did not appease the philosopher, who dropped his eyes on Joseph and fixed them on him.  The moment was one of agony for Joseph.  And as if he remembered suddenly that Joseph was only just come into the district of the Jordan, Mathias told with some ironical laughter that the neighbourhood was full of prophets, as ignorant and as ugly as hyenas.  They live, he said, in the caves along the western coasts of the Salt Lake, growling and snarling over the world, which they seem to think rotten and ready for them to devour.  Or else they issue forth and entice the ignorant multitude into the Jordan, so that they may the more easily plunge them under the flood.  But of what use to speak of these crazed folk, when there are so many subjects of which philosophy may gracefully treat?

Prophets in caves about the Salt Lake!  Joseph muttered; and a great desire awakened in him to see them.  But you’re not going in search of these wretched men?  Mathias asked, and his eyes filled with contempt, and Joseph felt that Mathias had already decided that all intellectual companionship was henceforth impossible between them.  He was tempted to temporise.  It was not to discuss the resurrection that he desired to see these men, but for curiosity; and during the long walk he would meditate on Mathias’s doctrines....  Mathias did not answer him, and Joseph, seeing him cast away in philosophy and unable to advise him further, went to the president to ask for permission to absent himself for two days from the cenoby, a permission that was granted willingly when the object of the absence was duly related.

CHAP.  VIII.

There was one John preaching in the country about the Jordan:  the Baptist, they call him, the president said.  But go, Joseph, and see the prophets for thyself.  I shall be rare glad to hear what thou hast to say!  And he pressed Joseph’s hand, sending him off in good cheer.  Banu, ask for Banu! were the last words he called after him, and Joseph hoped the ferryman would be able to point out the way to him.  Oh yes, I know the prophet; the ferryman answered:  a disciple of John, that all the people are following.  But there be a bit of a walk before thee, and one that’ll last thee till dawn, for Banu has been that bothered by visits these times, that he has gone up the desert out of the way, for he be preparing himself these whiles.  For what?  Joseph asked.  The ferryman did not know; he told that John was not baptizing that morning, but for why he did not know.  As like as not he be waiting for the river to lower, he said.  At which Joseph had half a mind to leave Banu for John; but a passenger was calling the ferryman from the opposite bank and he was left with incomplete information and wandered on in doubt whether to return in quest of the Baptist or make the disciple his shift.