Evening star., 1926-11-23
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.)
CHAPTER XLuI.

gan to hitch himself across the stone
floor. pulling himself forward with his
elbow. Aaron and Jared looked after
him curiously. not Offering to help.
''The Arabian is not our friend"
Maryam explained, timidly, from the
other side of the fire.
The desert chief patted Antonius on
the arm when the soldier reached his
!, side. His brows drew together in
deep thought, his eyes still hxed upon
the soldier. At last he began making
careful motions, watching to see If
Antonius understood.
The soldier looked at him blankly
With greater vigor the Arabian be-
gan again. He pointed to the en-
trance to the cave, then to the alcove
where Antonius had seen the rock
window of the cavern, then indefinite
| ly into the distance.
"Zerin" he said. "Zerin"'
Antonius shook his head.
Aaron's voice was upraised against
him. THAT is the Arabian name for
Jezreel," he said.
The soldier gave a sign that now he
understood. The chief showed i'm
sword and began whirling 1t about his
head, chopping downward from time
to time. as If hacking at the head Of
an enemy. When he stopped. exhaust
ed from exertion, he gaZed at Anto-
MUS hopefully.
"you mean there is q battle?" asked
the soldier. He drew his dagger and
made hostile motions with it. I'm
Zerin?"
The Arabian smiled with delight,
eagerly patting his hands as a token
of approval. "Zerin! Zerin" he re-
peated, and chopped at the floor With
hia sword
Then, with two fingers OF each hand,
he gravely initiated upon the floor the
| movement Of men marching. He
touched his sword. Immediately his
| fingers on the rock pavement began
to run. The fingers tangled. His
| fists clashed together.
Raising his eye. he gazed with anx-
| iety into Antonius' face.
The soldier moved violently.
HE is telling me that there is fight
ing in Jezreel," he called to the men
beside the fire.
"See If you can learn who Is In tho
battle" answered Jared. He arose.
and with Aaron came to where the
soldier and the chieftain lay. "Her-
DDS guards may be slaughtering the
townspeople.
Antonius touched the chief on the
knee, and then pointed first to Aaron,
then to Jared and then in the direction
Of the village, with his eyebrows rails
cd in inquiry.
The chief made motions Of denial.
With his forehnger he touched his
own costume and pointed toward Jez-
reel.
"Arabians!" said Aaron. "IIe means
the Arabians are flghting!"
The chief could not comprehend the
words. Sinking back, pallid from
overexertion. he again patted Anto-
MUS on the arm and rested.
Without a word Aaron walked swift
ly to the alcove, where one of Jared's
heels. watching the window. The ser
want came out and took his place-a
little distance from the fire.
"If there is fighting, and any of the
villagers can flee, those who believe
themselves In danger from Herod will
come here" Jared explained. "Those
who do not fear Herod, but merely
want to escape the fighting, Will go
down into the plain. 1t has ever been
so-the cave is only for those who are
in mortal danger"
Antonius stirred inpatiently. eff
there is fighting would like to be
there" he said. "Do you suppose that
a great force Of Arabians has attacked
the town."
The villager puzzled over the ques-
ton. IF a great force had come
across the mountains. surely we would
know it before now, for swift runners
would bring word" he said. "They
could not have circled the valley past
Bethshean, for there Is a regiment
there. do not understand"
WELL" said Antonius, philosoph-
ically. "if there is a battle and can't
be in It, and can't even see It. might
as we'll Sleep"
Without more ado he rolled over the
hard floor and, placing his arm be-
meath his head, closed his eyes.
Jared returned to the fire, which he
replenished with wood from q heap
that lay against one wall Of the cave.
Maryam, her mother and the maid
servants withdrew a little distance,
and, dragging out mattresses from q
heap back in the shadows, themselvei
prepared for slumber.
The manservants looked inquiringly
at their master. He nodded In ap-
proval, and they moved back into an
alcove opposite the one in which
Aaron watched and reclted their eve
ming prayer.
Presently the cave was stfll except
for the cracking OF the sticks upon
the fire. Jared, awake, sat brooding
over the flame. The soldier and the
Arabian chief slept side by side.
Three hours later Antonius awak-
ened with start.
There was q movement Of feet upon
the fQor. His eyes, wide opened.
strained themselves to see, for the fire
had died down to glowing Goals.
He saw four men moving past him.
Halt" he ordered sharply, draw
ing his sword.
The Arabian sprang to wakefulness
beside him, and his weapon, too. CLINT
ed In the gloom.
Peace, soldier" came the voice Of
Aaron. "These are friends"
The soldier, blinking. could see now
that other men were gathered behind
the smoldertng tire-Six OF them, in
addition to the four who had just
passed him. The shepherd was stand
Ing at Antonius' shoulder.
Are they from Jezreel?" demanded
the soldier. did they bring word OF
the battle?''
"They did" Aaron said. "And a
strange battle it was. There came.
just after nightfall, the sound of
horses running and the war cry OF
Arabians. The guards at the houses
and those who were camped rallied IN
the market place. Two spearsmen-
men from the desert-were caught in
a circle of the troops. They fought
their way out. A shouting came from