!"

The child opened his water-bottle and held it toward the lips of the
man. Pinioned hands, stiffened shoulders and weakened muscles made the
effort to drink difficult. Pulling his kerchief from his neck, the
child sopped it with water and held it to the dry lips.

In wavering tones the man, refreshed, said, "Since yester noon have I
hung here. With the morning came the dog; thrice came he sniffing.
Once, before weakness overcame me, with kicking and fierce screams I
frightened the brute. Again, a herdsman drove him far across the
field. And now you come, Jesu. Ah, that you might tarry until the
numbness creeping over my back where the flies swarm, and into my hands
that have burned, reached my brain, that you might stay until the
darkness of death hides from me the skulking form waiting to rend my
flesh."

"Woman," said the child, raising his dark eyes to his mother's face,
"dost fear to leave me?"

"Yea, my little one, lest seeing thee minister to a malefactor some spy
or guard might take thee."

"And would they take one young like me, who never did Rome harm?"

"All do Rome harm who cry beneath her heel."

"I fear not. I can hide in the bushes and keep the evil beast away.
And when the road is clear I can wet the dry lips of Jael's father."

The woman hesitated.

"Canst carry the burden alone, woman?" and there was concern in the
child's voice. "The way is long, the road rough and the yoke a heavy
one."

"The burden is naught save the burden of fear on my heart lest thou
meet harm, my beloved one--my little Jesu!"

"Be not afraid. Will not the God of our fathers save me from the
soldier's spear as once our father David was saved from the spear of
Saul? Find me but a stout club with which to keep the bristled dog
from Jael's father."

Throughout the day the child kept watch over the cross and its victim
by the dusty wayside. There were passers-by, most of them Galileans
muttering curses on the powers that had put him on the cross, but
offering no comfort to the malefactor. Twice the gaunt dog came nearer
but drew back before the raised club, and with blinking eye and
restless tongue, bided his time. As the sun dropped behind the trees,
the moaning from the cross grew almost too faint to be heard, and when,
after a long stillness, there came a sharp strange cry from the lips of
the crucified, the child gave a start and then hastened to offer the
wet kerchief. But before he reached the cr