rise and grief at seeing their commander covered with dust, and
bleeding from several wounds, while his horse lay dead beside him.
To their inquiries whether he was seriously wounded, Titus replied,
lightly:

"I am more dirty than hurt. Though, had it not been for my armor,
there would have been a different tale to tell, for these Jews
fight like demons. As you see, he first slew my horse with his
javelin, and then we fought it out on foot."

"Was there only this one?" the centurion asked, in surprise,
pointing to John's body.

"Only that one," Titus said, "and he nearly got the best of it.
Fighting with these Jews is like fighting with wild cats, so fierce
are they in the attack, and so quick are their movements. I tell
you that, for a moment, my life was at his mercy.

"See if he is dead, Plancus."

"No, he breathes," Plancus said, stooping over him.

"Let four of the men make a litter, with their spears," Titus said;
"and take him down to Carmelia, and let my own leech attend him. I
would gladly save his life, if I can. I began the fray and, truly,
he has shown himself so gallant a young man that I would not that
he should die."

Accordingly, when John opened his eyes, he found himself lying in a
Roman tent, where an old man was sitting by his couch; and a Roman
sentry pacing, backwards and forwards, before the entrance of the
tent.

"Drink this," the old man said, placing a cordial to his lips. "You
need have no fear, you are in the camp of Titus; and he, himself,
has ordered that all attention shall be paid to you."

John was too weak from loss of blood, and confused from the effects
of the blow on his head, even to feel the sensation of wonder. He
drank the potion, and closed his eyes again, and went off into a
sleep which lasted for many hours. It was not until the next day
that he thoroughly awoke. The leech continued to attend him and, at
the end of four days, he was able to sit up.

Illustration: Titus Brings Josephus to See John.

In the afternoon, he heard a clash of arms as the sentry gave the
military salute and, a moment later, Titus entered, accompanied by
one whom John instantly recognized as Josephus. John rose to his
feet.

"I told you he was but a young man," Titus said to Josephus; "but
now that I can see him more nearly or, at any rate, more calmly, I
can see that he is little more than a lad; and yet, as you have
heard me say, he is a man of valor, and defeated me in fair fight."