the attack on the princely train early in the morning, Dismas climbed
the rocks and gave the signal. The Roman soldiery hidden behind the
rocks cut down all who opposed them, and took the rest prisoners,
Dismas and Barabbas among them. When the latter saw that he had been
betrayed, he began to rage in his chains like a wild animal.

"What would you have brother?" said Dismas to Barabbas, who had often
scorned him so bitterly. "Am I not a prisoner, too? Haven't you
always preached that right lay with the stronger? So then the Romans
are right this time. Once you betrayed me and forced me to join the
plundering Bedouins, most excellent Barabbas, and now it's my turn.
I've betrayed you to the arm of Rome. And we'll probably be impaled!"
Then, as if that were a real delight, he brought his hand down
cheerfully on his companion's shoulder so that his chains rattled.
"Yes, my dearest brother, they will impale us!"

They were brought in gangs to Jerusalem, where they lay in prison for
many long months awaiting death. On account of his self-surrender,
Dismas had been granted his wish for solitary confinement. He desired,
undisturbed, to take stock of his wasted life. A never-ending line of
dark, bloody figures passed before him. But there was one patch of
light amid the gloom. It had happened many years ago, but he had a
very clear remembrance of that distant hour. A young mother with her
child rode on an ass. The infant spread out his little arms and looked
at him. But never in his life had human creature looked at him like
that child had looked, with such a glance of ardent love.

If only once again, before he died, he could but see a beam of light
like that.

CHAPTER XXII

When the people who had gathered round Jesus heard that Saul, the
terrible weaver, was scouring the desert with a troop of police, they
began to melt away. They feared unpleasant consequences. They fully
recognised the right, but most of them were disinclined to suffer
persecution for that right. They must return to their domestic duties,
to their families, industries, and commerce, and, so far as was
possible, live according to the Master's teaching. They left Him
because it seemed to them that His cause was falling. In the end there
were just a few faithful ones who stayed with Him, and even some of
them were in hopes that He would reveal the power of the Messiah. But
they all urged Him to repair to some other neighbourhoo