nds of years the fine yellow
sand had drifted down from the walls of rock, and lay over the wide
sloping plains of the shore. It was like dry, light "stone-snow," and
Jesus, who strode over it, left his footprints in it. The next gust of
wind disturbed it, the "stone-snow" was whirled about, and the dark
stones were laid bare. Men are engulfed in those sand-fields, which,
broken by blocks of stone, stretch away into infinity. Witness the
bones which may be seen here and there, remains of dead beasts, and
also legs and skulls of men who perished as hermits, or became the prey
of lions. Such skulls with their grinning teeth, warned the traveller
to turn back as he valued his life. Here is death! Jesus laid his
hands over his breast. Here is life! The greater the loneliness, the
more keenly may the nearness of God be realised.

Jesus preferred the rocky heights to the plain. He could see the wide
expanse of the sky, and the clouds which wandered over its face and
then disappeared like nations of nomads.

One day, in such a spot, he met an Arab chief. He was of gigantic
stature, dressed in the dark cloak of the Bedouins, with a wild, grey
beard, and a snub nose in a bony face. Beneath bushy eyebrows were a
pair of unsteady eyes. His belt was full of weapons, his head was
adorned with an iron band which kept his wild hair in some sort of
order. The man looked at the young hermit not unkindly and called him
a worm who should pray that he might be mercifully trodden under foot.
He must either swear allegiance to the desert chief, or be burned up by
the hot stones.

Jesus scarcely heeded the impertinent speech. He only saw in the
stranger a man on whom he would like to bestow all the happiness that
was triumphant in his soul. So full of love was he that he could not
bear it alone. And he said: "I am no worm to be trodden under foot. I
am that Son of Man who brings you the new kingdom."

"Ah! the Messiah! Jesus of Nazareth, are you not? I have heard of
you. Where are your soldiers?"

"I shall not conquer with the sword, but with the spirit."

The Arab shook his head mockingly. "Who will conquer with the spirit!
Well, I won't play the scoffer. You are an orator, and that's
something. Listen, son of man; I like you. I, too, desire the new
kingdom; let us go together."

And Jesus replied: "Whoever wishes can go with me. I go with no one."

"My friend, don't you know me?" asked the stranger. "I am