. And when I did say, 'Nay,' they did beat me,
take the wheat and cast me into the chaff to die. And it hath since
come to me that these ruffians are none other than servants of Annas,
High Priest, who go about to pillage and destroy. Is it not so?" and
turning to one side he lay hold of another man's arm. "Here is Herod's
stewart. Hear him."

"Are the doors well barred and the court guards alert?" the stewart
questioned. "Are there watchmen on the housetop? Herod hath said he