piled on wood, and Sarah busied herself with
bringing in meat and bread.

Peter and John, who had been wandering about the streets seeking for
tidings, came to the door, John preceding Peter. Hagar, who saw John
standing in the entrance of the door, said, "John, comest thou also
hither in the middle of the night? Come in here, then, thou must warm
thyself. Could you make a little room for this young man here?" said
Hagar addressing the soldiers.

"Yes, indeed," cried the band together.

Then said John, "Good Hagar, I have a companion with me; can he not
also come in?"

"Where is he?" said Hagar. "Let him come in; why does he stand out in
the cold?"

John went to where Peter was standing, but came back alone.

"Where is he?" said Hagar.

"He stands on the threshold, but does not trust himself to come in,"
replied John.

Then Hagar went to the door and said, "Come in, good friend; do not be
afraid."

All the soldiers cried, "Friend, come also in here to us and warm
thyself!" Peter without saying a word timidly drew near to the fire
and warmed his hands in the smoke.

The men went on talking round the fire and Arphaxad said, after a
pause, "We still see and hear nothing of the prisoner."

Several then asked together, "How much longer must we wait here?"

Then said Panther, "Probably he will come out from the trial as a man
condemned to death."

"I wonder," said Arphaxad, "whether his disciples will be sought after?"

Peter trembled as the band with hoarse laughter cried aloud, "That
would be a fine piece of work if they all had to be captured!"

Then said Panther, "It would not be worth the trouble. If the Master
is once out of the way, then the Galileans will fly and never let
themselves be seen again in Jerusalem. But," said Panther, "one at
least ought to receive sharp punishment; he who in the garden drew his
sword and cut off Malchus' ear."

"Yes, yes," cried the band, laughing, "that should be, as it is said,
an ear for an ear!"

"Ha, ha, ha, a good idea!" laughed Panther, "but that rule would here
find no application, for Malchus has his ear back again."

During this time, while the soldiers were laughing and talking, Hagar
was curiously looking at Peter. Immediately a pause took place, Hagar
said to Peter, "I have been observing thee for some time. Now, if I do
not mistake, thou art one of the disciples of the Galilean. Yes, yes,
thou wert with Jesus of Nazareth."

Peter started