Caleb gave the word to break their camp, and with bodies shivering in the cold and spirits terrified by fear, they marched across the rugged hills towards the Joppa gate, noting as they passed into the valley that the country had been desolated, for but little corn sprang in the fields, and that was trodden down, while of flocks and herds they saw none.  Reaching the gate they found it shut, and there were challenged by soldiers, wild-looking men with ferocious faces of the army of Simon of Gerasa that held the Lower City.

“Who are you and what is your business?” these asked.

Caleb set out his rank and titles, and as these did not seem to satisfy them Benoni explained that the rest of them were fugitives from Tyre, where there had been a great slaughter of the Jews.

“Fugitives always have money; best kill them,” said the captain of the gate.  “Doubtless they are traitors and deserve to die.”

Caleb grew angry and commanded them to open, asking by what right they dared to exclude him, a high officer who had done great service in the wars.

“By the right of the strong,” they answered.  “Those who let in Simon have to deal with Simon.  If you are of the party of John or of Eleazer go to the Temple and knock upon its doors,” and they pointed mockingly to the gleaming gates above.

“Has it come to this, then,” asked Benoni, “that Jew eats Jew in Jerusalem, while the Roman wolves raven round the walls?  Man, we are of no party, although, as I think, my name is known and honoured by all parties—­the name of Benoni of Tyre.  I demand to be led, not to Simon, or to John, or to Eleazer, but to my cousin, Mathias, the high priest, who bids us here.”

“Mathias, the high priest,” said the captain; “that is another matter.  Well, this Mathias let us into the city, where we have found good quarters, and good plunder; so as one turn deserves another, we may as well let in his friends.  Pass, cousin of Mathias the high priest, with all your company,” and he opened the gate.

They entered and marched up the narrow streets towards the Temple.  It was the hour of the day when all men should be stirring and busy with their work, but lo! the place was desolate—­yes, although so crowded, it still was desolate.  On the pavement lay bodies of men and women slain in some midnight outrage.  From behind the lattices of the windows they caught sight of the eyes of hundreds peeping at them, but none gave them a good-morrow, or said one single word.  The silence of death seemed to brood upon the empty thoroughfares.  Presently it was broken by a single wailing voice that reached their ears from so far away that they could not catch its meaning.  Nearer and nearer it came, till at length in the dark and narrow street they caught sight of a thin, white-bearded figure, naked to the waist as though to show the hideous scars and rod-weals with which its back and breast were scored, still festering, some of them.  This was the man who uttered the cries, and these were the words he spoke: