rushing river. "Come!" called Jesus to the ones who stood
wondering what to do. He started down the road toward Samaria; some of
the people looked doubtful, but no one objected. The road followed the
high hills that shut in the Jordan Valley on the west, but it was well
above the flood level of the river. Fully four miles to the east
stretched the broad lowlands of the Jordan, small hills, an occasional
steep bluff, and at the center, the flooded river.

As the group traveled south, the flat valley narrowed and the hills came
closer on both east and west. Some of the farms near the river were
under water. "We may be able to cross near here," observed Andrew. They
had walked about five miles. "Do you remember if there is a bridge on
the road across to Gadara?"

James pointed to a white strip below them. "The road is just ahead."

Jesus walked past the crossroad without turning. "Surely he is not going
through Samaria!" exclaimed James.

"Has he forgotten how these people treated our messengers?" asked John.

"Perhaps he does not want all the travelers on the other road to know he
is going to the Passover," guessed one man. "He is a complete stranger
to the people in this part of Samaria. We could go all the way through
the province before anyone would discover we are on our way to
Jerusalem."

"Perhaps we shall find lodging more easily along this road," observed
another.

"I doubt if anyone will even sell us food," said James pessimistically.
"Samaritans are mean."

"We shall soon find out," remarked Andrew. "This road leads right to
Scythopolis."

This town was just over the border from Galilee. It was the largest of
the ten cities which together were called "Decapolis"; it was part of
ancient Samaria, and Jews usually avoided it. North of the city the
Jordan Valley grew suddenly wide; here the range of high hills along
which they were walking turned almost due west.

"Perhaps there will be some here who know the Master is a great
prophet," said one of the men hopefully as the city came into view.

"Probably never even heard of him," replied another. At that moment a
small group of men came out of a ramshackly house standing just outside
the city gate. Some hobbled; one crawled on his knees.

"Lepers!" exclaimed John. "Don't get near them!" The ten sick men came
straight toward Jesus. Everyone sighed with relief when they stopped
several paces from the band of Galileans.

"Unclean! We are unclean!" they