rmed; but they came to me saying the Child was dead,
slain with the other innocents."

"Dead!" exclaimed Ben-Hur, aghast. "Dead, sayest thou?"

"Nay, my son, I did not say so. I said they, my messengers, told me
the Child was dead. I did not believe the report then; I do not
believe it now."

"I see--thou hast some special knowledge."

"Not so, not so," said Balthasar, dropping his gaze. "The Spirit
was to go with us no farther than to the Child. When we came
out of the cave, after our presents were given and we had seen
the babe, we looked first thing for the star; but it was gone,
and we knew we were left to ourselves. The last inspiration of
the Holy One--the last I can recall--was that which sent us to
Ilderim for safety."

"Yes," said the sheik, fingering his beard nervously. "You told
me you were sent to me by a Spirit--I remember it."

"I have no special knowledge," Balthasar continued, observing the
dejection which had fallen upon Ben-Hur; "but, my son, I have
given the matter much thought--thought continuing through years,
inspired by faith, which, I assure you, calling God for witness,
is as strong in me now as in the hour I heard the voice of the
Spirit calling me by the shore of the lake. If you will listen,
I will tell you why I believe the Child is living."

Both Ilderim and Ben-Hur looked assent, and appeared to summon their
faculties that they might understand as well as hear. The interest
reached the servants, who drew near to the divan, and stood listening.
Throughout the tent there was the profoundest silence.

"We three believe in God."

Balthasar bowed his head as he spoke.

"And he is the Truth," he resumed. "His word is God. The hills may
turn to dust, and the seas be drunk dry by south winds; but his
word shall stand, because it is the Truth."

The utterance was in a manner inexpressibly solemn.

"The voice, which was his, speaking to me by the lake, said,
'Blessed art thou, O son of Mizraim! The Redemption cometh.
With two others from the remotenesses of the earth, thou shalt
see the Savior.' I have seen the Savior--blessed be his name!--but
the Redemption, which was the second part of the promise, is yet
to come. Seest thou now? If the Child be dead, there is no agent
to bring the Redemption about, and the word is naught, and God--nay,
I dare not say it!"

He threw up both hands in horror.

"The Redemption was the work for which the Child was born; and so
long as the promise