“God curse him!” said Vergilius, quickly, his heart filling with passion dark as the night around.  He heard no more the great song, but only the smite of steel in deadly combat.  He seemed to see his enemy fall bleeding at his feet.  “I will take what Herod offers,” he thought.  “I will make war on the cats and the serpents.”

He had forgotten everything now save his bitterness.

“See!  ’Tis gone!” said his friend, in a loud whisper.  “The star is gone!  I saw it disappear as if a cloud were suddenly come over it.”

All drew rein, looking into the sky.  Many stars were now uncovered in the vault above them.

“’Twas a light on the hills,” said Vergilius, with a vague fear in him.  “Yonder I can see a smaller one.  ’Tis a lantern.  Look!  It moves.”

Suddenly they were startled by a mighty voice that seemed to travel far into dark and lonely caverns of the sky.  Like a trumpet-call it resounded over the gloomy hills—–­that cry of the camel-rider: 

“Where is he that is born king of the Jews?”

Vergilius whispered, his awe returning:  “They are coming—­those men who rode the camels.”

Said David, his voice trembling:  “They are like many who have gone abroad with that ancient hope in them.”

The horsemen now stood, breathing low as they listened.  Vergilius was full of wonder, thinking of the awe which had fallen upon him and the others.  He tried to throw it off.  “We waste time,” said he, starting his charger.  “Come, good men, we have work to do.”

Awhile they rode in silence, their eyes on the light of the lantern.  Slowly they came near, and soon saw its glow falling upon rocks and moving shadows beneath it.

Then said David, turning to Vergilius:  “The battle—­suppose it goes ill with you?”

“Ill!” said the Roman, with rising ire.  “Then Jehovah is no better than Mars.”

They could now see people standing in the light of a lantern which hung above the entrance of a cave.  Its opening was large enough to admit a horse and rider.

“Soldiers of Caesar!”—­the whisper went from mouth to mouth there in the light of the lantern.

The horsemen halted.

“I shall soon be done with this traitor to friend and king,” thought the tribune, dismounting and approaching the cave.

That group of people under the light, seeing symbols of Roman authority and hearing its familiar voice, fell aside with fear in their faces.  A woman standing in the entrance of the cave addressed Vergilius, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Good sir,” said she, “if you mean harm to those within I pray you go hence.”