All the same, he said, it was strange that Pilate should have put one from the cenoby on the cross, another Jesus of Nazareth....  It might be that this Essene shepherd and his story were but a trap laid for him by the Jews!  But no——­

Paul remembered he had written a long epistle to the Galatians reproving them for lack of faith, and now he found himself caught in one of those moments to which all flesh seems prone.  But no; the cause of his disquiet was Timothy; Jesus had promised him news of Timothy, else he would not have delayed so long among these clefts.  He might start at once; but he would not be able to find the way through these hills without a guide, and he could not leave till he heard from this Essene why Pilate had ordered him to be scourged.  What crime was he guilty of?  A follower he was, no doubt, of Judas the Gaulonite, else Pilate would not have ordered him to be crucified.  But the reason for his having left the wilderness?  There must be one, and he sought the reason through the long afternoon without finding one that seemed plausible for more than a few minutes.

The drone of the brook increased his agitation and the day was well-nigh spent when the doors of the cells opened and the brethren began to appear in their white garments; and when they had found seats about the table Paul related that he was waiting for Jesus to return from the hills.

At last he heard one say:  here is Jesus, and at the sound of the familiar name Paul started up to meet him, and speaking the first words that came to his lips he asked him if it were true that he was from Nazareth and had received baptism from John and suffered under Pilate.  I was born in Nazareth, but what of that?  Why dost thou look into my face so steadfastly?  Because this noon, Paul answered, while thou wast with thy flock, I was moved to tell the brethren of Jesus of Nazareth, who died on the cross to redeem us, for I would that all you here should join with us and carry the joyful tidings to Italy and Spain.  The doors are open——­

Hazael coming from his cell at that moment stayed the words that had risen up in Paul’s mind, and he looked at the president as if he expected him to speak, but Hazael sank into his chair and soon after into his own thoughts.  So thy name is Jesus and thou’rt from Nazareth?  Paul said, turning to the shepherd, and Jesus answered:  I was born in Nazareth and my life has been lived among these hills.  Our guest, Saddoc said, interrupting, has told us the story of his life, and he hopes to persuade us to leave this gorge and go with him to Italy and on to Spain.  To Spain?  Jesus asked.  To carry the joyful tidings that the doors of salvation are now open to all, Saddoc answered.  He has told us that he was once a great persecutor of Christians.  Of Christians?  Jesus repeated.  And who are they?  The Christians are they that believe the Messiah promised to the Jews was raised by God from the dead, Saddoc replied, and our guest would have