topped.
What could he be thinking of? Was he serious about giving up his plan to
put Jesus in the power of the high priest?

Judas dropped again to the bench. He had promised to help the high
priest for good reasons. Jesus _was_ a very dangerous man! If he should
confess his bargain to Jesus now, he might be helping to overthrow the
sacred religion of his nation! No! He must go through with it! Jesus
must be stopped!

The moon was pale in the dawn when Judas finally forced himself to go
back to the olive orchard. He could not put Jesus' prayer out of his
mind. How could he ever face him? Yet Judas found courage and strength
in the thought that God knew that he was doing this difficult thing for
the sake of true religion. Comforted by this, he crept to the place
where the men slept and lay down on the hard ground. Just the same, his
heart was cold within him as he watched the dawn change the sky.

A half hour later the sun was still hidden behind the hills of Judea;
gray light filled the olive grove. The disciples slept, but Judas was
wide-awake. Suddenly he heard a footfall. Among the trees he saw a
figure moving toward them. For an instant panic gripped him. Was someone
else guiding the priests to the place where Jesus stayed? Judas shook
Peter by the shoulder.

"Simon Peter! Peter!" The fisherman did not move. Judas shook him
harder.

"Eh? What is it?" Peter was heavy with sleep.

"There is someone coming." Instantly Peter was awake. Judas pointed to
the man, now very near them. Peter stood up, and Judas followed him.
They recognized a young man whom they had seen often in the Temple.

"I am glad to find you awake," he said to Peter. "I have come to warn
you of danger." Judas' heart leaped. Had this fellow seen him going into
the priests' council chamber?

"I am a student in the Temple," explained the young man. "I have heard
your Rabbi every day." Peter looked closely at the face of the youth. He
seemed sincere. "Yesterday the priests had a meeting. They are going to
stop your Rabbi!" Fear was like a heavy hand on Judas. This fellow was
going to betray him to Peter!

"What do you mean?" asked Peter. The other disciples were aroused by
Peter's voice. Several sat up and stared at the three men.

"I do not know just what they plan to do," continued the student. "But I
know that they want to accuse him before Pilate." Relief flooded through
Judas. The man did not know!

Jesus still slept soundly, but the ot