ight lead them; and he, accordingly, told
them that he should abstain, next day, from a continuance of his
attacks upon the working party; but that, at night, he would carry
out the design of setting fire to their camp.

Accordingly, the following day, the Romans pursued their work
unmolested; although they still continued the precaution of keeping
a force of archers, and parties of heavy-armed troops, in advance
of those working in the wood. John did not move till the afternoon;
and then, descending the hill to the right, he skirted along in the
lower forest until within two miles of Gamala. Here he halted until
nightfall.

While waiting for the hour of action, he gave final instructions to
his men, and assigned to them the order in which they should ascend
from the river towards the rear of the camp. When they approached
the spot where they would probably find Roman sentries posted, they
were to advance singly, crawling along upon the ground. Those who
first went through were to keep straight on until they reached the
further end of the camp; stopping, as near as they could judge,
fifty paces apart. They were then to wait for half an hour, so as
to be sure that all would have gained their allotted positions.
Then, when they saw a certain star sink below the horizon (a method
of calculating time to which all were accustomed) they were to
creep forward into the Roman camp; and each to make his way, as
noiselessly as possible, until he came within a few paces of one of
the smoldering fires of the Romans, and to wait until they heard a
single note from John's horn.

Each was at once to spring forward, seize a lighted brand and fire
the nearest tent; and then to crawl away--cutting, as they went,
the ropes of the tents, so as to bring them down, and create as
much confusion as possible. Then, either by crawling or, if
discovered, by leaping to their feet and making a sudden rush, all
were to make their way down to the river again; to follow its banks
for half a mile, and then wait in a body for an hour. At the end of
that time they were to make their way back to their camp in the
mountain; certain, by that time, that all who were alive would have
rejoined them. Should he himself not be with the party, they were
at once to proceed to the election of another leader.

At about ten o'clock they again moved forward and, descending to
the river, followed its banks until they arrived at the spot they
had fixed on; then, in