Evening star., 1926-11-22

'Ny fathers two man servants -
99e said, and my mothers maids
Only the Arahian is here, aside from
Us, and Aaron there Men come Sc
cretly from the village though-al lbeir
none has come today"
They can't come" Antonius said
"A guard Is posted at every house
and no man may leave the village
nor enter It without pass from the
captain Of the troops. | came ou;
disguised as dead man"
He laughed as he told the girl how
Omar had substituted him for the un
fortunate who had been stung by a
deadly snake.
And | think" he concluded, "tha.
Omar's servant still is in the roof il
hiding. | do not see how he can gel
OUT
There wasi football in the rear
Antonius turned
A man was apprOa ching fr3m ;he
door-the self-same servant whom he
had left in the roof in the inn.
The soldier stared. The servant ap
preached him, bowed and laid upon
his lap Antonus' helmet.
My master bade me say he brought
this as far as the entrance to the
cave, but he forgot to give it to YOU "
The servant withdrew, Antonius
watching with every evidence OF
amaZement.
How that man escaped is beyond
nay power to imagine" he mar. eleu
"A guard stood before the door and
every passage from the village was
crowded with Herods men"
He thought deeply. Aaron" he
called.
The old shepherd turned from the
ire. into which he had been gazing
silently.
Too many people know the way
10 this cave Antonius continued.
You and I have served in the wars.
We should take precaution. Have
you never set guard over the en-.
trance, so word can come to us If any
one approaches?'
Aaron smiled indulgently. For 10
centuries there has been a guard pro-
tect1ng every man and woman VINO
sought refuge here" he said. Jared,
assist me-"
They came to Antonius and lifted
the poles of his stretcher. on which
he still lay. Carrying him around the
fire they entered a sort of alcove
made by an opening in the solid rock
wall.
THE fire light does not flicker
here" Aaron said. land no sound
from the main body of the cave can
be heard when you are here. Listen.
shall step back and call"
He laid down his end Of the
stretcher and Jared followed the
movement. Antonius lay listening az
the old man moved out Of sight.
There was no sound save Antonius'
own breathing and that of Jared.
Aaron reappeared. II shouted
at l. lon Ii; Z.
said
mot a sound" replied Antonius
''It is a thing noted by our fore
fathers" said Aaron. ''and known
from generation to generation. Now
sit up"
Tho soldier obeyed. His eyes came
level with a slit in the rock. The
Are light did not reach the alcove.
About him was complete darkness
except for the opening in the stone.
Through II he could see the outline
Of leaves. moved by n breeze against
the dim gray BACKGROUND Of the sky.
This window looks out upon the
path to the cave" Jared said. taking
up the exclamation. Beneath it Is
a chasm which no man can leap and
the wall of rock above is smooth.
Yet any man approaching the hiding
place must pass here. not 20 feet
away. a full half hour before he can
traverse the ravine and come to the
entrance. This window Is our guard.
Look more closely"
Antonius peered into the darkness
Family from outside came the sound
OF football. A man presently ap-
peared moving along path, cut
from a steep slope opposite him.
THE servant who bore one end of
your stretcher when you came"
whispered Aaron. "He has been on
his way steadily since his departure
II you wait YOU will see Omar pass"
They waited In silence, the two men
orouching by the soldiers side.
After 10 minutes Aaron said: ut
is strange that he does not come.
He should have followed after his
servant
Antonius did not tell him that
Omar had fingered to overhear
Jared's denunciation Of him. He only
said Let us wait"
Fifteen minutes more went by be-
fore there came from without the
sound Of another wayfarer. The tall
figure Of the stranger swept into
view. They could see his mantle flut-
tering in the gloom and the CLINT Of
his breastplate.
AS he came to a point opposite
them his head turned and he waved
his hand.
did he see us?" asked Antonius,
whispering.
1T is Impossible to see into this
opening by night or by day" said
Jared gravely. "He only surmised
that some one was here on watch. l
do not know how or where he learned
the secret Of the cave"
They picked up the stretcher and
carried the soldier back into the main
part of the cavern. They found
Maryam and her mother sitting by
the fire.
jared Aaron said. as they set
tied themselves beside the blaze. II
must go out again tonight TO bring
food II more are coming from the
village not only will our supplies run
low, but the danger of travelling on
the mountain paths increases
do you believe that Omar was
right-that others will Gomez" asked
Jared.
He spoke the truth" the shepherd
said soberly. Jacob the publican Is
hated by many. and hates in return.
He struck at you with his malice and
he will strike at others. The disap-
pearance Of this soldier, the fight of
the Arabian woman, the coming OF
the Arabian band into the village.
your own escape from prison. your
FAMILY vanishing from home-all
these things will cause Herod anx
tety-and with kings and tetrarchs
anxiety and cruelty are twins"
Jared sighed. 80 others OF the
village will be borne away to prison
tortured. perhaps. And all because
an Ara bian band bore me away. and
this soldier here, helpless and un-
willing"
Antonius glanced at him. Plainly
tnsre was no sarcasm in his tone.
s1sow do you know that I went
unwillingly?" the soldier asked, his