said.  No, a prophet could not do that.  But it is easier, Shaphan snorted, to climb up a rope thrown into the air than to return to a wife, if the flesh be always unwilling.  At the words all eyes were turned to Shaphan, who seemed to have recovered his composure.  It is a woeful thing to be wedded, he cried.  But why didst thou accept a wife?  Manahem asked.  Why were ye not guided by our counsels?  We hoped, Shaphan said, to bring saints into the world and we know not yet that robbers may not be the fruit of our wives’ wombs.  But if the flesh was always unwilling, Manahem answered, thou hast naught to fear.  It would be better, Shallum interrupted, to turn us adrift on the hills than that we should return to the lake where all is disorder now.  Ye are not many here, Eleakim said, to defend yourselves against robbers, and we have hands that can draw swords.  Our president alone can say if ye may remain, Manahem said; he is in the gallery now and coming towards us.  Our former brethren, Hazael, have renounced their wives, Manahem began, and would return to us and help to defend our cave.  You come submissive to our wisdom?  Hazael asked.  The three strangers replied that they did so, and Hazael stood, his eyes fixed on the three strangers.  We will defend you against robbers if these would seek to dispossess you of your cave, Eleakim cried.  We have but two cells vacant, Hazael said.  It matters not to us where we sleep if we sleep alone; and the president smiling at Shaphan’s earnestness said:  but three more mouths to feed will be a strain upon our stores of grain.  Even though there be three more mouths to feed, Shallum answered, there will be six more hands to build a wall against the robbers.  To build a wall against robbers?  Hazael said.  It is a long while we have been dreaming of that wall; and now it seems the time has come to hold a council.  We have been speaking of a wall to protect us against robbers ever since we came here, Manahem cried, and Saddoc answered:  we have delayed too long, we must build:  the younger brethren will reap the benefit of our toil.

We all seem to be in favour of the wall, Hazael said.  Are there no dissentients?  None.  For the next year or more we shall be builders rather than interpreters of the Scriptures.  Mathias will come to the wall to discourse to us, Caleb interjected, and Saddoc answered him:  whatsoever may befall us, we are certain of one thing, we shall always be listening to Mathias.  But Mathias is a man of great learning, Caleb replied.  Of Greek learning may be, Saddoc answered.  But even that is not sure, some years ago——­ But if Greek wisdom be of no value why is it taught here?  Caleb interrupted, and the old Essene answered:  that Greek wisdom was not taught in the Brook Kerith, but Greek reasoning was applied to the interpretation of Scripture.  But there will be no occasion for Mathias’ teaching for some years.  Years, sayest thou, Saddoc?  Amos interjected.  I spoke plainly, did I not?  Saddoc answered.