of the events which had been taking place but, as
he now heard them, in sequence, the gravity and danger of the
situation came freshly upon him.

"What can be done?" he asked, after a long pause.

"Nothing, save to pray to the Lord," the rabbi said, sorrowfully.
"Josephus is doing what he can, towards building walls to the
towns; but it is not walls, but soldiers that are wanted and, so
long as the people remain blind and indifferent to the danger,
thinking of naught save tilling their ground, and laying up money,
nothing can be done."

"Then will destruction come upon all?" John asked, looking round in
a bewildered and hopeless way.

"We may hope not," the rabbi said. "Here in Galilee, we have had no
share in the events in Jerusalem; and many towns, even now, are
faithful to the Romans. Therefore it may be that, in this province,
all will not be involved in the lot of Jerusalem. There can be,
unless a mighty change takes place, no general resistance to the
Romans; and it may be, therefore, that no general destruction will
fall upon the people. As to this, none can say.

"Vespasian--the Roman general who has been charged, by Nero, with
the command of the army which is gathering against us--is said to
be a merciful man, as well as a great commander. The Roman mercies
are not tender, but it may be that the very worst may not fall upon
this province. The men of spirit and courage will, doubtless,
proceed to Jerusalem to share in the defense of the Holy City. If
we cannot fight with success, here, it is far better that the men
should fight at Jerusalem; leaving their wives and families here,
and doing naught to call down the vengeance of the Romans upon this
province.

"In Galilee there have, as elsewhere, been risings against the
Romans; but these will count for little, in their eyes, in
comparison to the terrible deeds at Jerusalem; and I pray, for the
sake of all my friends here, that the Romans may march through the
land, on their way to Jerusalem, without burning and wasting the
country. Here, on the eastern shore of Galilee, there is much more
hope of escape than there is across the lake. Not only are we out
of the line of the march of the army, but there are few important
cities on this side; and the disposition of the people has not been
so hostile to the Romans.

"My own opinion is that, when the Romans advance, it will be the
duty of every Jew who can bear arms to go down to the defense of
the Holy Cit