which he said was colder than he ever knew it before at this season of the year:  remarks’ that Joseph considered well enough in themselves, but out of his humour.  So ye be craving for baptism, the ferryman said, and looked as if he did not care a wild fig whether Joseph got it that morning or missed it.  But there was no use arguing with the ferryman, who after a long stare fell to his oars, but so leisurely that Joseph seized one of them and—­putting his full strength upon it—­turned the boat’s head up-stream.

There be no landing up-stream anywhere, so loose my oars or I’ll leave them to thee, the ferryman growled, and we shall be twirling about stream till midday and after.  But I can row, Joseph said.  Then row! and the ferryman put the other oar into his hand.  But we shall be quicker across if thou’lt leave them to me.  And as this seemed to Joseph the truth, he fell back into his seat, and did not get out of it till the boat touched the bank.  But he jumped too soon and fell into the mud, causing much laughter along the bank, and not a few ribald remarks, some saying that he needed baptism more than those that had gotten it.  But a hand was reached out to him, and that he should ask for the Baptist before thinking of his clothes showed the multitude that he must be another prophet, which he denied, calling on heaven to witness that he was not one:  whereupon he was mistaken for a great sinner, and heard that however great his repentance it would avail him nothing, for the Baptist was gone away with his disciple.  Joseph, thinking that he had left the Baptist’s disciple in the desert, began to argue that this could not be, and raved incontinently at the man, bringing others round him, till he was hemmed into a circle of ridicule.  Among the multitude many were of the same faith as Joseph himself, and these drew him out of the circle and explained to him that the Baptist baptized in the river for several hours, till—­unable to bear the cold any longer—­he had gone away, his teeth chattering, with Jesus the Essene.

Jesus the Essene!  Joseph repeated, but before he could inquire further, men came running along the bank, saying they had sins to repent, and on hearing that the Baptist was gone and would not return that day, they began to tell each other stories of the great cloud that was seen in the east, bearing within it a chariot; and from the chariot angels were seen descending all the morning with flaming swords in their hands.  Get thee baptized! they shouted, and clamoured, and pushed to and fro—­a thronging gesticulating multitude of brown faces and hooked noses, of bony shoulders and striped shirts.  Get thee baptized before sunset! everybody was crying.  And Joseph watched the veils floating from their turbans as they fled southwards.  On what errand? he asked; in search of the Baptist or the new disciple Jesus?  Not the new disciple, was the answer he got back; for Jesus leaves baptism to John.  But why doesn’t