d, he told David this, and David's eyes shone with joy and
pride in his friend's appreciation, and his hand-clasp grew firmer, and
there was deep, intense silence while the two friends thought of past
and future, and looked into each other's eyes as comrades look who
trust and understand.

Then, Jonathan renewed his covenant of friendship for David, and of
loyalty to his descendants for ever, and David began to give his
answering promise, but he could not finish the words because of a great
sob which burst from him. And Jonathan could say no words of comfort,
for his soul was full of misery too, because he must so soon part from
David. Then David who was quick to see and feel Jonathan's pain, turned
away, and hastily, with a mighty effort controlled his misery, that his
friend might not see sorrow on his face, and with one last look
Jonathan turned and silently went from the forest, out into the larger
world and back into the less free life that was his at the Court of his
father. Back to his own duty which he never shirked, went Jonathan, and
to David remained only the fulfilling of that renewed covenant of
comradeship. And fulfil it he did.

In the following months Saul still sought daily to kill him, but daily
failed to do so, and instead David had an opportunity to capture and
kill Saul, when he came upon him by night sleeping, with his spear
stuck in the ground at his head, and surrounded by Abner and his people
who were sleeping too. Think what a temptation that was for David to
resist! But even though it would have freed his life of a dangerous
enemy and raised him to the throne, David would not yield to it, for he
said:

"Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be
guiltless? The Lord shall smite him, or his day will come to die, or he
will descend into the battle and perish, but God forbid that I should
stretch my hand against him."

And never did he raise his hand against Saul, though still Saul pursued
him with relentless hatred, but still David escaped from his hand, and
he and his band of followers became daily more famous for their deeds
of valour, and for the brave warfare they waged against their enemies.

War again broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines. David
and his men who were not now with either army, but who had just
captured the Amalekites and taken from them large booty, were rejoicing
over this victory, when joy was turned to sorrow. News was brought to