n. The sun yet
shineth."

"Nay! Nay! Even the sun doth darker, its face in shame that the Jew,
that just man, should be hung upon a cross to die! Oh, Pilate!
Pilate! How could you?"

While they were speaking the darkness lightened and two soldiers
crossed the road. When they reached the skeleton whose white outlines
could be dimly seen in the gray light, they stopped suddenly.

"The dead come forth! Wherefore?" exclaimed one.

"Because this thing came of a race that knowest nothing, not even that
it is dead." He kicked the skull which separated itself from the body
and rolled toward him. Stopping it with his boot he said, "Aye, good
Jew, art thou dead or alive? Speak!"

"He is lacking a tongue," and the second soldier laughed. The first
ran his sword through the ribs of the skeleton and flinging it into the
ravine kicked the skull after it.

In the silence that followed this clearing of the roadway, a moan was
heard from the hidden hill-top. It was one of the malefactors begging
for a stupefying potion to stay his torment.

"Hear," said one of the soldiers. "_He_ beggeth with a good tongue."

"Yea, but the Jew that hangeth between the two refused the draught."

"He refuseth nothing now. The tongue of the 'King of the Jews' waggeth
no longer in profane bragging against Caesar. Let us see to him."

When the soldiers had turned up the hill, the woman behind the rock
spoke again. "Oh, my eunuch," she said, "go thou to the cross and
inquire of the Jew. They say he is dead--dead," and her voice ended in
a sob.

"Be comforted, most gracious Claudia. Methinks they speak what they
know not. Yet will thy servant inquire."

While the eunuch was gone a group of soldiers came down the road
bearing a purple robe. Near the rock behind which Claudia stood
concealed they seated themselves, removed their helmets and dropped
dice in them.

"A goodly apparel," one soldier said, holding forth the robe.

"Yea, and a crown went with it," a second said.

"Yea, and a cross followed after it," a third added.

"For Pilate is the friend of Caesar."

"Thus ever with those Rome hath cause to fear," the first soldier
observed as he shook the dice in his helmet. Then in turn the soldiers
rattled their dice and spoke.

"Look thou! Look thou!"

"Aye, but look here."

"Yea, but cast thine eyes on my luck!"

"I throw well!"

"I throw better!"

"I throw best! Look! The garment is mine!"

While they h