nock interrupted a secret meeting.

A priest opened the door. "What do you want here?"

"I want to talk with the high priest." Inside he saw the rulers of the
Temple.

"Let him in," ordered Caiaphas, the high priest. "You are with the
Galilean!" he said accusingly the instant he saw Judas.

"I was, but I am no longer," replied Judas. "Now I know that he is
really very dangerous!" The men looked at him suspiciously. Judas
plunged ahead, trying to please the hard-faced men. "This Jesus does not
really love the Law. He disobeys the great Rabbis! He cannot help us
against the Romans. The Kingdom he talks about is a dream! All he does
is arouse the people, and I am afraid he will bring Pilate's vengeance
upon us all!"

The priests were surprised. The high priest demanded, "Well, what do you
want?"

"I will help you take him for thirty silver coins." The dreadful offer
was made. He was pale, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.

"Will you help us arrest him secretly--so that the people will not find
out?" Every eye was on Judas.

"I will."

"Very well, then. It is a bargain."

[Illustration]

16. THE END OF HOPE

Late that night Judas crept into the olive orchard. Silently he lay down
among the disciples; but he did not close his eyes. He listened alertly
to catch any sound that would tell him that the others were awake. There
was only uneasy breathing and restless turning. He lifted his head and
looked carefully among the sleepers. Where was Jesus?

Stealthily Judas arose. He knew the ground well; many times he had
strolled in this peaceful grove during visits to Jerusalem. He walked
through the olive orchard to the road that led to Bethany. Across the
Valley of Kidron the walls of Jerusalem gleamed white in the moonlight.
Still he saw no sign of Jesus.

Judas did not cross the deserted road, but walked carefully toward the
section of the orchard that lay farthest from the sleeping disciples. A
low wall loomed ahead; here the great press was built which crushed the
oil from the olives. Silently Judas climbed over the wall and stood
still for a moment, listening intently. But Judas heard nothing. He
started across the enclosure around the olive press, but stopped
suddenly.

Only a few steps away from Judas knelt Jesus, his face bowed almost to
the ground. The moonlight striking down through the trees shone around
him. Judas was shivering in the frosty night; for an instant he wondered
how