His hope was that the man might be some innocent shepherd in search of a lost ewe:  if he were a robber, that he might pass on, unsuspicious of a traveller seeking shelter from the rain in a cave a little way up the hillside.  The man came into view of the cave and stood for some time in front of it, his back turned to Joseph, looking round the sky, and then, like one who has lost hope in the weather, he hastened on his way.  As soon as he was out of sight, Joseph led out his mule, clambered into the saddle, and digging his heels into the mule’s sides, galloped the best part of a mile till he reached the Roman fort overlooking the valley.  If a robber was to emerge, a Roman soldier would speedily come to his assistance; but behind him and the fort were some excellent lurking-places, Joseph thought, for robbers, and again his heels went into his mule.  But this time, as if he knew that haste was no longer necessary, the mule hitched up his back and jangled his bells so loudly that again Joseph’s heart stood still.  He was within sight of Jericho, but half-way down the descent a group of men were waiting, as if for travellers.  His best chance was to consider them as harmless passengers, so he rode on, and the beggars—­for they were no more—­held up maimed leprous limbs to excite his pity.

He was now within two miles of Jericho, and he rode across the sandy plain, thinking of the Essenes and the cenoby on the other side of Jordan.  He rode in full meditation, and it was not till he was nigh the town of Jericho that he attempted to think by which ford he should cross Jordan:  whether by ferry, in which case he must leave his mule in Jericho; or by a ford higher up the stream, if there was a ford practicable at this season; which is doubtful, he said to himself, as he came within view of the swollen river.  And he hearkened to one who declared the river to be dangerous to man and beast:  but another told him differently, and being eager to reach the cenoby he determined to test the ford.

If the water proved too strong he would return to Jericho, but the mule plunged forward, and at one moment it was as like as not that the flood would carry them away into the lake beyond, but Joseph’s weight enabled the animal to keep on his hooves, and the water shallowing suddenly, the mule reached the opposite bank.  It was my weight that saved us, Joseph said; and dismounting, he waited for the panting animal to recover breath.  We only just did it.  The way to the cenoby? he called out to a passenger along the bank, and was told he must hasten, for the Essenes did not receive anybody after sunset:  which may or may not be true, he muttered, as he pursued his way, his eyes attracted and amused by the long shadow that himself and his mule projected over the wintry earth.  He was tempted to tickle the animal’s long ears with a view to altering the silhouette, and then his thoughts ran on into the cenoby and what might befall him yonder; for that must be it, he said, looking forward and discovering a small village on the lower slopes of the hills, on the ground shelving down towards the river.