e of his hand, destroy them as the
hosts of Sennacherib were destroyed. The Romans were harassed
somewhat, at Gamala, by John and his followers, who crept into
their camp at night and set it on fire, and had a few skirmishes
with their working parties; but when you have said that, you have
said all that there is to say about it."

"That is not like you, John," Mary said, indignantly, for the tales
that had circulated through the province had fired her imagination.
"Everyone is talking of what he has done. He, alone of all our
leaders, has checked the Romans; and has shown wisdom, as well as
valor, in fighting. I should have thought you would have been one
of the first to praise him. Everyone is talking about him and,
since we heard of what he has been doing, mother and I pray for
him, daily, as we pray for you and your father; and now you want to
make out he has done nothing."

"I do not want to make out that he has done nothing, Mary, for
doubtless the Lord has been with him, and has enabled him to give
some trouble to the Romans; but I was laughing at the fables you
have heard about him, and at the reports which had converted his
skirmishes with the Romans into all sorts of marvelous actions."

"I believe they were marvelous actions," Mary said. "Why should
what people say be all wrong?

"We believe in him, don't we, mother?"

"Yes, Mary. It is true that the tales we have heard may be, as John
says, exaggerated; but assuredly this new champion of our people
must be a man of wisdom and valor, and I see not why, as God raised
up champions for Israel in the old time, he should not do so now,
when our need is so great."

"There is no reason, mother," John said, more quietly, "but I fear
that the champion of Israel is not yet forthcoming. We have heard
of the doings of this John and, as I said, he has merely had some
skirmishes with the Romans--his band being too small to admit of
any regular fighting. He interrupted their work, and gave them some
trouble; and his men, creeping down into the camp, set it on fire,
and so caused them a good deal of loss; but more than this cannot
be said of him."

"At any rate," Mary said disdainfully, "he has done more than your
Josephus, John--for he brought ruin on all who took his advice, and
went into the cities he had fortified. It may please you to make
little of what this champion has done. Others do not think so.
Everywhere he is talked of, and praised--the old men are tal