CHAP.  XXX.

So thou thinkest, Eliab, that the autumn rains will make an end of him.  And maybe of thee too, Bozrah, Eliab returned.  A hard life ours is, even for the young ones.  Hard bread by day and at night a bed of stones, a hard life from the beginning one that doesn’t grow softer, and to end in a lion’s maw at fifty is the best we can hope for.  For us, perhaps, Bozrah answered; but Jesus will go up to the cenoby among the rocks and die amongst the brethren reading the Scriptures.  If the autumn rains don’t make an end of him, Eliab interjected testily, as if he did not like his forecast of Jesus’ death to be called into question.  As I was saying, a shepherd’s life is a hard one, and when the autumn rains make an end of him, the brethren will be on the look-out for another shepherd, and there’s not one amongst them that would bring half the flock entrusted to him into the fold at the end of the year.  The best of us lose sheep:  what with——­

The flock will go to Jacob, the lad he’s been training to follow him ever since his friend was killed, Havilah remarked timidly.  Eliab and Bozrah raised their eyes, and looked at Havilah in surprise, for a sensible remark from Havilah was an event, and to their wonder they found themselves in agreement with Havilah.  The flock would go to Jacob without doubt.  Of course, Havilah cried, excited by the success of his last remark, he be more than fifty.  Thou mightst put five years more to the fifty and not be far wrong, Bozrah interposed.  Havilah was minded to speak again, but his elders’ looks made him feel that they had heard him sufficiently.  Now, Bozrah, how many years dost thou make it since Joseph of Arimathea was killed?  How many years?  Bozrah repeated.  I can’t tell thee how many years, but many years....  Stay, I can mark the date down for thee.  It was about ten years before Theudas (wasn’t that his name?) led the multitude over these hills.  A great riot that was surely—­fires lighted at the side of the woods for the roasting of our lambs, and many’s the fine wood that was turned to blackened stems and sad ashes in those days.  It comes back to me now, Eliab interjected.  Theudas was the name.  I’d forgotten it for the moment.  He led the multitude to Jordan, and while he was bidding the waters divide to let him across the Romans had his head off.  It was nigh ten years before that rioting Gaddi’s partner was killed in Jerusalem.  I believe thee to be right, Bozrah replied, and they talked of the different magicians and messiahs that were still plaguing the country, stirring them up against the Romans.  But, cried Bozrah suddenly, the story comes back to me.  Not getting any news of his friend, Jesus left his flock with Jacob, and came down to the pass between the hills where the road descends to the lake to inquire from the beggars if they had seen Gaddi’s partner on his way to Jerusalem or Jericho, and seeing the lepers and beggars gathering