at. "Beka," he said, "let the gods alone, they won't feed us;
they eat the best that men have."

"Then hold to the one God who feeds the birds."

"And who delivers the Jews to the Romans. No; Jehovah won't help me
either. So I'm forsaken and stand alone, a tottering reed."

"How can I help it if you stand alone?" asked the daughter of Manasseh.
"Are there not daughters in Galilee who also stand alone?"

"Beka, I am glad that you speak so," replied the fisherman. "Why, how
can Simon come to an understanding with anybody so long as he can't
come to an understanding with himself? And fishing delights me not.
Everything is a burden. Often when I lie here and look up into the
blue sky, I think: If only a storm would come and drive me out on the
open sea--into the wild, dark terror, then, Simon, you would lie there
and extend your arms and say: Gods or God, do with me what you will."

"Don't talk like that, Simon. You must not jest with the Lord. There,
take it."

And so saying, Beka took a magnificent bunch of grapes out of her
basket, and handed it to him.

He took it, and by way of thanks said: "Beka, a year hence there'll be
some one who will find in you that sweet experience which I vainly seek
in the Prophets."

Whereupon she swiftly went her way towards the blue smoke that rose up
behind the palms of Hium.

It was no wonder that the fisherman gazed after her for a long time.
Although he cared little for the society of his fellow-creatures,
because they were too shallow to sympathise with what occupied his
thoughts, he felt a cheerless void when he was alone. He was
misunderstood on earth, and forsaken by Heaven. He feared the
elements, and the Scriptures did not satisfy him. Then the little man
threw himself on his face, put his hand into the water of the lake, and
sprinkled his brow with it. He seated himself on the bench of the boat
in order to enjoy Beka's gift.

At the same moment the sand on the bank crackled, and a tall man, in a
long brown cloak, and carrying a pilgrim's staff, came forward. His
black beard fell almost to his waist, where a cord held the cloak
together. His high forehead was shaded by a broad-brimmed hat; his eye
was directed to the fisherman in the boat.

"Boatman, can you take three men across the lake?"

"The lake is wide," answered Simon, pointing to his fragile craft.

"They want to get to Magdala to-day."

"Then they can take the road by Bethsaida and Caperna