e sea
grew light all over, the rock-towers of Hippos could be seen in the
distance, with the evening sun sinking behind them. Jesus sat among
His friends, and with kindly words chid them for their despondency.

"Oh, wonderful!" exclaimed James. "While you were with us, we were of
little faith, and when we could not see you, we believed."

"'Twas your faith that helped," said James. Then, laying his hand on
the youth's shoulder: "And what is My wrapt John dreaming of? I was
not yonder in the mist; I was here with you, I tell you, friends: He is
blind who sees without believing, and clear-sighted who believes
without seeing."

CHAPTER XIV

An earthly light penetrates the holy darkness, and animated scenes at
Magdala, on the lake, are visible to me. Fishermen and boatmen,
shepherds, artisans from the town, people from the neighbouring
villages and from the mountains, are gathered together on the quay
where the boats land their passengers. For the rumour has gone forth
that the new prophet is coming. And in the chattering crowd it is said
that he is a magician from the East who possesses miraculous powers,
and can make the sick whole. An amusing thing had happened at
Capernaum. The prophet had been there, and a man ill with rheumatism,
a beggar who lived on his lame leg, had been dragged in his bed to him.
Now the prophet could not endure beggars who nursed their infirmities
in order to display them, who pretended poverty, troubled themselves
about nothing, and yet wished to live in comfort. The prophet liked to
deprive them of their begging tool, namely, the infirmity, so that they
were compelled to work. He healed the man's rheumatic leg, and said;
"Take up thy bed and walk." And the sick man was much astounded over
the turn things had taken; the bed had carried him there, but he must
carry the bed back.

Others said the prophet was an Egyptian, and could foretell the future.
Whereupon someone observed that if he could not foretell the future he
would not be a prophet.

"By Father Abraham!" exclaimed an old ferryman, "if prophets had always
foretold truly the universe would have fallen into the sea and been
drowned long ago. I can prophesy too; if he comes, well, he'll be
here."

"Then he'll soon be here," said a fisher-boy, laughing, "for there he
comes."

A boat, tossed up and down on the waves, was approaching, and in it sat
four men.

"Which is he?"

"The one with the black beard."