t. Barabbas knew the band cared much more
for Dismas than for himself, and he did not wish matters to come to a
climax.

When day dawned a mule was led to Simeon. One of his slaves, with his
wounded arm in a sling, was allowed him, and he carried some bread and
his cloak, and led the beast. And so the citizen of Jerusalem returned
to the town he had left a week before under such brilliant
circumstances, a defeated and plundered man.

The affair attracted great attention in the city. Armed incursions
were eagerly made into the desert between Jerusalem and the Jordan,
where one evil deed after another was reported. Even the Rabbis and
Pharisees preached a campaign to clear the rocks and sandy flats of the
dangerous and destructive hordes by which they were infested. The
famous band of the chiefs, Barabbas and Dismas--so it was said--were
not the worst. Much more ominous were the vagrant crowds that gathered
about the so-called Messiah from Nazareth, who, feeling himself safe in
the desert, indulged in disorderly speeches and acts. So it was
settled to send out a large company of soldiers, led by the violent
Pharisee, Saul, a weaver who had left his calling out of zeal for the
law, in order to free the land from the mob of robbers and heretics.

Now about this time Dismas, the old robber-chief, fell into deep
contrition. His heart had never really been in his criminal calling.
Murder was particularly hateful to him, and, so far as he was free to
do so, he had always sought to avoid it. Now even plundering and
robbing became hateful to him. In the night he had visions of the
terrible Jehovah. He thought of John, the desert preacher, and
considered it high time to repent. So one day he said to Barabbas:

"Do you know, comrade, there is just now a prince at the oasis of Silam
who has with him immensely more wealth than that citizen of Jerusalem?
I know his position and his people, and I know how to get at him.
Shall we take this lord?"

"If you continue to be so useless, Dismas, you'll be flung to the
vultures." Such were the terms in which Barabbas thanked his ally. It
was decided that the attack should be made. Dismas led the band
towards the oasis of Silam. Barabbas went with his steed decorated
with gay-coloured feathers, an iron coronet on his head. For it was a
prince whom he was to visit! Dismas encamped his men under a rocky
precipice. And when at night time all rested in order to be fit for