red his men to disperse, at once.

"Regain your homes before morning," he said. "There may be other
parties of Romans out, and it is as well that none, even of your
friends, should see you return; and then the Romans will have no
clue as to those who have taken part in this night's business. Take
not any of their arms, or spoils. We have fought for vengeance, and
to relieve our friends, not for plunder. It is well that the Romans
should see that, when they hear of the disaster and march out to
bury the dead."

The men were already crowding round the captives, relieving them
from their bonds and, in many cases, embracing and weeping on their
necks, for among them were many friends and relations of the
rescuing party.

John soon found Mary.

"Is this a miracle you have performed, John?" the girl said. "Can
it be true that our captors have been slain, and that we are free?"

"Yes, dear, we can continue our journey."

"But how has it happened, John; how has it all come about?"

"Jonas and I escaped, as I suppose you know, Mary."

"There was a great confusion and stir upon the road," Mary said,
"but I did not know what had happened, until we got here. Then some
of the men said that two of the captives had escaped; and that one
of them jumped on to the horse of the officer and overthrew him,
and had ridden off. They said they were both young and, as I missed
you both from among the party, I thought it must have been you.

"But how did all these men come together?"

"I rode round the country, calling upon the young men in the
villages to take up arms, to rescue their friends who had been
carried away captive into slavery, and to revenge the destruction
which this band of ruffians had caused. There were plenty of brave
men ready to undertake the task and, as you see, we have carried it
out.

"And now, Mary, we had best be going. You see, the others are
dispersing fast; and it is as well to be as far from here, by
morning, as possible. A troop of Roman horse may come along,
journeying between Scythopolis and Capitolias; and if they came
upon this camp, they might scour all the country."

"I am ready, John. What a fate you have saved me from! I have
seemed in a dream, ever since the Romans met us this afternoon. I
have tried to think of what my life was going to be, but could not.
When we got here I tried to weep, but no tears would come. I have
been sitting there, as still and cold as if frozen, till I heard
the