e banks of
Jordan. I have come to save you, I and Nehushta. If you will obey what I
tell you, and if you have the strength to stand, we can guide you into
a secret place where the Essenes are hidden, who for my sake will take
care of you until you are able to return to the Romans. If you do not
escape I fear that the Jews will crucify you."

"By Bacchus, so do I," said the whisper beneath, "and that will be worse
than being beaten by Caleb. But this is a dream, I know it is a dream.
If it were Miriam I should see her, or be able to touch her. It is but a
dream of Miriam. Let me dream on," and he turned his head.

Miriam thought for a moment. Time was short and it was necessary to make
him understand. Well, it was not difficult. Slowly she bent a little
lower and pressed her lips upon his.

"Marcus," she went on, "I kiss you now to show you that I am no dream
and how needful it is that you should be awakened. Had I light I could
prove to you that I am Miriam by your ring which is upon my fingers and
your pearls which are about my neck."

"Cease," he answered, "most beloved, I was weak and wandering, now I
know that this is not a dream, and I thank Caleb who has brought us
together again, against his wish, I think. Say, what must I do?"

"Can you stand?" asked Miriam.

"Perhaps. I am not sure. I will try."

"Nay, wait. Nehushta, come hither; you are stronger than I. Now, while I
unlatch the secret door, do you lift him up. Be swift, I hear the guard
stirring without."

Nehushta glided forward and knelt by the wounded man, placing her arms
beneath him.

"Ready," she said. "Here is the iron."

Miriam took it, and stepping to the wall, felt with her fingers for the
crack, which in that darkness it took time to find. At length she had
it, and inserting the thin hooked iron, lifted the hidden latch and
pulled. The stone door was very heavy and she needed all her strength to
move it. At last it began to swing.

"Now," she said to Nehushta, who straightened herself and dragged the
wounded Marcus to his feet.

"Quick, quick!" said Miriam, "the guards enter."

Supported by Nehushta, Marcus took three tottering steps and reached the
open door. Here, on its very threshold indeed, his strength failed him,
for he was wounded in the knee as well as in the head. Groaning, "I
cannot," he fell to the ground, dragging the old Libyan with him, his
breastplate clattering loud against the stone threshold. The sentry
without h