st
out the Prophet. "Instead of saying over and over again, 'Abraham is our
ancestor,' you ought to live so that people will know that you have
repented! The wood chopper is ready to destroy every tree that is not
producing good fruit. Every bad tree he will cut down and throw into the
fire!" John turned his back on them.

"Look!" whispered Andrew in excitement. "There is the stranger we met on
the road!"

The Prophet had walked down into the water to begin baptizing those who
were waiting on the shore, but now he stopped and turned toward the
place where the Galilean was standing. He completely forgot the crowd.
In the silence Andrew could hear him protesting.

"No! No! No!" The Prophet stepped back in awe. "I am not worthy to
baptize you. You should baptize me!" The two fishermen could not hear
the Galilean's reply, but they saw him walk down into the water, John
the Baptizer leading. The people stood as though fascinated. Recalling
the incident later on, Andrew and John realized that their tense
concentration on the two men at the river had driven every other thought
from their minds.

John was baptizing the stranger. As he came up from the river, the
Galilean's face bore an expression of joy and praise which the fishermen
remembered as long as they lived. Some power had come upon him.

"What happened, Andrew? What happened?"

Andrew did not hear; he was staring at the Galilean.

"Andrew!" John was insistent. "Something just happened. I don't
understand. What was it?"

Andrew murmured. "He must be a prophet too."

The people were talking excitedly. Everyone felt as John and Andrew did.
The Galilean had gone, and the Prophet was now baptizing the others who
waited. Shadows were creeping into the gorge as evening approached.
Groups started away toward the near-by towns.

"Did you hear what the Galilean said to John the Baptizer?" asked John.
Without answering, Andrew started toward the knot of people near the
Prophet, and John followed. Andrew asked a man beside him, "Did you hear
what the Galilean said to the Prophet?"

"Yes," the man answered. "He said, 'Every man must take his stand on
God's side.'" Before Andrew could say any more the Prophet spoke. He
knew what the people were thinking.

"Upon the head of this man of Galilee I saw the Spirit of God settle
like a dove from the sky," he declared. "God has chosen him to do His
work!"

[Illustration]

2. FISHERS OF MEN

The morning sun was