d been a triumphant progress through the land and then a
flight. Men had not recognised the Master. If He would only say
distinctly and clearly who He was! Meanwhile the outlook was
desperate. As if they had run after a demagogue, a traitor, an
anti-Jew! How could an anti-Jew be King of the Jews? If He would only
say who He was!

Snow lay on the mountains. The ice-wastes stretched down from the
heights of Hermon. If our travellers looked up to their summits they
saw the wild ruggedness of their covering; if they looked downwards
they saw abysses in which the water thundered. An eagle flew through
the solitude and vultures screamed in the storm-beaten cedars. The men
from the fertile plains of the Galilean Lake had never seen such wild
nature. Simon was so enchanted that he wanted to build huts there for
himself, his comrades, and the Prophet. The other disciples shuddered,
and would gladly have persuaded the Master to return. He pointed to
the high mountains, and said: "What frightens you, My children? When
the races of men are becoming satiated and stupid, such wildness will
refresh them."

Simon and John nodded in agreement, but the others, as often was the
case, did not understand what He--who spoke for all time--said.

They wrapped themselves more closely in their cloaks, climbed up to
where there was no path, and still went on their way. The Master
walked in front and they followed Him through briars, and over stones;
it never came into their heads that He could miss the way. At length,
amid the bare rocks standing high above the cedar tops, they had to
rest again. Some of them, especially the young John, were almost
exhausted. Matthew dipped into his sack and drew forth a small crust
of bread, showed it to his companions, and said softly, so that the
Master, who was sitting on a stone higher up, might not hear: "That is
all; if we do not soon light upon some human dwelling we must perish."

Then Simon said: "I rely on Him Who has so often fed His people in the
desert."

"Words won't cure our hunger to-day," remarked Andrew, and was
frightened at his own temerity. Then Bartholomew put his hand on
Matthew's arm and said: "Brother, give that bread to the Master."

"Do you think I'm knave enough to eat it myself?" blazed up Matthew.
He got up, went to the Master, and gave Him the bread.

"Have you already eaten?" He asked.

"Master, we are all satisfied."

Jesus looked at him searchingly,