l, and make our way back here."

"And you will not seek, John, when the Romans approach, to enter
Tiberias or Gamala, or any other cities that may hold out against
the Romans?"

"No, father. I have had my share of defending a walled city and,
save for Jerusalem, I will fight no more in cities. All these
places must fall, sooner or later, if the Romans sit down before
them. I will not be cooped up again. If any leader arises, and
draws together a band in the mountains to harass and attack the
Romans, I will join him--for it has always seemed to me that in
that way, only, can we successfully fight against them--but if not,
I will aid you in the labors of the farm, until the Romans march
against Jerusalem."

Simon yielded to his son's wishes, for the events of the last year
had aged him much, and he felt the need of assistance on the farm.
The men who had worked for him had--save Isaac, and one or two of
the older men--gone away to Jerusalem, or to Gamala, or one or
other of the fortified towns. The time for the harvest was at hand,
and there would be few to gather it in.

Martha would fain have accompanied them, but Simon would not hear
of this.

"You are in a safe refuge here, wife, and rather than that you
should leave it, I would abandon our farm, altogether. If you come,
Mary and the women must come also and, even for us men, the danger
would be greater than were we alone."

Mary also tried her power of persuasion, but Simon was not to be
moved; and the three set off together--for Jonas, as a matter of
course, accompanied John wherever he went.

The three weeks' kindness, rest, and good feeding had done wonders
for him. The wild, reckless expression, which John had noticed when
he had first met him, had well-nigh disappeared; his bones had
become better covered, and his cheeks filled out and, comfortably
clothed as he now was, few would have recognized in him the wild
goatherd of Jotapata.

Simon was mounted on a donkey, the others walked.

"It is well that I am off again," Jonas said. "Another month there,
and I should have got fat and lazy, and should have almost
forgotten how to run and climb, and should have grown like the
dwellers on the plains."

"There will be plenty of work for you, on the farm, Jonas," Simon
said. "You need not be afraid of growing fat and lazy, there."

"I don't think I am fond of work," Jonas said, thoughtfully, "not
of steady work, but I will work hard now, Simon; you have