The Red Cloud chief., 1913-12-18

and then followed duh. short, low blows-he heard
how the sharp nail was entering the soft
wood.
One hand. II was not too late yet
The other hand IL was still not too late yet.
One foot, the other foot-is II possible that all
was ended? He opened his eyes irresolutely and
saw how the cross lifted and placed In q
hole He how how the hands Of Jesus contracted
convulsively, and how they relaxed painfully. and
how the wounds were growing larger.
The hands we're stretching, stretching. they be.
came thin white, dislocated at the shoulders. and
the wounds under the nails turned redder-it
seemed as though the hands would tear
But everything stopped. Only ribs were NOV.
Ing. lifted by quick deep breathing.
On the top Of the earth stood the cross. and
upon 1t Jesus crucifed
The horror and the dreams OF lscariot had been
realized--he rose and looked about him with .
cold glance. And suddenly Iscariot saw as clearly
as his terrible victory, also its ominous uncer.
tainty. What II the people should suddenly un
derstand? It was not too late yet. Jesus was
still alive. There he was calling with his
rowful eyes.
What was 1t that prevented the thin covering
obstructng the eyes Of the people from bursting? :?
And suddenly they would understand. Suddenly
they would all move Toward. In stern mass Of
men, women and chldren-silently. without any
outcries. and they would wipe out the soldiers.
sink them In their own blood. tear out Of the earth
the accursed CROSS. and the hands OF those who
would remain among the living would lift high
over the crown OF the earth the free Jesus! Ho.
sannah! Hosannah!
Hosannah? No. Judas would rather lie down
on the ground and gnashng his teeth like dog
he would watch and wait until the people would
rise. But what has happened with Time? Now
1t almost stopped. SO that he felt like pushing It
with his hands. striking It with his feet az q lazy
ass: now 1t rushed madly as though from a noun.
tain. taking his breath away. and his hands
sought some support in vain There Mary Of
Masdala was crying There the mother OF Jesus
was crying. Let her cry. What mattered her
tears now. the tears Of all mothers. Of all women
on earth!
Jesus was dying. 10 It possible? Yes. Jesus
was dying. His pale hands were motionless but
quick commissions ran over his face, his chest
and bis feet. Yes. he was dying. His breathing
grew FAINTER Then It stopped. No. there came
another sigh-Jesus was still on earth. And then
another one? No. No. No. Jesus died
1t was all over. Hosannah! Hosannah!
Judas stopped and surveyed with cold eyes the
new, small earth. It had become small. and he
let as thought 1t was all under his feet he looked
AT the small mountains, quietly reddening in the
last rays OF the sun. and he felt the mountains
were under his feet; he looked at the sky which
opened Its blue mouth wide: he looked at the
round little sun. which vainly trying to scorch
and to blnd--and he felt the sky and the sun un.
der his feet
Judas had long selected a place where
ne would kill himself after the death Of Jesus Il
was on mountain. high above Jerusalem, and
there stood only one tree, bent. half decayed and
tossed by the wind. which tore 1t on all sides
One OF Its crooked branches was outstretched to.
ward Jerusalem. as II blessing or threatening It.
ana Judas chose that branch for fastening the
moose upon It, Within two days Jesus of
Nazareth and Judas Iscariot the Traitor, left the
earth.
.
All night Judas was dangling upon the tree like
some monstrous fruit over Jerusalem; and the
"ihd turned his face now toward the city, now to-
ward the desert as though 1t wanted to show
Judas both to the city and to the desert.